[mcgsxr]

I too have joined the Mini revolution in this regard.  I have an original one (2005) that I use USB to Toslink, then on to my receiver.

Controllable by iPad or iTouch.

Perfect?  Nope, but cheap as chips and decent sounding too.

[stereocilia]

I haven't used other systems, but what I would not want to give up are these features:

1)  control and display of the system from an Android pnone (as with SqueezeCommander) or from the computer itself.
2)  listing the latest albums I've ripped, this is now listed under New Music
3)  synchronizing multiple players
4)  well-organized internet radio list
5)  Plays Flac files (iTunes still does not, right?)
6)  reasonable cost
7)  a good digital output

Limitations of the Sonos have been mentioned, and I know it does #3, #5, #6, and almost #7, but what about the others?

By the way, my fancy new Logitech Harmony remote control will not control my Logitech Squeezebox Classic.  It will turn it on or off.  That's it.  So stupid.

[lcrim]

Is there any good reason to throw out the central server model.  The issue is that Logitech has ceased manufacturing the Touch.  The server software that contains the catalog of music that you've been enjoying remains the best cataloging method extant.  iTunes is a distinctly lesser product.   
The Android OS both phone and tablet can play back that server catalog either over your home network  and remotely either through cellular connectivity or internet.  Adding a USB DAC to the Android device is both cheap and effective.
The software already exists to do this.  Leverage what already works.
Larry

[totoro]

Is there any good reason to through out the central server model.  The issue is that Logitech has ceased manufacturing the Touch.  The server software that contains the catalog of music that you've been enjoying remains the best cataloging method extant.  iTunes is a distinctly lesser product.   
The Android OS both phone and tablet can play back that server catalog either over your home network  and remotely either through cellular connectivity or internet.  Adding a USB DAC to the Android device is both cheap and effective.
The software already exists to do this.  Leverage what already works.
Larry

I agree with you about everything but the phone or tablet part. I like those to be mobile, and not sitting plugged into my stereo. Right now, I think I would go with the rasberryPi.

[Turnandcough]

The main reason I'm still running a Squeezebox is that I like to select certain genres in LMS and play tunes randomly. I still haven't figured out how to do this in Foobar.
Playing random files is easy - but it's the "selecting genres" part I haven't figured out. I ran a 15' USB cable from my office PC to a USB converter and 15' coax from the converter to my DAC/stereo in my living room. Works OK except I have to run back and forth to change tunes.

I also tried streaming music from my PC to my Oppo BDP93 via DNLA.  Sound is good but surfing a large music collection in Mezzmo is a major PITA.

With the Touch I control everything from my listening room. I like the idea of having a PC purring at the other end of the house with a discrete 4" remote controlled screen next to my stereo. No puter in the listening room, no need to turn on the TV to navigate my Oppo's menu and no need for a smart phone to control my server from a distance. I don't own a smart phone and have absolutely no need/desire to own one...yet.  I still have a banged up cell phone with basic el cheapo package that I occasionally use to call my wife to tell her I'm on my way home and ask her if we need milk.

Am I starting to sound like Andy Rooney?  Am I slowing becoming my parents with "12:00" flashing on their VCR?


 

[firedog]

The main reason I'm still running a Squeezebox is that I like to select certain genres in LMS and play tunes randomly. I still haven't figured out how to do this in Foobar.
Playing random files is easy - but it's the "selecting genres" part I haven't figured out. I ran a 15' USB cable from my office PC to a USB converter and 15' coax from the converter to my DAC/stereo in my living room. Works OK except I have to run back and forth to change tunes.

Yes, that's one of my favorite features of Squeezebox. That and the inexpensive multiroom features. I've now mostly switched over to running J River Media Center on my Windows server; it has even better playlist features than SB - you can set up a "smartlist" to run any combo you want. So I've set one up to do exactly the kind of "random play by genres" you're talking about., JRMC has a great iPhone/iPad app so it is great to run remotely from a phone or tablet. There's also an android app, but it isn't nearly as good.

The only thing JRiver doesn't do that I still use SB for is Internet radio.

[srb]

The only thing JRiver doesn't do that I still use SB for is Internet radio.

J. River doesn't have a built in database library of Internet radio stations like iTunes, but you can enter radio station URLs in File > Open URL which should start playing the station.  Then you can right click in the display window and Send To > Playlist > Playlist Name and then rename it in the playlist.
 
I have one station in AAC format whose URL is not understood and it tries to open a website, but I can play the MP3 version of the same station.
 
Steve

[Doublej]

What's wrong with using Apple TV? It's only $100.

[srb]

What's wrong with using Apple TV? It's only $100.

Comparing it to the Squeezebox, the digital output is not quite as good, it lacks a coaxial S/PDIF output, it's limited to 16/48 resolution and doesn't have bit-perfect output (it resamples everything to 48KHz).
 
However, for the price and general use it is very good.
 
Steve

[lcrim]

The suggestion to use JRiver is a poor trade off,  the entire nuts and bolts has to be in close proximity to the stereo.  The beauty of the SqueezeBox model is that only a small IP device streaming the music needs to be at the stereo (or in the car, or in your pocket.)  All else can be located elsewhere connected via ethernet or wifi or cellular.
Apple TV brings the unwanted need to use Apple formats and its business model piggybacking on every choice you make.
Larry

[ctviggen]

What's wrong with using Apple TV? It's only $100.

Does it support FLAC?  (I cant' tell from the internet search I did.) Do you have to use iTunes to use the product?  Personally, I think iTunes may be the biggest piece of bloatware, and had to use to boot, other than perhaps Microsoft Outlook.  If I didn't have to use iTunes to run my iPod, I wouldn't.

[srb]

Does it [Apple TV] support FLAC?  (I cant' tell from the internet search I did.) Do you have to use iTunes to use the product?

The Airport Express will play FLAC files from a FLAC-supported player in conjuction with the third-party software program Airfoil, so I'm pretty confident the Apple TV could also.

Playback would have to be controlled from the computer though, as the Apple TV interface can only control iTunes.  Most any file player or other computer application can also stream to an AirPlay device with Airfoil.
 
I use Airfoil to stream to AirPlay devices from J. River Media Center (which supports FLAC) as well as from Internet browsers.  The only caveat is on the Windows platform you can't use a player in the ASIO, WASAPI or Kernel Streaming driver mode to stream through Airfoil as it doesn't support bypassing the internal Windows mixer.
 
Airfoil is also available for the Mac which wouldn't have any sound quality limitations (other than those of the Apple TV itself).
 
Steve

[WC]

This looks interesting, but it will depend on the implementation.

Pure Jongo