Eumeles - Media Player & Stereo Amplifier

This integrated system combines the Media Player & Stereo Amplifier into a compact solution.

• Unlike the usual scenario where users try to run XBMC on all kinds of hardware, this solution tries to build an XBMC appliance, i.e. it provides optimal hardware for an excellent and fluid XBMC experience. This is accomplished by using compact yet powerful off-the-shelf PC hardware, namely Intel Atom processors combined with NVIDIA's ION graphics engine.
• By using compact PC hardware, the media player can be compact too, but also stylish. The objective of the mechanical design was to avoid the player looking like a geeky piece of IT equipment. The goal was to provide a stylish piece of technology that can be comfortably left on view in a living room, blending in with modern hi-fi equipment without being unnecessarily large. It is sleek and minimalist in design.
• This media player has the AC power supply built in. It is viewed as a nuisance to have AC/DC power bricks lying around on the living room floor. They add clutter and deteriorate the visual impression. In addition, cheap external power bricks tend to hum, chirp or buzz. This media player uses a high quality internal AC power adapter.
• This media player features a large 4-line Vacuum Fluorescent Display. Such a display has the advantage of large viewing angles and visibility even in bright sunlight. Most importantly, the size of characters is large enough to be read from up to 3m (10 ft) away. What is the point of having a graphical display that requires the user to get up from the sofa and walk to the media player in order to navigate on a small display with the IR remote control? This media player allows you to remain seated and navigate through your media collection from your sofa!
• The market offers a wide range of amplifiers, in all qualities and powers. Most commercially available amplifiers come with many channels and loads of controls. But why spend money on features that are not needed? All tone and volume control can be done in the media player, partially in the digital domain, and the amplifier only needs to be an amplifier which is integral part of the system.
• Solid state audio stereo amplifiers have been on the market for several decades and the technology appears to be quite mature. The stereo amplifier excels through its simplicity. It uses audiophile amplifier modules in conjunction with high quality power supply units. In addition, the amplifier is only switched on if the media player requires it to be operational.