Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 Wireless review

Gallery

Verdict:

Stylish and easy to use, but it isn't UPnP-compatible. This is as wonderful to use as it is to look at, but it won't play music you've bought online.

Review Date: 21 Jul 2006

Price when reviewed: inc VAT

Reviewed By: Tom Royal

Our Rating 4 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

In our opinion, the Squeezebox 3 is the best-looking player in the group.

Most of its front panel is taken up by an enormous fluorescent display that lights up in green. It comes with a small remote control and has digital and analogue audio outputs to connect to almost any hi-fi.

The Squeezebox connects to 802.11g networks using either WEP or WPA encryption. If you want to use a wired network, a cheaper version without wireless is available for around £180. Before you can get started, you need to download Slim Devices' SlimServer software from the internet. This works well and lets you control what the Squeezebox is playing from your computer and the remote control. Annoyingly, the device won't work with UPnP servers or Windows Media Connect. If you want to add more players for other rooms in your house, you're locked in to buying more Squeezebox products.

Once your PC is set up to work as a music server, it's easy to connect the Squeezebox to your network. Its interface is one of the best here and searching through your music collection is simple. You can choose music by artist, album or even by decade. You can also listen to internet radio, read RSS news feeds from the BBC or even listen to the soothing sound of waves - an audio track that's built-in to the player. The Squeezebox can play almost every type of music file, except those bought from online music stores.

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