Click image to enlarge

Solidstate VortexRack

Easy to use auto CD ripping, multi-player and format media server/player/jukebox/NAS with advanced audio functionality, based on VortexBox engine.

This appliance is purpose designed to simplify your handling of digital music, without sacrificing sound quality - a simple digital network solution to rip, tag, retrieve cover art, store, play and serve your CDs, digital music and Internet radio in your studio, hospitality venue, club, gym, church or home. All you need to do is insert the CD!

Functions and use:

• Automatically rip CDs inserted into CD/DVD drive to high quality lossless FLAC and optionally MP3 formats, and store them to hard disk

• Play music on built-in audio outputs or any number of computers and devices in your home network, wired or wireless, and any room (including multi-zone support), simultaneously

• High quality sound output thanks to lossless ripping format (exactly the same as original CD) and built-in audio capable of 24 bit/192kHz output (24/96 has 250 times the audio resolution of a standard CD)

• Automatically retrieve tracks names, artist info, and artwork from Internet music database (*)

• Share music and other files to networked PCs via Windows networking (SMB/CIFS) – full Network Attached Storage (NAS) functionality

• Pre-loaded SqueezeBox server for use with Logitech SqueezeBox players

• Automatically share music collection with Apple iTunes, Roku Soundbridge, AppleTV, iPhone, iPod Touch, Winamp and other DAAP compatible applications and devices

• Supports streaming to all UPnP AV and DLNA compatible devices and applications: X-Box 360, PS3, XBMC, Sonos, Linn, Olive, Windows 7 Media Player, Samsung televisions, Denon receivers and many other

• Pre-installed SubSonic application for playing and managing music in any web browser or locally on device; free iPhone remote application available

• Pre-installed Music Player Daemon (MPD/Vortex Player) for HD audiophile sound

• Built-in BitTorrent client for Internet files sharing and downloading

• Automatic updates and easy installation of additional functionality via web browser interface

• Easy configuration via web browser; no attached monitor or keyboard needed

• USB backup manager for backing up music collection to external hard disk

• Proven and reliable, 12 months warranty

• Easy to follow Quick Start guide supplied

Features:

• Does not need keyboard, mouse or monitor for configuration or function

• Works out of the box - Plug and play; no software installation needed

• Purpose designed for VortexBox applications, with many custom enhancements and added functionality

• Extremely quiet operation and very low power use; uses less then 30$ in electricity a year if left on all the time – your regular PC will cost more then the price of VortexStarter appliance one in electricity alone in less then 2 years of use

• Fanless Intel Atom dual core processor with Hyper Threading with 4 simultaneous CPU threads for fast encoding, decoding re-sampling and up-sampling of many simultaneous music streams

• 1GB RAM; capacity for multiple audio and video streams

• Built-in Intel HD 24bit/192kHz 6 channel audio for high quality High Definition sound and up to 3 simultaneous stereo analogue output pairs

• 6 USB ports, PCI and mini-PCIe slots for expansion

• Small size and quiet operation allows for easy placement anywhere in the house

Advanced features:

• Analogue output can be configured in 3 modes: Multi room (3 separate stereo pairs), Surround (5.1) or Digital (SPDIF) mirrors analogue

• Supports any external USB DAC with class compliant interface for audiophile use, optional SPDIF out available for DAC/decoders with SPDIF coaxial input

• Automatic 24 bit up-sampling

• Automatic mirroring to ALAC/mp3 for devices that do not support lossless formats (FLAC)

• Digital Room Correction (DRC) FIR processing add-on for Squeezebox Server

• Remote control applications available for iPhone (Squeeze/SubSonic/MPD) and all phones with Java support (SubSonic/MPD)

• Multiple hard disks can be configured as RAID 1 or RAID 5 for automatic backup/redundancy

• Open standards and Open Source based for ultimate customization and future proofing

Technical information:

• VortexBox software manual: http://vortexbox.org/documentation

• Screen shots (configuration): http://vortexbox.org/screenshots/

• User Reviews: http://www.amazon.com/VortexBox-1TB-Automatic-ripping-NAS/product-reviews/B001VSY66O

• Motherboard specifications: http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/D510MO/D510MO-overview.htm

• Intel High Definition audio: http://www.eetimes.com/design/audio-design/4015755/How-the-Intel-HD-Audio-system-works

Support and warranty:

• 12 mounts full warranty, parts and labor, “Return To Base”

• 30 days installation and configuration support provided via email

• Supplied after 24 hour full stress-test of all components

• Applications and OS support available at vortexbox.com

For other models and optional add-ons, please see: 

• Vortex appliances home page: www.igeneration.co.nz/vortex-appliances

• Frequently Asked Questions: www.igeneration.co.nz/vortex-faq

• Pre-sales support email: vortex@igeneration.co.nz

Notes:

* Tagging and artwork retrieval requires Internet connection and results depend on available databases. On average, meta-data is retrieved with better then 90% accuracy.

Item Code: VortexRack