Solo and Duetto Complete User Manual Download the free Como Control iOS or Android App from iTunes or the Google Play store. The Como Control App will allow you to control many functions along with multi-room.
Welcome to the Como Audio community and thank you for your purchase! We hope you will enjoy using your “smart speaker” just as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Please read this complete manual to familiarize yourself with all the available features.
Safety Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. CAUTION- Danger of explosion if remote control’s batteries are incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type. Remote control batteries must be disposed of in accordance with applicable laws and regulations on the transport, shipping and disposal of batteries.
Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE): This directive mandates the collection and recycling of electronics and component materials in order to reduce the amount going to landfills. Outside North America, when the user decides to discard this product, it must be sent to a separate collection facility for recycling. Please contact your point of purchase for more details. Solo and Duetto comply with the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive.
Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………..………………..…2 Safety Instructions……………………………………………………………………………………..……………..…3 Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………..…………………………..….5 Front panel controls………………………………………………………………..…………………………………...7 Remote control………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...8 Rear panel inputs/outputs…………………………………………………………..………………………………….9 Display………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...10 Display off……………………………………………………………………………..……………………….….
Music Player Shard media/UPnP…………………………………………………………………………………………………....36 Wake-on-lan/Prune servers……………………………………………………………………………………….….37 USB input/Charging.…………………………………………………………………………………………………..37 Browsing…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….38 Meta data……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….38 My playlist…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...….38 Repeat and Shuffle………………………………………………………………………………………………….…39 Now playing……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
D.O.C……………………………………………………………………….…….……………………………………56 Front panel controls The above illustration is of the Solo front panel. The Duetto front panel controls are identical. 1. Power/Volume: Push in briefly to turn on or off. Rotate to adjust the volume. 2. Menu: Press and hold to call up the main Menu. Rotate to navigate the Menu and push in briefly to select. In DAB mode (optional), rotate to call up the DAB station list and push in briefly to select a DAB station.
Remote control 1. Power icon = Power 2. “i” = Info: Press repeatedly to see more info about the current source playing. 3. Speaker icon with slash = Mute sound; Snooze when alarm sounds. 4. Up = Navigate up when in the menu; Seek up in FM mode; Shows station list in Internet Radio and DAB mode (use up/down/play keys to navigate and select). 5. Left arrow = Track back; Page back; Move highlight left. 6.
Rear panel Inputs/Outputs The above illustration is of the Solo (with DAB) rear panel. The Duetto rear panel connections are identical except for points 10 & 11. 1. 2. AC power in, 100-240V, 50/60Hz: For use with included power cord. The correct voltage for your region will be automatically detected. DC power in (20VDC/3A) (external adapter not included): Never use an adapter and the power cord simultaneously. The adapter connector should be 5.5mm/2.1mm, center positive. 3.
Display The color TFT display shows various menus and displays as described below. The display is not a touch screen. The front panel controls, remote, and App are used to control the functions. Remove the clear protective strip across the LCD if it is present.
Now playing screens show information about the audio source and track now playing, where available. When artwork is displayed, such as an album cover or station logo, push the Menu knob in briefly to expand the image to fill the display. Push in briefly again to return to the standard display. Dialogue screens are shown to allow you to change settings. They vary in complexity from simple Yes/No options to the scrollable network password input screen.
Setup Solo and Duetto are sophisticated multi-source media players. To simplify the setup process as much as possible, when Solo and Duetto are first started, a “Setup wizard” helps walk you through the basic steps to enable connections with the different audio sources. The various listening modes have different requirements: Internet Radio requires a suitable Internet broadband connection (usually via a local wireless network). Multi-room requires connection to a wireless network.
details). Rotate the Menu knob to highlight the desired option and briefly push the knob in to select. Select Yes to start the setup wizard. If you choose No, a second screen asks if you would like to run the wizard next time the unit is started; select Yes or No. The system then starts without configuring time/date and network settings and enters the Main Menu. Note: If power is removed while the wizard is in progress, the wizard will run again next time the unit is started.
on the clock’s time. Keep network connected This option allows you to define whether Solo and Duetto remain connected to its network in standby mode. This is necessary for App operation, audio streaming in Music Player mode, and recapturing the time after a power outage (if Auto Update from Network is selected). We strongly recommend keeping the network connected. Note: This option is forced to ‘Yes’ when Como or Duetto is part of a multi-room group.
starting with WPS in brackets, indicates encrypted networks offering Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). You can also visit our web site for setup help videos: www.comoaudio.com Solo and Duetto remember login details for the last four wireless networks they have connected to and will automatically connect to one of them when they are available.
