Until now, IQ's system communication has been based on a proprietary two-wire bus. This new second generation, however, is based on cost-effective Ethernet. Communication now travels via 100Mb Ethernet between components utilizing Crown's new TCP/IQ protocol, which increases communication speed from 38.4kbps to 100Mbps - well over 2000 times faster - and also offers the ability to add more components to a network. Crown also announces that TCP/IQ has successfully been integrated into the present CobraNet digital network. This means that IQ components incorporating CobraNet now have a single network connection containing both bi-directional digital audio as well as bi-directional control and monitoring information for the amplifier and its related IQ functions.
In light of these developments, Crown has created a new PC software interface, IQwic, short for IQ Windows Intelligent Control. Aside from supporting both TCP/IQ Ethernet and CobraNet, IQwic offers all of the features and functionality of the most recent IQ for Windows v5.1 software - including its 'drag and drop' functions - then adds to it a new 'system view', which not only shows the products and their performance, but product interconnections as well, including easy CobraNet audio signal routing between products. Like Crown's previous software offerings, IQwic is available for free download to users via the IQ website, shown below. IQwic will support IQ2 and older products just as well as the new ones.
In addition to IQwic, three new amplifier modules incorporating Crown's new TCP/IQ protocol are being announced. The most basic of the three, the IQ-PIP-Lite, allows for network control and monitoring of analogue audio. The second new module, the IQ-PIP-USP3, incorporates all of the Lite's features then adds extensive DSP capabilities, even more so than its predecessor, the IQ-PIP-USP2. Lastly, the IQ-PIP-USP3/CN builds upon the USP3 by offering CobraNet connectivity.
For more information on these new introductions, visit the website below.
(Lee Baldock)
