# Network music player needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530 "2009-11-30T23:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/1 "2009-11-30T23:22:28Z")
We’re in the process of digitizing our music collection (all music will reside on a central, networked server). All the listening stations except the kitchen have computers. The kitchen has (will have had) a CD changer and a basic Sony receiver. The receiver has a host of inputs, but nothing fancy nor shmancy — no i-Pod dock or what have you. The receiver drives four speakers. Short of buying a whole laptop (though we’re really tempted to throw an HP TouchSmart on the wall), is there an easy and (relatively) inexpensive gadget that can tap into the server to browse/play files? We don’t need video per se, but do need some sort of decent screen to browse and select files. Hopefully it will have some sort of software to facilitate setting up mixes (we’re used to the CD changer), but a basic File Explorer-like interface would work. Lastly, it would need to work with all the common file formats — not just MP3. We’ll have a lot of uncompressed files (e.g., SHN, Ogg) on the server. We work out of the house so are a bit out of touch with commuter conveniences — is this what an i-pod or i-touch or Zune or … or whatever does? Budget is probably between $2–300. Much more and we’re in netbook territory. Thoughts? Thanks! Rhythm ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/2 "2009-11-30T23:28:10Z")
I really like the squeeze box duet. for $300. > **[Amazon.com: Logitech Squeezebox Duet Network Music System (Discontinued by...](https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Squeezebox-Network-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B0013IWYHU)** > > Product Description Listen to the music you love in any room in your home with the Logitech Squeezebox Duet. Play songs stored on your computer, tune in to thousands of Internet radio stations, or connect to online services such as Pandora... Previous to that I had: $165 > **[Amazon.com: Logitech Squeezebox Duet Network Music System (Discontinued by...](https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Squeezebox-Network-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B0013IWYHU)** > > Product Description Listen to the music you love in any room in your home with the Logitech Squeezebox Duet. Play songs stored on your computer, tune in to thousands of Internet radio stations, or connect to online services such as Pandora... The remote for the squeeze is larger so it is easier to scroll through the music choices. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/3 "2009-11-30T23:53:40Z")
The second link should be to the roku sound bridge. > **[Amazon.com: Roku SoundBridge M1000/M1001 Network Music System (Discontinued by...](https://www.amazon.com/Roku-SoundBridge-M1001-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B000BI6AH8)** > > Product Description Finally, a network music player that looks as good as it sounds! Roku SoundBridge plays your PC or Mac digital music files anywhere in the house - connecting your stereo or powered speakers to your computer's digital... ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/4 "2009-11-30T23:57:03Z")
Wow… that’s pretty interesting. So it’s a little base unit to be tucked away inside a cabinet and a remote. That’s it. Base unit has analog and digital outs, so it can go straight to the receiver. Can the remote take text entries? I assume so, if it logs onto Pandora. What’s that like? Can you put any Web address into it or is it pre-loaded with a set of its own radio stations? Is the firmware updatable in case new stations appear/old ones die? Lastly, have you had any experience with multiple base stations? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/5 "2009-12-01T00:07:50Z")
I just got the squeeze box this weekend. The text entries are a little tedious as you scroll through the letters one at a time. You can however setup presets with your home computer. The internet radio works really well on the squeeze box. It has a data base of local stations. Staff recommended stations. You don’t need to update firmware to add new stations. Both squeezebox and roku have a variety of devices. Like boxes with the speakers included. Which may be more like what you want in the kitchen. One little box plus remote. > **[Amazon.com: Roku SoundBridge R1000 Radio Network Music System (Discontinued by...](https://www.amazon.com/Roku-SoundBridge-R1000-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B000BIFY6Q)** > > Product Description SoundBridge Radio is a complete Wi-Fi Music System that brings the world of Internet radio to every room of the house in rich, clear, stereo sound. Combining all of SoundBridge's advanced digital music streaming... > **[Amazon.com: Logitech Squeezebox Radio Music Player with Color Screen (Black)...](https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Squeezebox-Player-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B002LARRDK)** > > Product Description Logitech Squeezebox Radio (BLACK) brings a world of music-free Internet radio, subscription services, or your personal digital music collection - to any space in your home, over your Wi-Fi network.Connections:... ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/6 "2009-12-01T10:53:47Z")
Why not get a PSP - it has Wifi, and media capabilities. Similar price to the SoundBridge, and can be used for a bunch of things with a homebrew ROM. Si ---
**Author:** ![old\_joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58956e/32.png) [@old\_joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/old_joe)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/7 "2009-12-01T15:32:34Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > Why not get a PSP - it has Wifi, and media capabilities. > > Similar price to the SoundBridge, and can be used for a bunch of things with a homebrew ROM. > > Si +1 I use Tversity to stream mp3, pictures and videos to my PS3 from my server. From there it goes to a big screen tv. Works great. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/8 "2009-12-01T15:46:35Z")
> [@old\_joe](#): > > +1 I use Tversity to stream mp3, pictures and videos to my PS3 from my server. From there it goes to a big screen tv. Works great. Any chance there’s an app that links an iPhone to a PS3 via bluetooth to control Tversity? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/9 "2009-12-01T20:26:01Z")
I bought a [Squeezebox Boom](http://www.logitechsqueezebox.com/products/squeezebox-boom.html)about 6 weeks ago. It’s similar to the Squeezebox Duet except it has it’s own speakers. I like it and think that it or the Duet will do exactly what you want it to do. The squeezebox either plays music from your server, or from a site called [Squeezecenter.com](http://Squeezecenter.com) which is a portal to internet music sources - internet radio, Pandora, Rhapsody, etc. You can access this either through the player, or through a web based application (which can also control the player). While Squeezecenter lists a plethora of stations in it’s listing, something they don’t have can be added by entering the URL in the web based application. Two nice things about using the Squeezebox to listen to Pandora is that 1) you don’t get Pandora stopping and asking if you are still there, and 2) the hours listening to Pandora with the Squeezebox do not count against your monthly limit. Even so, I ended up paying for Pandora 1 for the higher quality streams. The Boom has a few nice features: It can function as a 7 day alarm clock (you can set multiple alarms and use multiple stations, each day can have different times and stations); it has a minijack input so you can play an ipod or other source through it, it has a subwoofer output (I’m getting a sub this week), and it can work as a wireless bridge. I had no problem connecting to my WPA secured wireless network (it can also work with a wired LAN). Oh, and it sounds great, even without a subwoofer. It’s near the top end of your price range, but it works better than a netbook would. I have a netbook too, but wouldn’t bother using it in place of the Boom. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-music-player-needed/519530/10 "2009-12-01T23:56:09Z")
Well this is an odd place to be. So we were all set on the Squeezebox — we even got to thinking about putting a second base unit in the parlour. We had been considering putting an HP Touchsmart in there, but then one thing led to another and another and — to make a long story short — Mrs. Dvl now wants to put a laptop in the stereo cabinet and mount the Touchsmart on the wall in the kitchen :eek: Not that I’m complaining, mind you … And I still have the Squeezebox in my Amazon cart. Now I just need to find a room to put it in…