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Logitech Squeezebox | 
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| Brand: Logitech
Category: CE
List Price: $299.99
Buy New: $272.46
You Save: $27.53 (9%)
New (26) from $259.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  47 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5
Dimensions (in): 8 x 10 x 6
Warranty: 2 years warranty
MPN: 930-000009
Model: 930-000009
UPC: 097855044945
EAN: 0097855044945
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Lossless Formats (Apple Lossless, FLAC, WMA Lossless) and Uncompressed formats (AIFF, WAV, PCM) | | • | Compressed formats (MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, MP2, MusePack, WMA) | | • | Bridging capability allows Ethernet devices to connect to the network through Squeezebox Wireless | | • | True 802.11g wireless networking | | • | "Always-on" Internet Radio, powered by SqueezeNetwork, lets you tune in to Internet Radio streams even when the home PC is switched off |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
streams music from your computer for playback on your home audio system * connects to your wired or wireless home network * works with iTunes, MusicMagic, Live365, RadioIO, Shoutcast and Windows Media radio * supports playback of lossless music files (Apple, FLAC, WMA), uncompressed files (AIFF, WAV, PCM), and compressed files (MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, MP2, MusePack, WMA) * compatible with Internet radio stations * stereo RCA output (cable included) * 2 digital audio outputs: 1 optical and 1 coaxial *
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| Customer Reviews: Read 42 more reviews...
 Wow... December 24, 2006
59 out of 63 found this review helpful
Pros:
-Amazing sound quality
-Burr-Brown DAC (pretty much the best around)
-Easy to configure
-Great interface
-Rock-solid performance (no waiting when you hit play, and no network issues)
-Created for IT people by IT people, but doesn't require a lot of IT literacy to get up and running (and their documentation is great).
-Price
Cons:
-The only thing I can think of is that it would be cool to have a USB port with USB Mass Storage Device support so you can plug a USB HDD directly in to this puppy and rock and roll. But, this is just nit-picking, and they probably didn't include USB because it would increase the price and wouldn't offer a lot of performance to a lot of people.
Details:
Every once in a while there is a product so genius that it reminds me why I love technology. I had read up about the Squeezebox and I figured it would be really cool. When I picked it up I immediately noticed that it was small. Smaller and sleeker than I expected. It seems to be made of high-quality materials, and at this point I'm feeling pretty unimpressed about the whole thing (since I figured the sound quality would let me down like most digital audio devices... *cough* *cough* *iPod* *cough* *cough*).
My brother and I plug it in to his Denon receiver and B&W speakers, and we power it on. I immediately notice that I like the interface. It's snappy, and the slide transitions actually look pretty cool. The screen is also pretty nice, so I'm starting to feel good about things at this point.
The configuration of this device was a breeze. It auto-detects networks (with broadcast SSID turned on) and I was able to get it on the network in a matter of minutes without reading the manual. The SlimServer software for the PC is also pretty easy to install and configure, and I noticed that they released the source code for the server software.
I first listened to some streaming radio, and I have to say: I was impressed with the quality of the radio stations. I hate MP3 compression (I use FLAC), but the classical stations actually sounded pretty good to my ears. The best part is that the radio stations just work. No problems. No weird network timeouts. Just on-demand radio by Genre, City, Etc.
After playing around with the radio, I decided to listen to some FLAC that I am really familiar with to get an idea of the DAC and the fidelity of the player. My brother and I were blown away by the sound quality of my FLAC files. It sounds about as good as his Denon CD player, and it puts every other digital audio player I have ever heard to complete and utter shame.
There are a lot of things I like about this product. The fact that they release the source and allow you to create custom plug-ins is cool. Everything about this seems like it's created by some friggin' good engineers that want other IT people to appreciate it.
This thing is simply amazing. For price-to-performance, you can't beat it!
 great when it works, but oh so frustrating August 28, 2007
17 out of 27 found this review helpful
I purchased a Squeezebox directly from Slim Devices and the first unit was DOA. I returned it and they sent me a refurb rather than a brand new unit, oh well, at least the service was quick.
Connection to my wireless network went fairly smoothly and the Squeezebox claimed to have 80%+ signal strength.
The Squeezebox played fine for a hour or so and then just stopped. Still claimed to be playing a song but no sound, no progress on the song. The display shows the name of the song but the Squeezebox shows no other signs of life. The Squeezebox could not be reset with the remote, or from the web interface. Finally had to unplug the Squeezebox, and walk back through the network connection screens and start over.
Contacted Slim Devices and they suggested re-seating a card inside the Squeezebox. So I took it apart, reseated the card, and was rewarded with a hour or so of music, and then the unit just stopped playing yet again.
Another suggestion was to try and connect it wired - gotta love a network cable running through the middle of the living room. The Squeezebox seemed to play fine, but the network cable in the middle of the living room was a demonstrated trip hazard. After the trip demonstration I removed the network cable and may not have given the wired connection a sufficient test. I repeated the test late that night, but I fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up the Squeezebox was still playing - don't know if it played through the entire night.
