RCA Lyra RD900W Digital Media Streamer

This item has good sound and range. I haven't yet experienced a loss in sound quality when playing my MP3 collections and I have only noticed occassional tumbles in the transmition. The receiver part shows full signal strength when placed 25 feet away from the source in my apt (w/ 2 walls between. It has Excellent build quality. Also, it didn't stop working after my son tore the atena off. I dropped it a couple of times from the table too. The unit seems also well designed and strongly built. It's rare for a product in this price range. It had simple setting up. You DO NOT need to intall any softwares to make it work(unless you want to use the remote control). Just change the device designated by the media player (on your computer) from default to Lyra wireless (option/player/device/speaker when using Windows Media Player). By changing the setting, the sound will bypass the soundcard and computer speaker and go directly to Lyra. The cons are: POOR mannual and customer service. I figured out 3 (how to set up) by trying and error. The instruction manual didn't teach you this and just let you to install the things on the acompanying CD. I called RCA's customer service # and it routed me to the philipines. The c.s. reps speak good English but seem to know nothing about the product. Fortunately, I figured out how to make it work.
 
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Easy to setup. Works like a charm. Only (minor) issue was that the MusicMatch software that came with the product did not work with Windows XP SP2 - needed to upgrade to the latest version (but the upgrade is painless). Will definitely recommend this to anyone.
 
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I agree with the many positive reviews of this product. I also would like to thank the rest of the people who reviewed the item. I found their comments and suggestions very helpful in determining how best to use the product with newer music software, such as itunes.
 
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Superbly simple to setup and use, incredible value (they must be discontinuing them or something). My only complaint is that I've found the remote (which would be wonderful if it worked) to be about worthless. It only functions with Musicmatch Jukebox & Rhapsody - which for me is fine since I use Rhapsody - and yet when I try to use the remote it does NOTHING. The system makes a sound whenever I hit a button, but there is no response from the system to the remote. That is disappointing and the only reason I gave it an overall of 4. Even w/o the remote, it's a fantastic device and super easy to use. I do wish however that it didn't completely take over your computer's soundcard (maybe there's no other way) when it's on so that my computer's speakers could also be playing when the device is in use.
 
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The RCA Lyra Wireless is flawless and now I can listen to internet radio on my Bose Wave which is in a different part of my home. The only thing I wish is that when using transmitter my computer sound card is bypassed and only the Bose works- oh well.. I'm still happy ( :
 
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I am not one to write a review; in fact, while I like to read and benefit from reviews, I always wonder "who has time to write one??" I am taking the time to write for the first time for this AWESOME product. I purchased this kit, along with 3 other receivers. I also purchased 3JBL Platinum series speakers from buy.com. I have my whole house wireless in music. The transmitter hooked up to my computer in the upstairs office, the first receiver is attached to my stereo in the living room. Then each of the 3 remaining receiver/speakers are in my bathroom, bedroom and patio. Awesome! Music everywhere!
 
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It is a wonderfull addition to your stereo system. Well worth the money and easy to install. The only little thing, the remote can't control my receiver. Powefull mediaplayer program included.
 
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This is a great deal for the price. I was a little disappointed that they didn't support a WinAMP plug-in but after some dabbling with WinAMP, I found that you can output your music to the device. If you go into the preferences under "Options", then click on Output, almost any plug-in will allow you to select another device to output your music to. Unfortunately, I haven't found one that will still output to my computer speakers and my stereo at the same time. Some plug-ins have better quality than others so you might want to check out all the default ones. WinAmp also offers many free ones that let you tweak the sound quality more.
 
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Product works well except for the remote which won't control popular online music programs like Rhapsody or Yahoo music. Sound quality is excellent.
 
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This is a great buy. The sound quality is excellent and the remote works in every spot in my 1,800 sq ft home. I bought a 2nd receiver - might buy a third. Only complaint is that the remote only seems to work with an older version of MusicMatch. I wished it worked with WinAmp.
 
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I've wanted something like this for a while, but didn't want to shell out the big $$$. As I understand it, this model is being discontinued. In addition to my main stereo, I also bought the extra receiver and hooked it up to an old pair of computer speakers in the kitchen. The sound quality while not pristine, is very good. I'm in an apartment building with lots of units. Occasionally I hear a slight popping noise. It's not a glitch in the song or in my computer, but sounds like a pop you'd hear when listening to an LP. I've tried all four channels on the unit. A friend of mine also bought the Lyra. He has his own house, and this doesn't happen to him. It could be electrical, or cordless phone interference. Oh well, it doesn't really bother me, but worth mentioning in a review. The remote looks nice, but I don't use it since I'm on Winamp and the remote is MusicMatch only. This device would get 5 stars if RCA would have developed a Winamp plugin for the remote.
 
