Alternatives to Squeezebox or Sonos?

[decrescendo]

My main desire is to have a set of nice speakers in my room play music (mp3s or FLAC files) that is stored on a high-capacity Windows 7 server box. The speakers and Win7 box will not be co-located.

I want to be able to control what mp3s are playing over these speakers without having to have a computer plugged into them like usual. A handheld remote (Sonos remote, iPhone, or Android phone) controlling a piece of hardware connected to these speakers seems like an awesome combination.

I just watched a video on the Sonos website and it looks like it's EXACTLY what I'm looking for. They have streamer hardware connected to speakers and Sonos remotes and apps for iPhone and Android.

However, I'm only going to have one zone (my bedroom speakers) so I'm not sure if a Sonos or Squeezebox is overkill. In your opinion, is it?

And are there other ways to do this in a Windows 7 apartment?

 

[ScottMac]

Many / most of the Internet radios will act as media extenders. Personally, I like the Logitech Squeezebox ... I have several different models, all work great. It also gives you the option of tuning other sources (Pandora, LastFM, XM Internet, etc).

You could also use an Apple Airport Express feeding powered speakers, or an AppleTV2 to an HDMI or TOSLink device (AVReceiver, TV), if you use iTunes.

Other media players (Sony Google TV, Roku, Western Digital, Iomega...) also work well. I have them all and use/used them with a pair of Roland powered monitors formerly of my MIDI keyboard (they take analog, or digital {optical or coaxial}). Of course, a set of PC speakers with analog or digital inputs would work too.

One benefit of the WD Media Hub is a license for Twonky media service (which can act as an iTunes server too), and it has a 1T drive you can use for backup- it's always nice to have backup copies. The newest software sorta sucks though, it went into compiling media list about a week ago, I've restarted it a couple times, but I think they broke that function last update.

The Iomega is ok, has 1T, feeds most AV types, the remote kinda sucks because there's too many function on one lil' controller face. Too many little tiny buttons, IMO.\

The Roku sucks, IMO, because they make you provide a credit card when you "sign up" so you can painlessly subscribe to channels ... however, many channels don't tell what the charge will be until you have committed. And it's slow. The first time I used it and got docked for a channel, I pulled the plug and took it to the gun range and blew it into tiny little chunks. Far more satisfying than waiting in line to get a refund and arguing with some twerp manager for a few bucks.

Hope this gives you some insight, good luck. Bottom line as far as I'm concerned is that you can't do much better for music than the Logitech Squeezeboxes, they work, they sound great, the remote is good, it's extensible with application add-ons ... just all-around wunnerful. So says me, YMMV.

 

[decrescendo]

Many / most of the Internet radios will act as media extenders. Personally, I like the Logitech Squeezebox ... I have several different models, all work great. It also gives you the option of tuning other sources (Pandora, LastFM, XM Internet, etc).

You could also use an Apple Airport Express feeding powered speakers, or an AppleTV2 to an HDMI or TOSLink device (AVReceiver, TV), if you use iTunes.

Other media players (Sony Google TV, Roku, Western Digital, Iomega...) also work well. I have them all and use/used them with a pair of Roland powered monitors formerly of my MIDI keyboard (they take analog, or digital {optical or coaxial}). Of course, a set of PC speakers with analog or digital inputs would work too.

One benefit of the WD Media Hub is a license for Twonky media service (which can act as an iTunes server too), and it has a 1T drive you can use for backup- it's always nice to have backup copies. The newest software sorta sucks though, it went into compiling media list about a week ago, I've restarted it a couple times, but I think they broke that function last update.

The Iomega is ok, has 1T, feeds most AV types, the remote kinda sucks because there's too many function on one lil' controller face. Too many little tiny buttons, IMO.\

The Roku sucks, IMO, because they make you provide a credit card when you "sign up" so you can painlessly subscribe to channels ... however, many channels don't tell what the charge will be until you have committed. And it's slow. The first time I used it and got docked for a channel, I pulled the plug and took it to the gun range and blew it into tiny little chunks. Far more satisfying than waiting in line to get a refund and arguing with some twerp manager for a few bucks.

