Multi-room streaming audio. Which product?
Discussion
Just deciding which solution to install in the house as part of the building work.
Favoured products so far are Sueezebox 2, Roku M2000 or the very slick but somewhat expensive Sonos.
Anyone got experience of these? Some rooms will be hard-wired Cat5e, others 54g. Need to do about 6 rooms + garden deck. Will be using lossless codecs.
http://www.slimdevices.com
http://www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/index.php
http://playlistmag.com/reviews/2005/02/sonos/index.php
Favoured products so far are Sueezebox 2, Roku M2000 or the very slick but somewhat expensive Sonos.
Anyone got experience of these? Some rooms will be hard-wired Cat5e, others 54g. Need to do about 6 rooms + garden deck. Will be using lossless codecs.
http://www.slimdevices.com
http://www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/index.php
http://playlistmag.com/reviews/2005/02/sonos/index.php
It's probably worth downloading Slimserver and Softsqueeze (http://softsqueeze.sourceforge.net/download.html) which is a java version of the Squeezebox just to see if it does what you want it to do.
I have a server connected to my hi-fi, running slimserver and softsqueeze, I can control this from my desktop PC.
Just to check it works, I currently have one album playing through my hi-fi, one streaming to softserve on my desktop, and one streaming to softserve my laptop. Worth trying if you have pcs lying around as it's all free.
Martin.
I have a server connected to my hi-fi, running slimserver and softsqueeze, I can control this from my desktop PC.
Just to check it works, I currently have one album playing through my hi-fi, one streaming to softserve on my desktop, and one streaming to softserve my laptop. Worth trying if you have pcs lying around as it's all free.
Martin.
davidy said:
Squeezebox with uncompressed or FLAC files gives great audio quality. I have 2 SB1's and run one with an external Meridian DAC, gives a great sound. The others destined for the Kitchen and I'll run it with its internal DAC.
Enjoy it
davidy
You're not wrong! Got it running through my DCS DAC and it sounds superb
>> Edited by stuh on Tuesday 24th May 07:12
Another vote for Squeezebox here. Had two SB1s for years, just upgraded one to SB2. Absolutely cracking bits of kit.
Sonos looks sexy but is more expensive, don't really see that it could be that much better than SB2 but I do love the WiFi remote (as opposed to an IR one - very cute idea). Its also good for rooms where you don't have an amp as speakers can be wired directly into it. Keeping my eye on that one.
Sonos looks sexy but is more expensive, don't really see that it could be that much better than SB2 but I do love the WiFi remote (as opposed to an IR one - very cute idea). Its also good for rooms where you don't have an amp as speakers can be wired directly into it. Keeping my eye on that one.
neil.b said:
Another vote for Squeezebox here. Had two SB1s for years, just upgraded one to SB2. Absolutely cracking bits of kit.
Sonos looks sexy but is more expensive, don't really see that it could be that much better than SB2 but I do love the WiFi remote (as opposed to an IR one - very cute idea). Its also good for rooms where you don't have an amp as speakers can be wired directly into it. Keeping my eye on that one.
I might have misunderstood you, or the slimdevices website, but I though the SB2 allowed connection of speakers too? Thinking about one for the kitchen, where sound of any quality is the requirement....
stuh said:
Which mag do you work for Rico?
I'm doing this piece for www.lussoluxury.com Available from Borders
TheHobbit said:
Another vote for Squeezebox here. Had two SB1s for years, just upgraded one to SB2. Absolutely cracking bits of kit.
Sonos looks sexy but is more expensive, don't really see that it could be that much better than SB2 but I do love the WiFi remote (as opposed to an IR one - very cute idea). Its also good for rooms where you don't have an amp as speakers can be wired directly into it. Keeping my eye on that one.
I might have misunderstood you, or the slimdevices website, but I though the SB2 allowed connection of speakers too? Thinking about one for the kitchen, where sound of any quality is the requirement....
It's only a pre-amp, so you'll need either a power amp or active speakers. Having been so impressed by it, i'm considering partnering it with some active Genelecs in our kitchen..............
