Free your tunes (Logitech Squeezebox Controller)

Member Name: davomrmac

Product:	Logitech Squeezebox Controller
Date:	23/01/09 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quality screen, expandable, powerful system

Disadvantages: Poor instructions

I purchased one of these a week ago, as part of the bundle that costs slightly more (about £240 from Amazon... called the Squeezebox Duet). The only difference is the bundle comes with a receiver too, that you connect to your hifi system and ethernet network (or wireless) to stream music to your hifi.

Anyway, the controller on review here is ultimately a very cool piece of kit. What it does is connect via wi-fi to your computer (PC, Mac or Linux) where you store all your music. In my case I use a Mac Mini and iTunes. I had to install a small piece of software that gives the SqueezeCenter software access to my iTunes library. Once done, my music appears complete with cover art and full track listings on the 2.4-inch colour display. The display is gorgeous, nice and crisp, though could maybe be a little brighter.

From the controller I can play my music tracks, create playlists and mark favourites. I can listen to them through the headphone socket on the controller or I can use it to stream the music to receivers. These can be in any room in the house and you can control more than one. I only have one at the moment, so cannot comment on multi-room use, suffice to say that I am so impressed another receiver has already been ordered.

I can only describe the controller as a modern day iPod. It has a moving scroll wheel, superb interface and is easy to use, yet very powerful. Another big bonus that should not be overlooked is the following. In a normal scenario you can have a system like this, Sony and various others make them. You have your remote control with these other system, or perhaps you have an actual iPod docked in your hifi. However, to see the display for what track is playing, you need really good eyesight, or you need to get up and move closer to the device. Well, the Squeezebox controller solves that problem, because it is the remote that house the display. If you go for this system and buy a receiver too, then you can use other cheaper devices, like a PSP or an older PDA (with wifi), they work very well (I tried my PSP), but are not as polished as this unit.

In the box you also get a charging base, so you can dock the controller and it is always charged and ready for use. The included instructions are a let down, you are better off looking at the online PDF manual on the company website. Yes it is expensive, but you are getting quality and a system you can add to at a later date.

Summary: Expensive, but a system you can add to later

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