Introduction

More MP3

Yes, we're back again with even more MP3 technology. In this second CES update we'll tell you about a couple more home MP3 components and a few MP3 portable players. We'll also update you about new products on the MP3 car audio front.

LANSONIC

In our first CES report we wrote about the AudioReQuest MP3 home stereo player. While the AudioReQuest unit uses a large hard disk to store MP3 files, LANSONIC, another MP3 stereo component manufacturer, is incorporating home networking into its home stereo MP3 player.

The LANSONIC Digital Audio Server (DAS) connects to your Local Area Network (LAN) and is able to play MP3 files directly from PCs on network. No hard disk is needed, but units will be available with 13GB+ drives. The DAS doesn't have an internal CD player, but you can use it with an external player or the CD-ROM of a computer on the network.

According to LANSONIC, "Stereo components, such as CD players, tape recorders, and most others can be connected to the network through the DAS unit and form part of an Audio Neighborhood™ in much the same way that computers are regularly connected into a "Network Neighborhood". Using this feature, two or more DAS units, in different rooms or offices, can be connected and controlled across a LAN to allow audio equipment in one room (i.e. a CD player) to be played out through the DAS unit in the other room."

LANSONIC

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Specifications

10-Base-T Ethernet connection (RJ-45)
3 stereo analog outputs (RCA) - compatible with 5.1 surround sound
3 stereo analog inputs (RCA) - selectable
2 digital outputs (1 optical, 1 coax)
4 digital inputs (2 optical, 2 coax) - selectable
Bi-directional IR remote with learning mode
256 x 64 back-lit electric blue LCD
Future support for USB Interface
Connector for external IR emitters for control of other audio/video components
Control A1 interface to CD/MD players
20-bit digital audio conversion (A-to-D and D-to-A) w/40bit signal processing for ultrahigh dynamic range
>20 kHz bandwidth with > 90 dB SNR
Supports 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05 32, 44.1, or 48 kHz sampling rates
Universal 110/220 Volt (60/59 Hz) power supply with cord
Internal hard disk capability for up to 60GB of storage

Features

Full TCP/IP and Ethernet support.
Multichannel output for surround sound or dual stereo output.
Live streaming audio to or from remote devices across a network
Audio playback and record to/from disk for storing and organizing personal music collections
Support for MP1/MP2/MP3 audio compression.
Compatibility with popular MP3 based Internet Radio Servers.
Network audio file transfer between DAS units or from a PC.
Full support of Serial Copy Management System (SCMS).
CDDB support allows automatic look up of audio data across the network. (Works in conjunction with Control-A1 port with popular CD players/changers).
Interoperability with common IR remotes.
Send/Receives IR commands across network for control of devices or remote DAS units via internal IR transmitter and external emitters.
Built-in spectral equalizer with mix/fade capability.
Built-in web page allowing setup and control over the network.
Extensive Playlist support.
Software upgradeable as additional features become available.

Notes

Units should be available as early as April. Diskless models will retail for around $700, and a standard version with hard disk will retail for close to $1000. You can find more information on the LANSONIC website, www.lansonic.com.