Sony’s Entrance to the Home Wi-Fi Audio Realm - CPF-IX001
Sony officially launched the CPF-IX001 today, months after it was initally debuted at CES 2006 with little specification. It is an impressive device coming from Sony, as it embraces many technologies not present in their current product lineup with support for numerous services.
The CPF-IX001 wireless streaming music player is compact in size, offering high-powered micro-speakers and a subwoofer. The device can be easily networked with a PC and a wireless 802.11 b/g access point for direct playback of music stored on a hard drive.Additionally, the unit is Sony’s first to include a power line transmission technology transferring both power and audio signals over the same cable. The player is compatible with a variety of popular music download services.
“Digital music downloads are skyrocketing and not all consumers are organizing their music collection on their computers,” said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division “Our wireless music streaming system lets you listen to content stored on your PC all over your house or apartment. The system is compact enough to fit in a kitchen or on a nightstand, yet still fills a room with powerful sound.”
Consumers can now enjoy Sony CONNECT™, iTunes, Windows Media Audio and other music file types stored on their PCs in the home, with the CPF-IX001 wireless streaming music system. After loading the supplied M-crew software, the product just needs power, an 802.11 b/g access point, and an Ethernet connection, automatically configuring to a home network.
Once connected to the network, the device creates its own unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. Consequently, if multiple players are stationed around the house they can simultaneously stream music from the networked PC wirelessly.
Additionally, the system automatically searches for music files when connected to a network for simple content navigation by disc, artist and genre. The player also provides play list creation that can be accessed via remote control.
The wireless streaming music player is Sony’s first to use a power line transmission technology. The process provides power to both the main unit and its subwoofer while transmitting audio signals to the subwoofer. As a result, the product was designed with a small footprint for placement almost anywhere in the home.
The system also features Sony’s S-Master® digital amplifier providing superior sound from its compact speakers. Other features include an audio input and remote control.
The wireless music system will be available in August for about $300.
The important question…
UPnP/DLNA compliant? Or have Sony killed it as soon as it was born, by using propitery protocols…
Anyone know???
Great, it’ll play songs from iTunes, but will it play DRM-Protected songs from iTunes?
That’s the shortcoming of Roku and Squeezebox et al…
jwer said:
If the CPF-IX001’s playback feature is anything like its predecessor (the NAS-CZ1), it should support playback of DRM-iTunes music and regular AAC. The NAS-CZ1 is also UPnP/DLNA compliant, so it’s plausible to expect the CPF-IX001 to be as well.
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Just bought this beaut and it is the dogs’ you know what.
Such a BIG sound from such a baby
I got hooked up on the FIRST try - you configure it using the wired connection first and then go wireless.
It plays my wma lossless files no prob - even the 24bit ones and I love the clear display and buttons to add songs to your favourite playlist on the remote.
It IS DLNA compliant so you dont have to use MCREW (but it works fine for me).
BUT the box doesn’t say anything about itunes DRM files and as I ain’t got any I cant tell you sorry
Anyone know if this will work via Sony’s SonicStage?
Please i need help to setup the CPF-IX001, i have connect with ethernet lan but i can’t connect with WiFi, Something is going wrong. i use the CPF-IX001, a Netgear Access point and my laptop. Please help to gonfigure the device i get all the time No Server message from CPF-IX001…
Thanks John
John, if you’ve got Vista on your laptop, CPF-IX001 doesn’t work. I’ve got one as well, and I’ve tried everything - the only thing that worked for me was connecting to another computer with XP, which sort of defeats the object….
Has anyone managed to use this with Vista? I cannot find any true/false compatability info anywhere.
I got this today and it looks perfect. It’s so beautifully made and the sound it produces bigs up Sony’s already well established name when it comes to quality.
However, I initially wanted to have a mobile speaker as I travel to and fro London and Philippines. Those who own this may agree that the subwoofer that comes with it (which also powers this equipment) is HUGE and heavy.
Now my question is, is it possible to run this on a different 12v dc to power adapter? That way I don’t have to lug around the subwoofer with me, saving me some precious kilo allowances for my luggages.
Can anyone help?
How do i connect my CPF-IXOO1 to my Acer Aspire 1522WLMI?Can anybody help please?I have tried plugging it into the ethernet port on the back of the said laptop and performing the search for it but it couldn’t find it?I had the wireless connection turned on on my laptop if that’s any help?Do i need to plug it into a wireless router to set it up?
Can anyone help please?
Alan,
You need to follow through each of the configurations as per the instruction sheet and the manual on the supplied CD. It’s a bit fiddly at first but then does make sense.
Plug in to the LAN on your laptop, then select REGISTER on the dock, and then open equipment list on your computer and select manual, it will then find the dock.
Then select Wireless Lan on the dock, and on your computer open the WLAN program. Again, your dock will be found and a login page will appear.
Enter root into the name, and leave password blank.
Now set up your wi-fi settings (as per your router).
Unplug the LAN cable, and switch the dock to ‘wireless’
Done!
Steve
Thanks Steve will try that.
