Sonos or Squeezebox and why?

jlc76

jlc76

Well-Known Member
I am in the process of converting all my CDs, HDCD, and DVD-A to FLAC and have even started doing 24/96 needledrops of certain records. So far I have just played them back from my laptop hooked up to my rig (not the best sound card) or on my PC with some ok Bose computer speakers (only bought them because the Klipsch I previously owned crapped out after 4 years and my wife wanted the smallest speakers on the desk). I thought about just buying a cheap PC and good soundcard and hooking that up but I think I would like to go the server route as I can listen to it in multiple rooms.

I would like to have one station in my listening room, living room, and master bedroom with the ability to add more later. Obviously I want something that will do FLAC and I want to have a graphical interface the doesn't need a TV or monitor to browse. I have been looking at the Sonos and Squeezebox but don't know which is better. The Transporter looks cool but I don't want to browse artists by text only (though this unit probably has the best sound). Anyway, please give me advice and opinions on either of these units. I am leaning Squeezebox now only because it's black and will match my current rig but if the Sonos sounds better I will do that.
 
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I can't give you a comparison because I have never listened to a Sonos. However, I have two squeezeboxes (a III and a duet) and they sound just as good as my NAD CD player. I am very happy with it. In fact I don't even have a CD player hooked up any more. You entire CD collection is at your fingertips. I would definetly go with a duet over a regular squeezebox III as the remote has a screen on it like an Ipod and is heads and shoulders above the III's remote.

However, I use both in the full volume position because the digital volume control IMO sucks the life out of the music if it not on full volume. So in my current configuration, I don't have remote volume control. Just pause and play. Hope this helps.
 
I use an ASUS EeePC netbook PC, a USB powered Segate 500mb external drive and an external Music Hall USB DAC.

Sounds grand...
 
imho the Squeezebox wins. You can choose from the two cheap ones (classic and duet) and get great SQ from both, and great "userfriendliness" from the duet... If you are looking for a source in the upper price segment, the transporter will kill most of the competition in its pricerange (and beyond).. I chose the duet because of user friendlyness, "value for money" and upgradability.. I intend to add a good dac to it, and even though I don't feel it`s the main priority right now, it`s good to know that I`ve not paid TOO much money for something that is simply a blast to use.. (I converted everything I own to flac, great format!)

The remote with albumcovers are simply superb! (and its nice to have a "million" radiostations at my fingertips :)
 
I have the squeezebox and simply love it. Best $ 250 stereo purchase ever. Also purchased two 1.5 Tb hard drives for the server computer @ 129 ea.

Web Interface:

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Current Setup:
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I use three OmniFi DMS-1's ($5 to $20 ea) with the OpenFi firmware, being served from a FreeNAS NAS on a $10 thin client with a free HDD.

Excellent sound matching the SqueezeBox; WiFi or LAN connectivity, but you need to know your way around Linux to get an ultra-low cost system like this up and running.
 
Im running 3 SB Duets...theyre very handy. My media server (Ubuntu Server 8.04.2) has 5x 500GB hard drives. All of my music is in FLAC format. I only have one remote, but I find myself using my MSI Wind netbook to control them 80% of the time. I have a 'box in almost every room. Squeezeboxes for music, and softmoded Xboxes for movies :).
 
hwirt said:
I have the squeezebox and simply love it. Best $ 250 stereo purchase ever. Also purchased two 1.5 Tb hard drives for the server computer @ 129 ea.

Web Interface:

DSC02282.jpg


Current Setup:
DSC02312.jpg


DSC02343.jpg
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That is a serious setup, I love the simplicity of it. So if I understand you right, I don't even need that handheld ipod looking thing to navigate songs? I can just use my laptop to interface the device? I have all my FLAC files on a PC in another room (actually on an external 500 GB that is almost full...will be getting a 2TB as well) but I always have my laptop with me in my listening room. I will actually probably hardwire the squeezebox into my wireless router since it resides in my listening room due to the location of the cable modem.
 