Re-configured my home network, added a new dedicated wireless access point (WAP). Connected the Squeezebox to the new WAP and was again given a hour or so of music before the Squeezebox just stopped.
I added a better antenna to my wireless access point, the signal strength came up a bit and the Squeezebox rewarded me with a hour or so of music, and then it just stopped playing yet again.
Next I'm going to try to run the network through the wiring of my house and just run the Squeezebox wired.
The Wii lives in the same spot, and seems to connect wirelessly just fine, although I don't have it connected to the internet for any length of time so it is not a fair test. I've also used my laptop in the living room (within a few feet of the Squeezebox) connected wirelessly and not had a problem, but I might not notice if it dropped the connection for a few seconds.
Bottom line: if you want an interesting technical challenge buy a Squeezebox, if you want to listen to music look elsewhere.
I fire up the Squeezebox when I want to listen to my music for short periods of time, but don't rely on it, don't really enjoy it, and would not buy another one.
Easy to setup, quality results March 9, 2007
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
I purchased the Squeezebox to listen to FLAC encoded files from my Olive Musica music center. After waiting for over a year for the non existent Olive Sonata, I looked at several forums and concluded that the SlimServer & Squeezebox option was the only viable option at this time. After installing the SlimServer software on the Olive, I was optimistic enough about Slim Devices to buy the Squeezebox.
The Squeezebox arrived in record time. I was impressed by its compact size, sleek look, and substantial heft. I plugged it in, and it immediately detected my wireless network (an my neighbor's) and after entering my network's security code - made easy by the well designed remote, the Squeezebox displayed my music collection.
FLAC and MP3 files play flawlessly, with high quality. The larger FLAC files require a better signal strength, which is a problem only in the most remote corners of my house, and more an issue for Olive's wireless transmitter than the Squeezebox. The SlimServer web interface is a bit slow, but that's also more of an Olive issue (the Olive can be slow, and precludes the use of the latest SlimServer version).
It is a joy to have such quality, easy to use access to my music collection anywhere in the house. I'm ready to buy a second unit for my bedroom.
 Worst $300 I've Ever Spent, and I've Done Coke!!! February 3, 2007
14 out of 99 found this review helpful
This unit is easy to set up and get running initially; it's the perpetual irritation and disfunctionality that occur afterwords that make this such a useless piece of [...].
I bought this upon the recommendation of a friend. He warned me, however, to have a backup (like a CD player) because "this thing was irritating".
I had mine hooked up to my wireless network for about a week before I finally took it for a very rough (but long overdue) final trip to the trash. The only thing I'm still wondering about is why my friend (a notably intelligent Mechanical Engineer) felt that this irritation was worthwhile.
During the aforementioned Week of Audiophilic Agony, I can honestly say that this device functioned (on demand) less than 30% of the time. I can't even begin to desribe all of the irritating episodes that occurred--bizarre, inexplicable conflicts with other (previously installed) devices on my network; saying it's doing one thing (like playing a song)--while actually doing another (...not playing a song); etc., etc., etc...
This gadget will surely put your Wireless Network Enginnering Skills to the test. Don't really have any? Oh...well, sorry for your bad luck.
I could easily waste the next hour of your time telling more horror stories. I'd prefer not to do that, however--in this case, I'd rather think of myself as the "Robin Hood of the Technologically Skeptical Crowd."
I personally listen to music for relaxation, not irritation. I've not tried other wireless music streaming devices, but do yourself a favor--skip this one and find an alternative (it's hard to imagine one doesn't exist)--even if it means reverting to your single CD player.
If you find reloading a 5 CD changer to be too much of a pain in the [...], just try to remember the good 'ole days, when you'd glady flip and dust that scratchy LP every 18-25 minutes just to enjoy the other side.
Great Device November 29, 2007
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
The Squeezebox is a terrific device! The Squeezebox itself stores no music, you have to have another computer act as a "server" to contain the music files. This server runs software called "Slimserver" and it will run on any Linux, and it also works from Mac OS X and Windows (including Vista.) I have over 400 CDs converted to FLAC (lossless) and they stream perfectly from my server, even streaming the average 30mb FLAC files via 802.11g - no problems whatsoever. You use a remote control to work the Squeezebox, there are no buttons or anything on the device itself. You can also use a web browser to connect to the Slimserver software and perform all the same functions as the remote and more.
One drawback I found was when I tried running the Slimserver on Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit on my AMD Athlon 64 X2 (dual-core) system with 2gb RAM. The web interface was pretty pokey and would become unresponsive at times, even while the Windows machine was doing nothing else. I moved the Slimserver and music to my Linux server, again an AMD Athlon 64 X2 system running Debian 4.0 and that improved it 1000%. The other drawback I have noticed is that file format is important. The Squeezebox hardware itself can decode MP3 and FLAC formats in hardware, right on the Squeezebox. But Apple formats (MP4, Apple Lossless, etc.) and others such as Ogg Vorbis must be decoded on the *server* using supplemental software. The two biggest problems with that is, increased load on the server and lack of ability to fast-forward and rewind within a track.
Regardless, I like this device so much, I'm planning on getting another one that I can move around where I like, while leaving the first one permanently at the main stereo.
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