Philips has added to its Streamium range with the launch of the WAC3500D Wireless Audio Center, which mixes an internal hard drive, iPod dock and USB Direct connectivity into the pot.
The WAC3500D features a reasonable if not all-consuming 80GB hard drive capable of storing around 1,500 CDs. From this hard drive music can be streamed wirelessly to up to five Wi-Fi stations with 'pristine' sound quality, with either the same song on all of them or a different song on each.
CDs can be ripped to the hard drive at MP3 bit rates between 128-320kbps or VBR and WMA at 16-128kbps using the Gracenote song info system for acquiring track listings, artwork etc.
If the rest of your music collection is stored on your PC then the Streamium can receive, play and store MP3 and WMA tracks direct from it. Once stored tracks can be searched by genre, artist, album or track name via the remote with info showing on the backlit LCD display.
Looking to tick every box in the book, Philips has also included an iPod dock for accessing any audio you may have stored solely on your little box of wonders while also charging it.
The USB Direct feature also means any USB drive device can be played back direct via the Philips without the need for a middle man computer. The original plan was that the WAC3500D would include internet radio opening up several thousand radio stations for easy listening, but this function has unfortunately been left out of the UK version - boo!
Sonically, the WAC3500D centre sports 2x40 watt RMS class D digital amp with large-driver compact two-way speakers.
On sale this month for a none too pricey £300, though the Wi-Fi stations are sold separately.
More information: www.philips.co.uk
