Eve Debuts AirPlay-Compatible Eve Play and Eve Thermo Control

[MacRumors]

Eve Systems today announced the upcoming launch of the Eve Play, an audio streaming interface created for AirPlay 2. Eve Play adds AirPlay streaming capabilities to existing amplifiers, active speakers, and sound bars, allowing them to be synchronized with other AirPlay speakers for whole-house audio.

The Eve Play includes RCA connectors, optical digital outputs, and coaxial digital outputs, along with an Ethernet port and the option to connect to either 2.4 or 5GHz WiFi. According to Eve, the digital-to-analog converter has a signal-to-noise ratio of 112 dB for an "audiophile sound experience."

When used with the Apple Home app and Apple Music, the Eve Play can be integrated into automations similar to other AirPlay-equipped devices.

Alongside the Eve Play, Eve today introduced the Eve Thermo Control, a wireless temperature sensor and controller for rooms that are equipped with the Eve Thermo smart radiator valve. The Eve Thermo radiator valve is sold in Europe, so the new temperature sensor is also designed for the European market.

The Eve Thermo Control senses the ambient temperature and relays it to the smart radiator valve for more accurate climate control.

In November, Eve plans to release a Matter update for Eve MotionBlinds roller blind motors and the Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit, adding Adaptive Shading as a free upgrade feature. Adaptive Shading allows the blinds to open and close automatically based on location, date, and time.

Eve Play is priced at $150 and it will be available starting on November 14. The Eve Thermo Control is priced at €79.95 and will also be available on the same day. More information is available on the Eve website.

Article Link: Eve Debuts AirPlay-Compatible Eve Play and Eve Thermo Control

 

[fatTribble]

This is very cool and the price seems reasonable!
I wonder if I would hear the difference? 🤔

 

[matttarantino]

Loving the look of the Eve Play. Those chamfered edges look very Apple

 

[MYZ]

At first the $150 price for the Eve play sounded really high, but I'm actually having difficulty finding an existing comparable product for less, does anyone know of any?

 

[profets]

That Eve Play will be an excellent option to use in place of the old Airport Express! Hard to come by them these days.

 

[bittervictorian]

At first the $150 price for the Eve play sounded really high, but I'm actually having difficulty finding an existing comparable product for less, does anyone know of any?

Wiim mini:

WiiM Mini | Elevate Your Audio Gear: Smart, Affordable, Effortless

Unleash the potential of your audio setup with WiiM Mini. Experience the magic of smart, affordable, and effortless upgrades that breathe new life into your beloved audio equipment.

wiimhome.com

Wiim Pro also (for more features)

 

[MYZ]

Wiim mini:

WiiM Mini | Elevate Your Audio Gear: Smart, Affordable, Effortless

Unleash the potential of your audio setup with WiiM Mini. Experience the magic of smart, affordable, and effortless upgrades that breathe new life into your beloved audio equipment.

wiimhome.com

Wiim Pro also (for more features)

Thanks for the link, though it seems like the base model (the only one actually much cheaper) has this disclaimer: "Note that not all services offer 24-bit/192 kHz content; Amazon Music Ultra HD, Qobuz, and personal libraries support it. Additionally, TIDAL Master supports up to 24-bit/96kHz."

It doesn't say how low it can get for Apple Music users, so I'm assuming the worst.

 

[profets]

That Wiim Pro looks like a nice option too, also $150.

 

[bittervictorian]

Thanks for the link, though it seems like the base model (the only one actually much cheaper) has this disclaimer: "Note that not all services offer 24-bit/192 kHz content; Amazon Music Ultra HD, Qobuz, and personal libraries support it. Additionally, TIDAL Master supports up to 24-bit/96kHz."

It doesn't say how low it can get for Apple Music users, so I'm assuming the worst.

I’m not sure, as I don’t use Apple Music, but my understanding is that anything over airplay is not at “lossless” bit rates - so the Eve would be the same:

Does Airplay 2 support Hi-Res Lossless st… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

I think the only way you can listen to Apple Music on a stereo as “lossless” is some kind of DAC plugged into the stereo with an iPhone physically plugged into it

 

[DogHouseDub]

At first the $150 price for the Eve play sounded really high, but I'm actually having difficulty finding an existing comparable product for less, does anyone know of any?

Gen 2 AirPort Express

 

[john9876]

At first the $150 price for the Eve play sounded really high, but I'm actually having difficulty finding an existing comparable product for less, does anyone know of any?

The Belkin Soundform Connect. An AirPlay 2 adaptor that's been out for a few years. RRP is about £90, easily found for about £60 (on Amazon, eBay etc). Only has optical (SPDIF) and 3.5mm audio outputs, and WiFi not Ethernet, but a couple of them have worked reliably for me.

 

[DeftwillP]

Has anybody noticed issues with their old gen 2 AE and streaming lately? I hadn't streamed to one in some time but I tried over the weekend to go to my extra speakers in the kitchen along with the paired homepod minis and I realized that everyone one of my AE speaker sets would get out of sync almost immediately or cause all of the music to stop.

