We looked at Sonos' Bundle 150 package, which comprises a ZonePlayer 90 and ZonePlayer 120 and a whizz-bang remote. They look like, well, like Sonos units. Take a look at the picture, it's faster than us trying to describe it all to you. What we have is a slightly tweaked and more “affordable” version of Sonos' established hardware that we've reviewed in the past. The ZP120 sports a built-in 2 x 55W amplifier, so all you need are speakers. The ZP90 is designed simply to feed a hi-fi.
Philips' Streamium NP1100: the biggest screen of the lot
The Squeezebox consists of a pretty cheap looking black plastic receiver, but as you'll be tucking that away from sight, who cares? It's partnerd with a sleek black remote that's the only the bit of system your friends will see at dinner parties.
Though the Philips device has by far the larger screen, the display renders text in a strange pseudo-LCD style that makes some text sizes look very blocky. It also lags rather badly with the result that you often skip past the function you want, thinking the player hasn't acknowledged the command. The Roku's two-line screen is far simpler but also works faster and more fluidly making for a happier experience. The one advantage the Philips system does have is that you can read the Now Playing... screen from across a room with no need to squint.
Sonos' Bundle 150: two room units and a whizz-bang remote
The Roku makes a decent clock when on standby showing the day, date and time as a bright clear one-line display.
COMMENTS
I am happy with my NP1100
As indicated in your review, set-up is simple for Roku and Philips. I have choosen the Philips because it was cheapest and didn't want to spend too much to test a new technology.
Result is I am very happy with my NP1100 which is quite nice and so easy to use. I am also amazed by the number of station available.
When I have plug-it in the first time, SW has been automatically updated and now BBC is working very well.
I really love this device which allow me to listen internet radio without PC and also all my MP3 on my Hi-Fi system.
Tks for your usefull comparizon.
Problems with Squeezecenter & Ubuntu
If your music sits on a Linux server, check that the Squeezecenter server software works on your machine before parting with your hard-earned cash on the Logitech offering.
There are known problems trying to get Squeezecenter 7.2 running on Ubuntu 8.04 and derivatives. The advice from Slimdevice's support team is limited to telling you to go and read the forums - thanks guys.
I for one have given up with this and am going to investigate the Sonos product.
Aren't these technically a violation of copyright?
After all it is making available to others. If they have a receiver and live close enough they could pick up your transmissions and GOD FORBID copy it onto a cassette tape, then encode it to FLAC (sarcasm).
Honestly though, surely there is a legal question about these devices. They duplicate the copyrighted works don't they. And transmit them to all and sundry.
Bloody Freetards, paying lots of money to make available copyrighted works. I think that you all should pay the artists, no the music labels on a per listen basis.
(....paytard)
Roku in Pinnacle disguise too
You can get a down market version of the Roku SoundBridge in Pinnacle clothing. DLNA compliant, I use a Buffalo NAS with a UPnP server built in. I generally use the web interface for all set-up as it's much easier than the remote, much better way to set up the radio streams. The Pinnacle version has an SD card slot for a local music library too.
I would avoid the Logitech
It's not DLNA compliant, and uses it's own propitery streaming system (something which if it were Sony doing this, would be dragged over coals for).
I like the idea of having the media info on the remote, but for the moment, my trusty Noxon2's work just fine.
