Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Question about Sooloos Ensemble

I am looking at purchasing a used Ensemble and have reviewed the manual online. It appears that it has 4 analog zones and one digital zone for a total of five zones. My question is are the zones distinct, meaning that I would be able to play different songs in each zone at the same time and control each zone with a separate iPad or iPhone.

I currently have an MC200 (controlled by an iPad), but it is limited to a single zone of playback unless you use a computer with their Control software.

Yes, they really are distinct Zones.

However, I believe the digital output is not upsampling, so you will be loosing sound quality in comparison with the MC200. I'm not sure what the quality of the analogue zones are.

To put it from the other side, what are you requirements regarding zones? (For example, if you only want one more, a second MC200 would likely be a better idea.)

It will be used in my wife's dance studio which has three classrooms, each of which needs to be able to play different songs at the same time (hence the need for three distinct zones). Each classroom already has a wall-mounted iPad installed, so that eiminates the need for mutiple Control:10/15.

I found a used Ensemble that is way cheaper than purchasing two more MC200's. Even if the sound quality is not as good as the MC200 that will be ok. They currently are using CD's which tend to get damaged or disappear or their own iPod's with low bit-rate files, so even if the sound quality is not as good as the MC200 it will be more than adequate.

I currently own one MC200 that I bought just to try out to make sure it will meet the requirements of the studio and be easy for the teachers to use. It exceeds both of these requirements and will allow my wife to limit the music that is played in the studio (ie music that is appropriate since young children make up 95% of her students.

I have it connected to my McIntosh MC500's digital input and the sound quality and convenience is unbeatable, part of which is to the DAC in the MC500. Assuming the Ensemble will work at the studio and I'm addicted to the MC200 I am thinking that I'll just keep it for myself. I would immediately replace te drive in the used Ensemble before deploying it.

As sound quality is not your first concern in this usage, sounds like an Ensemble would be perfect.

As long as the quality is decent it should be more than sufficient and anything has to an improvement over lossy AAC files. Of course I am assuming the Ensemble can handle Apple Lossless files like the MC200 can.

If someone can confirm this I'd appreciate it.

Yes, the Ensemble and MC200 use the same Music Library Structure and Files

In fact, if the Music on your MC200 is appropriate for what you want in the Studio, then probably best to do as follows

1) BackUp the MC200 to another Network Hard Drive (or USB if necessary)

2) Restore the same Backup from above onto your Ensemble

This will save a lot of File Importing and Re-Ripping etc.

Thanks for the tip on the export/import.

I have since located a Control:10 (late 2009), a TwinStore, and SourceOne forsignificantly less than a Control15. I know this would only give me two zones, so I'd still need to get another SourceOne or possibly could still use the Ensemble and resell the SourceOne.

Will the Ensemble work with the Control:10? Any reason not to use them together?

Can't help but think that the Ensemble playing into 3 to 5 Zones, and controlled by iPads, is the best route forward for your Dance Studio application.

That way, the only items that the "public" interacts with are the iPads, minimizing possible damage etc.

It would also be much easier to set up etc.

A Control:10 will work with an Ensemble or a TwinStore and SourceOne but it's probably better suited to home use IMHO

I've upped the ante a little bit and decided to purchase the Control:10 system, which includes the SourceOne (that I will probably resell) and the Ensemble. The Control:10 unit will go in her office (not accessible to the public) so she can do importing and playlist creation there and listen if necessary. I know that Control:Mac software is available, but it is not the greatest though it does work.

The ensemble will then be providing music to all three studios and if she expands we are covered for a few more zones.

Will there be any issues with using a Control:10, TwinStore, and Ensemble together?

No, provided you switch off the Sooloos core in the Ensemble and just use the one in the C10 (Note: Core in C10 has more power than Ensemble).

Regards,
Carl

Thanks for all of the information. I'm moving forward with all the pieces. I will post back to this thread once the system has been deployed.

You need both TwinStore and store on ensemble? You may well end up offloading the TwinStore too.