A control unit in a first playback system connected to a musical piece searching unit via a path having the highest data transfer rate includes a determining unit for discriminating between a request for musical piece information from the first playback system and a request for musical piece information from a second playback system, a temporary storage unit for holding data information acquired in response to the request from the second playback system, and a musical piece information transmitting unit for transferring the musical piece information read from the temporary storage unit to the second playback system according to the data transfer rate of a path connecting with the second playback system, and each of the first and second playback systems makes a request of the musical piece searching unit for musical piece information via the control unit, and acquires the data information satisfying the request.