Hope this gives you some insight, good luck. Bottom line as far as I'm concerned is that you can't do much better for music than the Logitech Squeezeboxes, they work, they sound great, the remote is good, it's extensible with application add-ons ... just all-around wunnerful. So says me, YMMV.

Thanks for the info.

So is the most "basic" Squeezebox streamer now the Squeezebox Touch? I couldn't seem to find one that was of the normal Sonos streamer variety where it was just a box with outputs. I would assume there would be a more basic one than one with a touchscreen.

In a Squeezebox, I take you install some sort of Squeezebox Server software onto your server machine (in my case the Windows 7 box)? Then, that makes you music available to the client box connected to your speakers?

Does it just look for mp3s and other files or can you have it specifically look in certain folders that you specify?

On a side note, I might be going with one of the devices you also mentioned as a client for movies served to my TV.

 

[ScottMac]

I have a couple "regular" Squeezebox radios (mono speaker -stereo out the headphone jack), clock radio looking), a boom box (stereo, large clock radio looking) and the Duet (black box with a controller).

Squeezebox has an app you can download from Logitech (it's free and available without buying a radio, so you can check it out). It also serves iTunes, including playlists.

The Logitech stuff doesn't do video.

Of the bunch I listed, the Google TV is probably the most stable, has a broader range of controllers, and very broad range of apps. However, it only connects (IIRC, I have to look) via HDMI, and maybe optical audio.

Second to that, the WD has been working OK until the last firmware update. Until I get another update, I'm leaving the "Content Server" shut down or it perpetually rebuilds the content list. And it come with the Twonky software, which, for me, has been rock solid and working well (finding software that serves iTunes / iPod playlists (that works) was a Good Thing for me).

The AppleTV2 (the hockey puck) works really well to0, I jail-broke one of them and loaded FireCore (beta) firmware ( http://firecore.com/atvflash-black ) ... also works great ... both (stock and jailbroke) support Netflix movies with Dolby Digital 5.1 ... many Netflix clients do not (like what's loaded on most Blue Ray players and game consoles except the PS3). The FireCore firmware provides a couple other media players (aside from the stock version iTunes only) ... but again, HDMI or optical out only.

 

[decrescendo]

I have a couple "regular" Squeezebox radios (mono speaker -stereo out the headphone jack), clock radio looking), a boom box (stereo, large clock radio looking) and the Duet (black box with a controller).

Squeezebox has an app you can download from Logitech (it's free and available without buying a radio, so you can check it out). It also serves iTunes, including playlists.

The Logitech stuff doesn't do video.

Of the bunch I listed, the Google TV is probably the most stable, has a broader range of controllers, and very broad range of apps. However, it only connects (IIRC, I have to look) via HDMI, and maybe optical audio.

Second to that, the WD has been working OK until the last firmware update. Until I get another update, I'm leaving the "Content Server" shut down or it perpetually rebuilds the content list. And it come with the Twonky software, which, for me, has been rock solid and working well (finding software that serves iTunes / iPod playlists (that works) was a Good Thing for me).

The AppleTV2 (the hockey puck) works really well to0, I jail-broke one of them and loaded FireCore (beta) firmware ( http://firecore.com/atvflash-black ) ... also works great ... both (stock and jailbroke) support Netflix movies with Dolby Digital 5.1 ... many Netflix clients do not (like what's loaded on most Blue Ray players and game consoles except the PS3). The FireCore firmware provides a couple other media players (aside from the stock version iTunes only) ... but again, HDMI or optical out only.

Ah, iTunes serving is a nice touch. I'll have to check out that software before I buy any hardware then.

I assume the audio quality over the wireless from server to Squeezebox to speakers is the same as it would be if the speakers were plugged straight into the server?

 

[ScottMac]

Ah, iTunes serving is a nice touch. I'll have to check out that software before I buy any hardware then.

I assume the audio quality over the wireless from server to Squeezebox to speakers is the same as it would be if the speakers were plugged straight into the server?

To my ancient, rock&roll and firearm damaged ears, there is no difference.