Logitech Squeezebox Duet Wi-Fi Internet Radio
From Logitech
Listen to the music you love in any room in your home with the Logitech Squeezebox Duet. Play songs stored on your computer, tune in to thousands of Internet radio stations, or connect to online services such as Pandora and Rhapsody . Plus, the multi-room controller with 2.4-inch color display and scroll-wheel navigation makes it easy to browse, select, and play music from the palm of your hand.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #692 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Black
- Brand: Logitech
- Model: 930-000033
- Platform: Windows
- Format: CD
- Dimensions: 8.39" h x 9.57" w x 4.45" l, 2.60 pounds
SqueezeBox Duet: Listen to News, Sports, and Your Favorite Internet Radio Stations from All Over the World
There's a whole world of music waiting for you on the Internet. With Squeezebox
(TM) Duet, you can tune in to thousands of Internet radio stations and music services—all on your home audio system. Chill with live jazz from a radio station in Paris. Or tune in to local news and sports from your hometown in Chicago. Plus you can create and play unique playlists from your personal music collection. The Squeezebox
(TM) Duet Wi-Fi Internet Radio and remote control put all the music you love at your fingertips.
Awards and Accolades
 |  | Winner:
Best of CES, Home Audio, CES 2008 | | | |  | | Honoree:
Innovations CES 2008 | | | |  | | CNET Editors' Choice Award
March 2008 | | | | | | | | | | |
Key Features
Color remote control for easy access to all your music  | | The remote's 2.4-inch color screen and familiar music-player menus make it easy to pick and play songs from Internet radio, online music services and your personal music collection. The remote works with the entire Squeezebox family of players and its brilliant color display makes browsing playlists, albums, and artists a snap. Navigate long lists quickly with the thumb-friendly scroll wheel. Use the intuitive control buttons to easily pre-set and play your favorite Internet radio stations or repeat that killer Sting track. You can even pass the remote around the party for a lively game of "name that tune". | | |
Crystal-clear high-fidelity audio for an immersive music experience  | | You don't want to miss a beat, note or nuance. That's why Squeezebox (TM) Duet features sophisticated audio rendering technology, including a true 24-bit DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter). Translation: your compressed digital music actually sounds as crystal clear and richly detailed as listening to a CD. From the haunting oboe in the background of Beethoven's 5th to the driving drum kicks behind a Who classic, it's like hearing your digital music for the first time. |
Simple set up—without running wires from room to room | | Within minutes, you'll be listening to music from all over the world. Squeezebox (TM) Duet's reliably strong 802.11g wireless connection brings music from your computer and the Internet to any room in your home-without having to run any wires. Just download the free set-up software, plug the player into your audio system, and start exploring music from all over the world. |
Rechargeable Battery and Recharging Stand keep your remote ready to rock  | | Your Squeezebox Duet remote control is rechargeable, so you never have to buy new batteries. The battery indicator lets you know when the battery is low. To recharge it, simply dock the remote in its cradle. The sleek recharging stand is also a great "home base" for your remote, so it's always at hand. |
Add Squeezebox players for more music in more places | | Put more players in all the rooms where you want music. They can work together or independently, all controlled by your Squeezebox Duet remote. Listen to the same song throughout your house, or mix it up with a different song in every room. Get cooking with Tchaikovsky in the kitchen. Wake up to Brubeck in the bedroom. Jump-start your morning with local news in the bathroom. |
Which Squeezebox Wi-Fi Music Player is Right for You? |
| | 
Squeezebox Classic
| 
Squeezebox Boom
| 
Squeezebox Duet | 
Transporter |
| Highlight | The easiest way to stream music and internet radio on your home stereo | Our "all-in-one" solution | Control the music you love from anywhere in your home | The first audiophile network music player |
| Great for | - Main stereo
- Living room
- Home office
| - Bedrooms
- Kitchen
- Anywhere without a stereo!
| - Living room
- Hidden component systems
| |
| Which should you choose ? | - You are someone who likes to listen while you work. You need something small to fit in your work area.
