Small device for streaming audio listening on my stereo
Written: Jan 27 '08
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Pros: wired or wireless hookup. compact and attractive. Display easy to read. Smooth performance
Cons: time-consuming to configure, Largely functionally redundant. No stand-alone mode. No batteries
The Bottom Line: A good player with some caveats. Excellent performance, but lacking in built-in storage and battery.
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| Godai-kun's Full Review: Roku SoundBridge M1000/M1001 Network Music System ... |
I have owned and used the Roku Soundbridge for about a year now, and to be perfectly frank, I am not at all certain WHY. It's not that the Soundbridge isn't good at what it does; it is. But When you get right down to brass tacks, the device does nothing that you can't already do with your computer or computers, using freely available software. At best, the Soundbridge offers a portable, sexy little alternative to the myriad of other digital music/home audio interface devices on the market.
The Soundbridge connects to your home computer network either by means of a 10-base-T network cable or via Wi-Fi through your existing wireless access point or router. Without such a connection the device is useless, since unlike most competing products the Soundbridge contains no storage space of its own. Thus the device cannot be used as a stand-alone MP3 player (most similar devices have this capability)
Once connected, and configured for your network, The device will search your network for iTunes installations that are set to share. If found, it will act as a separate iTunes installation and freely play songs and podcasts from the shared iTunes installation. An enclosed remote control will allow you to move through the assorted playlists, and a bright scrolling LCD display will display the ID3 information of the current track as well as navigation information. The device will reportedly work with RealMedia installations as well, although I have no experience in that area.
In this way, The Soundbridge can be used as a portable digital audio player, as long as you don't move it outside the range of your network. The device does not have the ability to store more than one network configuration, and reconfiguring it for a new network is a clumsy, time-consuming process that makes it unlikely you will want to do so on a regular basis. Thus, if you want to move this device around the house, fine, but taking it to a LAN party is not at all likely.
The device can hook up to your home stereo receiver via its headphone jack, coaxial, or optical digital outputs. The digital outputs provide a feature that most home computers have traditionally lacked, although with modern soundcards that is increasingly no longer the case. Listening to the Soundbridge with a pair of headphones or computer speakers is, of course, another alternative, but the device has no speakers built-in. Similarly, you won't be taking this device on the road with you because it requires a clunky AC adaptor - there is no battery option.
I got this device with the intent of listening to my MP3 library on my home theatre receiver. While I do still do that, I find I am using it much more for the various streaming radio options available from the BBC, NPR, and other sources. The Soundbridge does all of this beautifully. I have never had any lags, pauses, or delays playing streaming audio, even with a relatively slow DSL connection. Grabbing MP3, AAC, and podcast files across my local network are similarly smooth.
All in all, this unit performs well, albeit with some limitations which would make it inappropriate for some users (or at least less appropriate than some of its competitors). If all that is desired is to listen to music and streams on your stereo system, the answer might be more easily and less expensively solved by hooking your computer up to that system.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 149
Recommended for: Audio Book Listeners - Download Audio Books and Radio Programs
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Epinions.com ID:
Godai-kun
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Kevin Barth
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Reviews written: 248
Trusted by: 55 members
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