The NV-T2SIR features an OLED capacitive touch front control panel similar to those found on its Grand Concerto and Essentia E6G Control Pads. It is fully compatible with NuVoNet 2, the communication suite that enables easy installation and communications among the source components, amplifiers and control pads that compose the NuVo whole-home audio ecosystem. The tuner also delivers metadata such as song titles and artists information to NuVo Control Pads, as well as to supporting third-party automation systems.

For comprehensive AM/FM and SIRIUS reception, the NV-T2SIR requires only a single RG6 run from the base tuner unit to the antennas. A diplexer can be used at the end of the run to split the RG6 between the AM/FM and SIRIUS antennas (SIRIUS Antenna sold separately).

“With the introduction of the NV-T2SIR, NuVo installers and their clients can now enjoy whole-home distribution of XM, SIRIUS or both satellite radio signals. The choice will soon be entirely in their hands,” said David Rodarte, president and chief operating officer of NuVo Technologies. “In addition, users of the NV-T2SIR will enjoy the energy-saving benefits of the NV-T2SIR’s engineering.”

NuVo expects the NV-T2SIR to become the second NuVo product to earn the ENERGY STAR®; its Essentia E6G was awarded the distinction late last year. NuVo is in the process of submitting and testing the NV-T2SIR for ENERGY STAR® qualification. ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that helps Americans save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

NuVo’s drive for ENERGY STAR® qualification in its products has been inspired by an ENERGY STAR® report that found that use of consumer electronics products is responsible for more than 25 percent of household electricity consumption—a number only expected to rise. ENERGY STAR® products, the agency advises consumers, help prevent global warming and promote cleaner air without sacrificing quality and performance. To illustrate the potential of the program, ENERGY STAR® says that if the roughly two TVs, VCR, DVD player and three telephones in the average home were replaced with ENERGY STAR® models, over 25 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions would be saved—the equivalent of taking over three million cars off the road.

Many end users would be surprised to know, however, that home electronics products use significant amounts of energy even when they're “off” in standby mode to power features like clock displays and remote controls. Electronics products that have earned the ENERGY STAR® meet the strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and DOE by using as much as 60 percent less energy to perform standby functions, while providing the same performance at the same price as less-efficient models, says the government agency.

Like NuVo’s pioneering Essentia E6G system, the NV-T2SIR dual tuner delivers a major breakthrough in standby mode energy consumption for the whole-home audio category. To become ENERGY STAR® qualified, electronics must consume less than one watt of power in standby mode, and the NV-T2SIR delivers in this regard. NuVo expects the NV-T2SIR to earn the ENERGY STAR® this spring.

The NV-T2SIR is expected to ship in the second quarter of 2008 for an MSRP of $699.