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Wow, my first review of something. I must like it. I bought this because I didn't want to run wires and I was tired of cranking the volume on my pc to hear it in the house. I bought a sender and 3 receivers. I have it set up at the pool, inside and upstairs. It is really nice to have music playing all through the house. I had no problems installing it or setting up. I had a channel conflict once, but that is so easy to change and I haven't had the problem since. When I'm out at the pool I use my wireless laptop to remote desktop back to my desktop PC, then I can create playlists and do everything else I need to. I don't use musicmatch, so the remote didn't work for me, I wished it worked with mediamonkey. I use the online feature of sirius satellite radio, that works really well.
 
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This gizmo is an incredible value. It works great. I play my mp3 music upstairs on the PC and listen to it downstairs on the stereo. Here is the only drawback I've found: There appears to be no easy toggle switch to redirect the sound from PC speakers to stereo and back again. This is an inconvenience as I must go to Control Panel, Sounds, Audio to reselect my desired default device and then restart Rhapsody. Oh yeah, I had to download a more recent driver to accommodate Rhapsody, too. Also, I've had little luck using the remote and wonder if it only works properly with MusicMatch. This is no big deal to me and I could be doing something wrong. Overall, this is a low cost solution to redirecting sound from your PC to stereo. I'm very pleased and recommend the product.
 
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Great product. DH even complimented me on this purchase. Easy to install and plays perfectly. My computer is in the basement and I hooked a receiver up to my Bose Wave radio in the main part of the house and now that entire floor of the house is filled with deep rich music. I purchased an extra receiver to hook up to my rock speakers in the back yard for outdoor entertaining. Can't wait to test it out this Memorial Day weekend. No more commercials and no need to change CD's. This is exceptional (and cheap too)!
 
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The product was a very easy to set-up and basic software works find. I already use Musicmatch so I didn't need to install. I noticed it works fine with other music software once Lyra is setup as primary soundcard via control panel. Noticed I have to change back to PC sound card and retart computer to hear music from existing PC speakers. I'm still working on getting remote to work as advertised. Sound quality is OK for price. Overall,a great inexpensive toy for those who love music gadgets.
 
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This device is fantastic for the price and works as advertised. Not audiophile quality, but good enough. pianobar, I'm sure many users of this product would be VERY interested in Winamp plugin. I'd love to see that made available so that we can use the remote without having to install MusicMatch.
 
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I just plugged the transmitter into my XP machine and it automatically started using it. The transmitter installs as a second sound card. Your machine doesn’t need a sound card nor does the quality of it matter. A big bonus for me, cause my sound card has a slight hum in the background. The sound quality is great with no background noise usually associated with wireless transmitters. Based on the lack of any noise and the way it hooks up, it appears that it takes the digital sound signal straight from the computer, and transmits it to the receiver, then converts it to analog for the stereo to use via the RCA jacks. I haven’t setup or used the remote yet. What a deal! You also get a full universal remote also.
 
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The item was a little tricky to install and in some instances you have to use the included software for the unit to operate. It worked fine with windows media player. But the software which came with it which is musicmatch really requires that you subscribe to the service in order to adjust the equalizer. But windows media player is free and its equalizer works fine. The sound quality is a little mechanical sounding. But is ok for over the air transmission. Forget using the remote for most of the functions it claims can be performed. But for under $30 it is a great deal the RCA remote is worth that much by itself.
 
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I love to listen to streaming music through the internet. I can't always be in the same room that my computer is in. This transmitter allows me to be anywhere in the house near a stereo and I can hear my internet music!
 
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I bought this item but I was skeptical initially because my computer is on top floor & stereo is down floor. When installed, it worked so perfectly first time itself, its amazing. Result is awesome. There was no problem in installation hardware or software. Install xmitter on PC & reciever on stereo, install software on PC, & bam, you are ready to roll. My wife luved it. This could be very good gift idea.
 
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At $20 my expectations for this device were not high, however I was blown away how good it is. I hooked it straight up to my windows laptop and it allowed to pump my iTunes to my hi-fi without using any additional software. I also set it up on our Mac the same way and it worked a treat. It comes with a wireless remote, but I did not bother setting that up, as according to the instructions this is for MusicMatch that is shipped with the unit.
 
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An excellent device. Sound is amazing. Only drawback is that I cannot get the remote to work with Rhapsody or Yahoo Music Engine but this is no biggie for me.
 
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I'm another iTunes user. I plugged in the transmitter and it loaded itself on my XP machine. I plugged in the receiver and hooked it up to my stereo. Turned on iTunes and had music 5 minutes after I started the whole process. It doesn't get much easier than that. I chucked the software that came with it. It might be great, but I didn't need it.
 
