A Duet Good For Your Music Collection

If you want to have easy access to your music files stored on your computer or media centre, then the Squeezebox Duet may just be the product for you. This network music system is easy to install, intuitive, and brings music right in the palm of your hand.

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Out of the box, you get a receiver that connects to your wired network and speakers and a remote that can be used to control the receiver wirelessly. You also get a gold-plated RCA stereo cable used to hook the receiver to any speaker or stereo.

Setting up the Squeezebox Duet can be done in a couple of steps: the Duet controller must be docked and charged, the receiver must be plugged into an outlet and connected to any stereo or powered speaker system, and the system must be set up.

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The initial set-up is easy: all a user has to do is to follow the on-screen instructions and connect the remote and receiver to the network. After connecting to the network, the controller will ask for a music source. You can either choose to connect to the SqueezeNetwork or SqueezeCenter.

The SqueezeNetwork will give you access to online music services (Pandora, Rhapsody, Sirius, Last.FM, etc.), Internet Radio, and even Podcasts, while the SqueezeCenter program streams audio files stored on a computer to the Duet box.

The SqueezeCenter will automatically scan your ‘Music Folder’ and ‘Playlists Folder’ (all assigned) for all compatible files (MP3, AAC, WMA, Ogg, FLAC, Apple Lossless, WMA Lossless, WAV, and AIFF) and will be ready to push audio files straight to any Squeezebox device (like the Boom we tested a couple of weeks ago and the Duet). The only files that the unit cannot play are DRM-Locked songs, which are files purchased from an online music store like iTunes.

 

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There is only one button on the receiver (network), so users must rely on the controller for just about everything. The controller hosts a 2.4-inch colour LCD, a scroll wheel, a centre button, four keys that surround the scroll wheel (Add, Play, Back, Home/Power), and five buttons for quick playback adjustment (Volume up, Volume down, REW, Pause, and FWD).

Just so long as you connect the receiver to a good set of speakers and feed a good signal to it, the Duet will perform well and give you your money’s worth. Drums and cymbals sound clear and crisp, with bass being present and felt in our music tracks. The only time the unit sounds horrible is when you go listen to Internet Radio stations that stream their content at 64kbps, so users are advised to download FLAC files or rip audio tracks in WAV files.

If you have a good set of speakers in your living room and want to stream your audio files to it, then the Squeezebox Duet is the way to go. But if you are an average punter that just wants a simple-to-use box that can do it all, then the Squeezebox Boom ($599.95) may suit your fancy. The Squeezebox Duet comes with an RRP $699.95.

See page over for product specifications and final rating.

Logitech Squeezebox Duet Specifications:

Squeezebox Controller
– 2.4-inch color LCD TFT display with backlight
– Rechargeable Li-ion battery
– Built-in 802.11b/g wireless

Squeezebox Receiver
– Digital optical, coax, and analog connectors
– High-fidelity 24-bit Wolfson DAC
– Plays MP3, AAC, WMA, Ogg, FLAC, Apple Lossless, WMA Lossless, and WAV music files
– Built-in 802.11b/g wireless
– 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port
– Connects to SqueezeCenter software, providing access to music libraries on local computers
– Connects to SqueezeNetwork for access to Internet radio and online music services

Package Contents
– Squeezebox Controller
– Squeezebox Receiver
– Charging cradle with power supply
– Power supply for receiver
– RCA audio cables
– Rechargeable Li-ion battery pack
– Quick-Start Guide

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Logitech Squeezebox Duet | $699.95 |  | www.logitech.com.au

For: Good sound output; Easy to set-up; Controller can control multiple Squeezebox units.
Against: Unit cannot play DRM-locked files
Conclusion: The perfect network music system from Logitech.