Argh help me choose! Apple TV or Squeeze Box

[NeilF]

OK... The main reason for getting such a device is to take the place of a CD player in the lounge. It has to be easy to use and be able to find music fast and quickly and in a friendly fashion (ie: girlfriend friendly).

If it offers other functionality then great. Obviously in the case of the Apple this for example is video.

So, here's my pro's/con's per unit so far:-

Apple TV
Pro's:-
- The device can sit tucked away in my media/TV stand.
- Very easy/pretty to use (with TV on). eg: Album art etc all displayed.
- Can view photo's (probably stored/backup locally on its hard drive)
- Media can be cached on the units own drive. Handy for speed, as a backup, and meaning a PC doesn't have to be on.
- If they ever offer DivX/XVid as standard this would be great.

Con's:-
- Cannot build up a play list from the unit directly.
- Cannot control sound (ie: no tone/equaliser functionality)
- ITunes.... Don't know why but for some reason I just don't like the idea of it.... Never used it mind...

Squeezebox 3
Pro's:-
- Nice 'impress the lads' display
- Can equalise/tone/bass the sound if required
- Can build up play lists on the fly from the unit or from a PC
- Internet radio as standard

Con's:-
- Need to put the unit somewhere. I'm trying to keep my living room as tidy as possible. I'd probably have to put the SB on some shelves about 6ft to the right of the amp and run cables to it.
- My 'server' would have to left on 24/7. Not much of an issue though.


Any useful advice would be most appreciated. I do like the idea of being able to choose music via a nice big TV display instead of a small 4inch wide one!? Is that ill-founded?

[Andy98765]

You need to read What Hi-Fi Sept 2007. Page 64.

Although the Squeeze box was not compared it is worth browsing for just the info.

P.S. Netgear EVA8000 won the short list.
Apple cons = Very limited support for non-apple formats; wheres the content?
Apple Fors = Media streaming for ipod generation; beautiful styling and menus

Netgear cons = No apple lossless, no DVD.
Netgear Fors = Stutter-free wireless streaming; access to youtube; plays copy-protected music files.

[NeilF]

Originally Posted by Andy98765

You need to read What Hi-Fi Sept 2007. Page 64.

Although the Squeeze box was not compared it is worth browsing for just the info.

P.S. Netgear EVA8000 won the short list.
Apple cons = Very limited support for non-apple formats; wheres the content?
Apple Fors = Media streaming for ipod generation; beautiful styling and menus

Netgear cons = No apple lossless, no DVD.
Netgear Fors = Stutter-free wireless streaming; access to youtube; plays copy-protected music files.

Argh! Damn you! So the Netgear EVA8000 is basically Apple TV but with DivX etc support?

How friendly is it to navigate and how good is it's music playback/selection etc? Can it build playlists etc etc?

ps: Most of the reviews of it on amazon for it are not good!

[Andy98765]

Do not own either, just pointing you to a report in What Hi-Fi.
I have a Media Centre under my TV.

[stuart07970]

I've got an Apple TV.

I'm very happy with it.

I've read all sorts of negative reviews about it not handling certain formats,
but for me 'it just works'.

It was easy to set up
All my music is ripped to an external HDD in Apple Lossless for quality.
It is not set up to sync anything to its hard drive.
I just use it as a streamer for my music connected via optical and component to my AV Amp which then connects to my SD Panny PW6.

It sounds great and looks great.

I was looking at the squeezebox which is now in the Logitech stable, but was concerned about having to navigate such a big library on such a small display.

I should add that the Squeezebox is very much loved on these forums, especially as they can run the 'slimserver' software on a NAS and therefore don't need to keep their PC or Mac switched on.

That said, the Apple TV has been hacked already, and has already had larger harddrives fitted and has even been hacked to run a full version of OSX!!!
So you may still be able to have the formate of your choice.

But if you want to impress the missus, the AppleTV is the way to go!
She'll just love all the cover art, and the loverly floral/nature screen savers!

[NeilF]

Originally Posted by stuart07970

but was concerned about having to navigate such a big library on such a small display.

That's my worry as well!!

But internet radio is a big big + for the SB!!

[amcluesent]

>That's my worry as well!!<

Well size is relative of course, but the SB interface is a doddle to use without needing a telly switched on. There's 2000+ ripped CDs in my library and the SB combination of search & browse is fine

Why not just get the SB3, if you don't like it they're easy to sell on ebay (as I did when I upgraded one of mine to a Transporter)

[Autopilot]

Another day, another "should i buy a Squeezebox or..." thread

The SB3 is far and beyond a better device for music, personally i prefer devices that just concentrate on doing one primary task, rather than a jack of all trades. Is it not posible for an SB3 and a video streamer?

