Squeezed out of the Market
For several years I have used the Sonos multi-room audio system. I can’t claim that this is hi-fi, as it is not, but it allows me to access all of my CD collection, Spotify and radio all over the house. Unfortunately the base “connection” unit, the zoneplayer 90, retails for euro 350, and the first one that I ordered died and had to be replaced. Moreover, it has a very weak DAC, so I have outputted it to my Benchmark DAC-1 USB for a couple of years, and the quality of sound, user interface and listening experience is stunning. I am very loyal to Sonos and have added a couple of Play 3s and Play 5s over the years, a couple of controllers etc. But there is a big problem with the system – no support for 24 bit files. So what do you do? There are lots of 24/96 or 192 media players available from big Hi-Fi firms – the best of which is Sooloss from Meridian, which costs thousands. Naim have a nice system, as do Linn, Musical Fidelity and various other hi-fi manufacturers.
If I was to buy a media-streamer this is what I would want:
1. Support for 24/192 with a high end DAC
2. Several optical, coaxial and USB inputs to utilize the DAC
3. A 4 or 5 inch touchscreen interface that displays album art
4. Internet radio and support for Spotify, Deezer and Rhapsody.
5. Standalone play that will play files directly from USB discs and can also access a media server.
6. Moderate price (<euro 1000) and scalability.
7. A headphone output.
8. Small and Family Friendly
I looked at the Logitech Transporter originally, years ago, but it was just too expensive not to be produced by Linn or Meridian (and thus having little or no trade in value). I looked at Linn, Naim – too expensive and then I realized that I did not need items 1 and 2 above. I already had a high end DAC. What I needed was a device that would play 24 bit files with a nice user interface, that could be outputted to my DAC. I experimented with a 250 euro netbook running j river media center – but it was all a bit – ugly. Then I came across the squeezebox touch, in my local Curry’s, for euro 250! I looked at the box for about 20 minutes – 24 bit file support (all files, flac, mp3, AAC, Ogg etc) check, touchscreen – check, optical and coaxial output – check, usb connectivity – check, album art – check. <Must be a pricing error – this should cost 1,250 euro- it must be a mistake. But no – this is – was – the best value Hi-Fi product ever. Period. It worked straight out of the box. Ok, I must confess that I did not use the squeezeserver software because 1. I was using it in a location that already had a Sonos box (that doesn’t need to be continuously connected to a PC/Mac and is just better at it), 2. I only needed one box to play 24 bit music in one locations. So I put my 24 bit files on one of those impossibly small usb mini thumb drives – and ran the internal server, connected the coaxial cable to the Benchmark and sat back and enjoyed the music. It was spectacular. An the cute little device was family friendly – the kids had no problem playing or accessing tracks. Ok, it could be tricked out in expensive aluminium or wood and sold as an expensive product, and it looks a little cheap: but it was 250 euro! I bought my dad a squeezebox radio – he loves it. I felt that the Squeezebox people were only a couple of small steps away from total market domination: all they needed to do was to bring out a larger product range, hire an aesthetic designer – so that their products appeal to the iPod-phone-pad generation, improve the squeeze-server technology, and take the Logitech computer brand off the product and call it something else (hell just buy an old hi-fi company and use their branding). So what happened….?
Logitech have, inexplicably, pulled the plug. Squeezebox has been dropped as a line of products: no explanation. Over. Presumably they have not been making money with the Squeezebox products, and Logitech are refocusing on core businesses – Keyboards and Mice (so 20th century) and multi-function remote controls. They are also pushing a Skype camera for your TV. It has to be said, this is not a company that has a clear vision for the future. It seems that Logitech have been in financial trouble for several years: apparently they wasted a lot of effort on the google tv and were broadsided by the iPad. Nevertheless, in the Squeezebox, Logitech owned a market niche – literally nobody was producing a comparable product that was future proofed and well received by consumers. It would have been relatively easy to integrate the squeeze products into a range that catered for tablets, smartphones, DSs, Playstations etc. (think Netflix).
Any sensible person would nip down to their nearest Currys/Best Buy and pick up one of the last remaining Sqeezeboxes. With Logitech out of the market, I don’t see anyone else coming in in a hurry. The only company with imagination, guile, style and interest in moderate price points is Bowers and Wilkins. How about a Music User Interface guys?
audioexchange 