Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 2252 times.

kirch

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 310
  • "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
    • http://www.vo-pro.com
Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« on: 5 Apr 2021, 07:41 pm »
Greetings Gassers.  I'm on my 5th or more squeezebox and it's crapping out on me.  Tired of buying a new (used) one every year or so.  I need suggestions about replacements. 

Seems a lot have dacs on them now.  I don't want that.  Just a network music streamer that plays my ripped and purchased music from a solid state hard drive on my network.  Any suggestions?  Anything that works just like a squeezebox?  Like with an app to control it with your phone?  Quite a bit of confusing stuff out there, from bluetooth streamers to internet radios and Spotify stuff.

Again, not looking for those.  Just a go between from my hard drive to my system across the network to play my own files.  Thanks!


newzooreview

Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #1 on: 5 Apr 2021, 09:16 pm »
An Allo DigiOne Signature and Pi2AES are what I use. https://www.pi2design.com/pi2aes.html

Pi2AES measures very well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvu_doQfAI0

This would give you ethernet into the small box and coax coming out to your DAC (or also I2S over HDMI for the Pi2AES).

You can install RoPieee on the Allo or Pi2AES to have Roon as your playback control, or install something like Moode or Volumio to run things via a web interface directly to the Allo or Pi2AES.

Not sure if that's what you're looking for, but would be a significant upgrade compared to a Squeezebox.

If you don't have a DAC, I've been finding Goldensound's DAC reviews on Youtube to be very well done and completely uninfluenced by commercial interests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuy339w4rU4

There are several low-cost DACs around now that would certainly be better than what was built in to the Squeezebox (if you were using its DAC).

Good luck!

duff138

Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #2 on: 5 Apr 2021, 11:46 pm »
https://www.mgraves.org/2021/03/dac32-a-new-squeezebox-alternative-from-germany/

My squeezebox is still running after 15 years thankfully, but just came across this thing while setting up a Raspberry pi 4 to run Logitech music server off.

Scott F.

Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #3 on: 6 Apr 2021, 12:25 pm »
Hey Kirch,

If you need a SB to get you by until you figure out what you want, I've got several spares you can use.

kirch

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 310
  • "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
    • http://www.vo-pro.com
Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #4 on: 7 Apr 2021, 11:39 am »
Hi Scott-good to hear from you!  Appreciate the offer. My current and last one still works but I’m looking for new options as I’m not gonna keep buying these things any longer. Stay well!

pinkfloyd4ever

Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #5 on: 7 Apr 2021, 02:44 pm »
There's the Bluesound Node 2i. It does have an onboard DAC but you can bypass it and connect to your own DAC with the coax or toslink digital outputs. I can't say for sure if it works just like a squeezebox, as I don't have any experience with the Squeezebox. Everyone who has a Node 2i seems to love it though. Great user interface, controlled from your smartphone or tablet...or you can get the optional remote, but I don't know if it has the full functionality of the BlueOS app.


kirch

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 310
  • "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
    • http://www.vo-pro.com
Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #6 on: 7 Apr 2021, 02:53 pm »
Thanks for the Bluesound Node 2i info.  I was leaning that direction.  Might pull the trigger on one.

pinkfloyd4ever

Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #7 on: 7 Apr 2021, 03:03 pm »
There are a lot of great youtube reviews on it if you're so inclined. I like Cheapaudioman and Steve Guttenberg, and the Next Best Thing Studio if you go looking for those. Apparently it has the best user interface of just about any similar product out there.

Side bonus with the Node 2i: if you find you do want to give Spotify or Tidal streaming a try down the road, you'll have great (arguably one of the best?) hardware and software to do so.

kirch

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 310
  • "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
    • http://www.vo-pro.com
Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #8 on: 7 Apr 2021, 03:11 pm »
Cool, thanks.  I don't do Tidal or Spotify, but this looks like it should fit my needs.  Thanks again.

DWG

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 31
Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #9 on: 7 Apr 2021, 07:35 pm »
The Squeezebox Duet (maybe their other devices too) 9VDC power supplies always seem to fail.   I have two receivers and both power supplies failed.  Factory replacement power supplies are no longer available and if they are they will probably be expensive and fail.  I went to a local Microcenter store and purchased  new 9VDC power supplies.  The connectors did not fit into the SB, so I cut the connectors off the old power supply, cut the connectors off the new power supply, and soldered the old connector onto the new PS wire.   A bit of soldering and heat shrink tube and all is good again.  Be sure to use a voltmeter to verify proper polarity at connector.  This is pretty easy, but if you dont have the skills find some kid who is into electronics to fix you up.

+1 for the guy who mentioned the Bluesound Node 2i.  I replaced my SB with the 2i and love it.

ketchup

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 95
Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #10 on: 7 Apr 2021, 08:57 pm »
I went from a Squeezebox Touch to a Node 2 and it was a huge upgrade in every way.  The SB was clunky and temperamental and the Node 2 runs like butter.

HAL

  • Industry Contributor
  • Posts: 5180
Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #11 on: 7 Apr 2021, 09:08 pm »
Using a RPi4 and an AKM AK4493EQ DAC HAT with Squeezlite and works well.  A friend has the ESS ES9038 DAC HAT on his and working in his Squeezebox setup after his died. Both are very good.  They both use my preferred I2S Bus interface from the CPU to the DAC directly.


Samac

Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #12 on: 7 Apr 2021, 09:46 pm »
I love the Node 2i. Sounds great with an excellent OS. I have the Node 2i in the main system and put my Node 2 in a bedroom/office system. Been using the Node for ~ five years now. Wouldn’t be without it. Love it. 8)

Cheers,

Scott
« Last Edit: 7 Apr 2021, 11:59 pm by Samac »

mitch stl

Re: Need a replacement for my squeezebox(es)
« Reply #13 on: 8 Apr 2021, 01:10 am »
You can also add a 7" touch screen to a Raspberry Pi and get a Squeezebox Touch on steroids -- capable of 24/192K play and a much larger screen with a number of display options. The screen below shows their blue VU meters, but they have several other options. In this case, the RPi 4 is powered by Picoreplayer OS 7 and runs a USB output to an external DAC. I have another RPi 3 player with a HiFiBerry DAC HAT with no screen on a second system.

The nice thing about the RPi option is that you can continue using LMS to manage and play your collection and streaming sites (I use Qobuz) so you skip having to transfer things or learn a new music management system. And the sound quality of the RPi is superb, dependent on how good of a DAC you use with it.

Here's a photo of the player: