Squeezebox Duet

Intermediate Level Article

This article reviews the Logitech Squeezebox Duet (SD) - a great new product for digital music consumers.

For the MP3 Generation

iPod users listen up! In fact anyone who uses their computer for MP3/music purposes.

A common issue is that many of us have good home hi-fis, yet tolerate inferior computer speakers when listening to MP3s at home, often due to equipment placement/wiring-related issues. There's also an accompanying dearth of complications arising when considering multiple rooms/users.

Available solutions that meet requirements and are not excessively expensive (to date audiophiles have favoured Sonos, but that costs $750USD+) typically infer significant compromises.

Enter the SD, providing a first-rate, economic solution to all these problems and more.

The SD is the new flagship product of multimedia hardware company Slim Devices, recently acquired by Logitech.

Check out the groovy lil movie intro here: http://www.slimdevices.com/flash/duet/index.html

What's In The Box

Worth noting that this product comes in exceptionally nice packaging - the SD is perfect for gift giving, exceeding the usual, high Logitech packaging standards, the box is truly a pleasure to unwrap and explore.

The SD comprises three primary components - a remote control, a charging cradle for it and a separate ("player") box to connect to your hi fi.

Setting Up

Hardware set up couldn't be easier - connect the player box to power and to your stereo via either conventional stereo RCA jacks (with the lead provided) or digital output; plug in the charging cradle and drop in the remote to charge it. Job done.

The software set up proved to be a little more troublesome in my case (in no small part because this kit has such vast compatibility - works natively with PCs/macs/Linux/other computers and most networks), but should be relatively straightforward for the majority of users.

When you first power on the remote some set up is required to get the SD talking to your existing equipment. Essentially, you need to go through some simple steps on the remote to configure network settings (for the techies, the SD natively uses wireless 802.11G). If you connect the SD to a network that has a direct, wired internet connection, the SD can even playback internet radio/sources even when all computer sources are off. A wireless network isn't strictly required either as the player has a single wired ethernet port available.

You also need to install a small application on each computer from which you wish to play content. When you've got it all set up, all your sources (computers/internet sources) are selectable from menus on the remote.

The Squeezebox Controller

The remote control is the pièce de résistance.

Hard to understate this cracking bit of kit.

Communicating with sources (computers/internet)/player(s) via its built-in wireless networking, no line of sight is needed.

The controls are quite simple and intuitive, broadly consistent with iPod styling (i.e. it has a scroll wheel).

During playback/playlist composition, the controller displays track details and cover art where available. This is such a joy! It really brings one's collection to life. I enjoyed rediscovering parts of my collection from album covers long not seen (and surprised myself at the plethora of covers I had obtained from my 14,000+ MP3 collection over the years!).

On it's pleasant and clear (OLED) colour screen, you can browse not only your digital music collection, but also internet radio sources, internet music stores/sources, even newsfeeds.

I could rave for sometime about this remote control - to term it such really is to demean it - it is in fact a modestly spec'ed (Linux) computer in its own right, just dedicated to running the Squeezebox Controller software.

Squeezebox players can also be controlled (via web browser) from any network connected computer.

Today, Tomorrow and Beyond...

Of course when considering such hardware investments, one requires some confidence that not only the build quality is good enough to endure, but also that the purchase will not quickly become outmoded/outdated.

In this respect the SD excels. It is designed (not only to complement and integrate with any other existing Squeezebox/digital music kit but also) for expansion, adding extra players (to feed additional hifis in other areas) and remotes to suit needs is trivial.

New releases of the system software occur quite frequently and once your installation is correctly installed and configured, are automatically obtained and applied (for free). The delight at picking up one's stereo remote to find new features/functionality is truly exquisite.

Preceding Squeezebox products have also established an open software architecture, development platform and environment that many have been keen to utilise.

Thus a panoply of free, add-on applications ("plugins") are also available to address particular requirements. For example, by way of plugins, one can browse artists' biographical details (obtained live from the internet) whilst listening to respective tracks; see lyrics (karaoke synchronised in some cases); personalise look and feel; read RSS/sport weather newsfeeds; enhance audio characteristics and/or control other hardware; etc.

With this fertile software context, one must also question what constraints the SD's hardware infers. Again, on this front the SD provides very well. It natively uses industry standards (802.11G wireless networking and/or wired ethernet) and prior to release, considerable research was done to mitigate against additional (/emerging) requirements. Hence the hardware (the controller in particular) has significant, unexploited capabilities. The controller has an unused infrared emitter (allowing for future exploitation of "universal remote" possibilities), a headphone jack port (at release just providing controller sound effects, but potentially enabling the remote to act as a standalone network player) and SD card port (providing space for expansion/additional onboard controller storage).

Thus a reasonable expectation would be that the SD will remain compatible with (and comparably good to) state of the art solutions for a minimum of 3-5 years; with its continual development potentially, considerably extending its active life and usefulness.

To amply illustrate, since purchase, general, system software updates (primarily comprising enhancements to usability/functionality) have averaged every 6-12 weeks. When I observed a minor issue, I asked a question to the online user forums and a new fix was provided within 48 hours. Exempliary responsiveness.

So far, a happy user!

Available from Logitech, here:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/3817

Posted 7/21/2008 11:36:00 AM, Monday, 21 July 2008, by Faber Optimé.
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