VLAN Tagging

Zone Privacy at Scale

VLAN tagging allows individual DM NAX Audio-over-IP streaming zones to be assigned to specific virtual network segments, so that when a guest's device is onboarded to the system, they only see the casting zones relevant to them. No scrolling through 50 casting zones to find the right one, and no risk of a guest accidentally playing audio in someone else's room, cabin or suite.

Requested directly by the dealer network, this is a particularly compelling feature for yacht and large estate installs where multiple guests or families share a system. This feature ensures everyone's experience feels personal and contained.

"VLAN support isn't just a nice-to-have for high-end installs — it's increasingly becoming a requirement,” says Michael Short, Crestron VP of marketing operations and residential. “Professionally managed networks in large residential and marine projects are designed with segmentation in mind. Now we don't have to ask AV or IT managers to make exceptions for audio."

Crestron’s Dustin Plumb, senior product manager of AV solutions at Crestron, walks us through the process of VLAN assignment as a result of this update: “With VLANs defined at the network level, the 8ZSA webUI handles VLAN tagging at the device. Dealers can assign VLAN IDs to ports and choose which traffic (down to individual AirPlay 2 or Spotify Connect casting zones or AES67 streams) is tagged, aligning audio distribution with the network’s segmentation strategy.”

Access Code Support for Apple AirPlay Software Casting Zones

Apple® AirPlay® software casting zones on DM NAX Audio-over-IP devices can now be protected with an access code, ensuring only authorized users can connect and stream to a zone. This gives dealers precise control over who can access each zone, keeping private spaces like master bedrooms and owner suites exactly that: private. For high-end residential, yacht, and large estate installs where multiple guests share a network, it's a simple but important layer of control that elevates the overall experience.

Native API Integration with SoundMachine Streaming Service

This update brings native API integration with SoundMachine streaming service, delivering support for many of SM’s advanced features. A great example: SoundMachine’s scheduling functions, which let users automatically control what audio content plays in each zone based on time of day and day of the week — so the right atmosphere is always set without manual intervention.

Expanding 4ZSP Zones from Four to Eight (Custom Systems Only)

The DM-NAX-4ZSP currently supports four audio zones. This update doubles that to eight zones within the same hardware, effectively increasing the capacity of the device without requiring an additional unit. This is significant for dealers because it extends the value of the 4ZSP into larger installs, reduces hardware costs for mid-sized whole-home audio systems, and closes the gap between the 4ZSP and the 8ZSA in terms of zone capacity.

This is an excellent example of a firmware update leveraging the “future-readiness” of a Crestron device. “We identified a low-lift way to expand the product's capabilities and extend its viability in a wider range of applications — all with zero cost impact to the customer,” says Plumb.

"Doubling the zone count on the 4ZSP is one of those updates that immediately changes how dealers spec a project,” he adds. “A single 4ZSP can now cover significantly more of a home — and that has a real impact on system cost and simplicity for the homeowner."

The 3.2 Update: Available Now

“The 3.2 update is one of those releases where the breadth of the update reflects how broadly the DM NAX platform is being deployed,” says Short. “VLAN support for managed networks, SoundMachine scheduling for commercial and hospitality audio applications, MP2.0 for custom programmers — these aren't niche requests. They're signals of where the platform is going."

The Firmware 3.2 update is available now for the DM-NAX-8ZSA, DM-NAX-4ZSP, and DM-NAX-4ZSA-50. Update via the Crestron Home OS or firmware management tools as applicable.