Initial
After switching on the device automatically performs the setup. Anyone who has ever been involved other devices in a network should have no problems at the Sqeezebox to bring online. In our case, the connection is via Wi-Fi. There are two methods to connect to the router make, namely via WPS (Push / Pin) or manually.
As we do in our house two routers (Linksys E3200) that are connected in series, I've tried both methods respectively. The device via WPS is as expected comfortable and fast. The manual device is of course a little more complicated, because the SSID and passphrase via rotary / shuttle dial must be entered. But this has immediately works fine because the menu is clear and understandable even here.
Once a connection to the Internet, you must create an account Squeezebox Logitech. This is also done quickly, you only assigns an email address as a login and password. (As a longtime Logitech client who already knows this method of his Harmony Remote ago, I've been using thus basically no problem).
Now, the latest firmware is installed and then the device is ready for use as a radio.
All of this takes less than 15 minutes, the menu navigation is intuitive, take a look at the Installation Guide was needed at any point.
Other facilities
We run a Zyxel NSA-310 NAS in our network. This NAS can also be used as a Squeezebox server, it just needs the corresponding Squeezebox software enabled in the settings of the NAS.
In Squeezebox Radio then the IP address of the NAS will be deposited. Now the control of the Squeezebox is no longer on the server from Logitech, but directly through its own NAS done. The Squeezebox can now access all the music files that can be stored on the NAS and released. These furnishings are simple and self-explanatory, but you should check in advance whether the own NAS can use at all as Sqeezeboxserver and what steps on the NAS to establish necessary - this is different from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Installing Squeezebox App
Squeezebox Radio is not remote. This is not necessary as long as you own a smartphone or tablet. For this purpose there is a free app, which maps the surface of the Squeezebox Radio and the entire control system allows. Since this is done via Wi-Fi, you can operate the device from anywhere where wireless reception is possible. A fine thing, so the radio makes really fun! Unless one has tagged his music files clean, simply and quickly select the app from the music tracks that you want to hear just. Or change times quickly the radio station. Or adjust the volume. Or ...
Daily use
The best indicator of whether a device really can be easily and intuitively operated is, whenever the rest of the family uses it for me. In the case of the Squeezebox Radio the device was immediately accepted, and for example, is now also used by my wife regularly. Especially in connection with the (unfortunately optional) battery the device is so flexible that it can be taken fast times in any room - whether in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the garage or in the garden. Select power-stations (Heavy Metal from the USA No problem!), Listen to music - that's it! Or choose from My Music "album and start playing.
Especially the management of their own songs is great solved, one has the impression that music befände directly on the radio and not on a drive in the basement ... For comparison: We use the living room as a Media Player Asus O! Play, you have here! you always select the location on the network before a title retrieval is possible. That's my wife, for example, already too cumbersome and in such things demonstrates the strength of the Logitech concept. Everything works smoothly and without noticeable delay, similar to an MP3 player.
For sound
There is a radio, not a hi-fi system. This is, I think, an important criterion for assessing the sound. If you're looking bass or full volume, should be more of a DLNA-enabled mini system or perhaps the Squeezebox Touch in conjunction with buy speakers. For a radio with which you want to play usually in the background music, the little thing sounds incredibly good. Especially middle and treble are clear and clean reproduced, even at high volumes. And for my taste well enough bass is present, the entire sound is polyphonic. But it is and remains a mono-radio!
Conclusion
I've rarely seen a device that has me so pleasantly surprised as this. Easy to set up, easy to use and always features that you do not expect - for example, does the alarm clock even when the machine has been switched off in the battery mode to save power. The server switches the radio on time again and the radio wakes at the set time. My expectations were more than fulfilled, the device conjures me always a smile on your face. That this was apparently not always so, one can take the older reviews. Whether there are teething problems still that do not occur in the way we use and our network configuration, I can not judge.
Why is there still only 4 stars?
Sorry, Logitech, but I prefer a star off because a device in this price range just a battery supplied must be included! Add to this that Logitech itself offers a battery only bundled with a remote control. As described above, I do not need that, I've taken my tablet and might even fall back on my Logitech Harmony. Why Logitech is forcing a customer who just want the battery to buy the remote control? Good thing there are plenty of third-party providers that offer compatible batteries.
