The MS-1 from Cary Audio Design, the firm's first hard-drive based audio source, is an IP based device that can be operated wirelessly with an iPhone or iPod touch.

CDs are automatically ripped upon being inserted into the MS-1's disc drive, to a 1TB hard drive capable of storing roughly 2,800 CDs in the lossless FLAC format. The unit ejects the disc after it has completed the transfer.

Then, the MS-1 uses its network connection to search out the artist info, album art and song list for the disc, after which the imported disc is automatically added to the music library. The content of loaded discs is searchable within the custom application available from the iTunes store for an iPhone/iPod touch that acts as the system's controller.

The iPhone/iTunes application affords searching the entire music collection by artist, album, song or genre via swipe gestures. Also included is SHOUTcast Internet radio capability, which can stream any of the thousands of radio stations using that system.

The MS-1 has been designed to be paired with the Xciter Series USB DAC (digital to analog converter). Cary Audio Design holds that outputting the raw digital audio stream of the MS-1's hard drive to the Xciter DAC over USB ensures the "absolute highest level of data transfer and digital-to-analog conversion available from separates costing several times the price."

The MS-1 Music Server is shipping on May 10, 2010 at an MSRP of US$2,500.

For more information, visit www.caryaudio.com.

To find authorized Canadian retailers, contact Advanced Territory Management at (403) 703-0144, g.schmitz@shaw.ca; or North x Northwest Sales and Marketing Inc. at (519) 859-0062, paul@nxnw.ca

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