The Crestron® HD-XSPA makes it easy to put great surround sound in any room of the house as part of a complete home automation and entertainment system. Engineered with integration in mind, the HD-XSPA delivers pure, impactful power and performance in less space than other alternatives, and includes advanced features for sharing sources between rooms and controlling everything with a choice of touch screens, handheld remotes, and mobile devices. In one compact, 2-space rack-mountable package, the HD-XSPA packs a professional-grade 7.1 surround sound processor, high-efficiency eight-channel power amplifier, ultra high-definition 4K video switcher, 4K DigitalMedia™ receiver, and Crestron control interface.[1]
High-Definition Professional Surround Sound Processor
Great surround sound starts with a great processor, and the HD-XSPA employs professional grade decoding and signal processing to support the latest 7.1 digital formats including Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby Digital® Plus, and DTS-HD Master Audio™. Onboard DSP provides the sonic tools needed to maximize the sound quality of each speaker within the room, including a choice of 9-band graphic or parametric EQ, plus trim, delay, crossover, and speaker protection adjustments. Additional controls are provided for main volume, bass, treble, loudness, compression, and LFE. Advanced HDCP management ensures trouble-free handling of copy-protected digital HD content.
High-Powered 7.1 Surround Sound Amplifier
Despite its compact size, the HD-XSPA delivers a generous amount of power from its onboard multichannel power amplifier. Each amp channel is capable of producing a gratifying 140 Watts at 8 Ohms, and 240 Watts at 4 Ohms. Instead of the customary seven amp channels, the HD-XSPA features eight full channels of robust amplification to drive a complete 7.1 speaker system including a passive in-wall subwoofer, minimizing both rack space and floor space requirements. A line-level sub output is also included to support an active powered subwoofer.
The HD-XSPA can be set up to support a wide variety of speaker configurations up to 7.1. When configured for use with a 5.1 or smaller speaker system, two of its amp channels can be reallocated to drive a second stereo zone. See “Downmix Output” below for more information.
Complete Connectivity
The HD-XSPA includes full input connectivity for all types of digital and analog sources including Blu-ray Disc® players, HDTV receivers, game consoles, computers, media servers, and mobile devices. Additionally, a DigitalMedia input and stereo downmix output are included to facilitate integration as part of a whole-house AV system.
- HDMI® Inputs – HDMI provides the essential interface for handling high-definition 7.1 digital surround sound audio, as well as Full HD, Ultra HD, and 4K video. The HD-XSPA includes four HDMI inputs, which can be expanded using a Crestron HD-MD8X1 or HD-MD8X2 switcher[2]. The HD-XSPA also allows for control of the connected sources through their HDMI connections using CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) signals sent from a Crestron control system[1].
- SPDIF Inputs – A combination of one optical and two coaxial type inputs provides connectivity for SPDIF digital audio sources. Audio signals can also be received from aSonnex® Multiroom Audio System via an AUD-EXT Audio over CAT5 Extender[2].
- Stereo Analog Inputs – Three stereo audio inputs (2 unbalanced, 1 balanced) are included to handle analog signals from line-level sources. Audio signals can also be received from a Sonnex Multiroom Audio System via an AUD-EXT Audio over CAT5 Extender[2].
- DigitalMedia 8G+® Input – The DM 8G+™ input provides a one-wire connection to aDigitalMedia switcher. The switcher can be located several hundred feet away in a central equipment cabinet along with all the shared video sources for the house, allowing any of those sources to be distributed to any room in the house — including rooms equipped with an HD-XSPA. The DM 8G+ input can also be used to connect laptop computers and other portable devices from anywhere in the house using a DM 8G+ transmitter or HDBaseT® transmitter[2]. The transmitter can either be routed through the central DigitalMedia switcher or wired directly to the DM 8G+ input on the HD-XSPA. DM 8G+ technology enables the transport of Full HD 1080p video and 7.1 audio over cable lengths up to 330 ft (100 m) using Crestron DM Ultra or DM 8G® Cable, or third-party CAT5e. Higher resolutions up to UHD and 4K are supported at distances up to 330 feet (100 m) using DM Ultra Cable, 230 feet (70 m) using DM 8G Cable, or 165 feet (50 m) using CAT5e.[3]
- Downmix Output – This audio output provides a stereo or mono downmix of the surround sound signal to feed a second listening zone or headphone amp. It can also be used to provide an audio return channel to a Sonnex Multiroom Audio System, allowing the local audio to be distributed to multiple stereo zones throughout the house. The downmix signal is provided through an unbalanced line-level output, which can be extended up to 2000 feet (610 m) over a single CAT5 wire using an AUD-EXT Audio over CAT5 Extender[2]. The downmix output can also be configured as an amplified output to directly drive a pair of speakers. (When the amplified downmix option is enabled, the surround sound speaker system is limited to 5.1.) The downmix output includes dedicated controls for volume, bass, treble, loudness, balance, and delay, which can be made accessible from any touch screen, keypad, or remote in the house.[1]
- Subwoofer Line Output – In addition to the amplified subwoofer output, the sub signal is also provided as a line-level output to feed a powered subwoofer or external amplifier.
