Slim Devices Squeezebox

[Rob Williams]

Wireless is now, so why not include your music within the realm of this amazing technology? That's what Slim Devices is out to do with their Squeezebox. Not only can it wirelessly deliver music to anywhere in your home, it's also finely tuned with the Rhapsody music service for the ability to listen to even more music. It can even handle lossless audio formats!

You can read Gregs full review here!

[Rory Buszka]

Actually, Burr-Brown DACs aren't all that common, but they're a high-end part. It's obvious that Slim Devices was concerned with audio quality as well. The Squeezebox looks fantastic; I want one. Right now, I've just got a separate machine hooked up to my stereo components, with an Audigy card.

[Jakal]

Oh wow! That's an awesome product. Eliminating the cat5 cable, enabling digital output, sleek, stylish desgn. Awesome. With just about every audio codec available, there shouldn't be any problems throwing a top-notch party all night long. I'd love to have such a product in my home.

I do have a couple questions revolving around the wireless networking. With the computer constantly sending data to the Squeezebox, how much is internet browsing affected? How taxing is it on to the computer? You would be using some bandwidth to send data. Was internet browsing hindered at all? If you're going to have a computer for music transmission only, how big of a step would it be to make it an HTPC? Not much at all, I think.

I also know that you're using your main pc to transmit with, and why not? Looks like the Squeezebox is also a great option if there's no room in the entertainment center for a HTPC.

I loved that VU "Screen Saver". Does it react to music? I think having an active equalizer of the output music would be awesome.

Is it also possible to transmit sound from a microphone, not just pre-recorded stuff like mp3s ?

[Greg King]

This is something that I didn't try out but will certainly give it a go when I can. I will let you know soon.

Did you try it out?

Damn... i'd really need that information. Our company plans to purchase 2 squeezeboxes, so we can stream the sound from the microphone through the laptop (where the spoken stuff is also recorded) to the squeezeboxes and to the speakers connected to them.

[Rob Williams]

I'll pass this along to Greg, he's been busy lately doing other things so he probably forgot. He should get back to you soon...

Thanks.

[Greg King]

Sorry for the delay. I have been out of town setting up a server at one of our southern warehouses. I will check this out tonight and will let you know tomorrow what I find out.

[Greg King]

I cannot get this to work. Perhaps if I had different software. I am not saying that I am 100% that this can't be done, but I did not have any luck. Sorry.

Too bad it has an IR remote. A bluetooth remote would have been a much better solution.

[Greg King]

In what way? I haven't had a single problem with the remote to date. It's still running on the original batteries even. I would say that a Bluetooth wouldn't be neat, but it would also up the price more than likely.

New Squeezeboxes have a MUCH better looking remote. You can also order the new remote as a replacement part for your old SB, if you dislike the old remote that much (and yes, it's very ugly and looks very cheap).

The VU meters do react to the music, of course. You can also display a spectrum analyzer (like those found on equalizers). And you can play tetris (this is no joke! It's not all that fun with such a small display, of course).

The information on the product states that you can use multiple sets of audio outs (ie, analog & digital) at the same time.

Has anyone used this in a multi-room setup as of yet?

I have a whole home system being installed and a 5.1 system in my great room. Right now the problem is that there is no way to distribute the same music from my IPOD to both the great room system and the multi-room system.

This product seems to be the ticket @ a very low cost.