Entertainment For Lively Minds
I'd never buy a piece of audio tackle without checking with the Massive, so.....
Posted by David Hepworth on 23 September 2009 - 8:51pm.
...my son intends to buy a Logitech Squeezebox Boom, which is clearly some kind of internet, wi-fi, digital, tune-in-to-radio-from-all-over-the-world radio thingy. He's asked me what I think of it. I don't have a clue about equipment like this. I don't quite know what it does, how it does it or - more importantly - what it doesn't do. Has anyone had experience of this? Or any alternatives?
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Since you're asking that...
mind if I ask the Massive if they've any experience of the Bose Lifestyle systems on the same thread? I was thinking of investing, but it's a lot of money...
I have one...
In essence, it's a standalone digital media player which is separate from the media. It uses either ethernet (a wired network connection) or a wireless (B or G) network, to attach to either:-
a) An Internet-based (free) service, called "Squeezenetwork" which provides access to a number of subscription services, such as Rhapsody, Pandora, MP3 Locker and etc, most any internet radio you care to name and a number of other sources of music on the web.
b) A "server" process ("SqueezeCenter") which must be running on a local PC. This provides all of the above, and allows any media on the PC such as collections of MP3s &etc to be played. I don't have an iPod, but I believe it will co-exist with an iTunes library.
It is a robust piece of kit, surprisingly heavy for its size, and the built in speakers deliver quite a punch with no distortion at volume (headphone jack is provided). Music is selected either through an IR remote, or by scrollwheel on the unit itself, or by any web browser.
It's strengths are the vast amount of music it makes available, the excellent sound quality, FLAC support for lossless music, and the relative ease of use. Also it's open source software meaning there are innumerable add-ons and tweaks available, and its associated forum is a very friendly and knowledgeable place for any issues.
It's weaknesses are you need a computer on and running the server software to access your personal music library, though SqueezeNetwork just requires a connection to the Internet. The Server software can be a bit daunting, and if you are using wireless, it lives and dies by the strength and reliability of your wireless network. Also, the more accurately tagged your music, the better the experience.
Personally, I love it. Combined with Rhapsody (no spotify yet, I believe), you can quickly access just about anything anywhere and the powerful shuffle and playlist features are a great way to listen to a stale music collection with fresh eyes.
I couldn't recommend it to the complete luddite, a limited amount of familiarity with PCs is helpful should the setup not go exactly as shown in the manual.
That's very comprehensive
Do you know if it has any issues with a Mac?
iTunes compatability
It shouldn't do but if you can find something similar that uses the iTunes server (and therefore the iTunes library, playlists etc that you've doubtless spent hours organising) it's even better. I've been using a Roku Soundbridge for years (plugged into the hi-fi) and it just works as soon as you have a Mac or a Windows PC running iTunes on the LAN. It's a bit long in the tooth now (I've had mine for over 4 years) but there must be a "modern" equivalent.
I know the server software is released for the MAC
...And as it's written in PERL, it should be functionally the same as the Windows one, but I have no practical experience. Plenty of people in the forum appear to use a MAC, though
Boom!
I've had one for six months now, it's absolutely brilliant, no drop outs or glitches and it means i can listen to music on my computer anywhere in the house. Also- a major bonus for me, I wake up to Radio 4, which considering I live in New Zealand is a brilliant! Thanks the Lord for 'Front Row'. Hope this helps.
I'm waiting for the kids to stop messing with everything
and then I'm buying a Sonos.
But if he wants speakers attached to the thing, a Squeezbox Boom is great if reviews are to be believed. If he's just going to leave it in a room and never move it, he could do better sound quality wise with a Squeezebox and some decent powered speakers.
I've got a Sonos.
Fabulous bit of kit. All my CDs are now in a big box in the garage whilst I try to convince the wife that they can't be sold.
As far as the Logitech thingy goes.. well..
I'd ask the bloke in the shop if the gangle-chips are reverse-polarity or can they be offered up blind when the stream inverts. Plus the trumpets need to be checked for point fade on overburn. And check with him in the shop because, although I've not listened to one, transients which wrap on anything over 560mhz on the co-integral circuits.. well.. I'd be very suspicious.
Just my two penn'orth.
Ah, but Sonos != Boom...
...as it doesn't have any speakers. Nice bits of kit, but definitely for the more affluent members of society.
Up to a point
but if you'd told me I could have a 3 room set up with all 3 rooms able to play different music (or the same) with a great remote and speakers for a little over £1000 5 years ago I wouldn't have believed you. Great powered speakers start at around £100 and you can simply plug it into your existing stereo set up (which is where it comes into its own).
Boombox is a great standalone system. Sonos is a great integrated system (you can even use you iPhone or ipod touch to control it).
I eckon you could do it 5 years ago
5 years ago you could get 3 SlimServer Squeezeboxes for about £550 which would leave you to source 3 amps and speakers for the remaining £450 which would have been tight but might have been possible and anyway, you would probably plugged one of them straight into the existing hifi in the living room anyway.
But....
the remote would have been near unusable in the context of a multiroom system and you would need to ensure your wireless network worked all over you house.
But your right. The Sonos makes all of that technology into a plug and play consumer device. Squeezebox is still at the techie end of things and I am not a techie who is going to be happy to fiddle about until I can get it to work.
The Sonos has two types of box.
One is a Big Box which has speaker jacks on the back. The other is a small box with a standard digital or L/R audio output to plug into an amp. My little box in the living room goes to amp via a stand-alone DAC and it sounds jolly good to me. The old controllers I've got are a bit clunky - the new ones which I'll put on my Xmas list are much spiffier.
You might be able to help me get rid of some cash
I'm in the middle of convincing the FPO that we really need to upgrade from our Soundbridge system and I've eyed the Sonos boxes for a while now. There seems to be a deal clincher where I can go ahead and spend spend spend. Can you fast forward and rewind and jump to any place in an MP3 that is streamed from iTunes? If you can then it probably seems like an odd question but it's the only thing that we would really like to do with the Soundbridge but can't.
The other thing is, why would anyone buy a controller for about £280 when you they claim the free app gives an identical experience with an ipod Touch for £150?
Ipod touch app
just adds to the business case I reckon.
gangle chips are all very well
...but how many watts do you want Grandad?
Meanwhile see
http://www.pure.com/
for the (egg) shape of things to come perhaps ... for those who need to be able to check their Facebook status on a "radio" ...
[Stimpy, if you see this-depending on the sound quality etc might suit the Stimpette's request ?]