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As others have written, the RCA Lyra Wireless works flawlessly and is an absolute steal. Do not hesitate to buy one. Apparently, it's been discontinued (no idea why) and that's the reason for the super low price. You might consider picking up multiple units for spare parts and so that you'll have extra receivers for multiple locations in your house. It should be possible soon to use the remote control with WINAMP by installing a WINAMP plug-in. I reverse-engineered the remote control protocol and made a plug-in for the older WINAMP 3. Just need to write a WINAMP 5 plug-in now... the same could probably be done for iTunes, if there is interest.
 
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I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about the glowing reviews this device was getting, but I figured for 20 bucks I'd give it a shot. I followed another reviewers advice and did not install the software on the cd since I use iTunes and Jet Audio for my music playing. I have an old Dell Dimension 8200, hooked everything up, XP recognized and installed the drivers and I was pumping crystal clear music to my stereo 50 feet away. I cannot believe how good it sounds! No hiss or static unless its in the original file i'm playing. Don't know why it works so well, but for the price I just bought 2 more and I'm installing a receiver in the garage and downstairs family room. What a cheap way to wire my house for sound. Another bonus is it comes with a RCA universal remote control! Great product!
 
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This product is awesome!!! Like everyone else says it just works.. Excellent sound quality and I am getting 100% signal in my 900 SQ FT apartment from bedroom to living room. In addition to what is described in manual there are two not so obvious ace points of this product. 1. If you dont insert the CD that came with product and just plug in product, it will install itself as sound card, this means you just select Lyra wireless as output from sounds panel and enjoy ANYTHING your computer can play on your stereo 2. This product broadcasts your music so if you get additional receivers then multiple stereo systems in multiple rooms can receive audio from one transmitter, awesome setting for controlling entire home's music from one place. Very satisfied with this product.
 
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Did anyone know that this thing can play even if you directly hook the speakers to the receiver!!!!!!!!!!! You don't need a stereo system. Just plug in the speakers and it works. This thing is beyond anyone's expectations. Its beyond any description. Its the best audio device/accessory that I have ever known that makes your listening life easy.
 
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Well, all I can say is that you cannot beat the price and you cannot beat the quality of the unit. It was very easy to install i have my pc up stairs and my receiver downstairs in a room not even directly below the first and it works without any hiss problems at all.. OH did I mention that the remote works from dowstairs to control the volume music etc. This thing rocks kudos to Buy.com for the price..I have told any audiophiles that I know! I do use MMJB for the program and it works just fine, audio doesnt play out of the pc at the same time.
 
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This is a really great product...at such a great bargain....Everything works great and is really simple to use.... Just one thing what I would have loved to see in this, would have been compatibility with any media player....I mean, the way it functions with music match, i.e with options like changing song from remote itself, stopping it, playing it and dah dah....it should have an option to do it with winamp, windows media player etc too... Rest, its all perfect!!! 5 on 5 ;)
 
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My Lyra was shipped ASAP and arrived in perfect condition (04/13/06). I was impressed with the sleek light weight futuristic design. After reading the set up instructions, which are in layman's terms, and inserting the CD to install the program, everything went fine. I did not get any response from the unit when I first ran a playlist from my music file. Two reasons: 1. If you have your music files saved as wma. you must first download the wma drives for the Lyra to play those files (the software program automatically directed me to its website for downloading the files)- 2. Make sure you have an available usb port that accepts the Lyra (I had at first used a usb in the rear of my Gateway 9310X but soon realized it worked through the front usb panel). As far as sound quality - it worked like a charm, good full stereo sound. If you do experience "dropout" or interference from the transmitter, you have other channel numbers (frequencies) to use. Mine worked fine on channel 4. I would not hesitate to refer anybody to this fine product!
 
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.... right out of the box. Took 10 minutes to set up (if that). You DO NOT have to install the MusicMatch software. I use iTunes. Simply select the Lyra 900W for audio output (Sounds/Control Panel) and off you go. Sound quality is excellent though I haven't really tested the range. I'm going from one floor to the floor directly below.... a distance of approx. 20ft. Its idiot proof, cheap and IT WORKS!!!
 
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This cool little device made my music listening so much more pleasurable! I'm in the processing of ripping all my CDs and transferring them to an old laptop. The laptop stays out in the dining room and the Lyra wireless transmitter beams the signal over to the receiver connected to my home theatre system in the family room. We don't use the remote much, since we control everything at the laptop. But it's helpful in that if my husband is cooking in the kitchen, he'll queue up a few albums on the laptop and keep the remote handy to skip songs occasionally. This is a really inexpensive, easy, and dependable way to get wireless music. All my CDs are now filed in 3-ring binders and after they get ripped, I probably won't access them much anymore. GREAT solution, RCA!
 
