Logitech Squeezebox Touch Review | Reliable reviews
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There's something immensely satisfying about using consumer electronics that seem to get just about everything right. Satisfactory, but not surprising, because the Logitech Squeezebox Touch is a media streamer with impeccable pedigree, going back to 2006's Slim Devices Squeezebox. In fact, the Squeezebox Touch is something of a throwback to the original Squeezebox, albeit with some modern touches (if you'll pardon the pun), with the exception of the built-in Squeezebox Boom speakers or the clever two-piece remote/receiver. The system used by Squeezebox Duet favors a simple method of operation - taking media from a network source and delivering it to the Hi-Fi.
The front of the Squeezebox Touch is dominated by a 4.3-inch diagonal touchscreen angled back at about 35 degrees (like everyone else, really). The 480 x 272 pixel resolution is hardly groundbreaking, but it's bright, vibrant and should only show text and album art anyway, so that's not an issue.
The build quality of the Squeezebox Touch is excellent. Okay, the screen's glossy black plastic bezel would look better in brushed metal, but it's far from unattractive. Additionally, the bottom portion at the front is Metal, adding a sophisticated elegance to the overall aesthetic, and the stand is also Metal. It all helps make the Squeezebox Touch feel more like a £235 consumer electronics product than if it were all plastic.
The downside of the glossy finish is that fingerprints are easily picked up. Logitech includes a cleaning cloth, but it will likely be thrown away along with the Touch manual, leaving the display with a smudge in the center. Beware of owners of curious pets and parents of small children.
The touchscreen interface is much better than originally expected. Of course, thanks to the capacitive display, taps and swipes register perfectly - even the on-screen keyboard works well. The menu system remains responsive at all times, even with audio playing in the background—a feat that some earlier Squeezeboxes couldn't quite appreciate—and there are a number of gesture-based keyboard shortcuts (swipe, press-and-hold, etc.). ), which can be customized by the user, making it even more versatile.
Obviously, there will be times when standing up and walking over to the Squeezebox Touch to play with it would be an annoying inconvenience. So Logitech included a remote control in the Touch. It's again well thought out, right down to details like the recess on the back that retracts your index finger and consequently places the main buttons directly under your thumb - genius!
What's more, pressing any button on the remote switches the Touch interface into "big text" mode, making it much easier to use from a distance. You can turn this off if you don't like it, but it definitely helped during our use.
Squeezebox Touch is not limited to playing only the files that are at hand. A number of connected apps are available that add more functionality and expand the range of audio sources available to the Touch. Some of them provide access to Internet radio stations and catch-up services, one allows you to play sound effects (wow!), and a third allows you to interact with Facebook (yawn).
However, the killer apps are several music streaming services. In the US we have Pandora and Rhapsody, but we're not so lucky in the UK. However, there are big players on board such as Napster and Last.fm, as well as the relatively unknown but continental favorite Deezer. All that's missing is Spotify.
What's especially cool is that these apps can be installed and configured either on the Touch itself or through Logitech. MySqueezebox web interface. The site even has a remote control that will work with multiple Squeezebox players if you have them, and works great on mobile browsers—or at least on the iPod touch.
It's important to note that the Squeezebox Touch is not all talk and no pants. The fancy touchscreen interface and smart apps are all well and good, but what really matters is the hardware, and here the Touch excels.
Since streaming audio is the Touch's raison d'être, it's no surprise that you'll find both built-in Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port. The 3.5mm headphone jack is less expected, but it makes it easier to connect the Touch to a speaker system unable to accept any of its high-quality outputs, namely the phono output along with the coaxial and optical digital outputs. The latter will be greatly appreciated by buyers who have invested in high-quality decoding equipment, as they bypass the AKM4420 Touch's own DAC.
The Squeezebox Touch also has a USB port on the back and an SD card slot on the right edge. From these, the Touch can read audio files and photos, the latter turning it into a compact digital photo frame when it's not being used to stream music—a debatable improvement over its default regression to a very expensive watch.
The only real problem with the Squeezebox Touch is that it can't simply pull music from a DLNA or uPnP source. Instead, it must communicate with the server software. Ostensibly this means running Logitech's own Squeezebox Server on Windows, MacOS or Linux, but there are actually a number of third-party tools available, the most common of which is the Twonky media server. Some of these alternative Squeezebox servers run on NAS devices such as the ReadyNAS NVX (plus smaller models) and Linkstation Duo, so leaving your PC on all the time to use Squeezebox Touch is not necessary.
