Canon Puts Efficiency On Press
Entered CNET Catalog: 08/24/2004
SKU: 0780687318161
Manufacturer: Rockford Corporation
Manufacturer description
The DMS1 Digital Media Streamer connects to any existing home audio system. Functioning as an intelligent remote control, the DMS1 allows you to play your digital files directly from your home computer and Windows Media Connect for Windows XP or SimpleCenter. Multiple DMS1 units can play different music from one computer simultaneously.Product summary
The good: Reliable wireless reception; plays secure WMAs; supports Rhapsody; TV output and front-panel display; supports playlists; upgradable firmware.
The bad: Doesn't play video or image files; analog-only audio output; can't play music from iTunes Music Store.
The bottom line: The Omnifi DMS1W combines superior wireless stability with solid support for online audio services--except iTunes.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/05/2004
Cosmetically, the 2.16-by-11-by-6.77-inch (HWD) DMS1W might be mistaken for a downsized A/V receiver. The black unit has both a front-panel display and a TV-based user interface, either of which can be used for music navigation. The Omnifi's well-designed remote control makes it exceptionally easy to navigate long track lists, with Page Up, Page Down, and Jump buttons that skip several pages at once. The Omnifi also has a full assortment of front-panel buttons, which are a godsend when the remote is missing in action.
The Omnifi's networking options are purely external. Depending upon your network configuration (wireless or wired), you connect either the D-Link 802.11b wireless adapter or the Ethernet adapter--both of which are bundled with the DMS1W--to the unit's rear-panel USB port. (The otherwise identical sister model, the DMS1, doesn't include the wireless adapter.) The DMS1W doesn't have a digital audio output like the ones you'll find on Slim Devices' Squeezebox, so the standard RCA analog stereo output will have to suffice. The unit's video output (for displaying its menus on a TV screen) is enabled via composite and S-Video jacks. (Those looking for more options--including 802.11g support, video streaming, and local storage options--may wish to wait for the DMS2, due out in early 2005.)
Setting up the Omnifi was straightforward, but as with most digital media receivers, it was far short of plug and play. Two main applications, SimpleCenter 2.0 server and Rhapsody, must be installed on the PC's hard drive, and the software and Omnifi's firmware required downloadable upgrades for optimal performance. Finally, we configured the Omnifi for connection to our wireless network and connected it to our A/V receiver.
The Omnifi has almost all the mainstream bases covered when it comes to file support: PLS, M3U, and ASX playlists are compatible, as are home-ripped MP3 and WMA files. It's also compatible with files purchased from any Microsoft-affiliated online music store bearing the PlaysForSure logo: Napster 2.0, Musicmatch, and MSN Music, to name just a few. Unlike Apple's AirPort Express, however, it can't stream AAC files purchased from the iTunes Music Store.
The Omnifi's extensive support of streaming music services is an extremely attractive benefit because you get access to a huge array of always-fresh music. The must-have Rhapsody service currently costs $9.95 per month or $24.95 per quarter after the free trial period; the monthly subscription fee provides unlimited streaming access to Rhapsody's tracks (nearly 630,000 are available) and Internet radio stations. SimpleCenter 2.0, meanwhile, is preprogrammed to tune Shoutcast, Launchcast, Live365, and Virgin Radio streams and is capable of ripping CDs to your music library.
In our tests, the Omnifi offered better than average sound. When we fired up a WMA file of "Army Dreamers," for instance, Kate Bush's distinctive vocal tone was fully intact and offered as good a quality as we'd expect from a compressed audio format. Like all wireless digital media receivers, the Omnifi occasionally suffered from playback dropouts, but in almost every case, the unit quickly resumed playback. By comparison, the Netgear MP101 had far more frequent reception problems, even though both units were installed in the same location, using the same network. Furthermore, the Omnifi is largely free of the laggy navigation that plagues its competitor, so it's able to quickly scroll through Rhapsody track lists.
Although the Omnifi is somewhat pricey, the unit's integrated support for a wide selection of streaming music services, refined user interface, and overall stability justify the expense for those who are willing to pay for streaming music. Bottom line: If you dig the Rhapsody service, the Omnifi DMS1W is the best way to enjoy it that we've heard to date.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1out of 1 user reviews
Is NOT Fully WMA compatible as CNET suggests
Pros: When it works, it works as advertised. Wireless works very well.
Cons: No full WMA playback support (see below), tech support is a little less then helpful. Buttons sluggish (even pwr on/off)
But.....it will not play WMA VBR files (as per tech support) AND, it WILL NOT play a WMA file (at 192 Kbps) that is longer than about 5 minutes. Just silence. However their "specs" state it is compatible with MP3 and WMA up to 320kbps. Tech support's answer? Rip the song at a lower bitrate. What good is having specs if they are useless as guidelines for consumers? BTW. Short, 3-4 minute 192k WMAs play just fine.
Also, will not work with Musicmatch server, even though it is a upnp device.
s%20-%20CNET%20Archive&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-audio-receivers-dars/omnifi-dms1w/1707-6470_7-31000149.html&x_breadcrumb=6449:12698:6462:6470){kind=small}