gadget zone got some hands-on time with Logitech’s new wireless music streamer, the Squeezebox Duet, which allows you to stream music from your PC to your stereo via a home network.
First impressions are good. The Duet allows you to listen to your music collection or stream Internet radio wirelessly over 802.11b or g networks or via an old school Ethernet connection.
The centerpiece of the system is the wireless remote control unit that features a 2.4-inch colour LCD TFT display. This connects with a receiver box that you connect your existing speakers too – setting the Squeezebox up as a cut-price competitor to the Sonos music system.
In fact the two systems work in an almost identical fashion, allowing you to place additional receivers around the house to form a multi-zone music system. You can have the same song playing in each room, or mix things up so each room plays a different tune.
The 240x320 resolution screen is pretty easy to read, allowing you to flip through the text and album art and create on-the-go playlists using an iPod-style scroll wheel. Apple’s lawyers will no doubt have a look at that, but all that matters to us is that it has a nice feel. The controls aren’t overly sensitive, making them easy to use.
The Duet supports MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, FLAC, Apple lossless, WMA lossless and WAV formats, so there’s no need to worry about what format you’ve ripped your music in. It’s a different story when it comes to songs you’ve bought, however: there is no support for DRM music files.
Will that oversight stifle the success of the Duet in Australia, where iTunes and other DRM-enabled stores are gaining a foothold? And at $600 – less than a third of the price of the Sonos – can it compete on performance as well as price? Keep an eye on gadget zone for a full review coming soon.