Squeezebox RIP

Posted by: Rockingdoc on 15 November 2012

As you may know, Logitech have stopped making the Squeezebox (or any other streamers).
I bought one originally, to see if this streaming malarkey was for me, at minimal cost, before buying a Naim unit.
The sound was a bit ropey at first, but vastly improved as I changed to; Ethernet, a much better power supply and a much much better DAC. Finally reaching the point where I could listen to digital files without running from the room. Although, still vastly preferring vinyl.
So, I trot along to my Naim dealer to hear the "real thing", and find that if the power supply and DAC are removed from the equation, there really isn't enough difference in the sound of the streaming bit alone for me to change yet.
When my Squeezeboxes die (I have a spare), I'll doubtless get a Naim streamer for rack cosmetics, but I'm sorry to see the cheap tool go that enabled me to get a grip of streaming without breaking the bank.
Posted on: 15 November 2012 by Rockingdoc
I haven't heard the NDS either.
Posted on: 15 November 2012 by DaveBk

I got into streaming with a Slim Devices Transporter before they sold the business to Logitech. They were definitely ahead of their time, but sadly Logitech could not see the true potential of what they acquired...

 

I now have an NDS with 555PS DR, so it's helping me to cope with the loss of the Squeezebox family... Still have a Boom in the living room though.

Posted on: 15 November 2012 by AMA

With Transporter you would probably not need to change PS and DAC to get a digital replay sound OK The original sound signature is more relaxed and closer to Linn rather than Naim but when I run it through nDAC/555Ps it makes up a fantastic streamer! I did a home A/B of UnityServe one day and then returned US because it didn't add much to the cheaper and much older box (when both run through nDAC/555PS).

 

Squeezbox and Transporter were created by one man (Sean Adams) whose passion and talent were exceptional and took a small company (Slim Devices) from Silicon Valley ahead of time and ahead of intellect of Logitech corporation (who acquired Slim Devices in 2006 and turn the deal into a big marketing mistake by the end of 2012).

 

I'm really curious what is he doing now? These people normally can not stop creating...

Posted on: 16 November 2012 by Massimo Bertola
Originally Posted by DaveBk:

 

I now have an NDS with 555PS DR, so it's helping me to cope with the loss of the Squeezebox family... Still have a Boom in the living room though.

Which is a bit like saying that you have bought a Rolls to cope with the loss of the Toyota...

M

 

Posted on: 16 November 2012 by PinkHamster

It would be interesting to know the ratio of hours driving to hours in the service garage of Toyota vs. Bentley .... not to speak of the cost per successfully and (enjoyably) driven mile.

Posted on: 16 November 2012 by DaveBk

Well, I'm certainly enjoying the drive in the NDS...

Posted on: 16 November 2012 by Massimo Bertola
Originally Posted by PinkHamster:

It would be interesting to know the ratio of hours driving to hours in the service garage of Toyota vs. Bentley .... not to speak of the cost per successfully and (enjoyably) driven mile.

I chose Toyota for the sake of contrast, but I was imprudent..

My wife and me had a Yaris (1999 vintage), and when we traded it in for a new car it had done 213.000-odd km. and was still going very good.

She didn't feel completely safe anymore because of the mileage, but I had driven to Naim in Salisbury with it (from Milan), and was ready to do it again.

M.