Customer Reviews

Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi Internet Radio and Wireless Music Player

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I've been running my Squeezebox on my wireless network for a month now and have had no issues whatsoever .
There are many ways to stream music but not that many to do it at the highest possible quality . It reads Itunes Playlists and uses Rhapsody so will work with most peoples libraries. It has no built in amp so need to connect to one .

In short this unit is excellent especially for the price (but not perfect). See the bottom of the review for pros and cons .

Setup
It connected to my WEP encoded wireless network with no problems and reconnects every time with no problems when I restart my music library PC.
You install Slimserver s/w on your PC/Mac (or Ip addressable NAS)and point it to 1 music location (in my case Itunes library = s/w default location). Once slim server is running let the streaming (wireless or wired) begin

Streaming
It has never stuttered let alone dropped the stream even when the laptop that is running Slimserver (with my mp3s on it ) is downloading and also using bandwidth . As mentioned in other reviews make sure your home network is solid before blaming devices . The quality of the sound is exactly as good as the mp3 due to lossless streaming .

Playback quality
The playback quality is amazing . I stream to the Squeezebox and then send the music out of the optical digital out of the unit (few devices in this price range have a digital out ) . So the digital music file I am playing on my PC is not altered / compressed in ANY way . The receiver I use has a high end 24 bit digital / analog converter which sends the music to my speakers = I get the highest quality wireless and lossless playback for under 300 bucks !

The unit also has analog outs ..so you can let the unit do the d / a conversion and send an analog signal to your amp . So if you don't have a high quality d/a don't worry ..Squeezebox has included a 24 bit one . Again great for under 300 bucks !

Mp3s played on this unit sound MUCH better than an Ipod attached to the same amp whether you send them digial out or analog out of the Squeezebox. The d / a converter seems much better .

Interface : unit and browser interface
The unit looks small and sleek . The display is bright and the remote is intuitive but due to it's size the unit will display 1 line of info at a time . This can be a pain with a large music library so the web interface built into the Slimserver becomes a must . This runs on the PC/Ip device you have your music on and is accessed in a browser ( http://PC_address:9000) . It displays Itunes Playlists and you can search by Album/Artist etc as you'd expect . For me the browser tool sometimes hangs in IE but never in Mozilla .

Pros :
Understands 16 and 24 bit digital files (many high end devices only handle 16 bit) .
Understands lossless/high quality format files as well as mp3 .
Supprots Lossless streaming (FLAC) .
Wireless and wired .
Analog and Digital outs .
MP3s sound much better than played on an Ipod .
All this for under 300 bucks !

Cons :
Web/browser interface is not very sexy and sometimes hangs IE (not Mozilla)
Unit only displays 1 line of info at a time ( has to for the size) .
Remote is easy but basic (compared to Sonos for example) .

Summary
For the price this unit is unbeatable for quality and functionality .
It can stream digital files without loosing any digital quality .
The built in digital to analog converter is very good and better than most for under 300 bucks (much better than an Ipod for example so mp3s will sound much better coming from this compared to your Ipod) .
Some less advanced users may opt for a sexier looking choice ..Logitech has some for example .
Or those with cash to burn may go for a Sonos solution ( sexier but 3 x the price) .
The web interface is essential if your library is big . It works fine but is not the sexiest .

for many years i have been a bit of an "audiophile snob", thoroughly enjoying to high quality recordings (kevin mahogany's "pride and joy" is a great test vehicle) on an accuphase cd player and amplifier system that feeds into tuned high end speakers. you know the ritual: walk up to CD stand, look for the CD, find it, check it's clean, grab it by the edges, inster in cd player, walk back to favorite listening chair, enjoy... while thinking about what to listen to next, then repeat the above...

along came the Squeezebox. very simple premise: rip your music to a computer, install squeezecenter software, which scans it and streams it to the squeezebox, and the squeezebox connects to your sound system of choice.

the Squeeezebox offers
- fantastic sound quality for the price, and furthermore the ability to tune it to your system and requirements
- extreme convenience: a great user interface that allows you to access your entire CD collection with just the remote, and listen to it in CD quality if you have ripped the CDs accordingly...

the build quality is great. and the price is right - the audio RCA analog sound has no right to sound this good on a $299 device, really, excellent DA conversion is built in. but if you have a high end reference system the SB gives you the digital interfaces to connect to an external DA converter and achieve truly outstanding sound quality paired with extreme convenience. enjoying your entire music collection and reconnecting with it has never been this easy. it changed the way i listened to music, i hardly ever have touched a CD again, which is a shame given the fact i own a $6k CD player i only use as a DA converter. :-)

make sure you rip your favorite CDs into a non-lossy format, i'd recommend FLAC open source, which the SB handles natively. that will save your music in perfect condition forever. make sure you use good CD ripping software, i have made great experiences with dbpoweramp. make sure you back up your collection - it is a lot of work and you never ever want to do this again.

in a nutshell: this thing rocks and works very well.

