( 96 reviews )
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Posted: Aug 10 2009
I was a little nervous getting the squeezebox because of the many reviews that complained about network connections and performance. So far, I haven't had any issues. I may get an occasional break in the music while it rebuffers but they are few and far between. And I can almost always pinpoint that it is an issue with my network rather than the Logitech. I have mine connected via wireless and have had no issues. My Squeezebox is about 20-25 feet away with a wall in between. I consistenly get wireless strength between 60-75%. I suspect most everyone else would get better results than me as for some reason our house always has interference issues (our wireless alarm required about five different trips by ADT to pinpoint the interference; my Logitech remote (which has RF) occasionally has intereference). The setup was really fairly easy. I am not a technical person but I am comfortable around technology. Granted, my wireless is wide open with no security (I know, I know) but really it pretty much found my network and the players, controllers, etc. I had read a review that suggested you get Squeezecenter and the Squeezenetwork set up ahead of time, which I did. Maybe that helped but the installation was a piece of cake. In terms of sound quality, it is great. I wouldn't say I'm a big audiofile but I'm enough of one to note when there are big issues. So far, it sounds great. In terms of features, it has everything that Sonus has. The basic operation is really no different; my hunch is that the Logitech has a bit more variety in the music services it offers. The remote, which at one point was the selling point of the Logitech, is now the weakpoint. The old Sonus remote was pretty much like the Logitech--you use an iPod-like wheel to select--but the Sonus was much bigger. Now that Sonus has a touch screen remote--and it has a free app available on iTunes--the remote is now the weak point of the Logitech. There is the iPeng app available. It is better than the remote and is much easeier to use when trying to search (i.e., when using Rhapsody) but it is still a little buggy. I suppose it is good that the Squeezebox is open sourced and has a solid community supporting it--the downside is that sometimes it feels like it was built by hackers rather than by experienced programmers. The Sonus is much more expensive but it is also much better thought out, better designed, more intuitive, etc. My only real complaint with the Squeezebox is how they have their playlist built. The Sonus is great because you can fairly easily add a song from Rhapsody and either play it now, play it next and add to the end of the playlist. Logitech has the same features but it is much harder to figure out the logic of how to that. And in some cases, it completely erases the playlist when you say play now. The iPeng helps somewhat but even that is not intuitive. This is a minor complaint but I think it highlights how much better thought out the Sonus is than the Logitech. I have a friend who has a Sonus and am fairly familiar with it and how it operates. For most people, the choice comes down to the Logitech or the Sonus. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Having said that, I would probably make the same decision again. I do not have a LAN outlet near my stereo so that pretty much rules Sonus out. And the price certainly doesn't help. The Squeezebox has been great so far and I look forward to using it even more.
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Posted: Jul 20 2009
I really love this thing--it is great! If you have found out about Pandora and IHeart Radio, Yahoo, etc., etc. for all the great music there is out there online, you are going to love it too! The only reason I gave it 4 vice 5 stars is that I am sure some people will have a little bit of problem setting ALL the functions up, since you have to be a little tech savvy for example with getting your own music in the system the way you want it. Do not let that issue stop you---there is a world of music out there online and this is by far about THE BEST way to access it all as long as you have a good hi-spd internet connection and wi-fi equipment, which is fairly common these days. This is one piece of electronics that I am very happy I stumbled upon on the internet at Amazon. Thank-you! HAVE FUN AND ENJOY! And so you can trust me, I promise, I am just me in Jacksonville, FL and have no relationship with Logitech Squeezebox (in case you think I am a little too positive about this).
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Posted: Jul 9 2009
Just set my DUET ups that i bought at B*** B** ( bought before i saw it on here)! Unlike other reviews i can honestly say i have had NO TROUBLE hooking this up or with Squeezenetwork SO FAR ! I hooked it up to my PIONEER ELITE 92THX using an optical cable and set it up to my wireless network - have not had a single drop yet or low buffer from the stations i have tried at this point. My only issue so far since using this is - depending on the station you tune to i have seen anything from 128/kbs to as low as 26/kbs. i know this depends on the broadcasting station but the lower bit rates sound horrible IF YOU ARE AN AUDIOPHILE - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS !
