Yahouse

[sirroundsound]

I just recently had a visit from a rep for this company, he had a demo unit with him. Very cool. CD/DVD hard drive system for distributed audio and video (media server). Up to 9.something terabit server.
www.yahouse.com

[The8thst]

It looks really interesting, but do they have a GUI that can be used with just a remote?
That is the huge problem I see with this system. Who wants a distributed/multizone solution where you need a remote and a palm pilot in each room to utilize.


As I see it, unless it is extremely easy to use it won't get used. If the equipment isn't getting used people will not feel they got a good return on their money and will not hype you to their friends, and isn't that what we all strive for?


Just my .02 cents (and yes I mean two hundredths of a cent) :D

[mr2channel]

Cool and all, but how was the quality? What about integration, rs232, discrete codes...yada yada yada. also has anyone told these guys that dvd server manufactures are getting sued these days? and of course outside of the usual questions ...how are the margins :D . I guess that part should go in the verified section....

[sirroundsound]

They are working on adding a regular i/r type of remote, at present it works with AMX via rs232, or I am sure you could use Dysteny networks or Waci, which use Java., Yes they are aware of companies like the big K being sued, playing their cards carfully right now. Interface was great, choosing disc was easy.

[avdude]

fellas...

not many of us here are rookies...

we aren't rookies for a reason...

we've learned to avoid rookies, or those who act and/or run /present their businesses like rookies...

as with ANY new car line, equipment line, technology, etc....are you willing to risk the service calls etc...that an unkniwn product might produce?

I had calls from 30 people last week, that had the newest latest greatest

just a thought!

[rhm9]

I see it all going this way... central server... clients.

To me they will have arrived when Tivo like functionality exists with a Cable card in a client that is basically like a cable box or sat receiver and includes some kind of remote that is easy to use... potentially RF and an onscreen GUI to the TV its connected to.

When that happens, its legal, its wireless and its easily networkable (plug-n-play)... we may be looking for new jobs (or just concentrating on theaters and speakers).

I have been burned by the latest greatest too so I'm content to wait a bit and let others blaze the trail.

Looks a lot like Media Max... coming along but let's wait and see.

[sirroundsound]

Much like control 4 and others I know it's new and untried, I just figured alot of you may not have seen anything about this company. We are looking into it (apparently up here in Canada they are not as worried about lawsuits) I already gave the salesman my conditions, it's too expensive to buy for a demo unit or stock, so I want one for at least a month on loan that we can play with in our demo room, I also told him if there was anything that would break down on it I'm the guy it will happen to. He seemed agreeable, will have to wait and see if he delivers.

[Toronto122]

If only all reps were that agreeable.

I like new. New products are what keep us in business. If it wasn't for new products we'd all be installing impedence matching volume controls. If it wasn't for new, 3 gun CRT projo's would still be the norm, and prices would be stratospheric.

Someone has to develop new equipment, and then someone has to try it. I get a real kick out of playing with new gear and trying to find bugs in it. I get a bigger kick out of not finding any. That means that someone on the development side was really thinking.

I for one am curious as to how this piece performs.

[Glackowitz]

The Yahouse looks very similar to the Xperinet system www.xperinet.com
We have a client wanting the xperinet system but choked at the price..not even going to talk about the K system. going to look a bit more at all of them to see why one would be better.

Yahouse and Xperinet have Composite, S-video, VGA, DVI outputs, to get a Component you have to add a converter box on the VGA

[sirroundsound]

There are VGA to comp. cables, just have to set up the display to accept the right signal. We have had the Yahouse for a couple of weeks now, so far so good, they have an AMX and Crestron module, plus a palm program, and are working on various other forms of control (ccf file etc).
Picture quality is good (as good as the K system) and I thought it actually might have sounded better than the K system. The unit I have does both DVD and CD, is quiet, and works well. What I also like is that these guys are on the ball, future features will be great.

[Scottedge]

whats msrp on yahouse?

[sirroundsound]

The small "starter" package which can handle 180 movies, or combination of movies and music is 6500.00 US (but at present they don't sell in US)
From there you can go all the way up to a server based system, up to 9 terabites and get into pricing that is getting close to Kalidescape ranges.

[sirroundsound]

Have had the Yahouse for awhile now. Works fine, couple of features the K has this doesn't,. Being able to search your movies by actor is an example, but much like the dozens of dsp modes found on av receivers, most people don't use them.
They have a terrific module done for Crestron and AMX (even DMS keypads)
plus a flash based control. They have just added an I/R receiver which will operate basic functions.

