Acer iRhythm K.O. Wired Remote Tuner

Rating:
Summary: Glorified remote control
Review: "You can then connect the iRhythm K.O. to computer speakers or a home stereo in the same room as your PC."

The above statement is a bit misleading. The iRhythm has no audio processing built in whatsoever, and the only connector available is a USB connector for the remote control receiver (one half of the transmitter/receiver pair). You can connect your speakers or home stereo to your computer sound card output using the supplied cable. I imagine most people who buy this device will already have speakers hooked up to their computer. Note that to get your computer sound out of your living room stereo, you will likely need to run an audio cable between each. From the manual: "Q:If I don't want to run a wire from my PC to my stereo, what else can I use? A:There are a variety of radio frequency transmitters that operate over 88-107Mhz, 900MHz, or 2.4GHz that plug into your PC and transmit to your stereo." In that case, additional equipment would need to be purchased.

As a wireless remote control for your PC's *existing* audio system, the iRhythm is not bad, but only works with the supplied software, and custom configuration appears to be limited to station presets and playlists. There appears to be a rich, though not exhaustive, set of internet stations to choose from, and this list is being regularly updated.

Rating:
Summary: Glorified remote control
Review: "You can then connect the iRhythm K.O. to computer speakers or a home stereo in the same room as your PC."

The above statement is a bit misleading. The iRhythm has no audio processing built in whatsoever, and the only connector available is a USB connector for the remote control receiver (one half of the transmitter/receiver pair). You can connect your speakers or home stereo to your computer sound card output using the supplied cable. I imagine most people who buy this device will already have speakers hooked up to their computer. Note that to get your computer sound out of your living room stereo, you will likely need to run an audio cable between each. From the manual: "Q:If I don't want to run a wire from my PC to my stereo, what else can I use? A:There are a variety of radio frequency transmitters that operate over 88-107Mhz, 900MHz, or 2.4GHz that plug into your PC and transmit to your stereo." In that case, additional equipment would need to be purchased.

As a wireless remote control for your PC's *existing* audio system, the iRhythm is not bad, but only works with the supplied software, and custom configuration appears to be limited to station presets and playlists. There appears to be a rich, though not exhaustive, set of internet stations to choose from, and this list is being regularly updated.

Rating:
Summary: iRhythm remote not functional
Review: I was really excited about the possibility of having internet radio available away from my computer. I enjoy listening to the radio at night while I go to sleep but the local stations [are not good]. I found out about and bought the iRhythm remote system and a stereo with an aux input so I could use it. The iRhythm remote was [inexpensive] but the stereo was not. Unfortunately the remote does not work well at my location. I can get a signal if I prop up the receiver within 12 feet of the sending unit but it has a lot of static. This makes it virtually useless for me. I also have trouble opening the software and I am not sure whether it is a server problem on the net or what. Sometimes it works sometimes not. I will say that I have Windows XP home, and that is not supported by iRhythm but I do not think that is the problem. I still want remote internet radio and will buy the first thing that comes out that looks like it will work. Maybe the Philips MC i250? Fingers crossed here.