Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Among other changes , the coming of the iPod has caused many people to adjust their ideas about where music should be listened to . While at one time we moved to a specific location to hear to music — the keep room in front of the family stereophonic system , for example — we now expect to be able-bodied to listen to euphony wherever we are . And in a home larger than a studio- or one - bedroom flat , that can intend bedrooms , living room , kitchen , and outside areas . Companies such asSonoscater to this expectation by selling multi - room music systems that allows you to easy control and play music piped throughout your home .
CasaToolshas jumped into this market with itsCasaTunes XLi($2600 ) andXLe($4000 ) music waiter . These are low - profile PCs outfitted with CasaTools ’ CasaTunes 6- and 12 - channel audio wit , severally . Each runs the Windows 7 Home Premium OS and the company ’s CasaTunes music server software . Using that software system , you could send music from six separate germ ( five internal libraries as well as one external gadget ) to up to six sets of speakers . The XLi does not contain an amplifier so you either have to send its output signal to powered speakers or attach it to a multi - channel amplifier such as CasaTools ’ $ 1250XLa V2 12 - channel amp for consumption with unpowered speaker .
Although they attain the same death , Sonos and CasaTunes are largely designed for two different mart . Sonos , with its wireless mesh internet , is ideal for those people who do n’t require to ( or ca n’t ) run wires to create a multi - room music organization . Just buy a Sonos building block , place it in the room you desire to add music to , and add it to the system . CasaTunes , with its indigence to run wires , is well accommodate for those plate and businesses that have built - in bulwark and ceiling speakers .
CasaTunes’ now playing screen
Similar to Sonos , using the CasaTunes software you’re able to mix and match generator and verbalizer as you like — playact unlike music on each readiness of speaker — and configure the system right away from the PC , from a Web internet browser on another calculator ( yes , from your Mac too ) , or from the loose CasaTunes app .
I tested the XLi model , which is power by an AMD 2.9GHz Athlon II 2x CPU , and includes 2 GB of RAM and a 1 TB hard drive . The XLi additionally houses a memory board card reader for CF , SD , MMC , SM , and Memory Stick medium and an 8x DVD+/-RW drive . It also include gigabit ethernet , multiple audio connectors ( including 7.1 audio out ) , line in , microphone , phone , and S / PDIF digital sound recording out ) ; VGA , DVI , and HDMI TV outputs ; six USB ports ; and two FireWire interface .
Lest this sound like a review of a Windows PC ( which , traditionally , does n’t go over terribly well withMacworldreaders ) , let me explain that although you must spend some fourth dimension with Windows and the CasaTunes apparatus software for configure the XLi , you should have very little tangency with it afterwards . Setup involves confiscate the host to a proctor using the DVI or VGA video outputs or TV ( via HDMI ) , plugging in an input gimmick such as a computer mouse and keyboard , and telling the host apparatus coating where to find your euphony .
An artist screen
you may optionally disable Windows Media Player and ask the host to play music from your iTunes library as well as utilise iTunes to rend any cadmium you place in the waiter ’s drive . You also create zones ( grouping of room ) within the frame-up software . And you could involve the server to access euphony from a shared gimmick or NAS ( though configure it to do so is n’t visceral ) . Once you ’ve completed apparatus , you should have to return to Windows only when you want to modify zones , as this ca n’t be done remotely or via the CasaTunes iOS app . At this peak you’re able to unplug the monitor and keyboard and leave the server running .
If you want to copy medicine from your networked Mac ’s iTunes depository library to the CasaTunes server , you download a written matter of the company ’s freeCasaTunesSync diligence . Run CasaTunesSync and all of the compatible medicine files in your iTunes depository library ( meaning DRM - free music files ) as well as select play list are re-create to the server . When I first attempted to do this with a library of more than 30,000 tracks , I encounter with failure . Neither the caterpillar tread nor playlists copied to the server . The company has since update the Mac rendering of the CasaTunesSync practical software and it now works reliably . When I first set out using the host there was no pick for copying just a portion of your compatible medicine — it was all or nothing . Thankfully , the software has been update so you may now choose just selected playlists . This is an improvement , but it still does n’t ply the sort of synchronize flexibility offered by iTunes , where you may import specific albums , artist , Sung dynasty , and genres . you may additionally play and control medicine on an attached iPhone , iPod touch , or iPad so that ’s another alternative for attaching just a portion of your euphony collection .
Choosing and playing music from your browser
As I mention , you operate the XLi via a Web browser app or the iPhone / iPod touch app ( presently there is n’t an iPad app ) . The web internet browser effectuation pass you a estimable estimate of how the server works . On the menage projection screen within your Web browser app you find out Power , Room , Music Source , View Queue , and Select Music entries along the left side of the windowpane . Below are tape drive controls as well as repetition , shuffle , mute , and volume controls . set in the nerve center of the window is now playing entropy include the cartroad name , artist , and album . A timeline appears below indicating where you are in the acting cartroad . Above the now play area is a lookup athletic field for searching medicine .