Picture quality and sound quality are good, although I have been told that using the S-video output works but may not be the recommended way to go. Their theory being anyone that can afford this isn't likely to be using some old TV.

They are also being very aggressive in taking ideas and adding features to the unit.

Another add on has been in the set up, you now can scale the output to match the native resolution of your display, up to 1080p.

So far so good.

[ejfiii]

You know, I'm not going to lie, but that looks pretty cool. I finally was piqued enough to look at it.

Can you control each room individually via a flash program on a laptop on the wireless network?

And I guess you need to have one of the players in each room (obviously).

How would you connect it to a whole house system? Put a player in a rack with amps and then send speaker level throughout the home? But then you have a single zone. I guess you could put a rack full of players for each zone. How much do the zone players cost?

I see the gigabit ethernet connection on the server - it doesn't require a gigabit network, does it?

Finally, why no sales in the US? Hollywood lawyers? Plans to sell here?

Thanks for the info.

[sirroundsound]

The flash program was origionally designed for PDA type of use, but they realised they were getting ahead of themselves. There is a way to control from a laptop by accessing the Yahouse box directly.
We have discussed the multi-room aspect with them, as it stands right now you will need a media box for each zone if you want access to different music or movies in different areas. They are looking at some form of integration with some of the "media" boxes that are starting to hit the shelves.

Another feature that was added was the units ability to see your I tunes.

Still not a cheap system, even though you can get the single box solution to start for around 6500.00 I would think a common system will end up around 10 - 15k, once you start to get into the sever storage you can hit 30k very easily.

But, a great storage solution for the client that has alot of music AND movies.

As for US sales, they have to wait out the ride that the K company is going on. In the meantime the system is available up here and in Europe.

[avophile]

Is third-party storage an option? If not, do you pay the same amount for each additional gig of storage, or do you get a volume discount? Am I correct to guess that the output scaling you are talking about is like the Axonix piece, so the device cannot distribute high def content, only scale stored DVDs up to hi def-like resolutions?


# Video Outputs VGA
# DVI
# S-Video
# Composite
# Video Formats NTSC (480i & 480p) and PAL (576i & 576p)
# MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX®, XviD
# High Definition for 720p and 1080i

Their wording of the high def for 720p and 1080i I think is pretty confusing. It took me awhile talking with Axonix to figure out that they only scaled to hi def. How does the scaling look? Any DVR functionality? How does the DVD loading work? Have you tried the AMX modules-the PLK-DMS displays the text and works!?!?!

Thanks for bringing this product to my/our attention.

[sirroundsound]

We will be testing the AMX module next, we have a spare NI2000 and Modero TP, also have 1 DMS keypad laying around so I guess I should hook that up too.

they didn't confirm third party storage, such as an AMX max tied in with their system, will have to check further on that. As the client adds to the system, it is my understanding that the additional storage is a little less than the K system.

I don't believe there are any high def DVD's (yet), I am sure they will address this when they become available. As for the scaling, there was a drop down menu with many resolutions, we selected the one that matched the max resolution for our plasma, and it looked great.

Loading a disc is similar to AMX MAX or the K co systems, you can watch or listen to something while loading. Once loaded the system goes out to a secure site and gets cover and movie (or music) information.

Although if asked you will get no comment, I was told they were looking at adding a PVR function too, there was also talk of offering a system for gamers to store and access all their games from. These are awhile away .

[nholmes]

Interesting options for this unit. THe initial cost doesn't look that bad though I already can do pretty much everything they do including automating the import of movies with cover art and movie info via various pluggins for meedio. The server case they show on thier site is just a rebranded chendbro (very good server case I have used on occasion in my old IT days) which can be found all over the web, such as here (http://www.elitepc.com/Pages/ItemDetail.asp?unqProductID={73BD2592-2A8B-4AF9-9DA6-111E890F7ACE}&unqListID={5DD62290-BB91-47A9-82D7-B8AAF36E40C6})

I use the MCE pluggin from Kindel Systems which is a freeware product to integrate my htpc with my crestron interface. Works great as I can fully integrate the keyboard and start, stop, close and and maximize process as I choose based on a XML file.

The only thing i wish I had was the nicer movie selection interface though I can still choose movies by coverart the "mouse-over" popup of movie info is nice.

[Anonymous]

A few questions:

1. Are the region media players are regioned coded?
2. Do they preserve track gap structure for music CDs? It is a must for opera music.

Thanks