The Squeezebox Touch itself can decode MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, HE-AACv2, HD-AAC and Apple Lossless files. WMA Lossless, APE, MPC, and WavPack files are supported with off-device transcoding, which means they cannot be played using third-party servers or if said servers run on systems that cannot handle certain file formats. For the most part, though, it's safe to say that the Squeezebox Touch will be able to handle any audio format you might throw at it.
This was certainly confirmed in our testing. The Squeezebox Touch had no problems decoding 320 kbps MP3 files, 256 kbps AAC files, or even 24-bit/48 kHz FLAC files (the latter courtesy of Bowers & Wilkins Audio Society).
The internal DAC does its job as well as you'd expect from an audio device costing under £250. Given good enough source material, the Touch's output is delightfully clear and dynamic. Low quality files—say, Napster 128 kbps WMA—still sound, well, low quality, but they're good enough for casual listening. We've found that simply sending the phono preamp through a tube amp helps smooth out the harshness that results from the "garbage in, garbage out" effect. But of course, if the onboard processing isn't up to your standards, you can invest in a dedicated DAC and amplifier, using the Squeezebox Touch purely as a relay - and a very good one at that.
Verdict
Its flexibility makes the Squeezebox Touch a real sell and its £235 asking price is a steal. Only a Sonos system could improve its smoothness and capabilities, but the Sonos kit is significantly more expensive. Given the choice, we'll still go with the Sonos setup due to its superior multiroom capabilities, but if you know you only want a standalone audio streaming solution, the Squeezebox Touch is the one for you.
Logitech Squeezebox Radio Network Audio Player
Most of the network media players reviewed on our pages had one feature - they were not very well suited for listening to music. In particular, it was often necessary to turn on the TV to navigate, there were difficulties with some formats (for example, lossless audio compression), and the interface for selecting and playing files was far from ideal. This can be understood if you consider that they are mainly used, of course, for watching videos, especially high-definition videos.
So what should those who love listening to music and want to ensure convenience and high quality playback do? Fortunately, there is a solution for them too - the Squeezebox product line from Logitech. The first products in this line were introduced by Slim Devices almost ten years ago and supported only the MP3 format.
But a lot has changed since those times - more functional models were released, support for lossless compression formats appeared, and the manufacturer Slim Devices was absorbed by Logitech.
The basis of this solution is specialized server software (Squeezebox Server), designed for streaming audio to compatible players. It is surprising how one company managed to create an entire infrastructure and gain the support of a large number of manufacturers and, of course, users. It seems to us that the Open Source license played a significant role in this.
In this case, “server-based” does not mean requiring appropriate versions of operating systems to work. The program can be successfully operated under most modern operating systems, including various modifications of Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. There are also versions for network storage devices, which further expands the number of possible installations.
When creating player models, very specific tasks were set:
- working with a network library (allows multiple devices to use one library at once);
- informative display (for easy navigation);
- support for lossless compression formats and digital outputs (ensuring maximum sound quality);
- relatively low cost.
Of course, it was impossible to follow them all the time, so among the players you can find both an expensive model for audiophiles, equipped with specialized interfaces, and something similar to a retro Squeezebox Radio, which will be discussed in this article.
Let's also mention the interesting Squeezebox Duet, which consists of two modules connected by a wireless channel - the actual “box for receiving sound” and a unique remote control with a large screen used to navigate through the library.
By the way, those who want to try this technology can use the SoftSqueeze software client, written in Java and replicating the appearance of the line’s players, including their remote controls.
Despite the uniqueness and popularity of these products, they, unfortunately, are not officially presented on the domestic market. So those who want to purchase them will have to look for alternative ways of purchasing. We also do not have technical support for these products. However, localization is present, including both work with Russian tags, a Russian-language menu, and even electronic versions of manuals.
Contents of delivery
The device is supplied in high-quality cardboard packaging, the external dimensions of which are approximately 24x19x13 centimeters. It is decorated using the manufacturer's classic colors - green and white. The weight is quite noticeable, so the company decided not to use a plastic handle. In our case, the delivery was from abroad, so the absence of Russian texts on the box can be forgiven. If you speak English, you can learn about the functions and capabilities of the device, familiarize yourself with the specifications and technical requirements for the PC. Well, photographs, of course, do not require translation.
We open the package and see that most of the space is occupied by the player itself. Also included in the box is a quick installation leaflet, power supply and audio cable. It's strange that there wasn't room for a CD with the complete manual and software. Although, on the other hand, all this can be easily downloaded from the site, and even the latest versions. So such savings are acceptable.
Note that the power supply is a compact switching model with relatively rare parameters - 18 V 1 A. So try not to break it or lose it. Our copy was purchased online in the USA, so for domestic sockets you will have to use an adapter.
