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.
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...