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Your laptop will do just fine! The portable computer or the Duet "remote" (or an iPod touch, or iPhone etc) will connect to the computer where the music is stored, and you will control that SW from where you are sitting..

Works like a dream.. I really like the Duet remote, but I`ve also used a laptop alot... (offcoz, the duet is a lot more "handy" and does not "heat your lap" as much :) (and my eyes are too poor too see the display of the Classic from more that 2-3M away).. Therefore the Duet was "my weapon of choice"..

jlc76 said:
That is a serious setup, I love the simplicity of it. So if I understand you right, I don't even need that handheld ipod looking thing to navigate songs? I can just use my laptop to interface the device? I have all my FLAC files on a PC in another room (actually on an external 500 GB that is almost full...will be getting a 2TB as well) but I always have my laptop with me in my listening room. I will actually probably hardwire the squeezebox into my wireless router since it resides in my listening room due to the location of the cable modem.
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I have two Squeezeboxes, a 2 in the living room/HT rig, and a 3 in the den. I run coaxial digital out of each, skipping the analog outputs. The 3 feeds a separate DAC, which drives my home-built tube amp through a passive pot. The 2 runs into a Panasonic surround receiver, which maintains the digital signal up to the output stage.

A low-end laptop with a 500gb external USB hard drive holding my music collection in FLAC format is dedicated to music server duty. The laptop, drive and router live in the hall closet so I don't see or hear them in either listening room. I use a hard wire connection from the server to the laptop, and wireless to the SB's. I mostly use the SB remote for control, but my PC is in the den and I can cue up playlists from there as well.

Once in a while I'll drag an amp, a pair of speakers and an SB out to the back yard for music by the pool. Then I use the analog outs and the SB's volume control, so no preamp is needed. It can be hard to see the SB display in bright sun, but otherwise it works great. For parties, I have a four-hour playlist set up. Select random playback, hit play and let it run all afternoon - nice.

The HD holding the music is shared as a network drive, so I can also play directly from it. I recently bought an EMU Tracker external sound card for the PC (and a calibrated mic for speaker measurements). If I'm sitting at the computer and don't want to disturb the rest of the household, I plug my headphones into the EMU and use Winamp for playback.

The big jump is getting all of the music onto a drive. Once that's done you can easily play back directly via PC or through an SB. Either way you won't be likely to look back!

Bill
 
If I had the $'s to spend I'd get the Sonos. That matrix enhanced wireless sounds bullet proof.

But i don't. So I have a SB Duet after using a ROKU for about a year successfully and another year struggling. Where the ROKU couldn't keep up with my double hop - iMac wireless to router - wireless to ROKU, the SB works fine. That is after I switched to Proxied Streaming.

Now I want anothe Duet receiver for my office.
 
Squeezeboxes for music, and softmoded Xboxes for movies
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Hey BadassBob, have you ever compared the sound out of the xbox vs SB. I've been using my modded xbox running XBMC for streaming tunes and while it's not as good as my cd player, it is a very inexpensive and convenient way to stream audio if you've already got an xbox around.
 
Well all set today to buy squeezebox duet and went to best buy only to find they had one on display but none for sale. None of the other stores had them and they are no longer listed online. One clerk tried to getme to look at some new wretched Sony wireless that hooks into your soundcard and transmits to a receiver, doubt it works with flacs. Anyway I can either buy a sonos at best buy order the sb duet online, which I really dislike doing in case I need to return it.
 
If you order the SB online from Logitech directly you will not have any customer relations issues. You can return it easily and get good service.
 
chathamdad said:
If you order the SB online from Logitech directly you will not have any customer relations issues. You can return it easily and get good service.
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:yes:

I didn't even know Best Buy carried this. I ordered direct, had small problem with my controler, and they were great to work with. From my experience wit Best Buy in other areas I'd prefer to go direct to Logitech.
 
Can I just buy the receiver and use my computer or iphone as the controller? I think that controller price is outrageous.
 
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