Onkyo Introduces Net-Tune

September 2002 – Onkyo and its Integra division have announced the first of a broadening line of Ethernet-compatible high-end audio products based on the company’s Net-Tune technology. Net-Tune provides an easy way to get music from one place to another on a computer network using products that function much like traditional audio components.

Up to 12 different users can use separate Net-Tune ready audio components … or ‘clients’ in network jargon … to independently access a music library ‘server’ and Internet radio over wired or wireless Ethernet local area networks (LAN).

“Net-Tune allows anyone to plug into and access music over Ethernet, without needing training as a LAN administrator or using complex PC software,” said Mark Friedman, Senior VP, Onkyo USA. “With one server, Dad can play jazz in the den, Mom can listen to Elvis in the living room, and junior and up to nine other brothers and sisters can each listen to different recordings; all at the same time. These systems are easy and intuitive to use, and much more capable than current, first generation network audio products. If current limited-access music servers can be thought of as narrow country roads, Net-Tune is a 12-lane highway.”

There are two types of components in Net-Tune systems: servers and clients. The NAS-2.3 server is an Integra-only product that stores the digital music. It uses an 80-gigabyte hard disc drive to hold almost 1300 hours of music as storage-efficient MP-3 files. It also has a built-in Compact Disc player and MP3 encoder for “ripping” audio CDs onto the server. In the Onkyo version of the system, a networked personal computer, running proprietary Net-Tune Central software, is used in place of a dedicated server.

Net-Tune clients are advanced audio/video receivers and compact audio systems that can be connected to the network to access music files from the server. The dedicated clients look much like compact bookshelf audio systems, while Net-Tune ready receivers include all the functions of a high-end home theater receiver, plus Net-Tune. Both can access music on the server (Integra) or PC (Onkyo) by album name, artist, genre, or by user-assigned Initially, Integra’s Net-Tune product line will consist of two high-end audio/video receivers, a LAN client receiver, and a hard-disc music server. Onkyo will have one high-end audio/video receiver, a LAN client receiver, and Net-Tune Central server software. These are scheduled to ship to dealers in September and October.

Onkyo TX-NR900 AV Receiver, available September, $1,500 M.S.R.P.
Onkyo NC-500 Net-Tune Client, available September, $500 with speakers, $400 without.
Integra NAS-2.3 Net-Tune Server, available September, $2000
Integra DTR-8.3 AV Receiver, available October, $2,200
Integra DTR-7.3 AV Receiver, available October, $1,300
Integra NAC-2.3 Net-Tune Client, available September, $500

“As more and more homes are built or retrofitted with wired and wireless networks, traditional audio/video component manufacturers will need to learn how to interface with this new environment,” said Don Milks, National Product & Marketing Manager, Onkyo USA, at a press conference held here today. “Onkyo and Integra are the first premium brands to make this move on a large scale. By incorporating network capabilities in our high-end audio/video receivers, and by developing network-specific audio/video hardware, consumers will be able to enjoy superior audio performance when compared with comparable products from the computer industry.”

For more information on these and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800 229-1687.

For Integra product information, visit www.integrahometheater.com or call 800 225-1946.