The included instructions are simple and concise. It does not cover the full range of capabilities of the device, but it allows you to quickly get started and also answers some likely questions.
The absence of a remote control in the basic package seems unexpected. It, along with a battery for autonomous operation, is included in the list of optional accessories.
The 12 V 2000 mAh battery allows the player to work autonomously for six hours (according to the manufacturer). Its external format is non-standard, but inside it is based on ten AA elements. It is installed in a special compartment at the bottom of the device.
The remote control is very compact. It is difficult to say for sure how convenient this is. After all, the player is homemade and there may have been no point in reducing the size so much. The set of buttons on it repeats the main controls on the player itself. Power supply is a regular CR2032 battery.
Appearance
It is difficult to say for sure what devices the Squeezebox Radio design was based on. It seemed to us that one of the main ancestors was a classic portable radio - medium in size (about 22x13x12 cm), a fabric grille with a speaker, a display and controls on the front panel.
The main material of the case is black glossy plastic. The display is a fairly high-quality color screen with a 2.4-inch matrix. Its brightness can be adjusted depending on the operating mode and according to the readings of the light sensor. Near the screen there are six radio preset buttons. Below it are almost a dozen more, including a stylish and large “twist”. Interestingly, it does not regulate the volume at all, as it might seem at first, but serves for navigation. The material of these controls is modern “soft-touch” plastic. They are pleasant to use and quite comfortable, although you do not have very large hands. The remote control comes in handy here. By the way, no one is stopping you from using the universal Logitech Harmony models. Squeezebox devices have been in their database for a long time.
It's strange to see today, in the era of multi-many-many-channel sound, a mono speaker in a modern digital device. On the other hand, this model is designed for use in areas such as kitchens and children's rooms, where compactness may be more important. Subjectively, there are no complaints about the sound of the device, considering the positioning and size. If you want real stereo and louder, the user has a standard analog audio output in the form of a minijack on the right side. Although, of course, it is officially intended for connecting headphones.
Three more connectors are located in the niche at the back - power supply input, connection to a wired network (unfortunately, without status indicators), audio input for connecting an external sound source.
In the upper part of the case at the back there is a convenient recess that serves as a handle for carrying the player. And five rubber feet give it stability.
Overall, the design is stylish and comfortable, which is typical for products from such a well-known brand as Logitech.
Connection and setup
The player has few connectors, so it will be difficult to get confused. In fact, you just need to connect the power. And integration into your home network will be ensured by a built-in 802.11g wireless adapter with support for WEP/WPA/WPA2. You can also use a 10/100 Mbit/s cable connection, but there is little point in this, since audio broadcasts can be transmitted perfectly over Wi-Fi.
After turning on the player for the first time or resetting the settings, the user is asked to take a short quick setup course. The first question that needs to be answered is the choice of language. The list also includes Russian, which will certainly appeal to fans of Russian music. At the second stage, you need to connect the player to the network. After selecting its type (wired or wireless), the remaining necessary parameters are set, including the Wi-Fi password. But if you have it “correctly” (long and complex), then you will have to turn the knob for a long time, entering characters one at a time.
By the way, the player can update the firmware via the Internet independently. When a new version is released, you will be prompted to install it. During this process, which takes a few minutes, all settings are saved and even the music that was playing before the update began to play again. But there is also a not very convenient moment in this technology. The fact is that the firmware must match the server version, and if you have several of them and their versions are different, then when you switch, the firmware will be reinstalled.
The device is networked, and given the craze for registrations and collecting information about the user, of course, it couldn’t be done without it. Getting a Squeezbox account will allow you to access online sources, manage applications, and stream music from your PC. Since this is what makes the player interesting, let’s go through this stage. You only need to provide an email address and password. This completes the initial setup, and the user is taken to the main menu of the player.
To finish setting the parameters, we will describe here the “Settings” item present in the menu. It consists of several pages where you can select different playback order modes, customize the appearance of the main screen, change the time/date and the way they are displayed, set the background image and screen savers.
Among the additional features of the player, we mention working as an alarm clock and a photo frame. Some users will be interested in the option to enable SSH access to the player.
Features and Features
The main purpose of the device in question is listening to music. In this case, the source can be Squeezebox media servers and/or Internet resources. In the second case, it is enough to register on the mysqueezebox.com portal and you will not need a computer at all.
But the first option is more interesting from the point of view of possibilities. To test it, we installed two servers - on a regular PC running Windows and on a Synology network drive.
The list of formats that the device can play should please music lovers: WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, M4A, AAC, AIFF, FLAC, Apple Lossless. In addition, the server is also capable of transcoding APE, Musepack and WavPack on the fly. If we talk about Internet radio, then the set is smaller, but also quite comprehensive: MP3, WMA and OGG.