- You already own a Squeezebox Duet and want to add more zones
| - You are someone who likes to listen while you work. You need something small to fit in your work area.
- You don't have a stereo in your place but you still want big sound.
- You want music in every room of your home and you want to be able to control it from anywhere.
- You already own a Squeezebox Duet and want to add more zones
| - You are an entertainer, you love having friends over and listening to your favorite new music. But you don't want to have to go to the stereo every time you want to play a new track.
- You want music in every room of your home and you want to be able to control it from anywhere.
| - You are an audiophile. You are happiest when listening to a high fidelity recording of you favorite artist through your high- end stereo system.
|
| Connection Sound output | Connects to your stereo or self powered speakers | Integrated speakers. No stereo required | Connects to your stereo or self powered speakers | Connects to your stereo or self powered speakers |
| Control | Infrared remote (line of sight required) | On board controls and infrared remote (line of sight required) | Wi-Fi remote | On board controls and infrared remote (line of sight required) |
| Special Features | - Wireless bridging allows you to wirelessly connect other devices to the internet
- High fidelity Burr-Brown 24-bit DAC 3
- Digital out allows you to connect an external DAC
| - Seven day alarm with battery backup
- Built-in 30-watt digital amplifier
- Line in allows you to connect an iPod, iPhone or MP3 player
- Subwoofer out allows you to connect an aftermarket subwoofer for better bass
| - Wi-Fi remote can control all of your Squeezebox players
- 2.4" remote color display shows album art
- Link to your Flickr account to display your personal photos on the controller
| - Professional grade audio connections
- TransNav control with tactile feedback provides fast access to your entire music collection
- Bit perfect digital path for extremely accurate timing precision
|
What's in the Box?
 | | Package Contents Squeezebox (TM) Remote Control Squeezebox (TM) Receiver Charging cradle with power supply Power supply for receiver RCA to Jack cables Rechargeable Li-ion battery pack Quick-Start Guide 2-year limited hardware warranty |
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A Truly Amazing Product!!!
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2PYOUYHRW3SUP Logitech Squeezebox Duet Network Music System
By William Higgins, Editor-in-Chief at http://www.5dollarmusic.com
The iPod revolutionized the personal music experience, but the Squeezebox Duet will revolutionize how you listen to music in your home!!!
I am really blown away by this product. With springtime upon us I used this the time this past week to wire my den and back porch with in-ceiling speakers. I had an old Onkyo A/V receiver that I installed in a closet to power the 2 rooms. My grand plan was to get this all setup for the Logitech Squeezebox Duet. I looked at the Sonos Music system but it was way out of my budget. The Logitech Squeezebox Duet was more than worth the money.
The install was a snap. It really only took a few minutes to setup. I did a little homework before I got the device and went ahead and installed the SqueezeCenter software on my computer first. So when I plugged in the hardware everything worked right away. No issues.
The interface is so slick and intuitive. Simple, efficient, and familiar to anyone that has used an iPod or any other portable MP3 player. I was amazed at how responsive the system is to the controls on the WiFi remote. Going from track to track, or album to album was instant, no lag. Really, I have used other music streaming systems before and some of them had a distinct lag in the controls. I am very happy to report that Slim Devices and Logitech got this right with the Duet. This is one of the few products that exceeded my expectations.
Now with Sirius radio! Count me in!
It's hard to review the Squeezebox Duet without comparing it to the Sonos system, current ruler of this class of products.
Since there are already many excellent reviews, I thought I would focus on a comparison of the two, to help you decide which system best fits your needs.
Controller
----------
Both controllers are responsive, pleasant to hold and operate. They are well built, and their LCD screen of excellent quality and easy to read.
