[mrblast]

Hello All,

First post and I did have a look to see if this question had been asked before but I don't think it has....

Basically I am trying to find out whether it is possible to puchase a stereo that will connect wirelessly to the internet (I have a wireless network at home) and through the use of a music service provider like rhapsody or napster, allow me to search their song libraries and select music to listen to. I would prefer to be able to do this without having to switch on my laptop/PC. I would also like a stereo whereby searching for the online music is relatively simple (E.g. lareg remote or large readout on the stereo). So effectively I would have a kind of online jukebox in my living room.

Are there any products like this available? The cheaper thebetter but definitely nothing over a GBP 1000.

Will the Philips Streamium range do this? Will the squeezebox do this or will I need to have my PC on in order to search for individual songs online?

Are there any stereos that will link wirelessly to a netbook which is connected to the internet and play youtube tracks (just the music not the video) with a good quality of sound (even though youtube audio is poor)?

Many thanks in advance for any help.

MrB

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by mrblast

Hello All,

First post and I did have a look to see if this question had been asked before but I don't think it has....

Only 1,932,323,099 times

Originally Posted by mrblast

Basically I am trying to find out whether it is possible to puchase a stereo that will connect wirelessly to the internet (I have a wireless network at home) and through the use of a music service provider like rhapsody or napster, allow me to search their song libraries and select music to listen to. I would prefer to be able to do this without having to switch on my laptop/PC. I would also like a stereo whereby searching for the online music is relatively simple (E.g. lareg remote or large readout on the stereo). So effectively I would have a kind of online jukebox in my living room.

Are there any products like this available? The cheaper thebetter but definitely nothing over a GBP 1000.

Will the Philips Streamium range do this? Will the squeezebox do this or will I need to have my PC on in order to search for individual songs online?

Are there any stereos that will link wirelessly to a netbook which is connected to the internet and play youtube tracks (just the music not the video) with a good quality of sound (even though youtube audio is poor)?

Many thanks in advance for any help.

MrB

Yes, the Squeezebox will access Napster (plus Last.FM, internet radio, etc, etc), no PC required. Connect one you your hifi (Squeezebox Classic, SB Touch etc) or the Squeezebox Boom if you want a nice all-in-one system.

All come with IR remotes, but you can use a Squeezebox Controller, iPhone/iTouch with iPeng remote software, or via your PC/laptop using the web interface.

[mrblast]

thanks very much mate, the info is much appreciated, sorry if the question has been asked before. It would be an all in one system like the squeezebox boom that i would be interested in. Are there any other similar alternatives to the boom with a good user interface? Im a bit concerned how easy it would be to use the boom to search for songs on the internet without a remote....

Thanks again

[neilball]

Sonos S5 with Sonos CR200 controller fits the bill for around £630 (£700 if you need a Sonos ZoneBridge - the first piece of Sonos hardware needs to be connected via wired ethernet cable to your network/router). The S5 by itself is £349 and can also be controlled by free software on your PC or free app for the iPhone or iTouch (providing you have wifi at home).

[amcluesent]

>Are there any stereos that will link wirelessly to a netbook which is connected to the internet and play youtube tracks<

One For All SV1740

[mrblast]

Originally Posted by amcluesent

>Are there any stereos that will link wirelessly to a netbook which is connected to the internet and play youtube tracks<

One For All SV1740

Thanks but it's gbp 79.99 now on Play! Only 30.00 on Amazon though.

Sonos S5 with Sonos CR200 controller fits the bill for around £630 (£700 if you need a Sonos ZoneBridge - the first piece of Sonos hardware needs to be connected via wired ethernet cable to your network/router). The S5 by itself is £349 and can also be controlled by free software on your PC or free app for the iPhone or iTouch (providing you have wifi at home).

Would the squeezbox need to be plugged directly to the router by ethernet cable as well?


Does anyone have any views on the Phillips Streamium range?

[mrblast]

Also - is there any real advantage of using a squeezebox duet controller or Sonos Controller over an Ipod Touch? I have a spare Touch that I don't really use that I could use with whichever one I end up purchasing.

Thanks

[neilball]

While it can offer some useful additional functionality you have to remember thatit does not multi-task and takes a little time to connect to the wifi network before the app can then operate when woken from it's sleep state - not a massive delay but annoying if you want to quickly mute the device (although the S5 does have volume and mote buttons on the top of the unit). The dedicated system controllers are closer to instant access (while still taking a second or two to wake up from a blank screen).

[mrblast]

Thanks - I'm just trying to work out whether I can justify paying 180 - 280 gbp for a controller when I have an Ipod touch I can use. It also looks as if I'm going to opt for the squeezebox boom and I don't really like the look of the duet controller (the sonos controller by comparison looks much more stylish, has a lerger screen, etc).

[nacmacfeegle]

"Thanks - I'm just trying to work out whether I can justify paying 180 - 280 gbp for a controller when I have an Ipod touch I can use. It also looks as if I'm going to opt for the squeezebox boom and I don't really like the look of the duet controller"

Ipeng (you would load it onto your Ipod Touch) works great with the Boom. It also integrates really nicely with Napster and the Squeezebox online server (mysqueezebox.com). Finding songs is quite easy, and fairly slick once you have added them to your online library.
Ipeng is the bext 6 pounds I've spent on music.

Ipeng looks very much like the Ipod controls, and varous cutomisable information is diplayed on the Boom itself.

Napster will cost a fiver a month, which includes 5 complimentary song downloads and its well worth it IMO.

I would reckon a Boom / Ipeng / Napster combo would suit you well given your criteria in the posts above.

[mrblast]

Thanks Nacmacfeegle - I think this is the option I'm going to go for. So Using the Ipod touch + Ipeng to search for tracks on Napster/Last FM and then stream them is fairly easy?

[nacmacfeegle]

Yes, it is pretty easy.

Once your chosen tunes are added to your personal Napster Library (a process that involves pressing one screen option), its as easy as browsing an Ipod for them. Album art shows up, and its also pretty easy to configure scrobbling to LastFM so you can also 'love tracks' etc very easily.

You may experience a slight delay of 3-10 seconds as the Squeezebox rebuffers when you change songs, but playlists and albums play pretty much seamlessly. This is a Squeeze limitation. I generally listen to entire CDs so I'm not really bothered by this.

One other downside is that if you add a compilation or an album with a lot of 'guest' musicians, blues albums for example, your 'artist' list expands dramatically.

I'm, still using the free LastFM service, so I can't really dial up specific songs via LastFM, but again, browsing is pretty quick.

I've tried Napster via the IR remote, the Squeeze web interface, and via Moose, and none of these methods even comes close to the Ipeng setup for ease and speed.

I'm now using Napster more than my locally stored music, especially for day to day listening and I just want a quick choon. As Napster serves up 128 kbps CBR, its only when I want some critical listening that I fire up my local server.