Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi Internet Radio and Wireless Music Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)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!

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Product Description:

The Logitech Squeezebox enables you to stream your favorite music to your stereo--even when your computer is off. You'll be able to tune in to thousands of Internet radio stations as well as listen to online music services such as Pandora and Rhapsody when connected to your home's wireless network. Additionally, you can play songs from your personal library stored on your computer.

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Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Given this is the first review, I will be thorough.

I've owned the Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker for two months (paid $78.47).I'm very pleased.The sound quality is excellent for this type of speaker.The volume is loud enough to completely fill a room or a small outdoor area (e.g., patio).I've enjoyed it on the beach and found quality does not suffer much at high volumes.

Like with any small speaker, if you crank it to max volume, there is some distortion on bass-heavy songs.But the distortion is slight, and the bass sounds great if you have the volume appropriately set for the type of audio you are streaming.

On that note, there is no remote.The only way to control the volume is the `volume up' and `volume down' buttons on the front of the speaker or directly from streaming device ONLY IF it allows it.That is, my iPhone (3G - iOS 3.1.3) CANNOT change the speaker's volume while streaming, but my laptop can.In my use, I have not needed a remote.Usually I directly set the speaker's volume for the environment (e.g., bathroom, patio) and forget it.No remote also means you must control the streaming media from your device.There are no media control buttons on the speaker.

There is an auxiliary input on the back of the speaker, if you want to hook up a non-bluetooth device, or maybe just to save battery by not using Bluetooth.

Pairing with Bluetooth-capable devices (in my case, iPhone 3G and HP laptop) is simple and quick.

Battery life (four AA) is excellent.It is so long I cannot even put an estimate in terms of hours.It also came with an AC adapter, but I have never used it.The battery compartment is underneath the speaker.

The speaker is fairly small and very light.I actually carry it from room-to-room to enjoy while I am doing chores.

My only concern with the speaker is the build quality.The plastic casing is sturdy, but the front face of the speaker (surrounding the name plate and volume controls) is made of cloth.The cloth is spongy, but I am worried that it will inevitably tear with my heavy use of the speaker.There is no travel case included with the speaker.

Looking for a portable Bluetooth wireless speaker, I also considered the Logitech Z515 ($90, smaller and cloth-free).I've never used that Logitech speaker, but I ultimately chose the Creative D100 based on superior reviews for sound quality and bass quality.Look into both.There are good reviews for them and a comparison on CNET, if you want more information.

On the front of the speaker:
Volume up button
Volume down button
Bluetooth connect button

On the back of the speaker:
Power (on/off) switch
Aux input
5V AC adapter input

Underneath the speaker:
Battery compartment (four AA)

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Product Description:

Built with award-winning Bluetooth technology, the Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker lets you play music wirelessly from your smartphone, laptop, or other A2DP-enabled mobile device. The Creative D100's portable design and full-range drivers make it ideal for outdoor parties or afternoons at the beach. The speaker system comes in four colors and is compatible with PCs, Macintoshes, and most Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices.

Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black)
At a Glance:

Wireless stereo sound from your iPhone, notebook, or other Bluetooth-enabled device
Dual 3-inch full-range drivers for loud, dynamic bass
Aux-in port to plug in an MP3 player or other music source
Plays for up to 25 hours on four AA batteries
Sleek, portable design
Backed by a one-year limited warranty

Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black)

Portable design allows you to take it outside and enjoy high-quality wireless audio. View larger.

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Parrot BOOMBOX - Speaker - Bluetooth - 60 Watt - 2-way - black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Purchased this to supplement my Motorola BT headphones. Product is visually appealing and has overall well constructed and solid feel. Performs well and audio sounds very crisp/clear.

I use it for streaming audio from the internet with my Motorola Q"SOMA FM"and it tends to clip from time to time due to the signal. Does not occur while playing songs straight from the phone memory/SD card.

Volume goes loud although bass response will suffer due to limited woofer size. 'Has much more range overall than most "ipod" and "zen" player loudspeakers I have heard.

Expensive but worth it for a very unique, new tech product !!!

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Product Description:
Listen to your favorite tracks from any Bluetooth A2DP stereo source and discover optimized digital sound in a compact format designed to deliver high performance.The Parrot BOOMBOX guarantees high-level sound in every situation: two wideband drivers perfectly reproduce all the subtleties of the high and medium frequencies, while the woofer adds depth and a dynamic feel to the bass frequencies.With its robust mechanical design and its electronic power, the Parrot BOOMBOX is designed for listening to any type of music. It is capable of reproducing the sharpest nuances of acoustic music, letting you enjoy the rhythm of the wildest sounds.The Parrot BOOMBOX sports a particularly stylish finish: the 19 mm thick wooden cabinet is black lacquered and polished to create a timeless semi-matt finish. The Parrot BOOMBOX can be taken anywhere with discretion guaranteed, until you turn on the music!The digital technology produces an unrivaled level of precision without any background noise, while considerably reducing distortion at high volume. Enter the digital music age!The Parrot BOOMBOX also accepts all analog audio devices connected to the RCA jack (CD players, tuners, etc.) and automatically detects the music source. Take your music experience to another level with an exceptional hi-fi system dedicated to the technologies of today's and tomorrow's world.

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Cisco-Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This was very easy to set up. It took about 5 minutes total to set up the router and have a wireless connection to my desktop. I have an excellent reception to my desktop that sits about 30 feet away in another room. Also, I have my desktop and laptop (both running vista), xbox 360, and ps3 connected to it wirelessly. the xbox 360 NAT is open and the ps3 NAT is type 2. I'm not sure what that stuff means technically, but in normal person terms it means that I can connect to others with no problems. The back of the router has 4 10/100 ethernet connections on it as well if you want a wired connection.

