Hardware Logitech Squeezebox Boom review

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/speakers/2009/07/16/logitech-squeezebox-boom-review/1

Having a hard disk full of MP3s is all well and good if you only ever want to listen to your music when you're sat at your computer. Logitech's Squeezebox Boom is a 21st century stereo that can stream music from your PC and from the web. We crank it up to 11 to see how it sounds.

 

I LOVE squeezeboxes! I have two classic units (AKA Squeezebox 3) and the wifi handheld controller thing which is very nifty. Although to be frank i use the iPeng app on my iPhone more often. Everyone should get a squeezebox!

 

It would never replace my HTPC!

 

It's not supposed to Pedro.

For me it's pretty much meh though.

 

If it had an Ipod Touch dock then this would be a winner for me (and maybe an FM tuner) . Currently using Orb to stream from my PC but it seems to have problems with long tracks such as 30 minute mixes.

 

Looks like its from the 80s?

 

Yeah but in cheap plastic.

 

i can't believe they rated it so highly. extremely limited appeal.

 

Love my Squeezebox Duet, fantastic piece of kit.

Been thinking about getting a Boom for the kitchen where I can't really be bothered with the hassle of separates.

 

pictures of the display at work would have been nice...

 

The plastic does look a bit cheap. May get one for some kitchen tunes if I can see one in the flesh.

 

It's ideal for that - and if you've already got Squeezebox software running you're all set with it. As for the plastic looking cheap, I think in part it's because the matt finish doesn't photograph so well.

 

so, all that money and design etc, it requires a one-account-only proprietary software instead of being able to hook up to any old DLNA server? Appologies if it actually does, I skim read after I read about the hassle of obtaining the software, and how you can set the software to run on some NAS boxes - what about NAS boxes that are also DLNA servers? kinda already has the software on there!

 

Not sure why they had to register and put in a PIN. You can download the software without any such thing from the logitech website (http://www.logitechsqueezebox.com/support/download-squeezecenter.html). And the software is open source (GPL).

As to whether you should get this product or not... well it just depends on whether you are interested in getting into the whole "squeeze infrastructure" for your home audio. It's one of those things that you either jump in all the way, or stay completely out. It doesn't make a lot of sense to just own one squeeze product.

The problem they're trying to solve is: you've got your whole music collection stored on a computer; now how do you play it in many rooms all over your house? And their answer is to have one computer with your music collection and the squeezecenter software and multiple squeeze hardware devices, one in every room you want music in.

If that problem they're trying to solve isn't one that you have, then this most certainly isn't the product for you. But if it is a problem you have, then the squeeze setup is a good solution. (Other options are things like Sonos.)

 

what he said^^^ ... thanks for the review, however

 

For the price, why on earth wouldn't you get a cheap netbook and some speakers?

 

I can assure you the plastic is not cheap. It's a very nicely made device. Utterly pointless though. Just get a duet and plug it into a hi-fi.

 

I got one of these recently when the price dropped for the kitchen it is great but I am Biased as I have two clssics already. The 24 bit DAC on this is great.