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Roku Soundbridge for streaming internet radio

post #1 of 4
3/25/09 at 5:47pm
Thread Starter 
Just starting to explore the feasibility of getting one of these WiFi enabled streaming audio devices so I could listen to various internet based radio stations around my house. I have a wireless-N router and currently use my laptop and WinAmp to stream internet radio, but would be nice to lose the laptop and just use something like the Roku Soundbridge, either hooked up to my HT system via the Toslink or Coax digital or perhaps if I'm outside, just a pair of computer speakers, which sounds like it supports.

I don't currently have a lot of Mp3s or an iTunes account so the Mp3 and Itunes functionality isn't as sold on me. Is the Roku the best option for this or what other options are out there.. I see ones by Sony, Logitech and a few others...

Jay
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post #2 of 4
3/25/09 at 8:44pm

Re: Roku Soundbridge for streaming internet radio

I would recommend auditioning a Squeezebox (now owned by Logitech). This is the most popular network music player by far on the audiophile forums on the net, and for good reason. I've owned the Squeezebox 3, and I'm currently saving towards a Squeezebox Duet.

Absolutely brilliant little player for the money, especially when streaming lossless FLAC. She holds her own quite nicely against my Naim CD Player (more than 10x the cost), and easily outperforms my Oppo 983 for CD and SACD playback via analogue.

Many people I chat with have gone as far as purchasing an outboard DAC such as a Benchmark DAC-1, Transporter, Behringer, etc and have found the Squeezebox outperforming their high-end CD and SACD players. (I still belong to the minority who enjoy a dedicated CD player and turntable, but that's another topic altogether)

Cheers,
Alon
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post #3 of 4
3/26/09 at 4:45am
Thread Starter 

Re: Roku Soundbridge for streaming internet radio

Great, thanks, I have a plain old Meridian CD player, so I like my CDs. I will check out the Squeezebox... What's that old Who tune???

That Squeezebox Duet is quite pricey, even the basic boom box seems high, I guess it's almost like a PC in a box, with speakers and an amp.. Could almost buy a netbook for that price...

Jay
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post #4 of 4
3/26/09 at 7:08am

Re: Roku Soundbridge for streaming internet radio

Stick to the Squeezebox Classic, this is what 99% of people purchase. The only reason I ended up selling my Squeezebox is that I no longer have any rack space (currently at 7 shelves for turntable, cd player, pre-amp, power supply, poweramp, dvd player with my phono stage resting on top, and finally my hd-dvr). I plan on hiding the Duet on top of my dvd player.

Another one that has been getting a lot of rave reviews is the Wadia iTransport, but this is only for your iPod (no wireless streaming). Might be worth consideration, depending on what your requirements are.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/wad...-ipods-281975/
http://www.stereophile.com/news/010408wadia/
http://blog.stereophile.com/ces2008/010708wadia/

Cheers,
Alon
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