Squeezebox (network music player)

Squeezebox

Squeezebox 3
Developer	Logitech
Type	Network Music Player
Release date	2001
Introductory price	US$199.99 (€179.99)
CPU	SliMP3 (2001); Squeezebox v1 (2003); Squeezebox v2 (2005); Squeezebox v3 (2005); Transporter (2006); Duet (2008);
Website	Logitech Squeezbox Official Website

The Squeezebox is a Network music player from Logitech (by acquisition of Slim Devices). It plays internet radio or digital audio streamed to it across a home network, either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Squeezebox (version 3 and above) also streams a variety of popular music services, such as Pandora, Slacker, Napster, SomaFM, Mediafly, Live365, Rhapsody, Last.fm, Spotify and Sirius among others.

There are two different running modes:

• Standalone mode connecting to an internet server, without a PC.
• With Logitech Media Server running on a home PC, server or on network-attached storage devices.

Both the server software and large parts of the firmware on recent players are released under open source licenses and can be extended by the user (in Perl and Lua respectively).

Squeezebox versions

SliMP3 (2001)

The first-generation hardware requires Logitech Media Server (formerly SlimServer, SqueezeCenter and Squeezebox Server), to run, which is free open source software. It is wired-Ethernet only and natively supports one audio format, MP3. Logitech Media Server can transcode other audio formats to MP3 on the fly, using the LAME MP3 encoder.

Squeezebox (November 2003)

Second generation hardware, also called SB1 to avoid confusing it with the Squeezebox product range. The SB1 originally used the same display as the SliMP3. Main feature additions included optional 802.11b Wi-Fi, support for uncompressed PCM/WAV/AIFF audio streams, and headphone, coaxial and optical S/PDIF outputs. It also requires Logitech Media Server to operate. Slim Devices offered a bitmap display upgrade for this hardware, but that is no longer available. Some units have a 40×2 Noritake character display, others have a 280×16 pixel Noritake bitmap display.

Squeezebox2 (April 2005)

Third generation hardware. Features included optional 802.11g Wi-Fi, native support for more audio formats (FLAC, WMA, Ogg), upgraded 320×32 pixel greyscale bitmap VFD display, visualizers, bitmapped fonts.

This model has infrared remote control, analog outputs, volume control, headphone jack, coaxial and optical digital outputs.

The Squeezebox2 supports numerous audio formats including MP3, Windows Media Audio, Musepack, Monkey's Audio, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Shorten, WAV, AIFF, Ogg Vorbis, and unencrypted AAC. Of these, MP3, Windows Media, FLAC, WAV, AIFF and Ogg Vorbis are natively supported by the player firmware; the remainder are automatically transcoded by the Logitech Media Server host software into one of the player-supported formats. DRM-crippled AAC from the Apple iTunes Music Store is not supported.

Squeezebox Classic (SB3) (November 2005)

The Squeezebox Classic, aka Squeezebox3, aka SB3, aka Squeezebox 3rd Generation, has the fourth generation hardware. The features and most of the technical specifications are identical to that of the Squeezebox2. A new board and chassis design are used, as well as a new remote and internal Wi-Fi antennae. With the introduction of the "Duet" Squeezebox3 was renamed "Squeezebox Classic".

Dimensions: 7.6"W × 3.7"H × 3.1"D (192 mm × 93 mm × 80 mm) including stand.

Transporter (September 2006)

Fifth generation hardware. Features are similar to Squeezebox v3. Geared towards audiophiles. Additional features over Squeezebox v3 include dual 320×32 pixel displays, front panel buttons and tactile feedback knob, redesigned backlit remote control, balanced (XLR) and unbalanced audio outputs, balanced and unbalanced digital inputs and outputs (AES/EBU and S/PDIF) (inputs for operation as a standalone DAC), RS-232 serial connection for external control, Infrared input and output.

Squeezebox Duet (January 2008)

Squeezebox Duet

This new design consists of a more sophisticated remote, called the Squeezebox Controller (aka SBC) with a display (like the Sonos), and a simplified network music player, called the Squeezebox Receiver (aka SBR) connecting to the stereo. (The SBR can operate without the Squeezebox Controller although it is not supported by Logitech and is recommended for advanced users only). Additional SBRs are sold separately.

In the default power save mode for the Squeezebox Controller it takes 30 seconds to one minute to recover from sleep-mode which makes it impractical for muting sound instantly or other actions with the remote that need immediate response - unless it is left in the charging cradle where it will not enter sleep mode.

To disable this power save mode:

1. On the Controller navigate to Settings/Advanced/Factory Test/Power management.
2. Leave the default settings for Sleep Timeout but unselect Suspend Enable and Wireless PowerSave and then save.

This will cause the Controller to reconnect more quickly but will use up more battery life.

Differences between the Squeezebox Classic and the Squeezebox Duet include:

• The SBR does not have a display (only a multi-coloured status LED), instead relying on the Controller for its user interface.
• The SBR does not have a headphone jack.
• The SBR does not have an infrared receiver.
• The DAC from SB3 is a Burr-Brown 24-bit DAC, and the one on the SBR is a Wolfson 24-bit DAC.
• The total harmonic distortion on the SB3 is less than -93.5dB (0.002%) and on the SBR is less than -88dB (0.004%).
• The Squeezebox Classic costs US$300 and the Duet $400.

The Squeezebox Controller is the first unit in the Squeezebox line that runs on SqueezeOS, an embedded Linux distribution. These devices are less "slim" than the previous Squeezeboxes. The Squeezebox Radio and the Squeezebox Touch are also SqueezeOS based.

As the Squeezebox Controller had largely been rendered obsolete by smartphone and tablet PC apps, and the Squeezebox Touch surpasses the Squeezebox Receiver in all respects, the Squeezebox Duet was discontinued in early 2011.

Squeezebox Boom (August 2008)

In a departure from previous models the Boom combines Squeezebox functionality with a DSP, a 30 W integrated amplifier and bi-amped stereo two-way speakers to produce a self-contained device which requires only a network connection (either wired or wireless) and power. Without a network connection, the Boom can still amplify and play a line level signal from an external player through a 3.5mm mini-jack plug.

The Squeezebox Boom was discontinued in early 2011, with no immediate replacement model ready.

Squeezebox Radio (September 2009)

Squeezebox Radio

Squeezebox Radio adds a color screen (2.4") to the all-in-one design of its older sibling, Squeezebox Boom, but only in a mono configuration. The Squeezebox Radio can be powered by an optional proprietary battery pack, made available in March, 2010. When running off Logitech Media Server, two Squeezebox Radios can be synchronized and set to play one stereo channel each, thus working as a stereo device.

Squeezebox Touch (April 2010)

The Squeezebox Touch is the functional successor of the SB3, and has a couple of new features:

• 4.3" colour touchscreen
• Play songs stored on memory card or USB disk, although it can only handle playlists of 100 songs or less when doing this.
• Supports audio with a sampling rate of up to 96 kHz.

See also

• Airport Express
• AudioTron
• Firefly Media Server
• SoundBridge
• Windows Media Connect

External links

• Squeezebox product page at logitech.com
• Squeezebox Wiki
• mysqueezebox.com (akn. SqueezeNetwork.com) service