 

[Marco Klobas]

If only Apple would show more love for AirPlay protocol.

Namely: Hi-res and bit perfect. You know, the kind of stuff those silly audiophiles like.

It's not rocket science, Apple could easily implement it. If you're interested in these things, you'd use it. If you consider it a dumb audiophile-with-bat-ears fixation, you'd not use it. Simple as that.

 

[BJMRamage]

So, is the EvePlay similar to an AirPort Express Get 2 + an Amplifier?
like now I would only need to buy ONE item?

 

[MYZ]

I’m not sure, as I don’t use Apple Music, but my understanding is that anything over airplay is not at “lossless” bit rates - so the Eve would be the same:

Does Airplay 2 support Hi-Res Lossless st… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

I think the only way you can listen to Apple Music on a stereo as “lossless” is some kind of DAC plugged into the stereo with an iPhone physically plugged into it

Yes I think that is the case but the disclaimer for the Wiim is worded to suggest that Apple Music users won't even get "up to 24-bit/96kHz." let alone 192kHz. I think that's below the norm for airplay 2 to a homepod, studio display, iMac, etc...

 

[Waterndirt]

Has anybody noticed issues with their old gen 2 AE and streaming lately? I hadn't streamed to one in some time but I tried over the weekend to go to my extra speakers in the kitchen along with the paired homepod minis and I realized that everyone one of my AE speaker sets would get out of sync almost immediately or cause all of the music to stop.

Yes, I have 5 AE Gen 2’s in my house audio set up. 2 of them are now constantly giving trouble( not allowing me to select in Apple Music), one is wired Ethernet and the other wifi, reboots sometimes work and other time I have to set up as new. Buying them used typically costs about $30. They have been stellar up to this point.

Glad to see others getting in the game. Love Eve products.

 

[Devnul0]

The Belkin Soundform Connect. An AirPlay 2 adaptor that's been out for a few years. RRP is about £90, easily found for about £60 (on Amazon, eBay etc). Only has optical (SPDIF) and 3.5mm audio outputs, and WiFi not Ethernet, but a couple of them have worked reliably for me.

I have a couple of these and can second that they work well. In fact, yesterday I told my HomePod “Hey Siri, play album such-and-such on Big Stereo" (the Belkin is named that) and it worked, the HomePod streamed it to the Belkin, which I actually did not expect to work given the functionality quirks of the HP.

 

[DeftwillP]

Yes, I have 5 AE Gen 2’s in my house audio set up. 2 of them are now constantly giving trouble( not allowing me to select in Apple Music), one is wired Ethernet and the other wifi, reboots sometimes work and other time I have to set up as new. Buying them used typically costs about $30. They have been stellar up to this point.

Glad to see others getting in the game. Love Eve products.

Yeah it's a real shame. I had about a half dozen of them set up with independent amps and speaker sets but have been phasing them out for homepods. I've got a grocery sack full of them in my junk electronics closet.

 

[deebinem]

So, is the EvePlay similar to an AirPort Express Get 2 + an Amplifier?
like now I would only need to buy ONE item?

I don't think so unless your speakers are powered. This looks to add some great connectivity/audio options but I'm guessing if you are using an amp for your speakers currently then this wouldn't change that setup:

 

[profets]

Has anybody noticed issues with their old gen 2 AE and streaming lately? I hadn't streamed to one in some time but I tried over the weekend to go to my extra speakers in the kitchen along with the paired homepod minis and I realized that everyone one of my AE speaker sets would get out of sync almost immediately or cause all of the music to stop.

Once in a while I find myself having to power cycle the few that I have setup, but for the most part they're pretty good. One I use every morning (I airplay to it + a pair of OG HomePods).

 

[gk_brown]

That Eve Play will be an excellent option to use in place of the old Airport Express! Hard to come by them these days.

I still have 3! Only actively using one for audio at the moment, though.

 

[gk_brown]

I don't see much use for this in conjunction with a sound bar since an Apple TV would probably make more sense there.

Definitely a good option for a component-based sound system, although I have personally moved away from that in favor of HomePods.

 

[fgladu]

Why not get a used AirPort Express A1392? They are pretty cheap, AirPlay 2 compatible, and have stellar DAC!

Apple AirPort Express Audio Quality

 

[Berti10]

Bought the 2021 Belkin AirPlay Adapter Last November. Boy, what a 💩 product…

 

[jmw1480]

At first the $150 price for the Eve play sounded really high, but I'm actually having difficulty finding an existing comparable product for less, does anyone know of any?

Depending on what type of connections, channels, and power output you need, Fosi Audio makes some great products. I have a BT20A Pro powering two Infinity passive outdoor speakers, which gives me audio via Bluetooth and - via an AirPort Express input - AirPlay 2/Wi-Fi.