Important Service Update for SiriusXM Users

Russound has been in discussions with SiriusXM on this significant upcoming change to their internet streaming service that will likely impact some Russound devices as early as March 31, 2020.  The change only affects Russound’s previous generation of streaming audio devices, the XStream™ Series. Russound will support all affected customers with a variety of options.

To all Russound Certified Installers

We have become aware that SiriusXM has begun emailing some of its customers who access SiriusXM through their Russound streaming audio systems about a major change to the SiriusXM internet service due to take place on March 31, 2020.

We wanted you to be aware of this in case any of your customers reach out to you because they have received this email or if they should have an impact to their service on or after March 31.

We have been working with SiriusXM on this significant upcoming change to their internet streaming service that will likely impact some Russound devices as early as March 31, 2020.  The change only affects Russound’s previous generation of streaming audio devices, the XStream™ Series.

Unfortunately, Russound will not be able to easily resolve the issue on the products affected through our firmware update process because of incompatibilities with the new requirements of the SiriusXM service.

This means that any affected models will no longer be able to stream the SiriusXM internet radio service through their XStream Series streamer when SiriusXM makes their announced change.

The models affected are:

Russound is committed to supporting its products for as many years as possible and frequently makes updates to its firmware available to address technology changes and for other items that involve our partners’ services, content-delivery, and backend infrastructure, but unfortunately for the devices listed above, we do not have a viable path to permit these to work after SiriusXM makes their change, currently announced for March 31, 2020.

SiriusXM has reached out to affected customers to offer them a free Echo Dot that can be used to continue to receive their internet service after SiriusXM makes their change.

An Echo Dot will enable access to SiriusXM and can be used as an Audio Input on each of the Russound devices listed above or on their connected amplifiers.

We realize however that the free Echo Dot offered by SiriusXM to their affected customers is not a fully integrated solution and Russound will support all affected customers with the following options:

1) Use the free Echo Dot from SiriusXM – the 3.5mm audio output jack on the Echo Dot should be connected to any available audio input on your Russound system.  When that input source is selected, you will have access to any audio content from the Echo Dot, including SiriusXM.  Your customers can follow the instructions in their email from SiriusXM to access a unique promotional code used for obtaining their free Echo Dot.

2) Access SiriusXM through Apple AirPlay™.  All of the Russound devices affected by the change made by SiriusXM are AirPlay enabled, allowing you to easily stream any of your favorite audio content from your iPhone or iPad, including SiriusXM.   One of the reasons that Russound chose to become an early adopter of Apple AirPlay was for us to future-proof our devices to allow future content to always be usable in their Russound systems.

3) Access SiriusXM through Bluetooth®.  Bluetooth is another great technology that can help to future proof audio content delivery through a Russound multiroom audio system.  For that reason, Russound designed a special Bluetooth audio connection on its MCA-Series of multi-room controllers and on the XStream-X5 to utilize Russound’s remote Bluetooth receiver, the BTC-1X.   

For other audio systems, Russound offers its Bluetooth Source Kit, the BSK-1 which can easily be connected as an input into any audio system as well.   For our customers who do not already have Bluetooth functionality installed in their Russound audio system, accepting SiriusXM’s offer of a free Echo Dot may eliminate the need as the Echo Dot is also a Bluetooth receiver.  The advantage of adding a Russound Bluetooth product like the BTC-1X or the BSK-1 is that the Bluetooth receiver can be located anywhere within 100 meters of the audio system via a simple CAT5 cable and may therefore be a better match for your customer’s system.  

4) Update your customers’ Russound devices to the latest streaming technology with our MBX-Series of streaming audio solutions.  The MBX-Series utilize an updated method to access their audio content and are not affected by the SiriusXM change.  Updating to the MBX-Series adds Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth, and the ability to use Google Chromecast Built-In for Audio to allow streaming from almost all major music services through any phone or tablet.  This upgrade path would involve adding either:

                MBX-PRE – Wi-Fi Streaming Audio Player – designed to work with any audio system, it can fully integrate when configured in Source Mode with a Russound MCA-66, MCA-88, or MCA-88X, or can be used in Zone Mode with any audio system, including all legacy Russound systems sold during the last 20+ years.

                MBX-AMP – Wi-Fi Streaming Zone Amplifier – This 50-watt, Class D digital amplifier with a built-in audio streamer is perfect for updating any system that had streamers with integrated amplifiers such as the XStream-X5 or the XZone4.

We realize that one of the key reasons that Russound customers purchase our products is because they know that Russound will stand behind them and give them years of enjoyment of their favorite music and other audio content.

We also recognize that this change by SiriusXM is coming at a horrible time as most people around the home are now spending more time at home due to the coronavirus situation and are using their audio and entertainment systems more than ever before.  

Because the solution offered by SiriusXM may not meet your customers’ needs, Russound has designed a special upgrade program for all affected customers who may not be satisfied with the Echo Dot as a full replacement for the loss of an integrated SiriusXM source in their audio system. 

This special offer is only available by placing an order directly with Russound and is only available for customers who have received the email from SiriusXM containing a link to their promotional code and will be kept available for the next full year, until March 31, 2021 for any affected customers.

This offer is only available through Russound directly and not via any of our Distributor partners.  Please contact Russound Sales via email to orders@russound.com or by phone at (866)-888-7466.  Include the Promotional Code given to your customer by SiriusXM in their notification email in order to validate this special offer.