Shoreditch startup takes on Sonos…
Today, Shoreditch based tech startup Musaic launches a Kickstarter campaign for a new kind of multi-room music system, made up of wireless speakers that can be placed around the home. Led by experienced hi-fi professional Matthew Bramble, Musaic hopes to raise the additional funding they need to take their wireless hi-fi system to production in August this year.
Stylish, compact and simple to use, the Musaic MP5 and MP10 Music Players use standard home Wi-Fi to stream music from almost any device.
With no cables required, Musaic can play music directly from iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones or tablets, PCs and Macs. Instant access to over 20,000 internet radio stations is provided, plus support for a host of popular streaming service apps including Napster, Rhapsody, TuneIn and more. Musaic is also able to stream music stored on networked hard drives and DLNA devices.
Bluetooth compatibility is also standard on all models for total flexibility. However it is the advanced Wi-Fi feature set that makes the Musaic system much more than another Bluetooth speaker.
Demanding audiophiles will enjoy Musaic’s convenience, without compromise on sound quality: both the MP5 and MP10 Music Player are built from top class components and designed by experts with decades of experience in hi-fi. They utilise a fully digital signal path that does not compress music from its original state – even 24-bit recording studio master quality files at up to 24-bit/192 kHz can be played at full resolution.
CEO Matthew Bramble says: “We wanted to create a wireless hi-fi system that first and foremost sounds fantastic. Musaic uses cutting edge digital technology and advanced acoustics and can play uncompressed files for the ultimate audio experience.”
Musaic can also be part of a connected smart home, offering integrated home automation features. Partnerships are in place with companies such as LightwaveRF, whose dimmers, switches, sockets and light bulbs can be controlled by Musaic.
John Shermer, Chief Executive, LightwaveRF says: “We are delighted to be working with Musaic on this exciting and ground breaking project. The synergy between their wireless audio system and our wireless lighting is compelling and allows anyone to create a smart home without the extra wiring, complexity and cost of traditional systems.”
Using a new smart home technology called AllJoyn™, Musaic products will also be able to communicate with products from a wide range of brands such as LG and Panasonic.
The Musaic system comprises wireless speakers available in two sizes. The MP5 Music Player is tuned for use in smaller spaces like bedrooms, studies and kitchens, while the MP10 Music Player offers a more powerful sound with added bass to fill larger areas such as a lounge or dining room.
Listeners can play the same music in every room simultaneously, create groups of Musaic Players to play the same music, or play different songs through each individual Player. The free Musaic Control apps for iOS, Android, PC and Mac give the full scope to browse and play music wherever it is stored.
Users can browse by artist, album or genre, make adjustments to bass and treble and select which speakers to play through.
The final and most simple element of the system is the Musaic Stand, a premium metal stand for tablets or smartphones which works with all standard Apple or Android leads. Each Musaic Player features a matching USB charging output to keep the battery fully topped up on smartphones or tablets.
In order to complete the last leg of the system’s journey from concept to commercial product, Musaic’s campaign on Kickstarter.com is seeking $100,000 USD (£60,000 GBP) in funding over the next 34 days. There are plenty of backer rewards up for grabs including the very first Musaic Players. The estimated delivery date for rewards is September 2014.
Matthew says: “Launching our Kickstarter campaign is a huge milestone for us and is the culmination of months of hard work from a very small but incredibly dedicated team. We hope people will be as excited as we are about Musaic and will support not just the
creation of a new wireless hi-fi system but a dynamic new tech firm.”
For more information, visit www.musaic.com
CONTACT AND PRESS MATERIALS
Email: carolyn.vandongen@musaic.com Twitter: @MusaicHiFi
PRESS KIT DOWNLOAD – HIGH RES IMAGES + LIFESTYLE IMAGES
About Musaic
Musaic is a Shoreditch startup based in the heart of London’s thriving Tech City, a vibrant community of media and technology companies. Led by CEO Matthew Bramble and Marketing Director Carolyn Van Dongen, Musaic was first revealed to the media at CES 2014 and has since appeared at MWC 2014. Musaic aims to promote the enjoyment of music by providing a high quality audio experience through a stylish and flexible wireless Hi-Fi music system which is truly easy to use. Matthew Bramble has over 20 years’ experience in consumer electronics, having worked with some of the biggest brands in the UK and USA. Matthew has designed countless award winning products over his career and is available for interview. For more information, visit musaic.com.
Why Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects and has just passed its billionth dollar pledged to projects. Musaic aims to raise the money it needs for final stages of production by offering Musaic Players from the very first batch, a branded stand for smartphones and tablets alongside the opportunity to be immortalised on the Musaic website as an original Musaic backer.
What is AllJoyn™?
The AllSeen Alliance is a nonprofit consortium which enables and the widespread adoption of smart products and systems that support the ‘Internet of Everything’. Hosting the AllJoyn™ open source software that allows developers and manufacturers to link their devices with one another, the AllSeen Alliance enables Musaic to create a truly connected product for today and tomorrow.
Liat Ben-Zur, Chair of the AllSeen Alliance says “By integrating wireless multi-room audio with the connected home capabilities of the AllJoyn framework, Musaic is exactly the sort of concept we were hoping the AllSeen Alliance would kick-start. It’s a real pleasure to watch an exciting start-up work collaboratively with other companies to achieve an innovative smart-home product eco-system based on a shared open source codebase.”
Musaic Ltd
4-5 Bonhill Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 4BX
Office: +44 (0) 207 558 8984
www.musaic.com
