Simple streamer for a simple system. Advice welcome.

Massimo,

I am currently looking for something similar too, and have found the following so far (apart from the Squeezebox)

Revo Mondo (WiFi)

Rotel RT-09,

Philips NP2500

Sangean WFT1

Plus a load of internet radios that also stream music too (Pure, Roberts etc.)

The only thing that's putting my off a Squeezbox is I'm also looking at a NAS that doesn't have the ability to have the Squeezeserver installed...

Hope this helps

Ian

Difficult to beat a Squeezebox but if you have a Mac an Apple TV might just do the trick

Tog

Ian,

I'll take a look at your suggestions, thanks. One year ago a big supermarket had one Revo Mondo on the shelf, I kept circling around it without bringing myself to buy it, then the day I asked for it it had been sold, out of despair to ever sell it, for less than 1/3 of its tag price a few days before...

Tog,

I don't have to absolutely avoid the Squeezebox... And I don't have a Mac.

:-)

Massimo

The Squeezebox is a terrific and affordable solution for systems exactly like you have there. 

Squeezebox Touch would be hard to beat - especially as you will be able to touch the huge, bright, legible screen at your desk. 

Oh go on you know you want a Mac

Squeezebox is the best solution for your current needs in terms of flexibility but don't discount Sonos - its stable, rock solid and kinda "just works..."

Tog

Another possibility if you have an iPhone or iTouch would be to get a Pure i20 dock and run the iPeng app on your iPhone. This turns the iPhone into a Squeezebox receiver and remote control. Or you could use the (not as nice) Plugplayer app which would turn your iPhone into a UPnP renderer. The Pure i20 dock is quite cheap and converts the digital out from the iPhone to analogue, so bypassing it seems the iPhones own analogue stuff.

I used to have a few... But they were not yet virginal white.

Today, when I see Apple things it immediately reminds me of something out of George Lucas' THX1138...

Max

Hi Massimo -

If high resolution digital music is not important to you, than IMO, Sonos is hard to beat.

I do not own one, but I have played with friend's system.   He said it was very easy to set up, and it definitely a pleasure to use.   I tried both his Sonos CR200 controller, and his iPod touch.  Both were solid, but I liked the Sonos controller better.  I believe it can also be controlled via a PC desktop client. 

It sounded good through his Denon stereo, so it should great through your SuperNait's internal dac!

Good luck.

Hook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naso7_DFno8

likesmusic,

thanks for the useful information but I'm still behind it I fear; I am not sure I know most of what you mention..

Hook,

I know the Sonos, I could try it even though a friend has a totally unused Squeezebox which he's ready to give me for peanuts.

The streamer will probably stay in the second system I believe; the day I'll be ready to move to streaming audio, perhaps my SN (still to be actually bought..) will be matched by an NDX!

Max

+1 - I currently use the Mac desktop client: there is indeed a PC client if you need it. I will switch to iPad 2 client soon. The Sonus is rock solid and the support guys are very helpful if you need them - I had a small incompatibility between my switch and the supplied cable - fixed in minutes  - the software is superb. 

However, Max if you can have a Squeezebox for free then why not give that a go. 

All the best, Guy

Hi,

I think I'll print this whole thread and keep it at hand for future reference - when I'll have learned about iPhones, clients and apps.

I seem to understand that you can use an iPhone, iPad or - given Android - a Galaxy 9000 smartphone or the like to control your Sonos. This brings me again to a media player in the main system, which is something I still object to, while a Squeezebox would fit into my minor system and I'd manage the files from the PC directly, or the SB via its remote.

Software like iTunes or Decibel and apps for cellphones are not absolutely necessary, if you have your PC in front of you and the SB is at your back and its display is within sight, I think.

Thanks for all information. Lately I am taking the pain to learn things that do not really interest me for the sake of using my brain and be prepared for some future, but this is what I have done all my life, in the end, both as student and as professional...

Max

max ..

You can use an iPhone or android phone to control a squeezebox too

The new Squeezebox Touch has it's own large touch screen display. You can control it directly, or with the supplied remote, or from your pc, or from an iPhone or android phone.

Is your friends Squeezebox the old squeezebox or the new Touch? The Touch sounds much better.

It's the classic one. A cute little thing. I had even considered a white one on the eBay, finding it even cuter, but I've got >UK only, sorry< (a frequent reply; one polite guy, a few days ago, in response to a request for a shipping quote simply wrote >sorry not Italy<.

Among the three basic parameters - sound quality, cost, convenience - to help me choose, not spending much seems to be leading so far..

Ciao,

M.

Hi Massimo -

Fair warning...lots of folks, including myself, have tried SB Classic and given up based on the number of times per listening session it hangs up, and needs to be re-started.   I had issues with both the controller and the server software.   Also, setup is not the most straight forward, but perhaps your friend can help?

This was in very stark contrast to Sonos (whose only drawback, from what I can tell, is lack of high resolution support).

Anyway, I hope your experience with SB Classic is a lot different than mine was!

Hook

SB Classic was a long time ago Hook - I find the current squeezecenter really fast and reliable - and the interface on the Touch is excellent. Plus I can design my own browse trees and play hi-res files. Still, Sonos probably is slicker still, though more expensive.

Hi Likes -

Agreed.  And if I hadn't gone down the DIY path and been happy with the results, I would have given the Touch a try.   High rez is important to me, so Sonos is not an option.  I only made the comment because a used Classic is the only option that Massimo said he is considering.   Maybe it works better with the latest Squeezecenter software?   Hope so, for his sake.

Hook

+ 1, a joy to use. Some say best UI on the market. True? Don't know.. Great on iPAD2, beats the SBT I'd say... Plus, you can get a ZP90 second hand on ebay for about €280. I would think it is only a question of time until Sonos bring out their own hires version. Once out you can at least sell on the ZP90 without loosing money, they do sell extremely well. That's my route anyways as hires is not important to me at this stage, no hires for most of the music I am listening to - and much of the music I don't listen to either it seems... so why the fuss?

I love my Squeezebox but if I were to start now I'd be looking at the MArantz NA7004 which I've seen online for £500, and seems to have everything you'd want. If it sounds anything like the giant-killing CD6003 you're in for a treat!

Well I ended up buying the SB Touch and have, so far, been very pleased with it. Easy to set up and with good sound quality it's also pretty intuitive to use. Depending on your space availability, it is also compact compared to the likes of the Marantz.

If you have an iPhone or iTouch, checkout the "iPeng" app - it is a very nice remote control app for the Squeezebox Touch. If you have an Android Phone, there is a nice app called "Squeezecommander". I think the SB Touch is tremendous value, and these apps make it even nicer to use.

Thanks likesmusic, alas my phone is just that, it doesn't make cups of tea too . I'll just have to make do with the standard remote.