The latest additions to the Russound product assortment, our XZone70V Streaming Mixer Amplifier, AW70V6 Surface Mount Speakers, and ALT-70V-50 volume control are now shipping to our customers! 

 

Pandora

 

A firmware update is now available for Russound's streaming media products to resolve issues with accessing Pandora

 

Last month, the Financial Times reported that streaming services are the biggest money makers in the music industry. According to the article, " US revenues from streaming providers such as Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora grew 29 per cent in 2015 to $2.41bn, accounting for 34.3 per cent of total industry revenues. It was the first time total streaming revenues passed $2bn as every segment of the market grew."

Last year, we announced the Russound Certified Installer (RCI) program that is designed to drastically reduce unauthorized online sales of the company's products while ensuring that consumers receive the benefits of working with certified installation professionals. Russound products designated "RCI Required" are locked, and can only be installed by Russound installers who buy the company's products through all authorized sales channels, whether it is through a distribution partner or direct dealer.

Russound's XTS in-wall touchscreen doesn't take its job lying down, unless that is what the job calls for.

Thanks to a recent update, our popular XTS touchscreen -- an advanced, intuitive touchscreen control for Russound's XStream systems and MCA-Series Controllers -- nowfeatures a Landscape mode that allows it to be mounted horizontally in order to better accommodate a two-gang opening in any installation, especially those where the XTS is replacing a two-gang device.

Of all the new Russound models hitting the market, one of the most intriguing has to be the TVA2.1 digital amplifier, which has an overwhelmingly positive effect on TV audio in rooms where a full-blown theater may not be feasible. The stealthy TVA2.1 is easily mounted behind a TV, in a wall box, or placed on a shelf.

Russound is now shipping its XZone4 Four-Stream, Four-Zone Audio System, which is designed to offer Russound installers a single-box package featuring simple browser-based configuration with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

Have you ever tried to explain audio attributes to a customer who loves music but who may not be up to speed on the terminology? While much of what we read in the press may sound like jargon, it's important to help end-users understand the myriad options available when designing a Russound system that suits their needs.

Just as CEDIA dominates the CI market in the Fall, so too does ISE (Integrated Systems Europe) have a similar effect each February, with major players and upstarts alike vying for the attention of more than 65,000 visitors absorbing a barrage of news and updates over the course of four days.

One of our collective New Year's resolutions at Russound is to dig deep into the markets that complement our brand. Innumerable Russound dealers benefit from a healthy product mix that includes the leading CI and DIY products in the security category.

The easiest way to play music from a user's phone to any Russound XStream™ product like the MCA-88X or the XSource for all iPhone/iPad users is to use Apple AirPlay™. Russound is one of the few brands in the custom installation channel that makes sure that AirPlay support is built into all of our streaming products.