Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 best buy ever

[pidge22]

Just got my Slim Devices Squeeze 3..... WOW....the best bit of kit I have ever bought....
It is very easy to setup...and the sound qaulity through my Linn 2 Channel system is superb.
I have about twelve stations setup on Pandora and can listen to these through the SB3
If you are not registered with Pandora.com you should look at it...

Paul

[contraste]

Welcome to the club!

[GW43]

I got one a few months ago - terrific bit of kit. Takes a bit of time to rip CDs, but it's worth it.

What CD player did you replace, if any?

My Squeezebox replaced an Arcam Alpha 7SE, and (to my ears) is much better - more detail, better separation of instruments, better soundstage.

[pidge22]

My cdp is a Linn Ikemi, at the moment I don't think I will get rid of it...I will listen to the Sb3 for back ground music etc and the Ikemi for when I want to do some serious listening

[wavefront]

My CD player is largely redundant with the Squeezebox, mainly due to the ease of switching music or, like now, it is on random play and somehow is choosing songs I like but rarely play - I think it might be alive

I do sometimes get out the CDs and have a serious listening sesh though .

[milesr3]

I just received my (now Logitech branded) Squeezebox 3 today. Very impressed with the sound just using it as a 'CD transport' plugged into my Audiolab AV8000 processor. Big improvement over using a DVD player!

[wavefront]

A tip for any squeezebox user:
It took me a bit to realise but the slimserver software that comes with it is very useful independent from the hardware.

For example I can listen to my music collection on my laptop (using headphones). You can do this is by loading the address http://192.168.1.50:9000/stream.mp3 in Winamp, Windows Media Player, or your player of choice. You can navigate through your collection using the web interface at http://192.168.1.50:9000 and control what you hear through the stream you just started. Make sure you change the drop down box in the top right hand corner to reflect your laptop or you will still be controlling the hardware squeezebox.

You can even (though exactly how escapes me now) have it transcode on the fly from e.g FLAC to MP3 or from MP3 to a lower bitrate MP3. The second option is handy for listening while away from home

There are also Windows and Mac widgets you can use to control your stream.

[Satch]

Can someone please give me a rundown on how easy it is to navigate through your music collection via the squeezebox itself (using the remote). How efficient is it with large music collections? Is that small display really enough?

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by Satch

Can someone please give me a rundown on how easy it is to navigate through your music collection via the squeezebox itself (using the remote).

It's great, but you can use any device with a webbrowser to if you want. I use my PDA, PSP and N95. Not all the time, just when i feel like browsing album art etc.

But why not try it before you buy for free. Go to www.slimdevices.com and down load Slimserver. It's free, even if you dont have an SB3 yet, and comes with a emulator, which run on your PC and emulates the SB2/SB3 and Transporter. It's not entirely perfect and some minor features are absent, but it will give you a good idea.

Originally Posted by Satch

How efficient is it with large music collections?

Great, loads of search options and plugins like Lazysearch too if you need extra (personally i dont, but it nice to know its there). I have about 300 Albums and also about 100 other files (podcasts, long mixes/radio recording etc). But people have collections of thousands of albums and swear by the SB3. Have a look on the official forums, some people have insane collections.

Originally Posted by Satch

Is that small display really enough?

For most people, it's more than enough. What else do you need? You can increase the font and see it from quite a distance. If you want album art, you will need to get a third party remote solution or use your PDA. It's not a cheap LCD, is a high quality Vacuum tube display, moves like liquid and looks stunning.

[StevieDvd]

I wonder if we had a poll on whether anyone had sold their squeezebox - other than for an upgrade or simple desperate for money - what sort of responses we'd get!

[Getgaff]

I've said it before and I'll say it again... my Squeezebox v3 is probably the best gadget in my current setup

[amcluesent]

>whether anyone had sold their squeezebox <

Yep. I did...when I upgraded to a Transporter

[milesr3]

Originally Posted by amcluesent

>whether anyone had sold their squeezebox <

Yep. I did...when I upgraded to a Transporter

Did you notice much of a difference? Not just with the DAC but with the digital outputs with an external DAC?

[Bassbin]

Have to agree they are superb. I found the forums and wiki really helpfull. Now have about 150 cds ripped to flac. I have 1 Squeezebox that can supply music to 6 rooms all controlled by any PC/laptop in the house and my Nokia 770 internet tablet.

[Satch]

Originally Posted by Autopilot

It's great, but you can use any device with a webbrowser to if you want. I use my PDA, PSP and N95. Not all the time, just when i feel like browsing album art etc.

But why not try it before you buy for free. Go to www.slimdevices.com and down load Slimserver. It's free, even if you dont have an SB3 yet, and comes with a emulator, which run on your PC and emulates the SB2/SB3 and Transporter. It's not entirely perfect and some minor features are absent, but it will give you a good idea.

My specific question was how effective navigation was via the remote. I've downloaded the software, but this appears to only simulate the SlimServer software, not the operation of the Squeezebox itself.

You see, if I was to get one of these, I would not have a laptop or WiFi PDA available to control it via the SlimServer software. Hence the reason I ask about its effectiveness via the remote only.

Any further comments would be appreciated.