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So you've spent many a rainy day tirelessly ripping your CD collection onto your PC, but wouldn't it be great to get all those MP3s playing through your hi-fi rather than those rubbish computer speakers? Well, that's where music streamers come in as they hook up to your existing hi-fi system and play your digital music via a wireless or wired network.
Not only that but music streamers are also able to receive the many thousands of internet radio stations available on the web - even when your PC is turned off. We've rounded up four of the current front-runners to decide which is worth perching on top of your hi-fi.
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Philips SLA5520i
With its bargain basement price you'd forgive the SLA5520i for looking a little low rent, but as it turns out the silver picture frame design is actually pretty swish. Once turned on though, the small blue display lacks sharpness and is impossible to read from more than a metre or so away. But hey, for 80 quid we're not really complaining.
With no Ethernet port on the SLA5520i, wireless is the only way to go. Setting up music streaming is mercifully swift, although you'll probably need to install the supplied Philips Media Manager on your PC (not Mac) as the only other service we got it working with was Windows Media Connect. Getting internet radio working is a needless palaver though, as you're required to register an account via email first.
Audio connections are perhaps unsurprisingly thin on the ground, with just a mini-jack output on offer. Nevertheless the SLA5520i makes a decent fist of music playback and through a mini hi-fi system there wasn't much to separate it from its more expensive rivals.
When wireless strength dropped there was occasional noise interference that was noticable during quieter songs, although on switching to the brutal rock-fest of Mogwai's Mr Beast, the problem became negligible.
The SLA5520i is controlled entirely from the remote, which, like the player, is stylish and user-friendly. Again the limitations of the screen means that searching through radio stations and music libraries isn't nearly as fun as on, say, the Squeezebox, but all in all the SLA5520i serves up Asda-sized portions of value.
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Plus points
Dirt cheap, sounds good
Minus points
Limited connections, poor screen, no Mac support
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Price comparison:
Pinnacle SoundBridge M1000
Website: Roku
Size (WxHxD): 25x6x6cm
Weight: 680g
Compatible with: iTunes, Winamp, Slimserver, MusicMatch and Microsoft Windows Media Connect (WMC), Real Networks Rhapsody
Display: VFD (vacuum-fluorescent)
Formats: WMA, WMA DRM, AAC, WAV, MP3 and AIF
Inputs/outputs: 1x audio line-out ( RCA phono x2), 1x SPDIF output (RCA phono ), 1x SPDIF output (TOSlink), 1x network (RJ-45)
Network connections: Wi-Fi (802.11b), Ethernet
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Pinnacle SoundBridge M1000
The player formerly known as Roku SoundBridge has recently been re-badged under the Pinnacle brand, but otherwise it's business as usual for the M1001. The now familiar tubular design still puts most other streamers to shame, and of course there's the excellently clear VFD (vacuum-fluorescent) display - only the Squeezebox can better it.
Setting up the M1001 is a cinch - with the option to connect wirelessly or via Ethernet. Although it doesn't come with any software, the M1001 work with loads of free ones including iTunes, SlimServer and Windows Media Connect among others. We tried it with SlimServer and managed to get our music streaming in no time. Annoyingly it won't play copy-protected songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store, but that's not the player's fault - Apple still won't offer third party support.
Sound quality is exemplary through analogue or digital connections - the off-kilter harmonies of The Shins' Chutes Too Narrow came through with lovely warmth, whereas the acoustic laments of Nick Drake remained admirably clean with not even the slightest hiss to be heard. When using a wireless connection occasionally we had minor reception problems when positioning the M1001 in those harder to reach places around the home, but not enough to cause massive concerns.
With no controls on the unit itself, a good remote is vital - thankfully the one supplied makes light work of navigating through your music library. It's also good for quickly searching through the near-infinite number of net radio stations available.
Although priced at the higher end of the market, the M1001 offers more than enough to justify the expense.
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Plus points
Looks great, excellent sound quality, well stocked with connections
Minus points
Occasional reception issues
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Price comparison:
Slim Devices Squeezebox V3
Website: Slim Devices
Size (WxHxD): 19.2x9.3x8cm
Weight: 380g
Compatible with: Slimserver,
Display: VFD (vacuum-fluorescent)
Formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, WAV
Inputs/outputs: 1x audio line-out (RCA phono x2), 1x SPDIF output (RCA phono), 1x SPDIF output (TOS Link), 1x Network (RJ-45), 1/8in heaphone jack
Network connections: Wi-Fi (802.11b), Ethernet
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Slim Devices Squeezebox V3
Although excellent, Slim Devices' two previous efforts looked more like cheapo set-top boxes than cutting edge media streamers. Third time lucky then, as the Squeezebox V3 more than looks the part with its brushed steel body and amazing VFD display that's large enough to read from a good few metres away.
Although available in a wired-only model, we tested the more expensive wireless enabled version and managed to set it up with minimum fuss. The supplied SlimServer software is quick and extremely user friendly, importing our iTunes library in a matter of minutes (although again sadly not copy protected songs we'd bought through iTunes).
There's also an alarm that can wake you to the sounds from one of the many diverse internet radio stations out there - a spot of Peruvian drum 'n' bass certainly got us up and out the bedroom in double quick time. With the option of receiving RSS news feeds as well as some nifty screensavers, the Squeezebox has all the features you're ever likely to want.
With a 24-bit Burr-Brown digital-to-analogue convertor (DAC) sound quality is fantastic via the phono outs or through either of the digital connections. We had Bowie's Sound And Vision pumping through and were blown away by the sheer clarity. Furthermore, the menu system is so quick and intuitive that simply browsing through your music collection is almost as fun as listening to the songs themsleves.
There are negatives however. The remote doesn't look as snazzy as it should and more importantly the asking price is absolutely sky high. In terms of performance though, the Squeezebox is in a league of its own.
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Plus points
Amazing sound, beautiful design, tons of features
Minus points
Too expensive | |
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Terratec Noxon 2
Despite looking a bit like a pimped up Mac mini, the Terrac Noxon 2 is a pretty decent streamer, and certainly an improvement on last year's model. Although the styling is all its own, the screen's menu interface is practically identical to that found on Philips' SLA5520i, albeit with a slightly sharper, bolder display.
Getting started only takes a few moments with the set-up wizard, and although we found the supplied TwonkyVision software not quite as intuitive as others, the Noxon 2 supports a range of other free software packages.
Alongside the usual digital and phono outs, the Noxon 2 also boasts a headphones socket and a USB port for directly plugging in your MP3 player - although we're undecided as to how useful this feature really is. However, the onboard controls are definitely welcome for those occasions when the remote goes walkies.
With the bass heavy loops of Four Tet's Everything Ecstatic playing, we found the sound quality to be pretty much on a par with the equivalently priced Soundbridge. Using the internet radio is simple too, and just like the Philips SLA5520i everything is neatly categorised and easy to browse through - and this time you don't need to subscribe via email.
The Noxon 2 competently does everything asked of it, but iffy design combined with an asking price that's the same as the superior Soundbridge M1001, means you might want to look elsewhere first.
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Plus points
Solid all round performance, good connection options
Minus points
Peculiar design, average screen
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Any of these streamers would make a fine purchase, as they all offer good functionality at a relatively low cost. The Noxon 2 is a solid, if unspectacular performer, whereas the Philips cuts a few corners but offers outstanding value.
Robert Oakes
