Because the Linksys speakers were not yet available to us as of the time of this review, I connected the Wireless Home Audio Premier Kit to my sound system in both my living room and office. The sound was nice and clear - and with the 30 day trial of Rhapsody included with Linksys, I was able to expand my normal music library. Since I was using my own speakers, I could tell that the sound was crisp and clear. Navigating from different artists and songs was very easy with the use of the included Wi-Fi remote. There is something nice about having a powerful LCD touchscreen remote that can control, not only what you are currently listening to in your room, but also drive musical content to any other room in the home with the touch of a button.

To find music through Rhapsody, you are able to search for music, artist, genre, etc. by simply typing the letters via the number keypad on the remote. Much like texting on a cell phone, you slowly spell out who or what you are looking for and the system provides the search results. I did not have any trouble with wireless remote typing in the letters, but the remote included with the Director seem to delay every once in a while. I typed "Avril" for Avril Lavigne, but when the remote was not pointed directly at the Director, it turned out to be "Cuqik". Once I pointed the remote directly at the Director, "Avril" typed in correctly. This delay happened every once in a while, so if you have the option of the Wi-Fi touchscreen remote, we would recommend using that instead. Once I selected my artist or song, music began to play a few seconds later.

Conclusions and Overall Perceptions

The simplicity of Linksys makes it very easy to find music, save favorites, and create playlists. Setup was smooth and would be simple for just about anyone – significant, since getting audio throughout your home can be a complex task if not handled well. I appreciate the effort Linksys by Cisco put in to this system so that you do not need to be a "techy" to use Linksys. The sleek black finish is very appealing and will fit in any home. Small in size, no item is more than 3-4 pounds, making this system easily portable from room to room. You won’t need to worry about a lot of wires or complicated setup. It’s really accessible for anyone.

Overall this system was a lot of fun to use and I believe it would be a great addition to any home. Though the cost may be higher than some other wireless systems, because you can expand as you need, I believe the overall cost is priced very competitively. To keep costs down, start off with the Conductor, eventually add a couple of Players, and soon enough your entire house will be covered. The Wireless Music System expands when you need to expand. Whatever your current or future audio needs are, The Linksys by Cisco Premiere Kit has you covered.

Linksys
120 Theory Drive
Irvine, CA 92617
(800) 546-5797

About Cisco
Started in 1988 Cisco is transforming life's experiences by helping people live a connected life that is more personal, more social, and more visual. The Cisco Consumer Business Group (CBG), formally known as Linksys, a division of Cisco, is the center of expertise for Cisco's consumer business and go to market model, focused on capturing consumer market transitions for growth. CBG develops products and solutions under the Linksys by Cisco brand that target consumer and small office/home office (SOHO) segments. The organization sells its Linksys by Cisco home networking and networked entertainment products and services through retail, online and consumer reseller partners.