Does What It Should, Sounds Great ... But Do You Need It? | Logitech Squeezebox Duet Network Music System

Neat idea, but not all it's cracked up to be | Logitech Squeezebox Duet Network Music System

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	• Logitech Squeezebox Duet Network Music System Logitech Logitech average customer review:based on 58 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Great Product!

Received the Squeezebox Duet for Father's Day, after much research into network music systems (and LOTS of hints to the family!). The unit arrived as advertised, and was extremely easy to set up with the included instructions. The sound quality is excellent, and the partner Internet music services and Internet radio stations are amazing--it is almost addictive trying to "stump" the thing with a genre of music it can't find.

One caution, however; I wanted to extend the wireless range of my Linksys WRT 54G wireless router (to control my music from outside where the pool speakers are located). I purchased a Linksys WRE54 wireless range extender, and installed it per the mfr's instructions. This did not work well at all--the squeezebox player and remote both lost connectivity, and remained screwed up even after I disconnected the range extender. The GOOD NEWS from this experience, however, was the excellent experience I had with Logitech's customer service group--fast, professional, and helpful--and we got the unit working properly again. I wound up buying a high gain antenna for the wireless router, which did improve the range somewhat.

Bottom line: This device will "free your music," just like the remote pronounces when it boots up! The sound quality is stellar, and I can't imagine how the Sonos and other units that cost thousands of dollars can be worth the difference.

p.s. - If you get one, start pushing Logitech to make a protective cover for the remote--they don't have one available, and at $299 the remote is in no way an "accessory" to this system. I covered the screen with one of those universal plastic film screen protectors, but would love some more protection.

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Does What It Should, Sounds Great ... But Do You Need It?

I am one of those people who has a huge digital music library or my desktop and the idea of streaming my music via a wireless connection to my family room surround sound stereo seemed like a wonderful idea. I have an iPod and an iPod dock that I was using to put my music collection on my stereo, but I also use my iPod in my car and I didn't always remember to take it out of my car for use inside the house. So the Squeezebox Duet arrived at my house as a solution to that problem.

The Squeezebox Duet is an amazing network music system for people who have a wireless network and a huge digital music library on their computer. The first time I used the system at a party I thought it was the perfect music solution and a great conversation piece at the party. However, the more I think about it the more I start to consider this device was VERY expensive, and I rarely use it except when my wife and I have a party. Also, the Squeezebox only offers me a couple of benefits over the iPod dock I also use: I can carry the Squeezebox controller around the house to control the music and browse the music library with the little iPod-like screen, and the Squeezebox gives me access to internet radio that the iPod cannot.

The Squeezebox has been trouble-free and performing as advertised for some time now. However, the initial setup process was a little more difficult than I expected. I am a very technical person who not only knows about computers and networks but knows how to disassemble and reassemble desktop and notebook computers and setup complex wireless networks. When I say that I had trouble setting up the Squeezebox that should be a sign that the setup process isn't as easy as advertised.

Overall, this is a great product, but I suspect it's one of those things that is a superfluous purchase for many people and you probably should only buy one if you have a clear need/desire for it in your home. In other words, despite the fact that the Squeezebox is a great product that makes it easy for me to enjoy my music when and where I want, the Squeezebox Duet has become "just another rarely-used electronic device connected to my home entertainment system."

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Neat idea, but not all it's cracked up to be

I was intrigued by the concept behind Logitech's Squeezebox Duet network music system. A wireless device that allows you to play your digital music library all over the house sounded like a great idea, so I decided to give the system a try.

My house has three floors. My CD collection (roughly 2000 discs) is in the basement, as is my stereo mini-system. My digital music library (which is essentially 75% of my CD collection, uploaded to iTunes) is on the iMac upstairs. My goal with the Squeezebox system was to be able to access my iTunes music on the main floor through my home theater system.

Unlike Logitech's Harmony One universal remote, setting up the Squeezebox is not very intuitive. There isn't a startup CD, so I had to go online to download the software, which was not Mac friendly at all. I finally got the remote programmed and the Squeeze Network up and running, so the next step was to hook the receiver up to my home theater system. Here's where the "wireless" tag is misleading. The Squeezebox receiver is in fact connected to the stereo via a set of red and white cables. It took some heavy troubleshooting, but I finally got it working, only to discover that accessing my iTunes would take a fair amount of detective work.

If you're not using the Squeezebox to access internet radio, the search by artist, album, etc. is largely useless, as they do not "look" at your iTunes library. You have to navigate through a complex series of steps to get to that music, which is more than a little frustrating.

I still think this kind of system is a cool idea, but unless you're a big internet radio fan, I just don't see how useful the Squeezebox is going to be. Most stereo and home theater systems come with some kind of iPod interface, and it's a lot easier to plug in the iPod than it is to configure and navigate the Squeezebox system.

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