Logitech Squeezebox Classic Network Music Player
Play any CD Anywhere in the House Without Getting Up From the Couch
May 24, 2009
Logitech's Squeezebox music player is a neat solution to networked music storage. Listeners have become familiar with the convenience of having instant access to their whole music collection on the mode with digital music players like Apple's Ipod, and this device replicates that functionality on a home network.
The Logitech Squeezebox and Squeezecenter System
Using Squeezebox does means running a computer to play music, though it does not have to be in the same room at the player. And it does mean ripping the music from CDs that are already to hand, which is a chore best done over several weeks.
However, once these are done, one computer acting as a server can run several Squeezeboxes all over the house, making the entire CD collection available to all players. These can play different tracks independently, or they can be synchronised to one master player, for those listeners with large mansions for seamless music in many rooms. The Squeezecenter free open-source music server software can be installed on Windows, Linux or Mac OS X computers.
Logitech Squeezebox Classic
The Squeezebox Classic is the cheapest of the current Logitech players, designed to be connected to an existing hi-fi amplifier and speakers via analogue line-level outputs. Digital SPDIF outputs are also available, via both coaxial and optical TOSLINK connectors. This line-level output is also about right for driving typical powered computer speakers, for applications where a more modest sound quality is acceptable like in the kitchen.
The Squeezebox Classic is a sleek black box with a small footprint, and a clear pastel green fluorescent display. The text size can be adjusted larger if operating the device from the other side of the room, or smaller to fit more information like track name, artist and album. Connection to the home network can be via wired Ethernet or via the inbuilt WiFi adapter. A custom remote control is provided, which provides a basic method of entering test when searching for artist or title names similar to the way a mobile phone keypad enters SMS text.
The remote is not the only way to control the Squeezebox - it can be controlled by viewing the server PC via a web browser, or a PDA, or a purpose-built application such as the free application Moose running on a PC.
Squeezebox Classic is a good solution to network music playing at a reasonable price. Before purchasing, it is worth running the free open source Squeezecenter on a PC and accessing that using a laptop to play some songs and confirm that the home network performance is up to scratch.
Users who already use an Ipod with Itunes can set Squeezecenter to stream their Itunes content as long as it is not protected using Apple's proprietary digital Rights Management (DRM).
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