In the initial setup at first notice that can not be put into operation the device without Internet access. The Note from the Quick Start guide, that one had to use have a broadband Internet connection is, therefore, to be taken seriously. When setting must indicate his e-mail address and a password for an account at mysqueezebox.com.
After the initial setup at first I heard nothing from my speakers - until I found out that even the digital output via the volume control of the Squeezebox is regulated. When headphone output Squeezebox That makes sense, but what good is that the digital output?
The Squeezebox has an overall very high-quality impression. It is surprisingly heavy, so you can operate the touch screen without having to always hold the device. The only downer in the processing: In the Ethernet jack, the Ethernet cable has a little too much play, so that the Ethernet connection is often interrupted times.
The manual (aptly called "Quick Start Guide" in English called) is very brief. It should be noted that one can download the Function Manual on the Internet - however true that for the Squeezebox Touch (yet). So you have to find your way through some trial and error with the operation.
Internet radio works very well. Also playing the FLAC files from the external USB drive is working fine. Initially, you can play the music only via Folder Navigation - until it has been found that the Squeezebox by pressing the "New Music" the day of FLAC files imported and stores them in an internal database. Then - and this can take some time - you can easily by album, artist, year, genre ... navigate. Even Album Cover - if available - displayed.
Infantile Disorder: If the device is not connected to the Ethernet at power, so can no longer be off (the power plug must be pulled).
The Squeezebox hangs with me at a turn-off power strip. Fortunately survived the internal music database separating the Squeezebox from the electrical outlet. You do not have to import every time again FLAC tags so.
Booting the Squeezebox takes - at least after disconnecting from the power supply - 40 seconds. This is just about acceptable for me.
Overall I am very satisfied with the Squeezebox. What is missing is a more detailed examination, a better Ethernet jack and a more comfortable way to listen to music from the USB hard drive.
Addendum:
One can listen to the music from the USB drive even without Ethernet connection. Procedure:
1. Squeezebox Touch Switch.
2. Select "My Music".
3. When the window with the message that no network cable is connected, the scroll bar to scroll right down.
4. Select "Continue without network".
5. Select "My Music" (again ...)
6. Select "Albums".
7. When the window with the message that no network cable is connected, the scroll bar to scroll right down.
8. "Continue without network" choose (again ...)
9. Select album and let play.
So it's - but not particularly comfortable. For my taste, the user interface is too technical, and application-oriented enough. Connections do not interest me, but the applications. When I select "Internet Radio", then the Squeezebox may complain about a lack of Internet connection. But if I want to hear the music from the USB disk, then you should not indicate a lack of Ethernet connection myself.
Even when switching from USB music to HDD to Internet radio, I have to confirm that I want to change the connection. What for? If I choose "Internet Radio" while playing USB music, then my box already believe that I now really want to listen to the radio. My receiver asks for not only if I change the input by "CD" in the "Tuner". That's what I'd want also from the Squeezebox.
Just a note at the end: The Squeezebox can not deal with umlauts. The search for the artist "Grönemeyer" is therefore not possible - fortunately you can circumnavigate the in this case in my music collection nor a search for "Herbert". Moreover, umlauts are not always displayed correctly. Sometimes you see instead cryptic symbols.