TheHobbit said:
Another vote for Squeezebox here. Had two SB1s for years, just upgraded one to SB2. Absolutely cracking bits of kit.
Sonos looks sexy but is more expensive, don't really see that it could be that much better than SB2 but I do love the WiFi remote (as opposed to an IR one - very cute idea). Its also good for rooms where you don't have an amp as speakers can be wired directly into it. Keeping my eye on that one.
I might have misunderstood you, or the slimdevices website, but I though the SB2 allowed connection of speakers too? Thinking about one for the kitchen, where sound of any quality is the requirement....
It's only a pre-amp, so you'll need either a power amp or active speakers. Having been so impressed by it, i'm considering partnering it with some active Genelecs in our kitchen..............
rico said:
Which mag do you work for Rico?
I'm doing this piece for www.lussoluxury.com Available from Borders
A bit too rich for a working class plodder like myself
Just came across this little review of the Sonos;
http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review2344.html
This is something you should be aware of;
"Lows:
First ZonePlayer must be physically connected to the router; the system depends on the remote controller"
On the one hand its compensated for by the fact that the remote control is wireless so the player need not be in direct sight. But, if you're PC tucked away somewhere it means you'll either have to have a massive run of audio cables to your amp/speakers if, say, you want to listen to it in the lounge, or you'll have to have a big run of network cable from the PC to the first Sonos player.
Fly in the ointment for me
Squeezebox doesn't need to do this. No physical networks connections are needed at all.
http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review2344.html
This is something you should be aware of;
"Lows:
First ZonePlayer must be physically connected to the router; the system depends on the remote controller"
On the one hand its compensated for by the fact that the remote control is wireless so the player need not be in direct sight. But, if you're PC tucked away somewhere it means you'll either have to have a massive run of audio cables to your amp/speakers if, say, you want to listen to it in the lounge, or you'll have to have a big run of network cable from the PC to the first Sonos player.
Fly in the ointment for me
Squeezebox doesn't need to do this. No physical networks connections are needed at all.
rico said:
Neil,
I really didn't see that as being a problem on the Sonos system. The slight negative of having to wire it up to the home PC or even a NAS drive is far smaller than the ease of use and ability of the system as a whole.
Oh, absolutely but I was just comparing it to Squeezebox. I have two of them, one in the lounge (1st floor), one in the bedroom (2nd floor). The server runs on my Mac which is on the ground floor. In that situation, having to have one physically connected to the computer would be a pain. With SB its not necessary, both players are connected wirelessly.
I am wondering though whether its only necessary to physically connect the 1st Sonos player to the PC if you don't already have a wireless network adapter, thus the 1st player becomes a wireless bridge? You can do a similar thing with SB. I'm going to drop them an email and check.
rico said:
Neil,
I really didn't see that as being a problem on the Sonos system. The slight negative of having to wire it up to the home PC or even a NAS drive is far smaller than the ease of use and ability of the system as a whole.
Hi Rico - Did you get to play with the Sonos then?
Stuh,
Indeed I did. I was impressed with the system as a whole. Basically if you like how an iPod works, you'll love the Sonos system. I've written up a review for Lusso (www.lussoluxury.com) which should be going up soon on their site and in the next edition.
Best thing to do is check out their video on www.sonos.com as that explains it as well as I could, but with added pictures and graphics.
I would recommend it as you can either run the system as they do (speakers direct into Sonos box) or run an external amp so adding the Sonos to your home audio as just another source. Great piece of kit.
YHM
Indeed I did. I was impressed with the system as a whole. Basically if you like how an iPod works, you'll love the Sonos system. I've written up a review for Lusso (www.lussoluxury.com) which should be going up soon on their site and in the next edition.
Best thing to do is check out their video on www.sonos.com as that explains it as well as I could, but with added pictures and graphics.
I would recommend it as you can either run the system as they do (speakers direct into Sonos box) or run an external amp so adding the Sonos to your home audio as just another source. Great piece of kit.
YHM
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