Lives up to the hype

[dBerriff]

Over the years I have tried many devices which have claimed to have amazing sound for the size etc. The Boom is perhaps the first that has really surprised me by exceeding what I was expecting.

In many ways it is a brave product requiring some input and preparation on the part of the user, but as I have been using a Squeezebox for over 2 year now and have my entire CD collection captured as FLAC files I found it almost plug-and-play. I did have to set up my WiFi password.

Operation is not, perhaps, as easy as an iPod, but I am getting to learn the little idiosyncrasies in the interface.

Why brave? Because faults with users' systems are going to be blamed on the Boom. WiFi seems to be a bit of dark art for some users.

An amazing little box (well - I am amazed). Perhaps it appears to be expensive but what do you compare it to? JBL Radial speakers? The Bose equivalent? Or one of these:

http://www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=0&region=UK&currency=GBP&pf_id=4593&customer_id=PAA0235044909687JSNTTDWKWZZZIWRE

or this:

http://www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=1&region=UK&currency=GBP&pf_id=4580&customer_id=PAA0235044909687JSNTTDWKWZZZIWRE

There is saying that you get what you pay for. I think I did (and that is without the Amazon discount - which I missed). My search for a portable (within my home) alternative to my 'big' stereo system is now over. Thank you Slimdevices/Logitech.

[ccrome2]

An amazing little box (well - I am amazed). Perhaps it appears to be expensive but what do you compare it to? JBL Radial speakers? The Bose equivalent?


And those are just speakers, right? No streaming. No internet radio, no DSP, no whole home synchronization



Or one of these:

http://www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=0&region=UK&currency=GBP&pf_id=4593&customer_id=PAA0235044909687JSNTTDWKWZZZIWRE

Yikes, $300 for a dock that connects your ipod to your speakers and doesn't actually do anything.



My search for a portable (within my home) alternative to my 'big' stereo system is now over. Thank you Slimdevices/Logitech.

Thanks for the kind words! We appreciate it.

-Caleb

[dBerriff]

Yes, those are "just speakers" and that was my counter-argument against the claims that the Boom is expensive for what is. The Radial is an excellent speaker; I bought one for my daughter last year and she is very pleased with it. BUT, knowing what I know now I would have put my money into the Boom.

[These comparisons are not of course comparing like-with-like, but I think the general message is clear. Also, I think the Meridian docking station includes a DAC, but it seems a bit bizarre that they don't use the one built in to their super-expensive F80.]

I cannot always listen to my main stereo (SB-3 into Musical Fidelity DAC/amp) as it is in the same room as the TV and I have been searching for ages for something compact so I can hide away from strictly-come-ice-skating or whatever. The Boom is ideal for this.

The frequency range is staggering for such a little box, as is the clarity. I am not too bothered about the narrow stereo image because its intended use and because of its musicality.