First a word about shipping...

Amazon did its usual excellent job of placing the order and getting it shipped promptly. However, beware of the "super saver" shipping plan, which uses FEDEX followed by a handoff to the post office for final delivery. This service may be free, but it is untraceable. Check for yourself: go to [...] and if you try to track anything, it will just tell you it is in transit or has arrived at an unspecified place. Not very helpful!

In my opinion, spend a couple of bucks more and get your items shipped by UPS. These folks can tell you exactly where your item is at any moment! Worth the peace of mind.


Choosing a whole house music system- how to decide

Unless you house is wired for sound, which mine isn't, this choice basically comes down to Sonos or Squeezebox. I spent a LOT of time researching all available units. If you are the type of person who can take a new PC out of the box, update and configure it and attach it to a network successfully, you should have no trouble with Logitech products.

If you are the type of person who needs to call the Geek Squad for help doing a network install, better stick with Sonos. It will cost 2-3 times as much to do the same thing as Logitech, but it is extremely simple. It basically installs itself.

After reading hundreds of user comments here, it seems there are 2 groups of users: the 80% of people who can figure these units out and love them and the 20% who never get these units going reliably for some reason, hate them, and then send them back. If you are an accomplished computer user and network user, and have a STABLE home network, you likely will have no trouble.

You will need to decide whether to get a music player like the Squeezebox Classic, or an all in one player with speakers like the Squeezebox Radio or Squeezebox Boom. Sonos also has similar types of players.


Using Squeezebox with a NAS

One of the main reasons for purchasing Logitech Squeezebox was to be able to use it without a computer online, just using my ReadyNAS DUO. (A NAS is Network Attached Storage, basically a freestanding hard drive.) That way each Squeezebox controls the server directly, without any other hardware involved. Very simple!

This particular NAS unit has built in Squeeze Server software and is able to stream to multiple Squeezeboxes. This option on the NAS must be enabled using the user interface RAIDAR > Setup > Streaming services, and you should also update the NAS to the latest Squeezebox software version after activation. Detailed instructions on how to do this will be found on the streaming service page. It is easy, and unless you do this, your squeezebox may not recognize the NAS.


Installing Software

There are two servers involved here: one on your NAS or computer called Squeeze Server, and one on the web called [...]. Both of these have changed names recently so it can be confusing.

Each of these is personalized with your (same) user name and password. You can connect Squeeze Server to either the local server or the web server, but not both at once. (You can however run more than one instance of Squeeze Server at once on different PCs). You will access internet radio stations via the web server.

As part of a new install, you will need to gather your music into one place such as "My Music." Install the local Squeezebox Server software (a free download, aka SqueezeCenter) and let it know where your music resides. If you only plan to use internet radio, and no local music sources, you may skip this step.

You will also need to set up an account at [...] (aka [...]) to gain access to internet radio. This software is also free as are many of the radio stations. Some stations do require a subscription, though. This all sounds complicated but it will become very clear and simple once you see it in action.

Note: SqueezePlay Beta, which is the free software player simulator, is not entirely bug free. I could not get it to run reliably.


Installing Hardware

The installation instructions for the Squeezebox Radio are very sketchy, just a quick start guide, but those for the Squeezebox Classic and the Boom are much better. Just follow the instructions for the Classic and setup is accomplished very easily. It will find your network, and ask for your WEP key. The only tedious part of installation is entering this key. (You do need to know if you have a 64 bit or a 128 bit WEP key). Do not lose the remote because there are no controls on the unit itself. If the unit loses power however it will remember this key.

Next the Classic will add itself to your network and update its onboard software. Finally, go to [...] on the net and then enter your user name and password into the unit (also tedious, entered "cell phone" style on the remote) using the same ones you used to set up the account on the net. This will instantly add the unit to your internet account. Adding favorites becomes extremely easy this way. If you hear a station you like on the Classic, just press the "heart" button on the remote and it is immediately added to [...] on the net, making your favorites available to all squeezeboxes on your network.

Installation of the Squeezebox Radio is very simple. Entry of the WEP code and Squeezenetwork user name and password is like operating a combination lock: by turning a knob, and quite intuitive. The first thing it does upon connection to your network is update its software; note that this can take up to an hour!