Have another problem would you believe it!
I can’t seem to convert avi files into mp4 to play on my Sony Nw-A805.when i used the bundled converter sofware it keeps coming up with an error message at the end saying this file could not be supported?i have also tried using Apex super video converter to convert avi to mp4 but without any success.
can anyone please help?
To Alan,
Hi. I first had the same problem with transferring movies to my psp. I tried many softwares like PSP9 or something of the sort but they were either just trial programs or that they seriously F’ed up my other computer.
Then, I saw a tutorial at . Basically, scroll down and click on the 3gp link download the zip file and run the installer. Don’t be taken aback by the strange letters because they’re meant to be japanese. Once you installed the program, you can change them to English easily.
The whole point of this is that I use the same program to convert videos (mostly so far I’ve tried downsizing mp4 videos, and AVIs). You basically just drag and drop the videos you want and let it convert them. Put in your NWA8, sit back and enjoy.
Just in case you’re wondering, why I am on about my psp, I do have NWA808 so I can guarantee that it works. ; )
Ok, so I followed the setup instructions exactly but still can’t get the base unit to configure. It tells me ‘No Server’ and my PC says the LAN has ‘Limited or no Connectivity’. I ticked all the ‘Allow Access’boxes during installation and the ICF settings are all in the green. The PC knows something is connected beacause whenever Is witch off the CPF it tells me a network cable is unplugged. It’s exactly the same when I try to connect with my laptop. I know the ethernet ports on each computer work correctly as I’ve had other devices connected through them. Any ideas? I think it’s a addressing issue but I have no idea where to go from here.
I have the same problem as Trolleys - cant get my PC to recognise / configure with the CPF using the ethernet hard-wire connection. I am using a cable modem wireless router as well, which might be getting in the way…any thoughts appreciated!
When you connect your speakers to your computer, scroll using the remote until you find WLAN. Enter and you should see the speaker’s IP address xxx.yyy.zzz.aa Then go to Sony Wireless Assistant on your com and once it found your speakers, click next. You will be taken to your internet browser with the Wireless Admin.
The rest are self explanatory but you have to put in your SSID for your router (i.e. the exact name you named your router, that also appears when you connect for wireless connection - BT Homehub, or Belkin or Netgear). And the exact same password you use to gain access to the network.
Restart your computer and the speaker. Hopefully that should work.
Cheers - i got it to work by directly hooking upto the router. The sound on the unit is good, however the navigation menu is a bit ropey and the wi-fi dropout rate is quite high. The instruction ‘manual’ is a disgrace.
I would avoid advise avoiding this product. The player is nice but the software and firmware is hideous. IMHO any dropout in audio is unacceptable - it defeats the purpose when you could just attach an ipod etc and not put up with it.
M-Crew is ugly and horribly clunky. My experience is that it is slow and crashes frequently even on Vaios. Its web radio options are abysmal given the possibilities out there.
Sony customer support is pathetic on this product - it seem to sit somewhere uncomfortable in their structure between computers and hifi - after three months of waiting for assistance i sold my player. It is a badly designed product and Sony don’t give a toss. It has really put me off them as a company.
If you have one good luck - but if not avoid!
I have just bought te CPF-IX001 with the NW-A806 player I cannot get the CPF to work with Windows Vista, Orange Livebox using the ethenet connection plugged in directly I keep getting NO SERVER. I have read the articles here can anyone help?
Duncan (and others).
Sony have released updated software and firmware for the CPF-IX001 which even works with Vista (just about). You can find it on their website.
Apple could youplease provide a link to the location. Kind Regards and Ill let you know and everyone else how I got on
Here’s the link fella.
http://support.sony-europe.com/hav/hac/hta/hta.asp?l=en&sc=juke&m=CPF-IX001
I installed the new software but the receivers tend to just pick up WMP and not M-crew. I’m going to try a virtual console XP, see if that helps.
cheers for the link matt, ill let the forum know how I got on. Any luck from your side yet?
I am having the same problem with my mcrew server. I have installed mcrew version 2.5, I have windows vista and my unit still does not recognize the mcrew server. It does, however, recognize the windows media player. I don’t think this version of mcrew server fixed any problem at all.
Has anybody sucessfully found the mcrew server on a vista O/S? If so please share how you did it.
One thing I noticed with the connection and software is that if you right click the m-server task icon. Click stop music, wait 10 seconds and then click start music the dock usuall finds the music. Terrible set up though !
Benjiq, is this for a Vista O/S? I will give it a try, but consistent failures to find a solution has made me skeptical.
I tried your solution and no luck for me. This is getting extremely frustrating.
Dear All
I also have troubles on vista - I tried to make a instalation on a XP computer and it worked pefectly. Have any one heard about anybody who has made it work on vista? Sony tells me that I should try and turn off all firewal and antivirus software. But how do I do that? Norten is always running when first intalled.
Hi,
I’ve just bought an IX001 and there’s no problem when it’s linked with the lan wire on my Compaq… when i try to connect it on wifi i I keep getting no SERVER (as duncan). Does anyone get a solution?