1. Ensure Solo or Duetto is active, if in Standby or Sleep mode press the Power knob in briefly or press the Power key on the remote.. 2. Ensure Solo or Duetto is in Device Setup mode: Note: If Solo or Duetto have not already been configured, they enter Device Setup mode automatically on start-up.
8. Select Wi-Fi as the Network Type. 9. In the Wi-Fi Region box, select the Wi-Fi region closest to your location. 10. Click Scan. 11. The Wi-Fi Networks list updates to show available Wi-Fi networks. 12. Select your preferred network from the Wi-Fi Networks list. (Usually your normal home network). 13. Type in the password (if required) for the network in the Wi-Fi Password box. 14. In the DHCP field, Enabled is selected by default to generate network settings automatically.
The Friendly Name (CA Solo or CA Duetto) can be changed if desired.
Operation After the initial setup, Solo and Duetto are ready for operating in most modes. To select a mode, rotate the Source knob through the source icons. Press the Source knob in briefly to switch to the highlighted mode. The mode splash screen is displayed. After a brief moment the unit switches to that mode. The last station or track previously used in that mode is selected. If this is not possible, the unit scans for relevant stations, networks, or prompts you for appropriate input.
Figure 2 System Settings and Main Menu Structure Note: Software changes or additions effected since the writing of this manual may not necessarily be reflected in the above Menu trees.
System settings All the setting parameters for Solo and Duetto are available in the “System settings” menu. Push and hold the Menu knob > System settings. System settings menu options: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. Equalizer Network Time/Date Language Factory Reset Software update Setup Wizard Info Backlight j. Listening mode k. Multi-room a. Equalizer Flat and TV Sound EQ modes are available; also a userdefined setting (My EQ).
b. Network - Network wizard - WPS Wlan setup View settings Wlan region Manual settings NetRemote PIN setup Network profile Clear network settings Keep network connected Network wizard This guides you through the necessary steps to join a network. This is automatically run as part of the Setup wizard when you first turn on Solo/Duetto. The screens and options presented will depend on the type of network and network protection used.
DHCP enabled/disabled SSIP Authentication Encryption type Passphrase/key NetRemote PIN setup Allows you to define a PIN number to be entered before being able to connect to Solo or Duetto remotely over a network so only those who know the PIN number can connect the unit to your network. Network profile This displays a list of the networks remembered by Solo and Duetto (up to a maximum of 4).
Standby Clock format Choose between an analog clock face or digital time and date when in standby. d. Language The default language is English. To change, highlight and select your language. Languages include English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish. e. Factory reset A Factory reset resets all user settings to default values, meaning time/date, network configuration, and Presets are erased.
i. Backlight Solo and Duetto’s display can be set to a lower brightness level. To access this feature, press and hold the Menu knob > System settings > Backlight. For the On level (whenever the unit is On), select from High, Medium, or Low. For the Dim level (whenever the unit is in Standby), select from Medium, Low, or Off. For Dim level to take effect in standby you must also select a value under Timeout, after which the Dim level setting will take effect in standby after the selected period of time.
Create new group Allows you to create and name a new group of radios. Add to group Enables you to add available units to the current group to which Solo or Duetto belongs. List current clients If this unit is acting as the Server for a group, this option lists the client units in the group. Leave group Allows you to remove the unit from its current group. Dissolve group Enables the dissolution of the current group to which the unit belongs.
Internet radio mode Solo and Duetto can access tens of thousands of radio stations and podcasts from around the world through a broadband Internet connection. Solo and Duetto also support stations that stream in the AAC codec. When you select Internet radio mode, Solo and Duetto contact the Internet radio portal to get a list of stations, organized into different categories such as Country, Most popular, and Genre. Once you select a station, the Solo or Duetto connect directly to that station.
the list. Internet radio Favorites To store an Internet station playing on Solo or Duetto as a Favorite, press the remote control’s Play key briefly and the display will show ‘Favorite added’. The station will appear in the My Favorites list under Stations. To select a saved Favorite station, press and hold the Menu knob > Station list > My Favorites > Favorites list > Station.
And the Blues menu allows you to select a station from a complete list or from specific countries. Choose a station from the list to tune to that station. Note: BBC radio ‘Listen Again’ programs are accessible through the Podcast menu. For example, press and hold the Menu knob > Podcasts > Location > Europe > United Kingdom > All shows > BBC Radio 4 > You and Yours > 20/08/2016 - August 20.
For podcasts, you may be able to select a particular episode. My added stations Even though thousands of Internet radio stations are available, you may want to listen to stations not found in the listings. You can add your own stations via the portal (see Page 32). These added stations are then accessible from Solo and Duetto by pressing and holding the Menu knob > Station list > My added stations > [Station].