The design of this router is really excellent. The antennas are built into the router and the dimensions of it are really small and thin! This gives you more flexibility of where the router can be placed.

Streaming recorded TV, music, and pictures from my desktop to xbox (using media center) work well for both being connected wireless with no reduction in picture quality.

With the release of the new Xbox 360 dashboard I am able to stream HD video from Netflix wirelessly through my 360 with this router. The wait time for video to start is short and the picture quality of HD shows like Heroes and 30 Rock is great.

*Update* I have had the 20" 2.66ghz iMac since May 08 and connecting it to my linksys was as simple as selecting the network and typing in my password. The router has been up and running several months now with no resets or connection issues. This is a very stable router that requires little to no maintenance. Now my connections to this router are a laptop with Vista every now and then, Mac with OS X 10.5, ps3, 360, and 2 iPhones. There are no problems when 2 or more devices are using the connection. I am connected to a 6mbps cable connection.

Recently I got the new unibody MacBook and an eyeTV hybrid 2009 model. I use it to record TV (mainly the HD shows sent via QAM from comcast) on my iMac. I want to stream a HD show like The Office from my iMac to my macbook that is connected my my 46" samsung (lnt-4665), but I have found that "g" is not fast enough to stream a show recorded in HD. It is fast enough to stream a show recorded in SD, so I need an "N" router if I want to stream wirelessly.

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Product Description:
The Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router is really three devices in one box. First, there`s the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect both screaming fast Wireless-G (802.11g at 54Mbps) and Wireless-B (802.11b at 11Mbps) devices to the network. There`s also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Connect four PCs directly, or attach more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection.

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XACT XS097 Deluxe Universal Satellite Radio CD / MP3 / AM/FM Boombox System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)XACT is a dishonest company. They claim to have a warranty on their products, but there is literally NO WAY to get them to repair or replace a product. If you call their support number, you get an automated system with no option to talk to an operator. Instead, the system gives you an e-mail address. Then you have to e-mail them several times to get a response, and all they say is "Send it back to the retailer," even after the 30 day return period.

I bought the XACT COMMUNICATIONS XG2500 Cordless Headset Telephone in late 2008 and it was of mediocre but acceptable quality at first. But then the battery life took a nosedive. A cordless phone that lasts ten minutes on a full charge isn't useful. And that happened during the one year warranty period. But I couldn't get a repair, replacement, or refund from the company. So my only recourse is to give out one-star reviews and warn others about the company.

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Product Description:
Compatible with XTR3 Visor, XTR8 Replay, and XTR7 XTR Satellite Radio Receivers. (Sold Separately) * CD Player Capable of CDRW and MP3 Playback * Top Load CD Player with 45 second ESP * Digital AM/FM Radio Tuner with 10 Presets * Includes Satellite Antenna * Rotary Volume Knob * Auxiliary Line Level Input * Auxiliary Line Level Output * 3.5mm Stereo Mini Jack * 4" Full Range Speakers, 5W per Channel * Extended Outdoor Play with 8

Logitech Squeezebox Boom All-in-One Network Music Player / Wi-Fi Internet Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a radio nut (going back to the tube days)and the Squeezebox Boom is my third internet radio. I have a Roku Soundbridge R1000 and Sangean WFR-20 as well. All have their strengths, but the Squeezebox Boom is without a doubt a significant step up; it sets a new high standard in performance, capabilities, and ease of operation.

For wireless streaming of your music collection from a PC or Mac, the Boom is best. It can handle more formats (nearly anything except DRM protected iTunes files) and works well without crashes or delays.In this the Roku is #2, and the Sangean ranks 3rd(crashes and stutters a lot).

For internet radio, they all work well. The Sangean is the only one that natively handles RealAudio Streams (like BBC) but has problems with clear channel stations.All of them pick up the stations I want without problems, so I rate this a tie.

If you want to interface with online music services like Rhapsody/Pandora/ MP3Locker etc, the Boom works great, with far more capacity than the other two. The Slimdevices/Squeezebox folks also update and improve their software far more frequently than the other two, so I expect it to remain in the lead in features and available services.

In sound quality, the Roku and Boom are both outstanding, with the Sangean good, but clearly a step lower.The Roku's subwoofer seems to go a bit deeper in my room, but the Boom is perhaps a bit more smooth and musical. The Boom uses the same woofers and tweeters as the highly rated Logitech Z-10, but with better bass (because of a larger cabinet and new amp/equalizer circuitry). They both sound absolutely great and play quite loud.

Ease of initial setup: If you are starting from scratch, I think the Sangean is the easiest to set up, if you do NOT want to stream audio from your PC...that is a real hassle. Both the Boom and Roku require a bit more work.

Ease of Use AFTER set up:Boom is best BY FAR.Not only do the menus make real sense, but the illuminated controls make it the only radio you can use easily without turning on the lights. The big control knob and back lit function buttons get you through all of the functions fast.

As a Clock Radio, the Boom has more options than the others, and the display has a huge adjustment range so it will not disturb light sleepers.

All of these radios are a lot of fun.The Boom does most, and does it best.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Logitech Squeezebox Boom All-in-One Network Music Player / Wi-Fi Internet Radio

Product Description:
Logitech Squeezebox Boom all-in-one network music player with integrated speakers. Plug it in. Turn it on. Rock the house! The all-in-one network music player that combines award-winning squeezebox functionality with an integrated amplifier and speakers to deliver your digital music to any room in your home. Enjoy the music and content you love, with crystal clear sound.

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