Squeezebox: thin, light, easy to operate with one hand, excellent battery life, battery is user-replaceable, comes with charging stand. It also features an infrared blaster and a headphones port, which will be supported at some point in the future (although Logitech makes no promises there have been demonstrations of prototype firmware using both features), as well as a 3D accelerometer (yes, like a Wii remote).
Sonos: bulkier, designed for two-handed operation, battery life could be better, battery is not user-replaceable, charging stand optional.
Networking
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I did not compare the two systems in the same location, but they both operate well with a range sufficient for most medium-size houses.
Sonos: uses proprietary mesh networking that requires to plug one of the players into the wired LAN. Other players act as repeaters.
Squeezebox: uses standard 802.11g networking. Can hook up to an existing wireless network, or the player can be used as an access point for the remote.
Players
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Sonos offers two players: the ZP100 has a built-in amplifier and the ZP80 doesn't (but it offers a digital output missing from the ZP100). Both players feature an Ethernet hub and an audio input.
Squeezebox: on top of the inexpensive player bundled with the Duet, the Squeezebox system is also capable of controlling all other Squeezebox devices (excluding the first generation models).
Audio quality is comparable, although audiophiles may be attracted by the compatibility with the Squeezebox Transporter.
Server
------
This is where both systems differ radically. Sonos connects to existing SMB shares whereas Squeezebox requires that you install and run the SqueezeCenter server on your computer. SqueezeCenter is open source and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Sonos: less intrusive, no software to install, works happily off a lowly NAS. But: if your music collection is larger than 30,000 tracks, you may hit the limit of the indexing capabilities, a problem with no easy workaround.
Squeezebox: requires simple installation of server software, so you have to have a computer always on. Server is too CPU-intensive to run properly on a low-power NAS such as the D-Link DNS-323
Internet radio
--------------
Sonos: Napster, Rhapsody, Audible, eMusic, Zune Marketplace, Sirius, Pandora, all configurable from the controller
Squeezebox: Rhapsody, MP3Tunes Locker, Radio IO, RadioTime, Slacker, Live365, SHOUTcast, Sirius, most must be configured and authorized from a computer using the SqueezeCenter web interface.
Support
-------
Both companies offer spectacular support through their on-line forums.
Summary
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Price: Squeezebox. A three-zone Sonos system will cost you about twice as much as a three zone Squeezebox system.
Capabilities: tie
Ease of setup: Sonos
Ease of use/WAF: Sonos. The Squeezebox interface is beautiful, but Sonos is more logically organized and simpler.
So, should you get Sonos or Squeezebox? It depends. Both systems are excellent.
If you're a tinkerer and want a solid, inexpensive system, the Squeezebox is for you. If you don't mind the added cost, want the best, simplest, friendliest user interface around, Sonos is still the ticket.
One thing is for sure: Sonos finally has some serious competition.
PC Music And Stereos Unite!
The Good: The Logitech Squeezebox Duet Network Music System lets you wirelessly stream music from you computer or the internet to your stereo or standalone speakers to any room in your house that can access your wireless network. The iPod-esque controller also allows you control from any room that has a signal from your network giving you extreme flexibility. This device brings together the best of both worlds between mass storage of mp3 format music and quality sound of a dedicated stereo system. In addition it also brings internet radio stations and music subscription services to your home stereo to boot.
The Bad: Setup may intimidate wireless networking novices. A couple of other aspects of the setup process could be a little more user friendly as well.
Overall: This is a digital music lover's dream come true. What follows is my experience from out of the box to day to day usage.
SETUP: I had my system up and running in less than 30 minutes, and this is a pretty small investment for what you get in return. The Quick Start Guide included in the package is all you need. For the physical components, it is a breeze. Install the battery into the control, snap on the connectors for the power outlets of the controller and receiver, plug them both into an outlet, and connect the receiver to the AUX jack on your stereo or standalone speakers.
