Anybody have any experiances with audio request besides the suppliers?
www.audiorequest.com

I'm system designer/custom installer in NYC and it is an incredible product. They are improving it every day. It is also the most reliable piece we have used as well. Any more questions email me at [email protected].

We looked at many of these music servers and also decided to go with Audio Request for our clients. Realiability, responsiveness and control(ease of use) are tops.

There are TV video, PC Monitor and web browser interfaces. Discrete IR and RS-232 codes for just about everything. (one button press by the client can beging playing their favorite playlist etc.)

Also, for us, the ability to have a backup was critical. What if you rip 1000+ CD's and the units hard drive crashes? That is a LOT of ripping time that must be repeated. ARQ's "zone" units are a nice automatic way to provide fault tolerance. Better yet, put the "zone" unit in their second home and sync them over the internet. Fault tolerance and access to their music from both locations...

They are expensive but for the right client there is nothing better.

Audio request makes a good product.

Several of my installations have had problems (hardware and software failure) but the company seems to have straightened out these issues. Great customer service, although they're not as quick to give an RA as they use to be. Can't blame'em for that.

The thing to remember about the request guys is that they were computer engineers first, from there they made an audio product.

Did anyone see the zexxen at cedia. That was a wild piece of machinery. It's a little higher end than the ARQs. Really cool interface.

Who makes it? What is it?

Check out the new Multimedia PC from Microsoft and HP

[Link: microsoft.com]

We just installed one and love it!

I had a quick demo of the Media Center PC and it is pretty cool but I wish I could put in my rack of equipement and really remote control it. Moreover, since there is no IR output, I won't be able to pilot the satellite box. This means that I would not recommend that solution for any of my customer who has a distribution system. I think it is more aimed at media rooms. Too bad because we really need to see a real digital server on the custom electronic market.

For the AudioRequest. I've discovered this product at the CEDIA and it seems to be really wild. I'm still wondering if they should not stop trying to go so high end and increase some of the basic feature. The multi master server is a really nice marketing concept but how many people will really be interested and have a constant on Internet connection for the sync to occur?
Anyway, I haven't seen teh zexxen you are talking about but ARQ is definitly my top of the line so far and by much. Too bad I can't have it in my price list! :-)

Thanks,

www.zexen.com

sorry about the typo in my earlier post. I believe these guys are partnered with crestron and amx. While I was visiting the zexen booth the elan guys stopped by and the conversation was something like this: I tell you what our product does and then you tell me what your product does. Elan Home Systems: The little engine that could.

Warning: This product is not for the faint of wallet.