Gary
08-25-2014, 03:28 PM
This will be the first in a series of reviews from a integration point of view. Since I have true blue blood running through my veins, Crestron will be the control system of choice for these reviews. I think we all know there are only two kinds of integrators, those that use Crestron and those that wish they did;) Okay, I'm kidding here of course (just a little) anyone that wants to write reviews using their favorite control system please PM me.
4978
Almost everyone involved in the residential side of integration has been looking for a Sonos like product that can be controlled from a third party control system. Well with the NuVo may be just have what the doctor ordered.
The NuVo system is easily scalable (although, if I understand correctly, you are limited to 16 zones). This system offers two options for amplified streamers: the P100, and the P200. The P100 has a 2x20 amplifier, one line in, one line out, and a USB port for attached music storage. The P200 offers all of these features, but has a 2x60 amplifier, and Bluetooth capabilities. Both units can utilize either hardwired Ethernet or WiFi (if using WiFi you will need the GW100 gateway, which creates a private WiFi network).
This review is for the P100. I first set it up on my test bench using a pair of SnapAV AW-5s. Once I downloaded the app to my iPad (available for Android devices as well), the setup was very straight forward. The app walks you through a combination of button presses on the unit (this will seem familiar to anyone that has installed a Sonos). Once your players are added you can setup streaming services and local music shares. Streaming services are limited to Pandora, TuneIn, Rhapsody, and SiriusXM. This is certainly the one area where Sonos is ahead. I would expect to see Spotify on a device like this. Network music shares can also be added and music sharing software is available for download from the NuVo site for Windows and Macs. I downloaded the software and linked it to my iTunes library on my PC. It worked perfectly on my Windows7 machine but would not work on my XP Pro box. Once up and running sound quality was very good for such a small amp and the app is very well thought out and intuitive. Zone grouping for a party mode seems to be one area were it particularity shines. I did fine it confusing that the app (and later my Crestron UI) showed Bluetooth as an option when the P100 does not support this feature. It would also be nice to be able to name the line in as I used this input for an old AirPort Express to give me an airplay option.
http://youtu.be/yHuskfMuN1M
My test system includes a Crestron MC3 and for user interfaces I used a MLX-3 and a iPad utilizing Crestron's SmartGraphics App. At this point I used the line out to feed the audio signal into my Integra receiver. NeVo has provided no way in the app to set a fixed IP address so I had to configure my router to give the unit a reserved IP address, I'm not completely sure how this would work if using the GW100 gateway. Once this was setup I downloaded the module from the Crestron App store.
The symbol is pretty easy to figure out and will be easily recognizable to anyone that has programmed other music server devices that use fixed length list to browse content. I'd like to point out that there is no way to use this unit with the Smart Graphics media player at the time of this article, although I'd love to see that added.
The very bottom of the symbol contains the necessary setup parameters.
4971
Which includes IP address and list setup. I set my list length and text feedback to reflect my user interface.
At the very top of the symbol you will find I/Os to manage the connection.
4972
And below that are the browse list controls.
4973
You will notice on the output side of the symbol feedback outputs for Header and Container, this allows you to show on the user interface if the current selection drills down or if it selects a track or station. I chose not to use this in my system. You will also note that every press input has a enabled output. This lets you easily show and hide button based on whether they can be used. Combined with the digital visibility joins on most SmartGraphic items, I found this to be pretty slick and easy to manage.
All the list text outputs are next,
4974
And them the transport controls.
4975
Again you will notice that all the presses have a complimentary enabled output. On my system I used a ring counter and SIO to cycle through the repeat modes. This worked pretty well most of the time but it could use some tweaking on my end.
The bottom of the module contains the volume and now playing feedback.
4976
In my final setup I used the line output into my receiver in my living room so the volume was not used. I do plan on adding two more units to my system so I will report back on how the volume works through the module. When I first set this up I did not get cover art when streaming music from iTunes. Within a few days there was a firmware update and that has been fine ever since. I fact in the eight weeks this has been running in my house there have been at least 3 firmware updates. I'm not sure what these contained but this leads me to believe that this is a product Nuvo is actively working on, I have used this unit daily since installing it without a single lockup
There is two things you will notice is missing from the symbol. There is no way to search or add Pandora stations from within the Crestron interface. I find this to be a glaring oversight and one I plan on fixing when I get some time and a copy of the protocol.
One other feature that is excluded from the Crestron module is zone grouping but I don't find that to be nearly the drawback. Although it would be nice to have.
Below is a video of the P100 in action within the Crestron app.
http://youtu.be/CDw4vUWiyFk
My conclusion is that if you're looking for a Sonos like music system that you can integrate into the control system of your choice, this is a good one. It's very reliable, sounds very good, and is easy to control. I like it enough to keep this one and add two more.
