Logitech Squeezebox Duet Wi-Fi Internet Radio by Logitech
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Our Price: $434.34 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $186.40 (click here) Category: Speakers See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Logitech Squeezebox Duet Wi-Fi Internet Radio
Digital camera Review: Awesome so far
Summary: 5 Stars
I got the Squeezebox on Friday, opened it on Saturday morning, downloaded SqeezeCenter on my Mac, installed, scanned my iTunes (this all took maybe 15-25 minutes) then plugged the receiver in and connected it to speakers, and put the battery in the remote. The remote asked me for my wireless info (mine has 128-bit encryption and does not broadcast the SSID), and after connecting first time, it found my Mac and then the receiver. I was playing my music within 30 minutes from heading to the SqueezeCenter url. Great experience.
The sound is fine. I tend to have high end equipment and my wireless connection to the living room where the stereo is goes from pretty good to really bad. I don't use a laptop out there because the connection is poor. But the Squeezebox is doing ok.
Looks like I will need to organize the menu a bit. There is a lot of stuff in the first menu. Also, I find I need to push the center button firmly.
All in all, it's great. Before this, since all my music is on the Mac and I don't have a separate CD player, we had to turn on the stereo, the Mac and the TV (as the screen for the Mac) and then go to iTunes OR use Front Row. Front Row is a bit limited and half the time I have to re-pair the remote with the Mac (I use the Logitech Harmony 525). Now with the Squeezebox, I just power on the stereo and use the Squeezebox remote. No TV, no returning to the living room, etc.
Quite happy so far.
Digital camera Review: Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
I did have to call Support to help me set it up but it appeared that my ports were closed due to firewall, all was resolved and set up easily, love it love it love it! my computer is upstairs and I work downstairs so this little box saved my life!Digital camera Review: BUGGY LIKE HELL
Summary: 2 Stars
I've been using the Squeezebox Duet for about 6 months and although I love the concept I hate it's software with a passion. This is really some of the most unstable and buggy software I have ever come across!!!
Issues include:
-memory pig. The squeezebox server uses around 130 MB of ram.
-very slow volume response time. If I change the volume using the Duet it can take 5-10 seconds before the actual volume changes.
-unstable music playback. The Duet and Squeezebox Server repeatedly drop the wifi music stream or lose connection. I've NEVER had a few hours of uninterrupted play!
-too coarse volume settings on the server.
Basically this product is not ready for prime time and could use some serious debugging.
Digital camera Review: Been waiting nine months for a bug to be fixed
Summary: 2 Stars
I have owned two duets for nine months and cannot browse my large music collection because of a showstopping bug. I have been through three major revisions of the controller software. I am an experienced software developer myself. Their development team has pretty much abandoned helping me (and the others that reported this bug). Their response was "it works for me, and has for some time". What kind of response is that to an end user? Not a professional one.
They need to get serious about customer satisfaction and product functionality or get rid of their outsourced developers.
I am considering returning my two duets and going with a different product.
If this unit did not have so many interface bugs I would *LOVE* it.
Digital camera Review: Best Audio Purchase Ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have owned the Squeezebox Duet for about 2 years now and not only do I love it, I think that it has by far paid for itself since I have barely felt the need to buy new music since the Squeezebox Duet gives you free access to an infinite amount of music between music apps and internet radio. To be able to play my computer and internet music through my home stereo was the missing link of my audio capabilities. The Squeezebox Duet shines at this, but Logitech also makes some other units that may be a better fit if you are looking for more of a portable boom box or table radio that you can move around your house more easily.
As some have pointed out, setup is a little difficult. For me this was amplified since I was also installing a wireless network at the same time. The people at Logitech who support the Squeezebox Duet courteously helped me once I became frustrated, and suddenly music was coming out of my speakers, the album cover that the song came from was displayed on the remote and I was in business. Since then I have never looked back and have listened to music through the Duet virtually daily since then. When I have had to contact Logitech for support their customer care people have been excellent and have quickly solved any problem that I have had. While this has been rare, it is a good feeling to know that they stand behind their product. On rare occasions I have had buffering issues, but it is hard to diagnose whether this is because of the Squeezebox, my wireless network, problems out on the internet, or problems with the channel I am trying to listen to. Not a recurring problem.
It never ceases to amaze me how much music is available on the internet, and the Squeezebox Duet makes it very easy to find and play it. I listen to Pandora a lot, and for some reason, changing from one Pandora channel on the Duet happens instantly, but doing the same directly on Pandora on the computer makes you listen to an ad when you change channels if you have the free account. This is just one example of the convenience of the interfaces to apps.
The firmware for the receiver and the remote are each updated every two months or so, and each comes with improvements in available stations and apps as well as functionality.
I can't speak for the Sonos unit because I haven't tried it. I can only assume that it is great, but at significant additional cost compared to the Squeezebox Duet. You get a fantastic, slick and very functional unit with the Squeezebox Duet for under $400. I am sorry to hear that some have had a bad experience but I couldn't be happier.
I recommend buying some good quality cables and chucking the cheapos that come with the Duet to improve the sound. I strongly recommend this unit. You will love it!