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It completely answers the need to connect your computer to the home stereo system without spending big bucks. After a few reviews of the installation manual, all worked perfect right from the box. Suggest it to all of my friends.
 
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Works great but will interfere with the remote used with Windows Media edition. Just do not load the Remote software if you want to use the remote for windows Media Edition. I wish they would sell extra receivers.
 
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Tired of lugging the laptop to listen to my Major League Baseball subscription or MP3's I decide to give this a try. All I did was plug the units in to the AC, USB, and stereo. It worked immediately. I mean immediately! Reading reviews about the remote and software, I did not install those. The transmitter installed itself as a sound card right away. No sound in the computer room, but sound is anywhere else my stereo has speakers. You CAN have sound everywhere, but you will be limited only to what the enclosed software can play. Using the device as a sound card, however, means you can listen through your stereo to your sports, music, satellite stations, or to WHATEVER you may subsribe over the web or ANYTHING your 'puter can play. It operates on 900hz so no problem with the wireless network, and my stereo is 60 feet away through 3 walls - full signal. Looks as though this is about to be discontinued, so act now!
 
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I am pleasantly surprised how amazing this thing is. I was skeptical due to the number of cordless phones in my area, digital networks, and interference. There is absolutely no static in the signal at all.
 
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I just got this wireless transmitter/receiver and it works like a dream. Easy installation and great sound quality. I didn't even have to extend the antennaes. Like another reviewer said, it's a shame you can't buy a lone receiver so you can hook up multiple stereos throughout the house.
 
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The Lyra wireless works great like everyone says. Simple and gets the job done. My only complaint is that if you want sound to come out of your computer speakers you need to buy another Lyra receiver. The Lyra will take the place of your computer's sound card. So if your computer and stereo are in two different rooms you need another receiver in the same room as your computer so you can hear the sound there (which means buying the whole set again - transmitter, reciever, remote control). And you need some sort of speakers that accept the RCA jacks - like your stereo (most computer speakers don't). But given the price it's still a good deal. RCA is just dragging their feet to come out with a receiver only product.
 
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Computer on 2nd floor, stereo on the 1st. The product does exactly what is supposed to. Setup on Win XP was very easy, no problems. My only complaint is that remote control only works with music management software included w/ product. I already use iTunes application and wasn't interested in switching. However, if you create good playlists, then remote isn't necessary.
 
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I'm so impressed with the crystal clear sound quality from this transmitter/reciever!!! And for the price, it is a steal! I love it! I couldn't be happier.
 
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1. Ease of use: truly plug-'n-play (with Windows XP). Just power it up (transmitter & receiver), connect to stereo, and plug in USB connection. The Lyra device is immediately recognized in Windows sound/devices folder, and also in the Musicmatch output control window. It's up and running, all without installing a single byte of software (you don't have to use Musicmatch if you don't want to - just select the Lyra in the Windows sound device folder and use whatever media player you prefer). Once installed, the remote control software is light and won't drain system resources when running in the system tray. 2. Performance: sound quality is very good, far better than I expected for a 900 Mhz device. Clarity surpassed my expectations. Haven't experienced any signal dropouts or interference (although the transmitter & receiver are only separated by a couple of sheetrock walls and there's no other 900 Mhz devices in the house). 3. Value: exceptional. There's nothing else around doing this sort of thing, and doing it this well, at this price (and believe me, I've spent quite some time looking into this stuff). Also, Buy.com's price is the best I've found. 4. Negatives: few and insignificant. Product could use an LCD display (for viewing local music library like my SMC EZ-Stream 802.11 wireless audio adapter has, which I use as a companion to the Lyra). The included universal remote control is a bit bulky (why not just a smaller, dedicated remote? Who needs a universal remote when we already have about half-a-dozen remotes kicking around - what's another added to the collection!). Also, to use the Lyra, you have to change the Musicmatch output control setting from computer's sound card to the Lyra (and then re-start Musicmatch for the change to take effect), although this is probably more a reflection on the Musicmatch software (which I'm quite fond of) than the Lyra device. 4. Overall: highly pleased with this thing. Can't go wrong at Buy.com's price.
 
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I bought this item so I could play my mp3's through my home theater. The sound is crystal clear even when played very loud. The setup is very easy and can be done in 10 minutes. The only thing I don't like is the chime sound is set as 'on' by default and the default can't be changed. I also don't like the fact that there is no lcd, but the price makes up for that. Other than that, it is an awesome product and I would recommend it to anyone.
 
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