Please leave any questions you may have in the comments below.
http://www.legrand.us/nuvo/audio-video/wireless-audio-systems/p100.aspx#.U_uZ2IYg_Fk
http://www.legrand.us/~/media/Files/NuVo/Brochures/wireless_brochure.ashx
http://applicationmarket.crestron.com/search.php?search_query=nuvo&x=0&y=0
4978
Almost everyone involved in the residential side of integration has been looking for a Sonos like product that can be controlled from a third party control system. Well with the NuVo may be just have what the doctor ordered.
The NuVo system is easily scalable (although, if I understand correctly, you are limited to 16 zones). This system offers two options for amplified streamers: the P100, and the P200. The P100 has a 2x20 amplifier, one line in, one line out, and a USB port for attached music storage. The P200 offers all of these features, but has a 2x60 amplifier, and Bluetooth capabilities. Both units can utilize either hardwired Ethernet or WiFi (if using WiFi you will need the GW100 gateway, which creates a private WiFi network).
This review is for the P100. I first set it up on my test bench using a pair of SnapAV AW-5s. Once I downloaded the app to my iPad (available for Android devices as well), the setup was very straight forward. The app walks you through a combination of button presses on the unit (this will seem familiar to anyone that has installed a Sonos). Once your players are added you can setup streaming services and local music shares. Streaming services are limited to Pandora, TuneIn, Rhapsody, and SiriusXM. This is certainly the one area where Sonos is ahead. I would expect to see Spotify on a device like this. Network music shares can also be added and music sharing software is available for download from the NuVo site for Windows and Macs. I downloaded the software and linked it to my iTunes library on my PC. It worked perfectly on my Windows7 machine but would not work on my XP Pro box. Once up and running sound quality was very good for such a small amp and the app is very well thought out and intuitive. Zone grouping for a party mode seems to be one area were it particularity shines. I did fine it confusing that the app (and later my Crestron UI) showed Bluetooth as an option when the P100 does not support this feature. It would also be nice to be able to name the line in as I used this input for an old AirPort Express to give me an airplay option.
http://youtu.be/yHuskfMuN1M
My test system includes a Crestron MC3 and for user interfaces I used a MLX-3 and a iPad utilizing Crestron's SmartGraphics App. At this point I used the line out to feed the audio signal into my Integra receiver. NeVo has provided no way in the app to set a fixed IP address so I had to configure my router to give the unit a reserved IP address, I'm not completely sure how this would work if using the GW100 gateway. Once this was setup I downloaded the module from the Crestron App store.
The symbol is pretty easy to figure out and will be easily recognizable to anyone that has programmed other music server devices that use fixed length list to browse content. I'd like to point out that there is no way to use this unit with the Smart Graphics media player at the time of this article, although I'd love to see that added.
The very bottom of the symbol contains the necessary setup parameters.
4971
Which includes IP address and list setup. I set my list length and text feedback to reflect my user interface.
At the very top of the symbol you will find I/Os to manage the connection.
4972
And below that are the browse list controls.
4973
You will notice on the output side of the symbol feedback outputs for Header and Container, this allows you to show on the user interface if the current selection drills down or if it selects a track or station. I chose not to use this in my system. You will also note that every press input has a enabled output. This lets you easily show and hide button based on whether they can be used. Combined with the digital visibility joins on most SmartGraphic items, I found this to be pretty slick and easy to manage.
All the list text outputs are next,
4974
And them the transport controls.
4975
Again you will notice that all the presses have a complimentary enabled output. On my system I used a ring counter and SIO to cycle through the repeat modes. This worked pretty well most of the time but it could use some tweaking on my end.
The bottom of the module contains the volume and now playing feedback.
4976
In my final setup I used the line output into my receiver in my living room so the volume was not used. I do plan on adding two more units to my system so I will report back on how the volume works through the module. When I first set this up I did not get cover art when streaming music from iTunes. Within a few days there was a firmware update and that has been fine ever since. I fact in the eight weeks this has been running in my house there have been at least 3 firmware updates. I'm not sure what these contained but this leads me to believe that this is a product Nuvo is actively working on, I have used this unit daily since installing it without a single lockup
There is two things you will notice is missing from the symbol. There is no way to search or add Pandora stations from within the Crestron interface. I find this to be a glaring oversight and one I plan on fixing when I get some time and a copy of the protocol.
One other feature that is excluded from the Crestron module is zone grouping but I don't find that to be nearly the drawback. Although it would be nice to have.
Below is a video of the P100 in action within the Crestron app.
http://youtu.be/CDw4vUWiyFk
My conclusion is that if you're looking for a Sonos like music system that you can integrate into the control system of your choice, this is a good one. It's very reliable, sounds very good, and is easy to control. I like it enough to keep this one and add two more.
Please leave any questions you may have in the comments below.
http://www.legrand.us/nuvo/audio-video/wireless-audio-systems/p100.aspx#.U_uZ2IYg_Fk
http://www.legrand.us/~/media/Files/NuVo/Brochures/wireless_brochure.ashx
http://applicationmarket.crestron.com/search.php?search_query=nuvo&x=0&y=0