The server part plays a fairly large role in the entire system, so it’s worth talking about it. After installing the program, you need to specify several basic parameters - in particular, the location of the media library. Unfortunately, the server can only work with one folder, so the issue of merging directories, if necessary, will have to be decided independently.
It is very important to properly prepare the media library for indexing by the server, since it is the information from the tags that is used for all types of navigation. In particular, for MP3 we chose tag version 2.3 and UTF-16 encoding. In this case, everything was indexed and displayed correctly, including the cover. As a last resort, there is the “by directory” option, but, of course, everything is much more convenient with tags.
If you already solved this issue when creating a library for Apple iTunes, then you can simply tell the server to use it.
The server has its own web interface (in versions for Windows/Mac OS X there is also a regular program window with basic settings). Through it you can view your media library and even control the connected player - select and turn on music or radio stations, change some parameters.
Since the project is quite popular and universal, it is not surprising that today you can easily find several programs for mobile platforms (for example, Android and iPhone) that allow you to use modern phones as remote controls for the system.
If you want a larger remote control, you can use any laptop or tablet. The main thing is that there is a web browser and the player works through a squeeze server. Because you can also control playback through the latter’s interface.
Working with the player
To be honest, after numerous touch interfaces, working with “regular” buttons and the screen is not very impressive in its speed and simplicity. Moreover, when the buttons do not always have an obvious purpose, and the menu is not very playful. By the way, Logitech recently introduced a new player model with the Touch prefix, the meaning and meaning of which is obvious.
The first screen (remember that the items on it can be changed) contains links to the media library, Internet radio stations, applications and a list of favorites. There is a separate item for searching, but its use in the absence of a full-fledged keyboard is somewhat difficult.
With music, everything is quite simple - we select artist, album, year, etc. by tags and launch it. During playback, the screen displays information about the song and cover (if any), a playing time scale, and the song number in the list. In the bottom line you can also see the current time, battery level and signal strength when connected wirelessly.
From navigation there is a pause and a transition to the next/previous track. If desired, you can add the current melody to your favorites list.
The system allows you to use ready-made playlists or create your own directly from the player interface.
Internet radio stations work similarly. They are collected in a fairly convenient catalog by category. The top list includes Local, Music, Sports and others. Then there are several more subcategories in each item. Interestingly, the list of local resources is quite large. While listening to a station, you see its logo, name, and transmitted text information (for example, the name of the song that is playing) on the screen. Of course, provided that this information is provided by the source.
Since “wandering” through the catalog every time is somewhat tedious, six buttons near the screen are used to remember links.
The user can add radio stations either independently, or through the server web interface, or through the mysqueezebox account.
If music and radio are not enough for you, then you can use a very interesting opportunity to install additional modules directly into the player. Among them there are radio and photo services, podcasts, and music stores. The full list can be found at https://www.mysqueezebox.com/appgallery. Some of these services require account registration and/or payment.
Installed programs are added to the “My Applications” list on the main screen or directly as separate items on it. Interestingly, the modules can even work simultaneously - you can listen to a podcast and simultaneously view photos from Flickr.
To set parameters and configure plugins (for example, select the desired podcasts), the easiest way is to use a web browser and the repeatedly mentioned mysqueezebox website or, in the case of local work, the Squeeze server web interface.
conclusions
There is no doubt that the capabilities offered by the Squeezebox family of solutions are truly unique in the market. In fact, this is practically the only option today for convenient and high-quality listening to music from a large media library over the network. Despite the fashionable trends of recent years to integrate everything possible into players/servers, the manufacturer consciously abandoned this, maintaining a focus exclusively on music, making an exception only for Internet radio.
Of course, with some experience and knowledge, you can independently assemble a player based on a PC of standard architecture, write your own media server, and so on, but we don’t know of any more interesting options among ready-made solutions. However, the system is truly universal and can be implemented, including exclusively at the software level - a server on a NAS, a player on a nettop and a controller on a communicator. By the way, only three years have passed since we thought about a similar solution based on the DLNA protocol.
If we return directly to the considered Squeezebox Radio model, it is a budget solution for working with this service. Judging by the design and mono sound, it is positioned for installation in the kitchen or nursery, where cost plays a big role. But it will look good in any room. When the device is equipped with an optional rechargeable battery, mobile operation is also possible.
In the case of a stationary location and digital connection to the receiver, it is better to focus on the Duet modification or the recently released Touch.
Our editors have prepared a video that will allow you to see Squeezebox Radio in action.
