MP3 and Audio Jukeboxes for your Home Network

 

These devices are meant to replace the CD player or Multi-CD player in your home stereo system. Digital jukeboxes will encode your CD collection, often into MP3’s and store them on a hard drive. A network component can allow live CDDB or similar CD indexing to automatically take place. Often these devices have the ability to download MP3’s from the Internet and / or receive streaming audio. 

Some digital jukeboxes will have video outputs for any of the following: On-screen categorizing of your media, web browsing, email or music synchronized ‘special effects’. 

Expect most of the big audio component companies to show digital jukeboxes sometime over the next year but don’t expect them all to come network enabled. This will be the most saturated segment of the digital AV convergence market. 

Product Web Page 

Available: NOW - Aprox $1499(us)

Hard Drive: 40Gb

Connectivity: HPNA 2.0 and 56K Modem, USB

Shares music with Rio portables vis USB ports. Large display eliminates need to use a TV for the user interface. Supports MP3 and WMA encoding standards. Can stream audio to to slave Rio Recievers .  Built in CDRW Drive

Product Web Page / Specs

Available: NOW - Aprox $949 (us)

Hard Drive: 40Gb

OS: unknown

Streaming: RealAudio, RealVideo

Built in CD Burner 8x CDR / 4X CDRW / Rip Rate: 4X

Connectivity: 10Mbps Ethernet, HPNA 2.0 and 56K Modem

The HP Digital Entertainment Center is available now. Not only does it have a great selection of connectivity options, has a built in CDR/W drive for mastering your own CD’s. The Internet connection is used for CDDB access, streaming media and downloading MP3’s. In addition, hitting the ‘info’ button while playing a CD will bring up info about the song, album and/or artist and much more. Built in CDRW Drive

Product Web Page / Specs

Available: NOW - Aprox $999 (us)

Hard Drive: 20Gb

OS: OpenGlobe

Streaming: Yes

Connectivity: 10 Mbps HPNA 2.0 and v.90 Modem and 3 USB Ports

Optional wireless or USB keyboard for easy text entry. Can transfer MP3’s to and from device over a network. Can synchronize MP3’s with Compaq iPAQ Personal Audio players.  Includes CDRW drive.  Built in CDRW Drive

Product Web Page / Specs / User Manual

Available: NOW - Aprox $1800 (us)

Hard Drive: 20Gb

OS: OpenGlobe

Streaming: Yes, plus Sirius Satellite Radio

Connectivity: 10 Mbps HPNA 2.0 and v.90 Modem and 3 USB Ports

Free access to Sirius Satellite Radio over the Internet (60 stations).  Remote Portal Available to play audio remotely over home network (Kenwood Axcess). Includes CDRW drive.  Has MovieDB DVD recognition services. Built in CDRW Drive

Available: NOW - Aprox $1800 (us)

Hard Drive: 40Gb

Content: OpenGlobe

Connectivity: 10 Mbps HPNA 2.0 and v.90 Modem and USB

Download to MP3 portable players such as Rio 600 and Compaq from the USB port on the front of FireBall. Comes with IR Remote and Keyboard.

The fireball has two features that make it special. First, it can control, index and rip from legacy CD changer systems. Multiple changers of different brands can be connected to the fireball at the same time! Second, up to 5 Fireball systems can co-exist on the same network and communicate with each other. When interconnected, the music on each system can be made available to all other systems. Escient also makes a VGA touch screen that can be used as the display and control of the fireball instead of using the standard TV/remote option. Built in CDRW Drive.  - Daisy chain up to 5 units

Available: NOW - Staring $1700 (us)

Hard Drive: 40Gb++

OS: XiVA

Connectivity: 10/100Mbps Ethernet and 56K Modem, USB

This is the only company I know that offers multiple discrete outputs (optional). The SoundServer line also has the ability to store your CD’s uncompressed.