I think I might be throwing in the towel on Squeezebox

mdaudioguy

Sadly, all my Squeezebox devices seem to work well, but I'm just having too many issues with the Logitech Media Server (LMS) software. I can access my own digital library just fine, but I've been having more and more difficulty accessing the streaming services, which is what I use for most occasions. My "good listening" rig is usually the only place where I play my stored music. I wish there was something out there that was as affordable as Squeezebox, but it seems like I'm looking at ~$350 per zone for Sonos Connect. With 5 zones in place, that's gonna hurt... I'll probably eliminate one of my two outdoor zones, or combine them into a single zone, but that still has me well over a grand to switch.

jdjohn

Have you tried Roon instead of LMS with it? I haven't, but was reading about it last night. I think the third-party Spotty app would be off-the-table with Roon, but it seems like other streaming services would still work?

rooftop59

I use roon with two SB touches. Works fabulously! Power it up, select the computer that’s the server, done. Roon integrates tidal with your own library and has a lot of high Rez radio stations as well if you’re into that. I highly recommend a trial. It is $120 a year but that’s a lot cheaper than all new streaming devices as you noted.

Other option is google chromecast audio which are plentiful on eBay and can be linked together...

mdaudioguy

I'm a long time subscriber to Slacker Radio, now called LiveXLive (dumb name, but I like the service). Similar to Pandora or Spotify, but better, IMO. I'm not sure I'd want to switch to Tidal. Sonos supports Slacker/LiveXLive.

rooftop59

Yea, I wish roon supported more streaming services. But that’s a lot of coin on new devices to stick with that one little service! But in the flip side, the cost of roon plus tidal lossless is $360 a year which ain’t cheap...

mdaudioguy

I probably wouldn't do lossless. I'm more inclined to download hi-res or rip a CD if I want higher quality. I hate the idea of software that locks you into one service. Sonos and Heos both offer the flexibility of multiple services, although nothing is ever chiseled in stone. The Chromecast Audio device was cool (and ridiculously cheap), but I worry about future support for that, too.

rooftop59

CCA is $35 a pop more or less even now. I wouldn’t worry so much about future support for it given the investment but that’s just me...

mdaudioguy

rooftop59 wrote: »

CCA is $35 a pop more or less even now. I wouldn’t worry so much about future support for it given the investment but that’s just me...

Oh, I hear you. I need to read up on it. I got one for my daughter a couple of years ago and she loves it, but it's just one. I'm curious about how well they perform in sync.

BlueFox

At this point, all the streaming services are violating the K.I.S.S rule (Keep It Simple, Stupid) so there will be multiple problems for some time.

mdaudioguy

They all want to be number one. Can't they all just get along?

msg

What kind of trouble are you having with streaming services through your LMS and SBT setup? Is it just one service, or all?

I had a few hiccups for a while with two piCoreplayers, affecting playback with Spotty, but now since resolved. The system works reliably in my experience. Are all your devices and LMS software up to date? They have a great community keeping the platform alive. It's better than it ever was when it was just Logitech running it.

Let us know what's up, we might be able to help. I looked some time ago at replacement before I discovered LMS for centralization, local sync and control.

tonyb

5 zones ? Why so many ?

I use a speaker switch box with one sonos to control 3 different sets of speakers. One outside on the deck, outside under the deck on the patio, and inside in the dining area. The one sonos goes to a dac, then to an amp, then to the speaker switch box.

You can also pick them up used for about 200.

GTB

I use Tidal and Roon. Seems like Tidal is similar to many other streamers and each has strengths and weaknesses. Roon is worth investigating, its unique, flexible and expandable.

rooftop59

tonyb wrote: »

5 zones ? Why so many ?

I use a speaker switch box with one sonos to control 3 different sets of speakers. One outside on the deck, outside under the deck on the patio, and inside in the dining area. The one sonos goes to a dac, then to an amp, then to the speaker switch box.

You can also pick them up used for about 200.

My guess is that he can’t hard wire all the zones to one amp. I am fortunate like tony. I basically have four zones: living room and bedroom and both SBT and then the living room feeds a sonance multi room amp that feeds speakers on the patio and the formal living room. I have a one story with a big open attic so everything is hard wired either Ethernet or speaker cable, but lots of folks have homes where that is difficult to impossible...