System Performance

Sound quality is excellent. Speed of access is nearly instantaneous. Someone wrote that they thought the ReadyNAS Duo was underpowered to run Squeezebox Server, but I disagree.

Sound from the internal Squeezebox Radio speaker is excellent. Build quality, fit and finish of the unit is excellent. It has quite a bit of "heft" and does not feel like a cheap unit. It is stable and reliable. Easy 5 stars!

It is remarkable how everything works so well together. You can have any combination of sources (PC servers, NAS server, mysqueezebox server on the net) sent to any combination of players (separate or synchronized) and controlled by any unit (IR remote, wireless remote, or a completely different PC from the server PC or 2 PCs controlling 2 different squeezeboxes), and it all works very well! I think this flexibility is better than having a hard wired music system in your house. As an added advantage, you can take it with you when you move!

This is the best Squeezebox model they ever made, now sadly discontinued. Easy user interface, simple setup. It just works. The newer models have flashy color screens but less usability.

I have 3 of these. One functions as my alarm clock, and provides music in my bedroom. (What can I say - waking up to Holst's "Mars, God of War" is really the only way to go for me, and not many alarm clocks come with that as an option.) Another for the living room and the third is in a home theater.

As others have noted, to handle your own music collection, you have to install the squeeze server software on a computer, and if you want music available 24/7 that means you need to leave a computer on 24/7. People with no technical background may find installation of the software slightly daunting, though not worse than most. Note that you don't need to have a PC running if you just want to use the squeezebox for internet radio. For you own music collection, though, you need at least a modest computer to be on.

My computer solution is an Asus EEEbox, which only draws 13W for typical use, so leaving it on all the time is not too rough on my power bill. There are other computer solutions that may draw less power, but I like the EEEbox because it is more than fast enough to handle the squeeze software, and I already have it on anyway for other purposes.

In the home theater I use the squeeze box's optical out, to take the digital signal into a Bryston preamp with a very good DAC. But the DAC in the squeezebox is pretty good too, and I'm generally quite happy to use it in the other two rooms (but see addendum, below). Musically, these little devices do a very good job, better than most people will ever need.

Note that the Squeezebox has a software-adjustable (not physical) volume control, so you can connect it directly to an amp; a preamp isn't strictly speaking required. But if you go direct to an amp, make SURE you lower the volume setting on the squeezebox before turning on the amp for the first time. Out of the box, the squeezebox volume is at 100%. That's not a mistake you want to make. (Addendum: the one I just bought to replace one fried by lightning, was set to 50%, out of the box. Smart move.)

I'm not very fond of the web page interface to the squeeze server. It's not terrible - I just don't like web interfaces for device control in general. So I wrote my own interface to the squeeze server, and the wonderful thing about the squeezebox system is that it lets a software person get complete control of the device. If you can write software to open a TCP socket, you can build any sort of user interface you like. This is *wonderful* in home automation. In my house, the squeezeboxes are not only the music providers and alarm clocks; they make "gong" noises when someone rings the doorbell, play short melodies when important events are coming up on my calendar and and talk to me when there's a water leak in the basement. In my experience the squeeze server software is not perfect, but most people will never notice the limitations, and I was able to work around every problem I found. Logitech's support is NOT as good as the original designer of these devices, but all the documentation you need to write custom software for these things is out there if you want it.

The remote control is adequate. I really only use mine to turn off the alarm clock, since I have the aforementioned software to control them all, but scrolling though albums with the remote isn't all that painful, and the squeezebox display does a good job of letting you know what you're doing.

The devices are robust - the only one I ever had that died was during a lightning strike that fried my entire network (it was a wired squeezebox, not a wireless one, and the ethernet port took a serious jolt when the ether switch on the other end cooked.) They just work. People using wireless connections should keep the squeezebox near the wireless access point; the wireless interface is somewhat forgiving, but it has limits and there's no way to affix an external antenna to boost range. I've never had a stutter at 15', but 100' might be a very different matter.

It's possible to "slave" multiple squeezeboxes so they all play the same song in unison. This is probably nice if you want to have your whole house filled with the same music; I don't use the feature myself. And the various "screensaver" modes tucked away in this thing are somewhat amusing.

No moving parts, high reliability, really good sound quality, fairly simple web interface. It plays .wav, .flac (my favorite choice), .mp3, and a number of other formats. It's hard to go wrong with this thing. Very recommended.

Addendum: I don't want to overstate this device's capabilities, so I'll add this. My much loved audio processor (Bryston SP1.7) got fried by lightning, so I swapped in a Bryston BP-20, which for stereo and analog purposes is about equivalent. But the BP-20 is just a preamp - no DAC and no optical input. So I used the DAC output from the Squeezebox, for the first time in this room.