At this point, you will need to sign on to the Squeeze Network web site and create your account. They use a pretty standard registration process, and you will receive an e-mail to activate your account. Once activated, you need to download and install the Squeeze Server software. I did find it challenging to find the actual link for the download. As I mentioned in my Harmony One review, Logitech could benefit from paying more attention to the usability of their software. While this is fairly minor in the grand scheme of the product, some people will be frustrated by it.
The slowest step is downloading the Squeeze Server software that runs on your PC; however, I prefer this to having a CD-ROM that I'll never use again. While CDs are not expensive, it does save the manufacturer a little as well. Once downloaded, the installation process is very easy.
Once this is in place, you are ready to configure the controller and receiver. Once you install the battery into the controller, you are prompted to begin the configuration process. The on screen instructions are pretty straightforward. The one thing that I found annoying was around entering my wireless network information. I do not broadcast my SSID, and I use 128-bit WEP encryption. I had to use the wheel to key in my SSID by hand followed by the 26 hexadecimal key. I can understand why Logitech made this trade off because you only have to enter this information once, and alternatives would require more complicated hardware either to allow a more tactile entry on the controller or USB connectivity to your PC where you could make use of a full keyboard. Neither of these complications is really worth the cost so grit your teeth and be thanking that you only have to do it once.
A final note on setup. If you are able to connect a laptop to your wireless network, you have all the technical knowledge you need. However, if you needed the "Geek Squad" or someone else to set this up for you, you should expect to need the same level of assistance to get this device up and running.
USAGE: The Squeezebox is a great "glue" device in that it brings the best of both worlds together from digital music on my PC and my stereo. I get about half of my music electronically this days, and I really only listened to it on my computer or my mp3 player. With the Squeezebox, my complete music collection is again available to my stereo even though my computer is on a different floor of the house! I also love the fact that I have access to all of the CDs that I have ripped to mp3s through my stereo without having to change discs. I also have access to my playlists that jump from one CD to the next at will. In addition, my stereo has a poor antenna. Thanks to the Squeezebox; however, I can get crystal clear reception of any radio station that streams music over the internet. So, not only do I have access to the majority of my local radio stations, I have a wealth of additional choices for national radio stations that stream. And if that's not enough, you can also access your digital subscription music services such as Rhapsody. Simply store your login information in your Squeeze Network account, and you'll be able to stream any music through your stereo that you would using Rhapsody on your PC. There are other services as well. Of course iTunes is not included, but this isn't an Apple product so shouldn't come as a shock.
I found it easy to control all of these features from the iPod like controller. A clearly marked "home" button takes you to the main menu at any point. It was a minor adjustment to get used to the wheel feature. I have owned Sandisk mp3 players which do not use a wheel but rather a directional pad. This is a minor point. What really matters is the easy of use of the menus. The wheel drives the controller's 2.4 inch display which allows you straightforward access to your music library on your computer as well as the plethora of internet radio stations. After scrolling to your selection, the center button is used for selection. Other buttons are dedicated to volume up and down, pause, previous track, and next track buttons. All operate as expected.
Another feature accessible from the controller's main menu is a series of settings that you can change. Here you find ways to change your wallpaper, date and time format, clock settings, etc. Further, you have control over screensavers, and display dimming timers, etc.
The display itself is sharp and of the same quality of the Logitech Harmony One's display. If your collection has the album art stored with the music, you will see the album cover for the song that you are playing. This works very much the same as Windows Media Mobile does on a PDA. During radio station play it simply shows an icon of a broadcasting radio tower with the station info.
Finally, I recently had a power outage that seemed to get things out of sync between the controller and the receiver. I tried a couple of things to sort it out, but at the end of the day, the controller is a computer. So I did the equivalent of rebooting (much like you have to do with cell phones at times), and I removed the battery for about a minute - the amount of time was purely a guess. After replacing the battery, the controller booted up and everything was back to normal again.
CONCLUSION: As I said at the beginning, this is a music lover's dream. In a way, it made my home stereo relevant again. At the end of the day, you have easy setup and great, easy to use features. For me it is a no brainer five star item.