[NeilF]

Originally Posted by Autopilot

Another day, another "should i buy a Squeezebox or..." thread

The SB3 is far and beyond a better device for music, personally i prefer devices that just concentrate on doing one primary task, rather than a jack of all trades. Is it not posible for an SB3 and a video streamer?

Yes, but two birds and one stone and all that...

If for example an Apple TV or Netgear 8000 can play music just as well as a SB3 (which they would digitally at least) and offer other features in addition - eg: DivX playback - then why ignore that? If they can also show photos why ignore that?

[davepuma]

I don't have a SB but I would say for sure that a SB3 will play music better than any media player as it's designed for music and nothing else. I have a Dlink 320, a PS3 and Xbox 360 and the sound on music from each is adequate and that's it. They're a jack of all trades and master of none. The Apple TV would also be a compromise and to be honest, they look nice and that's about it IMHO. They don't really offer anything that other media players don't do other than they are apple-ish in appearance. Of course, if you believe what Stuff mag et' al say, anything with an apple logo on is the greatest at everything when in reality we know different. If you're after pure sound quality, go with the SB (or look at Sonos)and I've even heard of people on here using a mac mini etc.

[NeilF]

Originally Posted by davepuma

I don't have a SB but I would say for sure that a SB3 will play music better than any media player as it's designed for music and nothing else. I have a Dlink 320, a PS3 and Xbox 360 and the sound on music from each is adequate and that's it. They're a jack of all trades and master of none. The Apple TV would also be a compromise and to be honest, they look nice and that's about it IMHO. They don't really offer anything that other media players don't do other than they are apple-ish in appearance. Of course, if you believe what Stuff mag et' al say, anything with an apple logo on is the greatest at everything when in reality we know different. If you're after pure sound quality, go with the SB (or look at Sonos)and I've even heard of people on here using a mac mini etc.

Afraid that may not be true/fair IMHO. If you attach these deviced digitally to an amp chances are they will all sound identical... Basically as good as the amp will allow the music to sound...

[trailer]

That depends if your amp has a digital in.

[Autopilot]

What about gapless playback, internet radio, zone syncing, all the amazing plugins - it not simply just about pure sound quality, the user experience is much more than just that.

At the end of the day, its quite simple; The SB3 is much better for audio but the AppleTV does both (only in the locked down Apple kind of way ). Only you can decide what will suit you better are you a 2 birds kind of guy? (chortle). Personally if i was wanting an all in one solution, i would be thinking HTPC (Or XBMC) anyway, i have little interest in the AppleTV. It's nice and shiny, but there are better devices out there IMO.
Also do not underestimate what a pain it is using your TV everytime you want to change tracks. Not cool, for me music is one of the best ways to escape the box, not rely on it even more. And what about that time when all your mates come around for beers and BBQ - you can drag a small system into the garden, but what about the TV?

[Planet__]

I've had the same thoughts on my next music streamer.

I agree with Autopilot on the using your tv to select music. I previously used a SL400i to stream my music which has a display and a tv output. After the wow and gimick of using a big screen to select music wore off, I relied more and more on the display on the unit.

Streaming movies? These kind of devices do an okay job for youtube and the ilk, but how often do you do that? If I'm going to watch a movie I'll do it justice and put a disc in the dvd player.

I'm telling myself to go for a SB3 because when Slim Devices/Logitech bring out the SB4, the SB3 should still be compatible with SlimServer, meaning I can move it to another room.

As for one digital device sounding exactly like another, rubbish. If that were true my pokey little panasonic minidisc recorder/player would sound just as good as my sony minidisc deck, in both record and playback, using the same digital input on my amp. Which it sadly doesn't! Detail can be lost in the d/a conversion.

[trailer]

Originally Posted by Planet__

As for one digital device sounding exactly like another, rubbish. If that were true my pokey little panasonic minidisc recorder/player would sound just as good as my sony minidisc deck, in both record and playback, using the same digital input on my amp. Which it sadly doesn't! Detail can be lost in the d/a conversion.

If you rip a CD on any device the bit rate is the major quality deciding factor. All you are doing is storing the digital data then transporting it via whatever means to the DAC (whether it be internal or external) for the D to A. The quality/sonic characteristics of the DAC is the issue here.

What bit rates do you encode A to D onto the minidisc?