Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi Internet Radio and Wireless Music Player by Logitech
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Digital camera reviews of Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi Internet Radio and Wireless Music Player
Digital camera Review: Impressive! And there is an App for that...
Summary: 5 Stars
I recieved my Squeezebox3 3 days ago. The sound quality, especially when playing lossless flac files is great. Installation did require some techie knowledge but was straight forward. Mine is currently connected using the analogue outputs to take advantage of the burr brown DAC. The sound is warm with good stage imaging playing on my 2 channel stereo setup. Due to the fact that my reciever and the Squeezebox itself is not visible from my listening area, the IR remote would not do me any good. Happily while reading through the reviews someone mentioned that there was an iPhone app that would act as the remote while connecting via wifi. The Software is iPeng. I have been playing with it for just a few days now and so far it works flawlessly. You scroll through the music library on your computer running the SqueezeCenter application as if they are on your iPhone and play music or internet radio through your home stereo. All in all this is an excellent solution to free your music.Digital camera Review: Incredible device that increases music enjoyment
Summary: 5 Stars
After helping a neighbor buy and set up one of these a few years ago, I've been anxiously awaiting purchasing one myself. For many years, I've been using an Audiotron, which is a digital music player that was great for its time, but it was discontinued years ago, and the Squeezebox offered more features, including access to the excellent Pandora music service.
Adding to the attraction of its many features, it also has a stellar reputation for audio quality and an active support community on the Squeezebox forums. There are many instances where audiophiles are using Squeezebox devices to play lossless music files through high-end equipment; a situation that years ago would have been done through a dedicated and very expensive CD transport. Slim Devices (now purchased by Logitech) even designed the Squeezebox Transporter to cater to that crowd, offering a premium-priced product that was based upon this Squeezebox hardware.
When I had the chance to purchase the Squeezebox for a very good price, I didn't hesitate, and I'm very glad that I made the purchase!
A primary difference between the Audiotron and the Squeezebox is that the latter requires the SqueezeCenter software to be running on a host computer in order to provide anything more than Internet Radio. I wasn't thrilled about the idea of having something like that taking up computer resources, so I used this as an opportunity to purchase the Netgear ReadyNAS Duo 2-Bay (Diskless) Desktop Network Storage RND2000 that also provides the ability to run SqueezeCenter along with hosting the files. Now, I don't need to have a computer running 24/7 and I don't have to deal with a software package running on my primary PC.
The tradeoff is that the ReadyNAS is somewhat underpowered, and the response time of the web interface is a little slower than I'd like. Hopefully, a software update will improve that situation, even if just a little.
The Squeezebox is an audio-only device, so you will not find a video connection on its back panel. Control is in the form of a standard IR remote control and the vacuum flourescent display, which is very good quality. I actually prefer to the use the web interface, even if it's a little on the slow side through the ReadyNAS. I'm looking forward to trying the iPhone app for controlling it. The flexibility that there are so many different ways to control the Squeezebox is a testament to the technical prowess behind the designers of the product.
Even though I'm glad that I don't have to turn on my TV to control the Squeezebox, I have to admit that I'd really like to be able to use an on-screen GUI to navigate my music library, change settings, and see cover art and visualizations while music is playing. Such additions would likely make the player more expensive and out of reach for many people, though.
There are so many capabilities of this device, I haven't looked through them all and experimented with them. Tops among them are iTunes library integration, where it appears that I could access my iTunes playlists for a more seamless and integrated experience.
By far, I get the most use out of the Pandora music service. Pandora is an online service that allows you to specify an artist or a song that you like and it will go out and find similar artists and songs. You can create multiple stations, so that you can listen to music to match your mood, from Johnny Cash Country to 80's rock to relaxing piano music from the likes of Jim Brickman. You can access Pandora on your computer, but nothing beats the convenience being able to pipe that music throughout your house!
Pandora access was the primary reason I wanted a Squeezebox, and I'm very happy with it. The only thing I would like is a way to access "thumbs-up" and "thumbs-down" ratings more easily from the remote.
The advantage of having a centralized server software program is that you can add more Squeezebox devices and control them from the software and even synchronize them for simultaneous playback if you wish. I bought a used 1st generation Squeezebox and it works great to access my entire music collection as well as Pandora, etc.
Having the Squeezebox allows us to enjoy more music more often. We get more use from the music library we have, and listening to Pandora opens us up to artists and music we may not have heard otherwise. While you can attach an iPod to your stereo system to play your music, it's not the same as having a device dedicated to the task. The sound quality is fantastic, there are more features than most people will know what to do with, and it's a great addition to our entertainment system!
Highly recommended!
Digital camera Review: Just What I Needed
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the most fantastic products I have purchased in a while. Easy, quick set up - even for an "old geezer". Great instructions and website. I needed a music bridge from web Pandora to my audio system and Squeezebox solved my problems. I listen to Pandora about 10 hours a day and I love the user interface of the unit and the fact that it is portable and I can take on the road,on the boat, to the weekend house or to a friends house and show off my technological prowess. Great looking product for the bookshelf and the remote control is intuitive and simple. Wish all electronic products worked this well.Digital camera Review: Just got a second one
Summary: 5 Stars
I had the Roku Soundbridge and seriously considered the Squeezebox 3 the first time around but didn't see what justified the $100 premium. Part of the cost seemed to be the fact that it was made in the United States (I think it's made in China now) but also that it was produced by a small company before Logitech bought it. After a move last year the Roku wouldn't turn on and I decided to upgrade. Boy was I happy--enough that I got a second one to use for the stereo in the bedroom.
Pluses:
* good design
* easy setup (if you're comfortable setting up your wi-fi); works fine with higher levels of network encryption
* simply works: press play and things happen; arrows and menus are intuitive enough while giving you a lot of options
* web browser-based controls are a little inelegant on the design side but work well if you prefer not to use the remote
* integrates fine with iTunes
Minuses:
* Seems to rely on the computer for all functions; I put my computer on standby to save energy and when I do that, the Squeezebox's clock goes blank
* Analog signal (red and black connectors to the stereo) is so soft that you have to turn the Squeezebox's volume up to 90% to get it to match the radio or CD volume on your stereo. Otherwise you risk moving from the Squeezebox to the radio and blasting your ears out.
Bottom line: Some things are designed well enough to be worth the money. This is one of them.
Digital camera Review: Just have to write this
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't usually review, but this one deserves it.
The Squeezebox does have beautiful looks and sound.
It works: in my case, I was listening to my music in just 5 minutes. All of it. My CDs are being boxed as I type, and I feel no loss at all (thanks to FLAC).
Quite a favourite.