Popular stations Found under Station list > Stations, these list Internet stations with consistently high listenership. “Connecting…/Loading…” message Several factors regulate how quickly an Internet station begins playing, such as how many listeners are accessing the station at that time. Some Internet stations will take longer to load and connect than others. If the Internet station doesn’t connect and load within 1-2 minutes, you may wish to try again later.
Internet radio portal Portal registration is not required to use your Solo or Duetto, or to listen to Internet stations, but the Internet radio portal website will allow you to organize your Internet radio station favorites list. To register your Solo or Duetto with the portal, switch to Internet radio mode, then obtain your radio’s unique portal access code by pressing and holding the Menu knob > Station list > Help > Get access code >. Write down the access code.
Spotify Connect Solo and Duetto are compatible with Spotify Connect, allowing them to act as wireless speakers controlled by the Spotify App available for iOS, Android smart devices, and a desktop client for PCs. To enter Spotify Connect mode, either press and hold the Menu knob > Main menu > Spotify, or rotate the Source knob until the Spotify logo is highlighted and briefly press the Source knob in to select. Note: A Spotify Premium account is required to use Spotify Connect.
Spotify Connect as shown on a smart device. To expand the displayed artwork on Solo or Duetto, press the Menu knob in briefly. Press again to return to the standard display. Note: Once a connection has been established, the Spotify account is linked to both the App and the unit, allowing Solo or Duetto to be connected to.
Controlling Spotify from Solo and Duetto You can change volume, play/pause the audio, and jump forwards and backwards through your playlist using the remote control. Changes made by the remote are reflected on the Spotify Connect App and the unit. As long as the Spotify App is connected to the Solo or Duetto on the same network, and “Keep network connected” has been selected in Solo or Duetto, you can usually power on Solo or Duetto when you start playing from the Spotify App.
Music player mode Music player mode plays audio files such as MP3, AAC, WMA, or FLAC from a computer on the same network your Solo or Duetto is connected to, or from a USB Flash stick or a hard drive. Note: Some shared media servers do not support certain files. For example, Windows Media Player typically converts FLAC files to PCM. This is not a function of Solo or Duetto. Note: Ensure Solo or Duetto has the ‘Keep Network Connected’ option turned On to enable ‘Play to’ functionality.
From this point on, the menus are generated from the shared media server (typically Windows Media Player). The first menu shows a list of media types, for example Music, Video, Pictures and Playlists. Solo and Duetto can only play music and playlists, not videos or pictures. There is also a search function which finds tracks in a similar way to the Internet radio search. In the Music menu there are numerous options for selecting tracks. Select one of the options to find the music you want to listen to.
Note: The USB input doubles as a charger to trickle charge most smart phones. Charging will occur regardless of the source (unit does not need to be in USB mode) or if the unit is powered on or in standby. Apple devices are an exception and usually will not charge in Music Player mode. Certain products may exceed the 5 Volt DC/1 Amp rating and should not be charged using this jack. An MP3 player will not play through this USB input. Bluetooth or an audio cable should be used.
Note: Tracks are added to My Playlist by browsing your available media servers (USB and/or UPnP) to highlight the track(s) you wish to add, press and hold the Menu knob. If you select a track/album/folder for instant playback (without using the playlist), the playlist is preserved. The playlist is also preserved during standby. Repeat & Shuffle You can repeat tracks or play them in random order by pressing and holding the Menu knob > Repeat play or > Shuffle play.
1. Ensure the PC is connected to the network. 2. Ensure Solo or Duetto is powered on and connected to the same network. 3. In WMP, add to the media library the audio files and folders you want to share with Solo or Duetto (Library > Add to Library…). 4. In WMP, enable media sharing (Library > Media sharing…). Make sure Solo or Duetto has access to the shared media by selecting it and clicking Allow. You can also set a name for the shared media in Settings… Click OK to close the dialogue boxes.
The PC is now ready to stream the music to the radio. The WMP UPnP service runs in the background; there is no need to start WMP explicitly. Using the “Play To” feature in Windows 7 to stream media One of the new Windows 7 features includes a feature called “Play To” and this lets your PC running Windows 7 control Solo or Duetto to push media and use as a universal remote control for your media collection.
Find the items you want to play in the Player Library, and then drag those items from the details pane into the list pane. Click the Play to button at the top of the list pane, click the device on your network that will receive the media. In the Play To dialog box, use the playback controls to play, pause, or stop the media stream, and to change to the next or previous item in the list.
