The Squeezebox is dead... long live the Squeezebox

**garym** · 2010-12-09, 19:50

Originally posted by ehjones

So after 5 years, several house moves and general abuse my Classic has died (endless rebooting cycle which my troubleshooting-fu has failed to solve).

Am I crazy for buying another Classic instead of a Touch?!

I gather the sound quality from the Touch is better (I've got a touch of tinnitus and ageing ears anyway!). Not fussed about the touch screen. A colour screen would look a bit weird right next to the television, whilst I love the VFD display and general form factor of the Classic. Of course, a warranty on the 'new' Classic is out the question so it's fingers crossed on this point.

I'm not meaning to start a tedious Classic vs Touch thread - I can see the Touch is a 'better' product (although not quite a like-for-like replacement in my view)... I just felt a bit sad when I found out the Classic wasn't officially for sale anymore (no, I don't manage to visit these forums regularly enough otherwise I'd have known this ages ago - but the Classic generally worked too well to need to!).

It's not a coincidence I also drive a 10 year old car

nothing wrong with the classic as replacement (if you can find one).

**eeagle** · 2010-12-09, 19:56

Well yes the Touch is better, but you're in luck if you still like the Classic look as it is still available from several sources including Amazon.

I drive a 10yr old car too, but plan to buy a Touch next time one is on sale.....I love the squeezebox whole line up, but would prefer the higher bit rate capability for my "old" but high end home stereo

**EricBergan** · 2010-12-09, 20:13

I went through the same thing a few weeks ago. Ended up going with the Touch because it turned out to only be a little more than getting a Classic.

I use coax digital out, so can't say I really notice an audio difference (and I'm usually fairly discriminating on audio.) Also, my SB is in a closed audio cabinet, so the color display/touch screen is really a non-issue for me.

Now, I'm not sure I made the right choice. Because I went with the Touch, had to upgrade the version of my server, and I lost direct IR remote control of favorites. So I've actually taken a step backwards in user friendliness. There are a couple of other areas where I think the settings on the Touch has been "dumbed down" from the classic, although none as serious.

eric

**ehjones** · 2010-12-09, 20:22

Originally posted by EricBergan

Ended up going with the Touch.... Now, I'm not sure I made the right choice.

At least you have a warranty

**usch** · 2010-12-09, 20:45

Originally posted by ehjones

Am I crazy for buying another Classic instead of a Touch?!

No. I would even rather buy another SB2 than a Classic.

**pgnyc** · 2010-12-09, 20:53

Originally posted by EricBergan

I went through the same thing a few weeks ago. Ended up going with the Touch because it turned out to only be a little more than getting a Classic.

I use coax digital out, so can't say I really notice an audio difference (and I'm usually fairly discriminating on audio.) Also, my SB is in a closed audio cabinet, so the color display/touch screen is really a non-issue for me.

Now, I'm not sure I made the right choice. Because I went with the Touch, had to upgrade the version of my server, and I lost direct IR remote control of favorites. So I've actually taken a step backwards in user friendliness. There are a couple of other areas where I think the settings on the Touch has been "dumbed down" from the classic, although none as serious.

eric

Hi,

i bought a new classic a month ago (amazon) to have a spare in case.
anyway , i bought an amplifier and speakers , so i have a system in the basement.

my main classic ( slimdevice) is also behind glasses , in ethernet bridge mode for a wd tv live plus. ( so the classic 'share' is wireless mode ).

if i changed for the touch, i would have to
change the server version
lose the bridge mode

i also have a boom

**EricBergan** · 2010-12-09, 20:53

Originally posted by ehjones

At least you have a warranty

True, although the SB that died was actually a Slim Devices SB3, and the other one is still running, so I'm comfortable with the longevity for a CE product. In fact, it was probably one of the oldest things in the audio cabinet :-)

eric

**snarlydwarf** · 2010-12-09, 20:57

Originally posted by usch

No. I would even rather buy another SB2 than a Classic.

I like the $10 alarm clock look still... Especially in the bedroom where my SB2 replaced a $10 alarm clock...

**iPhone** · 2010-12-09, 21:21

Touch

Originally posted by ehjones

Am I crazy for buying another Classic instead of a Touch?!

It's not a coincidence I also drive a 10 year old car

Let me ask you this: When you need to replace your 10 year old car, are you going to get another 10 year old car and start having the same problems or are you going to buy a car with not so many miles and years on it IE new one or slightly used one? If you answered yes, BUY THE TOUCH!

**ehjones** · 2010-12-09, 21:54

Originally posted by iPhone

Let me ask you this: When you need to replace your 10 year old car, are you going to get another 10 year old car and start having the same problems or are you going to buy a car with not so many miles and years on it IE new one or slightly used one?

Nice point

But I've done the equivalent of running a 10 year old car into the ground and replaced it with the same age of car that's hardly been run in

(and saved a bit of money too...)

Tongue-in-cheek somewhat, but I'm not often convinced that new=better when it comes to consumer electronics these days - so many corners seem to get cut bringing a product to market at the right price. Afterall, it happened with the SB3 when it came out (many people had their fair share of problems initially), but with a solid hardware platform, upgradable firmware, open source software development and a small responsible company looking after it all meant that, for me, the SB3 is perfect

(just no warranty).

**usch** · 2010-12-09, 22:50

Originally posted by ehjones

Afterall, it happened with the SB3 when it came out (many people had their fair share of problems initially), but with a solid hardware platform, upgradable firmware, open source software development and a small responsible company looking after it all meant that, for me, the SB3 is perfect

(just no warranty).

Fortunately most of the new code is still open source. I hope that in a few years time there will be as many great plugins/applets for the Touch as there are now for the Classic, so that it eventually becomes usable.

**bigblackdog** · 2010-12-10, 01:43

Go the touch

**erland** · 2010-12-10, 04:37

Originally posted by usch

Fortunately most of the new code is still open source. I hope that in a few years time there will be as many great plugins/applets for the Touch as there are now for the Classic, so that it eventually becomes usable.

What are you missing ?

**EricBergan** · 2010-12-10, 05:21

Originally posted by erland

What are you missing ?

Server issue rather than Touch, but the biggest one for me is ability to press a button on the IR remote and start a playlist. Lost that a few server versions ago, apparently.

Further down, set a static IP address, more control of the clock appearance, compare SB3 basic settings to Touch basic settings...

The Squeezebox is dead... long live the Squeezebox

The Squeezebox is dead... long live the Squeezebox

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