Hardware requirements & codecs

[eonibm]

4 questions:

1. Once the Linksys Home Audio System (KWHA400) is configured, if one has music stored on a USB drive attached to a DMC250, does one have to have a computer running with the Cisco Media Centre Server software running on it in order to use the audio system if the only music one wants to play is on that USB drive and not on any drives plugged into or inside the computer?

2. Does the system recognize NAS drives plugged into the RJ45 jack on the DMC250 or to a wireless router?

3. If the answer to 2 is yes, then once these drives are added to the system and configured, does the computer have to be running with the Cisco Media Centre server software in order to use the audio system if the only music one wants to play is on those drives and not on any drives plugged into or inside the computer?

4. Does the system support the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)?

[HAL9000]

Hello eonibm, 

Thank you for your interest in the new Linksys Home Audio hardware hopefully this of helpful.

1. Once have the DMC250 director configured you do not need to have a computer system running for you to access it.
2. Yes for example lets say you add a NMH405 to your network you can access it’s shared audio files.
3. No you do not need a computer system turned on once the software recognizes the shares.
4. As of a few weeks ago this codec was looking to be added but until I get official word and see it (not yet).

  

I will also double check on the codec to see if I have any updates if so it will be posted here.

Thank you,

 

Message Edited by HAL9000 on 01-07-2009 04:42 PM

[eonibm]

Thanks for that information.

I have not been able to find any information about setting alarms to turn music on in the morning. Does your software have such a feature? If so, what settings does it have? (ie multiple daily alarms, daily alarm - as not everyone works M-F, zone-based alarms, line-in alarm, cancel next alarm, ie for a holiday).  

[eonibm]

Another question: What class of amplifier do the DMC250 & DMC350 have? I cannot find this in the specs.

[Wilkins377]

Hi everyone, I'm also interested in this new device from Linksys, its quite neat on how it can wirelessly stream audio. By the way to answer eonibm's question on what amplifier class the DMC250 & DMC350 is, it is class D for the DMC250 and I assume that its also class D for the DMC350 because on how the way Linksys has packaged the devices into Kits.

the datasheet for the DMC250 contains the information regarding the amplifier class.

http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/DMC250

I hope this information is helpful for all of us.

Message Edited by Wilkins377 on 01-08-2009 08:09 AM

[Kos]

Hi!

1. Is Cisco able to distribute music from my NAS to my home WITHOUT a server (Twonky UPnP/DNLA for instance) running on the NAS?

2. Does Cisco like Sonos "pre-cache" my entire collection thereby making it FAST or is the music "streamed on demand" like all other systems on the market?

3. Will Cisco allow me to play 'limitless' amount of tracks? The Sonos 65.000 song limit is a bit irritating...

Thanks in advance.

/Kos (NOT a Sonos owner - I'm only comparing!)

[HAL9000]

Eonibm,

Update: 4. DMC250 does in fact support FLAC Lossless.

[ramesesIII]

Hi eonibm,

As  I checked on the features on this device, I believe it has no alarm features that you are looking for. As what I found out, it only has sleep and hibernate features.

Hope this helps...

Message Edited by ramesesIII on 01-08-2009 02:04 PM

[HAL9000]

Hi Kos, Thank you for your interest in our Professional wireless home audio hardware. 1. The Cisco NAS NMH400 is running Twonky.2. The system does support pre-cache on the titles but does not pre cache your entire song collection.

3. Checking on your tracks question.

And we would love to have you as a linksys professional wireless home audio customer   

Thanks again,

HAL9000

[Kos]

Thanks - but I must be absolutely sure on the server thing: Will Linksys Cisco play music from my NAS even with NO media server embedded there? This is quite important because this is exactly what complicates all other products than Sonos when it comes to audio streaming.

Great to hear about pre-cache.

/Kos