Waay off topic Q about "music systems"

[bikerz]

Ah - the Squeezebox bug has bitten you! (better than a giant weta bite!)

I'll check out the internet music streaming with the PC off tonight and let you know.

I didn't realize I could get the spiffy remote separately... Hmmm. (My friend recently upgraded to the Duet, and his SB 3.0 might also be available for sale, if I decide to keep mine.)

Receivers: In your office, you'd need an amplifier and a pair of speakers, and then you could get a second SB receiver and plug it into that amp. But the Squeezebox has to have an amplifier and speakers to plug into - think of it like another audio source, like a CD player.

This is so diverting - I was obsessed with it all in November and December. It's even easier to spend money on audio stuff than on bike stuff (especially in the winter!)

[SadieKate]

Hey, Oakleaf! have you tried your Squeezebox 3.0 without the PC turned on?

[OakLeaf]

Hey, Oakleaf! have you tried your Squeezebox 3.0 without the PC turned on?

I hadn't tried it before, but I had to know. Working fine

Not sure if you can add stations to the station list, though, or if you're limited to the ones they provide in the "SqueezeNetwork." I think when DH streams WBAI, he does it via his computer.

ETA: just downloaded the new software and firmware, and yes, you can edit the station list.

[Irulan]

maybe I'm missing something but what about surfing Shoutcast for classical, and using a simple free media player like winamp? It's all free, no subscrition or software fees.

I listen to internet radio, non commerical, non stop. I search for music genre via shoutcast, test a few search results out and voila, music to my taste as much as I want it. I have it set up both on a regular pc with speakers and a decent sound card, and also on another computer with an optical sound cable that goes into the home theatre.

http://shoutcast.com/ I've found all sorts of cool stuff - the powerdown bulgarian down tempo station; radio paradise, african stuff... the classical search brings up tons of options.

[SadieKate]

Finding classical music via the internet is no problem at all.

I'd rather not run any software or media player off my work computer, not to mention I can't change the sound card in the computer, and I don't want any cables and speakers on my desk for multiple reasons - clutter and sound quality both.

[SadieKate]

maybe I'm missing something but what about surfing Shoutcast for classical, and using a simple free media player like winamp? It's all free, no subscrition or software fees.

Like Pandora and probably other similar sites are blocked by my employer?

[Irulan]

Like Pandora and probably other similar sites are blocked by my employer?

shout cast is not file sharing, it's just catalog of internet radio links based on genre.

[Pedal Wench]

It's even easier to spend money on audio stuff than on bike stuff (especially in the winter!)

Tell me about -- I'm a recording engineer, and I freelance in the consumer electronics/technology fields -- I love that stuff!

One thing you might want to think about wrt Internet radio -- it only sounds as good as it's uploaded. So, while your speeds, and the connection speed and bitrates might all be fine, if the station is uploaded at a low rate, it won't sound great. But, in some cases, it will sound as good as your current FM sources, but never as good as CD quality.

[SadieKate]

I knew you'd be posting!

Since the local classical music station is drowned out by several neighboring stations (who must be broadcasting a bit over power, doncha think?), it doesn't take much to have "better quality."

[Pedal Wench]

I knew you'd be posting!

Since the local classical music station is drowned out by several neighboring stations (who must be broadcasting a bit over power, doncha think?), it doesn't take much to have "better quality."

I tried to stay away

It should be okay to use with the Bluetooth, and other systems have built-in Internet connections, so you only need a DSL connection. They have ones that are complete 'music systems', or ones that are just the receiver that you plug in as a source to your existing system. However, the Squeezebox looks really kinda cool!

[SadieKate]

and other systems have built-in Internet connections, so you only need a DSL connection.

Please explain? Or provide a link to a product for the slow and iggerant?

[Pedal Wench]

Please explain? Or provide a link to a product for the slow and iggerant?

No problem!

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-MCi250.../dp/B00009RTBU

Bluetooth from your BT-enabled PC (which I think you said was an option):
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665333301

And, this could be used just as a receiver to plug into an existing stereo system that has an aux input:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SL400i...667260&sr=1-12


This receiver looks nice too -- can stream from your PC too. Best of both worlds:
http://www.amazon.com/OXX-Digital-Wi...667260&sr=1-20
Hope that helps! To be honest, a few years ago, there were more options when I was writing alot about this category.

[SadieKate]

I only have this to say before taking myself off to a good book, BikerZ sure knows how to spend my money.

Slow her down, girls!

Not that Oakleaf and PedalWench would help put any brakes on her.