CasaTunes ’ now playing screen door
To choose a elbow room , just use pointer release to move from one room to the next . ( A pop - up menu would be more convenient but , alas , there is n’t one . ) likewise , you use pointer buttons next to the medicine source entering to switch music sources — one of the five internal euphony sources or an outside root such as an iPod touch , iPad , or iPhone plug in via a USB stimulant . you could switch reference by clicking the Select Music clitoris and then pick out a beginning from the lean that seem . This list include euphony stored on the server in your iTunes and Windows Media libraries , RadioTime and Shoutcast net streaming broadcasts , an attach external twist , music you ’ve stored with MP3.com ( account required ) , and any CasaTunes play list you ’ve create . Unfortunately , CasaTunes does n’t currently support Pandora or subscription music service such as Rhapsody , Napster , Spotify , Rdio , or Mog .
The now playing screen seen on an iPod touch
There are also Sleep and Wake buttons within this projection screen for automatically switching off the music after a certain catamenia of time and switching on the euphony at a specific time , respectively .
An creative person screen
If you ’d like to see what all your sources and thespian are doing , click the All Zones button . Regrettably , this screen does n’t distinguish you the medicine each zone or player is playing . Rather , you see the reference ’s name , which you assign in the setup app — Biff ’s Music , Classical , Moody , and Janie ’s Tunes , for example . While descriptively cite sources are helpful , more helpful would be able to see on the button what ’s spiel in each elbow room in this scene .
The CasaTunes app
The barren CasaTunes app is the portable ( and more powerful ) mode to control the server . It ’s laid out more or less likewise to the Web internet browser . you may see all the rooms on a exclusive screen and choose which you want to convey medicine to by tapping tycoon buttons next to each room debut . To take in what a particular way is playing , tap the way and you ’re taken to a Now Playing screen where you find transferral control condition . If nothing is playing water faucet a Select Music button to see a list of music sources and what ’s presently queued up on them . Tap the modification push next to a source to pick out your music ( again , from a subroutine library , RadioTime , Shoutcast , playlist , or MP3.com ) .
The now flirt screen go through on an iPod ghost
When medicine is playing you could tap the sieve and receive control for repeating and shuffling the presently playing playlist . In this orbit you could also scrub back or forward in the data track . A hunting theatre appear on the top of the screen that you’re able to use to ascertain artist , album , or tracks useable to the host . Tap a Queue push button and you see the currently selected queue . exploit Edit in this screen and you’re able to rearrange the orderliness of track as well as delete those course you do n’t require to try . you may also prefer to save the strain in the waiting line as a playlist .
If you ’d like to configure the configurations for each way , return to the Rooms screen , tap the right - point arrow next to a elbow room entrance , and in the resulting screen for that room you may configure the way ’s name , picture , volume , balance , bass and three-fold levels , quietus and alarm features , and shift on a DND ( Do Not agitate ) feature — a feature that , when enlist , keeps a room from being impact by change to a zone . For instance , if Kitchen , Living Room , and Bedroom are part of a zone and the person command that zone chooses to crucify Megadeth throughout the house , the person shock out of bed can turn on DND for the sleeping room and heed to something else ( or , better yet , nothing at all ) . you’re able to also create and save zones using the iOS app . produce zone is n’t an alone intuitive process , but the power to create and save multiple geographical zone configurations is nice .
In practice
The CasaTunes waiter does on the nose what it ’s supposed to do . It transport music from a variety of source to the outputs you ’ve configured with the server software . The server was responsive and the music coming out of the sound card sound quite good on the headphones and speakers I tried it with .
The current execution is a good start , but I ’d like to see it reach out across the Internet . Having support for Pandora is tight to a essential for cyberspace - capable euphony system . And while subscription service such as Rhapsody and Napster are less democratic than Pandora , offer a couple of them would be a good theme .
CasaTunes ’ web browser user interface is functional , but a small clumsy — for illustration , having to use the arrow button to move through root rather than a pour down - up menu and the unfitness to see what ’s playing in each elbow room while take in all generator . The iOS app is the far dear way to go as it not only lets you control your music from anywhere in the house , but it ’s moderately easy to exercise your way around the interface . That allege , a variation created specifically for the iPad that set up more control on a exclusive silver screen would be welcome .
Macworld’s buying advice
feed a sign full of built - in speaker system is not a problem a lot of us face . CasaTunes ’ root is n’t speculative , but with its inability to teem popular net spiritualist , it ’s presently limited . The good news is that , as a reckoner - based system , CasaTunes can grow and adapt as software is updated and message passel are made . In the lag , if you do n’t listen a little oeuvre with Windows , have the budget to support a $ 2600 - or - more medicine server , and have trivial desire for music pelt over the Internet , the CasaTunes XLi and XLe host may interest you .
Updated 4/20/11 to address update that allow you to simulate individual playlists and correct information about streaming from shared devices .
