[mythtv-users] OT: myth music and non-pc audio playback device

[Nick Rout]

On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 4:44 AM, Eric Sharkey <eric at lisaneric.org> wrote:
>
> On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 11:57 AM, Phil Wild<philwild at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I was thinking about something that could play from
> > myth via wireless.
> >
> > I would like to keep the soln below US$200 and would want good sound
> > quality. I am chasing an all-in-one type device rather than something
> > that I have to hook up to an amp/speakers etc.
> >
> > Any suggestions?
>
> You can run a slim server on your backend and play music from that
> using any of the compatible Logitech Squeezebox devices.  I have no
> direct experience with these, so I can't endorse them, but you should
> check them out.
>
> http://www.logitechsqueezebox.com/products/overview.html

I have a squeezebox boom wirelessly connected to my myth backend which
is running squeezecentre (i.e. what used to be called slimserver). Its
fantastic, like the box says, "Plug it in. Turn it on. Rock the baby"
(or something like that).

Mine was NZ$300 street price so I imagine you can get one for less
than US$200. Theres also the just released squeezbox radio that has
rechargeable batteries (the boom needs to be tethered to a power
point). Radio probably needs to be on the market a while longer before
it reaches a decent street price.

The boom has great sound, even better with a powered subwoofer, but
baby won't need that - I doubt you'll turn volume over about 15% in a
baby's room.

The boom isn't QUITE loud enough for my open plan lounge/kitchen
particularly when cooking and the extractor fan is going etc, so I'm
moving it to the bedroom and getting a squeezbox classic and an
external 2.1 audio system for the open plan room. In fact the classic
just arrived today!

Logitech (who bought out the slim devices company) provide the server
software as open source for win/mac/lin and there is a great support
community, with forums, wiki, mailing lists. The logitech staff
contribute regularly on the support channels.

The squeezecentre software provides web control, so you can turn off
baby's music without going to the other end of the house. The clients
also act as an intelligent alarm clock which may be handy as they get
older.

Overall can't recommend the squeeze* range highly enough.