2.1.1 Package contents

The Audiotron comes with a good number of accessories within the box. You get the Audiotron player, the remote control, software applications on a CD, a Cat-5 Ethernet cable, and a phone line cable for those who plan on using an HPNA network. Unfortunately it would have been nice if Turtle Beach packaged an optical cable but those cables do tend to cost a good amount of money.

2.1.2 In depth specs

For those who want the nitty gritty details of the Audiotron, here they are in their full gory details (Thanks to the Turtle Beach website for this information)

Specifications


Ethernet Network Ethernet 10BaseT (10 Mb/s Ethernet) or 10/100BaseT running TCP/IP. Note: Not compatible with networks which support only Fast Ethernet 100BaseTX (100 Mb/s)

HPNA Network (phoneline) HPNA 2.0 running TCP/IP

Analog Outputs (line) Stereo RCA jack output connectors on rear panel

Analog Outputs (headphone) Stereo ¼" jack output connector on front panel (rear panel line outputs are muted when headphones are inserted)

Maximum Output 1.8Vpp @ 30mA maximum load

Signal to Noise 91dB (A-weighted)

THD+N -78dB (A-weighted)

Crosstalk -66dB @ 1kHz

Analog Line Output impedance <1000ohm

Headphone Output impedance <10 ohm

Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 1dB

DAC resolution 24 bits (16 bits playback resolution)

D/A sampling rates 8 kHz, 11.025 kHz, 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz

Volume Control Variable from -96dB to 0dB in 1dB increments

Max # of catalogued songs More than 30,000 depending upon the of amount of data associated with each song, (e.g. tag data and directory location.)

S/PDIF (Digital Output) TOSlink Fiber Optic connector for Sony/Philips Digital Interface.

S/PDIF Sampling Rates supported 32kHz, 44.1kHz

Weight/Dimensions 17 x 1.75 x 10 inches (430 mm x 44 x 250 mm) / 5.2 pounds (2.4 Kg)

Power Requirements 90VAC - 135VAC 50/60 Hz 250mA max

Remote Control Requires two AAA batteries (included)

File Tags ID3 tags version 1.1 and Version 2.3 formats/ WMA tags/ WAV tags created with AudioStation 4.1 or higher.

Playlist Formats PLS & M3U

Internet Radio Shoutcast and Windows Media formats

2.2 Physical Setup

I purchased the Audiotron approximately 8 months ago as a Christmas present to myself and thus things are a bit different now when it comes to setting up the Audiotron. Back then, it had no webserver interface so configuration of the device was via a software application that you installed on your PC.

However, let's first concentrate on the physical installation of the player. Find a spot in your component system. Hook up a Ethernet cable to the back of the player. Hook the power cord and then connect your audio cables. Here's where it will help if you have an optical digital-in port on your home theater A/V receiver. When I first used the Audiotron's stereo component cables, the music often played with some "static" noise. This occurred every so often which pretty much bugged me. After reading Toms Hardware Guide's review, I got myself a digital optical cable and connected the digital out of the player to the digital in on my receiver, and everything was perfect from that point on.

Back of Audiotron	Back of Auditron with Ethernet	Back of Receiver - hooked into my MD port

It should be noted that the audiotron is compatible with a 10/100 switching network and not a 100BaseTX network by itself. Why? Well simple - the Ethernet port in the back of the device is only rated for 10BaseT. Thus if you've got yourself a network that can work at both speeds, then you're all set.

So up to this point, any person can do this physical setup. However the software and network setup requires more work.

2.3 Software Setup and Configuration

When I first purchased the Audiotron, the software installation was the hardest aspect of the whole process. I would have written a length diatribe about how not all is quite so easy with their software (though not too hard either) except Turtle Beach did one thing along the way in the last 8 months - they added a web server to the Audiotron. So with the recent version 3.0 firmware upgrade, I decided to take a new look into the Audiotron setup via the web server interface. It's not the most beautiful web server you'll see - but it works and that's all that matters!

Booting up the audiotron

2.3.1 Oh where are you??

Ok, so here's the hardest part about all of this - where exactly was the device on my network? Really the best way to figure this out is to go to your Audiotron and look it up under options. From there, you will find both your IP address and the name of the machine on your network. Once you have this information, you can just open up a browser on your favorite computer and access the Audiotron as if it was any webserver. If you're not happy with the settings, then go ahead and change them. You can always assign a static IP address to the player.

Network Configuration via Web Interface

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