- HDMI Output – The HDMI output normally connects to the local video display or projector. The HDMI output passes Full HD 1080p, Ultra HD, 2K, and 4K video with HDCP, Deep Color, and 3D from any of the four HDMI inputs and the DM 8G+ input. It also passes audio, with the ability to select a straight pass-through from the selected HDMI or DM 8G+ source, or a stereo downmix of the decoded surround sound signal of any source. It can even pass CEC signals from a control system to control the display device. As an option, the HDMI output can be connected to a DM-TX-201-C DM 8G+ Transmitter[2] to provide an AV return channel to a centralized DigitalMedia system, allowing local sources to be shared with other rooms in the house.
Each input on the HD-XSPA includes an input compensation adjustment to match the average level between sources, and up to 80 ms of lip-sync delay.
Ultimate Integration
By design, the HD-XSPA works seamlessly as part of a complete Crestron whole-house AV distribution and automation system.
- Audio signals can be routed to and from the HD-XSPA using Crestron AUD-EXT Audio over CAT5 Extenders[2], allowing for integration with a Sonnex Multiroom Audio System.
- DigitalMedia connectivity affords sharing of multichannel audio along with HD video as part of a complete DigitalMedia network.
- Via DigitalMedia or Ethernet, the HD-XSPA can communicate with a Crestron control system, allowing user-friendly operation via a choice of touch screens, handheld remotes,smartphones, and tablet computers.
- Using the hardware provided, the HD-XSPA can be installed in an equipment rack or placed on a shelf.
Keyboard/Mouse Extender
When connected to a DigitalMedia switcher or transmitter, the HD-XSPA can function as a keyboard/mouse extender. Via its rear panel USB port, a USB HID-compliant keyboard and/or mouse can be connected and used to control a computer or media server in the central equipment cabinet (or any other location).
Other types of USB devices, including mobile phones, media players, Web cameras, flash drives, and game controllers, can be supported by adding a USB-EXT-DM-REMOTE extender module[2]. Also, a local host computer, media server, or game console can be controlled from a remote location by adding a USB-EXT-DM-LOCAL extender module[2].
Amplifier Monitoring and Protection
For systems utilizing in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, it’s critical that the amplifier driving those speakers possesses the intelligence to protect itself in the event of a shorted or damaged speaker line. The HD-XSPA includes sophisticated protection from many types of faults on a per channel basis. In the event of a fault, the front panel LCD provides clear fault indication to speed the troubleshooting of damaged or incorrect wiring, poor rack ventilation, and other unforeseen issues. Fault alerts may also be broadcast to a touch screen or mobile device, and integrators can even monitor and track the data remotely to ensure a rapid service response.
Speaker Protection
Configurable output limiting assures maximum headroom while preventing damage to the speakers. The limiting threshold is easily set to match the power handling capability of each speaker, achieving a completely transparent effect right up to the speakers’ limits without fear of overpowering them.
Speaker Profiles
The Speaker Profiles feature delivers excellent sound quality quickly by allowing installers to save and load EQ and Speaker Protection settings for all of the speakers they sell and install. Tuning a complete surround sound system can be as easy as loading the appropriate Speaker Profile for each speaker. Additional simplified settings are included to compensate for a room’s size, materials, and speaker placement. A complete set of profiles is provided for Crestron Essence®, Aspire®, Excite®, and AIR® speakers, allowing any installer to achieve a great sounding system without touching a single EQ setting.
70/100V Option
For ultimate versatility, the HD-XSPA can be equipped for use with 70 or 100 Volt speakers. Also known as “constant-voltage”, 70 Volt and 100 Volt speaker systems allow for long wire runs using small-gauge wire, with the potential for connecting numerous speakers per circuit. Typical applications include outdoor speaker zones and commercial environments. Any of the HD-XSPA’s amplifier outputs can be converted to 70 or 100 Volt using Sonnex Output Transformers (SAT-70V/100V-2 or SAT-70V/100V-4[2]).
Device Control Ports
The HD-XSPA includes an assortment of built-in control ports to allow for programmable control of the local AV components and other room devices without the need for extra control modules or wiring. Each control port is addressable from a Crestron control system, whether that control system is installed locally or in another room. Ethernet, RS-232, IR, and low-voltage relay ports provide for control of the display device and AV sources, and may also be used to control a motorized screen or lift, window treatments, lighting, and other equipment in the room. Many AV devices can also be controlled directly via the HDMI ports. Four “SENS” inputs are also included to accommodate power sensors, motion detectors, and other contact closure devices.[1]
