Teufel Raumfeld Connector review
Useful if you own a powerful hi-fi system, but it’s not as sleek as having wireless speakers
This head unit is part of Teufel’s multi-room audio system. Other products in the range include the Teufel Raumfeld 3CSM plus the Teufel Raumfeld Speaker M and the Teufel Raumfeld Speaker S.
The £270 Raumfeld Connector can add streaming capabilities to an existing hi-fi setup. It looks almost identical to the Base Station, having another large Wi-Fi aerial extruding from the rear, but it has plenty of outputs to make it easy to set up.
As well as one analogue RCA and one digital optical output, it also has an analogue input that lets you connect an auxiliary source to the system. You won’t be able to control it using the Raumfeld Controller, but it should mean less time spent switching between inputs on your hi-fi.
There’s also a USB port that performs the same function as that in the Base Station, so if you’re planning a Raumfeld system without it you’ll still be able to connect a memory stick or external hard disk to play audio files locally.
The Connector appears like any other Raumfeld speaker, and can be controlled in the same way. Volume works independently of the system to which it’s connected, so you don’t have to worry about blowing your ears off when you change to a different source.
If you already own a powerful home cinema system or dedicated hi-fi, the Connector is a worthy addition to a Raumfeld setup, although it won’t be as slick as using a pair of dedicated speakers. You’ll have to turn on the amplifier manually and set it to the correct input before you can start listening, which is less than ideal if you want one-touch multi-room audio.
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | *** |
Media Streamer type | audio streaming device |
Audio Compatibility | |
Audio MP3 playback | Yes |
Audio WMA playback | Yes |
Audio WMA-DRM playback | No |
Audio AAC playback | Yes |
Audio Protected AAC playback | No |
Audio OGG playback | Yes |
Audio WAV playback | Yes |
Audio Audible playback | No |
Other audio formats | FLAC |
Video Compatibility | |
Other video formats | none |
Image Compatibility | |
Image BMP support | No |
Image JPEG support | No |
Image TIFF support | No |
Network Interfaces | |
Wired network ports | 1x 10/100 |
Wireless networking support | Yes |
AV Interfaces | |
Minijack line outputs | 0 |
Minijack headphone outputs | 0 |
Stereo phono outputs | 1 |
Coaxial S/PDIF outputs | 0 |
Optical S/PDIF outputs | 1 |
Total SCART sockets | 0 |
HDMI outputs | 0 |
Component outputs | 0 |
S-video output | 0 |
Composite outputs | 0 |
Other connectors | USB |
Physical | |
Size | 30x155x130mm |
Power consumption standby | 1W |
Power consumption on | 5W |
Server Compatibility | |
Software included | none |
UPnP | Yes |
iTunes | Yes |
SlimServer | No |
SMB | Yes |
Buying Information | |
Price | £270 |
Warranty | 12 years RTB speakers, 2 years RTB electronics |
Supplier | http://www.teufelaudio.co.uk |
Details | www.teufel.eu |