The difference was so startling I went back and checked the wiring, and then checked the squeezebox's software settings. It's admittedly quite unfair to compare a $200 device with a very high end audio processor costing well more than ten times as much. The squeezebox does a very decent job, but just it's not in the league of much more expensive gear, like Bryston's. In comparison, things sounded warm, sometimes glassy, and sometimes vague ("hazy"), to risk some audiophile jargon. Again, this is in comparison to high end gear and shouldn't be taken as condemnation of the squeezebox. For $200 you are unlikely to do better. But through a Bryston preamp, Bryston amp, and VMPS RM/x speakers you'll hear what it can and can't do, and I'm going straight back to the Bryston processor as soon as it's repaired.

Is it worth the money? Is it for me?

My answer to the first question is an emphatic yes. The hardware is top-notch and sleek. You can tell a great deal of thought went into the hardware design, and also the software. Before judging the cost of a product like this, consider having a top-flight wireless router, adding a VFD, an audiophile-grade signal processor, and a preamp with optical outputs. Don't forget the remote and the switching power supply (built into the wall transformer). $280 isn't cheap, but it buys you a lot. The Squeezebox line looks downright cheap when you compare them to similar offerings. The only caveat I'd make is that this design is a few years old and it'll probably be freshened soon. Likely with a touch-screen LCD display. All said, I'm glad to own this model.

Is it for me? That question deserves pondering. I'm pretty tech-savvy yet I had my share of setup issues with this stuff. And I'm not finished building my "dream" music system, so I'll have to give this Squeezebox lots of testing before springing for that music-storing NAS I've had my eye on.

Software and user interface are the Achilles' heel, as they so often are. If you're on the fence about buying one of these--or any model of Squeezebox--I urge you to read as many positive and negative reviews as you can stand. Also, check out the free software downloads that emulate a Squeezebox on your computer. (If you can get the emulator and SqueezeCenter running well, you're a good candidate for Squeezebox ownership.)

Many of the issues are software-based, or specifically network-based. You probably realize broadband ISP service is needed to use this device. A hefty dose of computer know-how and patience are also required.

Some people may have a problem with this, so know in advance the network interface consumes electrical power round-the-clock, even though the display may be off. It doesn't use a lot of power, judging from the little heat given off. In use, the box produces a fair amount of warmth.

If you just use the internet radio portion of this device and never set up a SqueezeCenter you'll be very happy once you've set up. It won't take long. Some of the streams Logitech has on their "recommend" lists are defunct or out-of-date, but that's no big deal... A computer for setting up and browsing station choices is helpful but not absolutely required.

If you want to stream music stored on your computer, expect to spend some time understanding what this thing can and can't do. There are a wealth of plugins for Squeezecenter (or whatever they call it today) but they don't all work. Some are out of date.

My previous comment reminds me there's a plethora of product terms loosely thrown about. They seem to be in a state of flux which doesn't make learning them easier. Nevertheless, the underlying concepts are fairly static, so keep that in mind, along with your glossary, and you'll fare well.

Some reviewers complained that switching between SqueezeNetwork (AKA mysqueezeboxdotcom) and SqueezeCenter (AKA Squeezebox Server or Slim Server) was awkward or difficult. I didn't have a problem with this--Logitech may have worked on this aspect. Other people complained about the manual. I think it's well-written. I learned about features I never knew from playing with the emulator (called SoftSqueeze).

A couple of times my Squeezebox went black as soon as I turned it on. This freaked me out. I haven't figured the cause, but it seems to be network-related and it's fixable or controllable. Switching between the SqueezeNetwork and SqueezeCenter may be the reason. It bothers me a little, and I can see how it would become a royal PITA should I never figure it out or otherwise tame it. [[ Postscript: After a month of using it I've noticed my Squeezebox sometimes goes black when switching music sources and/or after being turned on. Pressing the power button again restores it. Annoying, but not terribly so. Switching music sources is something I did often while testing, but nowadays not so much. ]]

There exists a dichotomy between the two centers which service your Squeezebox device: the SqueezeNetwork which isn't very customizable and the SqueezeCenter (that you operate) which is quite customizable. That makes sense, although sometimes you wish you could add a plugin or two to the SqueezeNetwork so it would act more like your SqueezeCenter.

As I said before, you may never run your own SqueezeCenter, in which case please ignore 80% of this review.

If all you want is an internet radio, this Logitech Squeezebox is still a *great* choice. Although there are cheaper devices out there, the Squeezebox isn't a "walled garden" like some internet radios. Some devices force you to go to their web site to configure radio stations you wish to tune. If they don't offer the station you want, you must submit a request and wait (days? who knows). On Squeezebox, go to the web interface and type in any URL you wish. Granted, you'll need a computer for that.

