Slim Devices Squeezebox 2 review

Verdict:

Review Date: 20 Oct 2005

Price when reviewed: inc VAT

Our Rating 2 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

It might not be made of metal like Roku's SoundBridge, but the Squeezebox 2 still looks expensive. Its small plastic case tapers away from the huge green-on-black display on the front to the connectors at the back.

Unlike every other player in this group, the Squeezebox works only with one server. This SlimServer software isn't included in the box but is free to download, and versions are available for Mac and Linux computers. We always prefer devices to support UPnP servers, as it allows you to connect different players to one library. Annoyingly, the Squeezebox can't play protected WMA music files; this is a disappointing limitation for a £200 device.

This annoyance aside, the Squeezebox is easy to use. It's easy to browse for music, and the player supports most formats including Ogg Vorbis and FLAC. The SlimNetwork function allows you to connect to online resources such as internet radio, RSS news feeds, live music recordings and, bizarrely, recorded nature sounds. After falling asleep to the sound of waves, you can also use the Squeezebox as an alarm clock.

Unfortunately, these functions come at a price; the Squeezebox 2 costs a whopping £200. The Roku SoundBridge can play protected files, connect to almost any server, has a similarly flashy design and costs £25 less. Unless you're a fan of SlimServer or listening to nature, you can buy better.

Prev Next

Get more reviews, tutorials and in-depth advice, every month with Computer Shopper.
Click here to try 3 issues for £1

< Previous Reviews : General Next >

Sponsored Links

Be the first to comment on this article

You need to Login or Register to comment.