Help/Suggestions for Internet Radio Options

[bikezappa]

I would like some feedback, positive and negative, from members that listen to internet radio. I have tried listening to FM radio on the internet with my lap top connected to my main 2 channel rig. I have no audio up grades on my lap top which is one year old. I love all the stations and music options.

I would like to buy a internet radio like a squeezebox or something from Sonos that will allow me to have many internet radio presets that can be controlled with a remote. I don't want an amp and speaker with the radio. I would like to get the best possible sound from the internet.

I have noticed that the sound varies from station to station. Some NPR stations are quite good. Can a good internet radio down load the music stream better? Sorry for the dumb questions.

Of less interest is options like Pandora, but who knows they maybe fun also.

Thanks for your suggestions and opinions.

[Knucklehead]

I use Pandora, grooveshark or AOL radio.

[bikezappa]

Knucklehead

I'm looking for a radio that will allow me to scan internet radio preset stations with a remote.

[Ricardo]

The Squeezebox Touch works great for Internet Radio. You can save them in favorites that would serve as presets. You can also get Pandora, and of course your music library if you decide to rip it to your computer.

Best move I've made in audio.

[bikezappa]

Thanks Ricardo

How fast can you change internet radio stations with the remote?

Is this quick?

Do you notice a change in audio quality with different stations?

[michaeljhsda2]

I almost bought a Squeezebox Touch until I found out you can't get Grooveshark on it. :(

[Ricardo]

How fast can you change internet radio stations with the remote?

Pretty fast; click one button to go to favorites, browse through the stations list with up/down, select the station

Edit: for stations that you have not saved in your favorites, there's a menu that can help find stations based on genre, location and others.


Do you notice a change in audio quality with different stations?

Yes, it's pretty much all over the place. Also, sometimes you get one that has lower volume than the rest.

[bikezappa]

Ricardo

Have you played with Duet? The remote looks very nice with the display.

Does it do the same things as the Touch?

Extra remotes are expensive.

Sorry for all the questions.

[heiney9]

The Squeezebox Touch is amazing, but as with all internet radio streaming devices, the sound is only as good as the feed from the radio station. Many sound very good even though they aren't completely lossless. But some really stink because of the compression they use to broadcast.

I highly recommend the SQB Touch

H9

[szhleppy]

Ricardo

Have you played with Duet? The remote looks very nice with the display.

Does it do the same things as the Touch?

Extra remotes are expensive.

Sorry for all the questions.

You're right, extra remotes are expensive for the Duet...but it is definitely a great convenience feature depending on how you plan to interact with the Squeezebox.

There are a couple guys that do great upgrade modifications to the Squeezebox products. However, if you are comparing out-of-the-box, the Touch has much better sound quality than the Duet.

It might not make sense from a cost perspective depending on how you are using this, but you could purchase the Touch for it's better sound quality and ability to connect an external hard drive....then purchase the Duet remote separately which will work with the Touch.

[Ricardo]

I have not tried the duet. I use the SQB Touch's remote, or my iPod Touch with iPeng, which allows me to control from anywhere in the house (through my wireless network). Works pretty good.

[bikezappa]

Thanks every one.
It looks like the Touch is on my X-mass list with an extra Duet remote.

One more question, I think.
I understand that there are only 6 presets on the remote for internet stations, but that you can have many more presets on your favorites. Is this true and can you get to all the favorite stations quickly with the remote?

I don't currently plan on using any down loaded music on my computor, just internet radio for now. I may try Pandora and other options however. Do they sound good?

I want/plan to connect the Touch with RCA jacks directly to my amplifier.

[heiney9]

I may try Pandora and other options however. Do they sound good?

I want/plan to connect the Touch with RCA jacks directly to my amplifier.

Again, you are entirely at the mercy of the incomming streaming source. Pandora sounds pretty good, but it's compressed and is approximately the same as an average mp3 file. I believe you can pay for Pandora and get a higher bit rate.

Internet radio is a nice convenience, but it rarely if ever will give you cd quality sound, because the streaming is rarely at a higher than mp3 quality bit rates. So just be aware of that.

But then again, it's better quality than standard broadcast FM and you have a ton more choices.

H9

[dkg999]

Internet radio via the SB Touch is very convenient and overall sounds as good, and most of the time better, than standard FM broadcast. The vast number of channels/stations you have to chose from is also great, with the downside being the time it takes to explore all the choices. My two SB Touch's probably get used at least 50% or more just for internet radio listening.

I have heard good comments on SqueezeCommander for the Droid/Google operating system phones, but have not purchased and downloaded it yet.