Squeezebox vs. Squeezebox Duet

[yonajon]

I'm considering buying a Squeezdebox or a Squeezebox Duet. I am unable to find a side-by-side comparison of the two devices. Can someone help me understand which device is right for me?

I'm a music lover, very technically adept, and have two computers with music on them, as well as two external hard drives that have music on them as well. I have a wireless network in my home. I'd like to be able to select music without my computer, but it's not that big a deal - I have a laptop which is usually in the room with me. I just don't want to connect the laptop to the stereo.

Your help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[JJZolx]

I'm considering buying a Squeezdebox or a Squeezebox Duet. I am unable to find a side-by-side comparison of the two devices. Can someone help me understand which device is right for me?

I'm a music lover, very technically adept, and have two computers with music on them, as well as two external hard drives that have music on them as well. I have a wireless network in my home. I'd like to be able to select music without my computer, but it's not that big a deal - I have a laptop which is usually in the room with me. I just don't want to connect the laptop to the stereo.

Your help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

The basic difference is in the user interface. The Squeezebox has a large display on the player and a simple, displayless infrared remote. You control the player and select music by scrolling through lists of artists, albums, etc. This is generally referred to as the "remote interface". With the Duet, the player (the "Squeezebox Receiver") has no display, but you have an iPod-looking WIFI remote (the "Squeezebox Controller") in your hand to view your interaction with the server and to select music. This has been called the "jive" interface.

Both systems can also be controlled through a web interface directly to the server, which is superior to either remote interface. The Duet interface should be much nicer to use than the older remote interface, and is slick as snot, but can't approach using a web browser with a full sized screen and ten times the onscreen information. If you have a laptop in the room with you, then that's the way to go.

Probably the only other functional difference is that the Squeezebox's headphone jack has been removed from the receiver of the Duet. There's talk of the controller itself one day becoming a kind of giant roving WIFI iPod, capable of playing music, but the software hasn't been developed yet.

[SuperQ]

Also note that the Squeezebox Remote (part of the Duet combo) can be used to control a Squeezebox Classic (the one with the display on it)

The only trouble you may run into is SqueezeCenter really likes to be run on one computer, and with all the music on that machine (external drives are OK) This way you have one music server that can run a huge house full of squeezeboxes playing different things, or the same thing via sync.

I would suggest you download the SqueezeCenter beta from here:
http://www.slimdevices.com/downloads...ly/latest/7.0/

It's free, no harm in trying.

[transporter]

Mmh.. I'm getting more and more confused.
@ SuperQ: You wrote:
"the Squeezebox Remote (part of the Duet combo) can be used to control a Squeezebox Classic (the one with the display on it)"

Do you mean the Duet Controller can be used to control a Squeezebox Classic? Did i miss something?

[JJZolx]

Do you mean the Duet Controller can be used to control a Squeezebox Classic? Did i miss something?

The controller can be used to control any Squeezebox (Classic, Duet/Receiver, or Transporter) that is on the network. Just like the web interface can be used. It communicates directly with the server over the wireless network, not through the closest Squeezebox, as the infrared remote does. You could think of it as sort of specialized web browser with limited capabilities and a very small screen.

[TCM]

I'm considering buying a Squeezdebox or a Squeezebox Duet. I am unable to find a side-by-side comparison of the two devices. Can someone help me understand which device is right for me?

http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cg...wareComparison

[adamslim]

The display on the Squeezebox Classic is very nice, and I like to glance at the hifi and see what's playing - but the Controller is a nice way to browse, as you don't need to open up your laptop all the time. For me, the preferred solution would be Classic plus Controller - but that is the most expensive!

Whichever you buy, don't worry - you can and will want to use the 'other' for a second system. A SB Classic in the living room with a Receiver in the kitchen and a Controller for both, it's the way forwards!

[yonajon]

Thanks for the responses guys! This is helpful.