I may have given the impression that I am dissatisfied with the Logitech (nee Slim Devices) software, especially SqueezeCenter. I am more than satisfied, given that I knew beforehand from emulator experience that it was imperfect. I hope it keeps getting better. Apart from broken plugins tried and rejected, I find myself wanting more customize-ability as well as a larger, higher-resolution display. (Not unlike buying a laser printer then everafter taking longer to print because now it HAS to be PERFECT.)

It's great that SqueezeCenter is open-source and there are lively, friendly, and active forums. But it doesn't mean we'll all be speaking Esperanto and happily running Ubuntu on 75¢ solar-powered multi-core netbooks while sipping free lattes next month. Expect to sift through a lot of chaff when looking for grains of wheat.

I give this product four stars as long as you know what you're getting into. The issues to be worked through could actually become something of a hobby for you if you're so inclined.

If you want everything *simple*, you've come to the wrong place. NO internet-radio / music-access device delivers simplicity, flexibility, and a low cost at this time. [[ Postscript: The more I use my Squeezebox, the more I appreciate it... One wonders why everything is so tranquil and quiet. Eventually you realize you're no longer hearing the CD changer clonking about (or the FM background hiss). ]]

I have been using my Squeezebox (SB) since long before Logitech bought Slimdevices, about 6 years, and have nothing but good things to say about it. It has never failed to deliver high quality audio to my sound system. It supports almost every audio format there is except DRM'd stuff - if you're thinking of buying one of these you must have a brain so you already know enough to stay away from DRM'd music.

This isn't something you buy for your mom for her 80th birthday. If she just wants to listen to internet radio with it then minimal geek-skillz are required- almost anyone can handle it. After it has been set up, even your 80 year old mom will have no problem with it. That said, if you want to take advantage of everything you can do with this box you need some geek-skillz.

To get maximum use from this box you need a computer network with an always-on wired or wireless internet connection and a computer to serve your music files to the Squeezebox. The internet connection will let you listen to internet radio stations and will allow the SB to update its firmware whenever Logitech issues a new release (every few months). The computer that serves your audio files can be a fairly low performance machine- it's a great way to make a retired computer useful again.

The computer runs a program called SqueezeCenter that is a free, open-source audio server you download from Logitech. You load squeezecenter on a computer, tell it where you store your music files, and it is ready to start streaming the files to your SB. SqueezeCenter is available for Windows, Mac, and several flavors of Linux. Being a true geek, I use Linux (very reliable, no antivirus, anti malware, etc.).

You can control the SB/SqueezeCenter from a web browser on any computer on your network. You can select music to play, build play lists, etc. and control the SB volume level. If you have multiple SBs or maybe a Boom or a Duet (more products from Logitech) you can synchronize them or send different music to each.

You can play almost every audio file format there is. Years ago I ripped all my CDs to .flac, a free, lossless compression codec that crams a CD into about 350MB, and plays back at exactly the same fidelity as the original CD. Using flac you can fit about 600 CDs on a 250 GB HDD. mp3 will let you cram even more music onto a HDD, but you give up some audio quality when you do that. With 1TB HDDs costing <$100 these days there is no reason to use mp3 in the server.

The SB3 can connect to your stereo system using analog cables or if you have a fancy-schmancy D/A converter you can connect a digital output via toslink fiber or coax.

The IR remote control is easy to use because the SB has a well thought-out menu system (customizeable in case you do give this thing to your 80 YO mom and you want to limit her choices to keep her out of trouble). The display is large, bright, and easy to read if you are within about 20 feet of the SB. You can set sleep timers, alarms, etc. New features are added with every release of the server software that comes out every few months.

My server uses a low power, $60 motherboard made by Via. I added 2 GB of ram for another $40 and used an old PC case and power supply. I have 500 GB of storage (two refurbed 250 GB HDDs) in the box and I use an external 500GB HDD to keep a backup copy of all the music. The server sits in a closet. When I need to access the server for software updates, music back-ups, etc., I use a program called TightVNC running on another computer. TightVNC lets me access the desktop of the server, almost like it has a keyboard, mouse, and monitor plugged in.

Slimdevices/Logitech have very active forums where you can easily get help with any difficulty you run into using or setting up an SB system.

To sum up, the SB has something for everyone. You can listen to internet radio with a minimal set-up, or if you're an uber-geek, you can have fun spending hour after hour building and customizing your server. I gave it 4 stars because non-geeks may find it a little overwhelming to set up.