DAB/DAB+ radio mode (optional) DAB mode receives DAB/DAB+ digital radio and displays information about the station, stream, and track playing. To enter DAB mode, either press and hold the Menu knob > Main menu > DAB, or rotate the knob until the DAB icon is highlighted and briefly press the Source knob in to select. Source Scanning for DAB stations Be sure the rear telescoping antenna is fully extended.
DAB Slideshow When DAB slideshow is available (dependent on the broadcasted signal), the images are displayed on the left side of the screen. To expand the artwork, press the Menu knob in briefly. Press in again to return to the standard display. DAB Settings Dynamic range compression Some DAB broadcasts offer dynamic range compression (DRC).
FM radio mode To enter FM mode, press and hold the Menu knob > Main menu > FM, or rotate the Source knob to scroll through the mode icons until FM Radio is highlighted and press the Source knob in to select. Note: Some FM stations use compression to make their stations louder, so you may sometimes notice an obvious level difference when tuning different FM stations or switching between FM and other sources. Selecting FM stations Be sure the rear telescoping antenna is fully extended.
Bluetooth Bluetooth mode allows Bluetooth devices to pair with Solo and Duetto, stream music, and display information (if available) about the track playing. To enter Bluetooth mode, either press and hold the Menu knob > Main menu > Bluetooth, or rotate the Source knob to scroll through the mode icons until Bluetooth is highlighted and press the Source knob in to select.
NFC (Near Field Communication) An NFC tag is an unpowered microchip embedded in Solo and Duetto to help simplify the Bluetooth pairing and connecting process. If your Bluetooth-enabled device (such as a smart phone or tablet) has NFC, be sure your device’s screen is unlocked and has NFC turned on. Put Solo or Duetto in Bluetooth mode by rotating the Source knob to the Bluetooth icon and pressing the knob in briefly to select.
Aux 1 & 2 in modes Aux in mode plays audio from an external source such as an MP3 or CD player. To play audio in Aux in mode: 1. Turn the volume low on both Solo or Duetto and, if adjustable, the audio source device. Connect the external audio source to the Aux 1 or 2 input using a 3.5 mm stereo cable. Be sure the cable is fully inserted into the input. An incomplete connection can result in only one channel, low or no sound.
Alarms There are two versatile, independent alarms with Snooze function. Each alarm can be set to activate in a particular mode. The clock and date must be set in order for the Alarm to function accurately. To set the clock/calendar automatically, press and hold the Menu knob > System Settings > Time/Date > Auto Update > Update from Network.
Power failure In the event of a loss of power, Solo and Duetto will remember a set alarm time. However, the alarm cannot activate if there is no power. If the time has been set to “Update to Network”, and “Keep Network connected” has also been enabled, then the time will automatically be reacquired within about 3 minutes after power is restored. Other settings such as Presets will also be saved during a power loss.
Error messages and Troubleshooting a) Error messages Message Description Example Failed to connect Correct key entered but router rejects request. MAC filtering enabled on router. Format error Cannot recognize file format independent of network. Received .wma, but found the stream wasn’t WMA when trying to decode. Network error Problem is past the router - incorrect data being received from network. Data obtained from server is unreadable. Network not ready Problem with connection to router.
b) Troubleshooting Problem Cause Solutions FM: Hiss DAB (optional): Burbling/intermittent cut-out Low signal strength Adjust Solo’s/Duetto’s antenna. Relocate unit. Rescan local (high-strength) stations only. DAB (optional): ‘No stations available’ message Low signal strength As above, then rescan DAB stations. Network down Check that the network is working between your computer and your router.
A word about our wood The wood veneers we apply to our nearly ½” thick MDF cabinets are indeed real wood. They are quite literally products of nature, and as such, have their own color and grain characteristics which can vary from tree to tree, often times greatly so. It is exactly these naturally occurring variations that result in each wood cabinet being truly unique. Note: The wood veneer can darken over time, particular when exposed to sunlight.
Specifications Model name: Como Audio Solo Max power output: 60 watts RMS, Digital amplifier Power input: 100-240V, 50-60Hz Transducer configuration: ¾” Soft dome tweeter and 3” Woofer (custom long throw, 4-layer voice coil, paper cone, rubber surround). Dimensions: 125mm H (132mm H with feet) x 240mm W x 120mm D (180mm D including power cord) Weight: 4.2 lbs./1.
More Info/Contact For more information, FAQs, Glossary, and help videos, visit: www.comoaudio.com Como Audio, LLC. 21 Drydock Avenue Boston, MA 02210 USA info@comoaudio.com Copyright 2017 by Como Audio, LLC. All rights reserved. This manual was written by Peter Skiera and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without permission from Como Audio, LLC.
