Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Quite a few devices are now competing in the market segment originally created by the TurtleBeach Audiotron: Netgear MP 101, Linksys WMLS11B, Homepod, Sound Blaster Wireless Audio, SLiMP3 and its successor the Squeezebox...
There are also many other displayless devices which either rely on a TV set for their user interface (Happauge MVP, Roku HD1000...) or use a computer to relay the audio to them (Apple Airport Express).
What makes the SoundBridge stand out from the crowd?
- Looks
Its gorgeous bright green fluorescent display. Similar to the one used by the Squeezebox, it puts to shame the inexpensive LCD screens used by Netgear, Linksys and Homepod and makes using the SoundBridge with the remote easy and convenient.
Its look and finish is also quite unique and beautiful; it won't look out of place next to high end audio components.
- Ease of setup
The LAN configuration is extremely easy; the SoundBridge comes with both wired LAN and 802.11b. Note that so far the only supported security protocol over WiFi is 40 or 128 bit WEP. If you require a more recent security protocol check the Roku web site to see if and when they plan on supporting it, or use the wired LAN interface. WiFi functionality is brought through a standard Compact Flash interface, and Roku sells a slightly cheaper version of the box without the card bundled.
What I really liked with the SoundBridge is that unlike most of its competitors it does not require you to install any server software on your computer, and force you to manage your music collection on it. Rather, it supports the most common protocols (iTunes music sharing, UPnP, SlimServer 5.x) and as long as your music collection is shared through one of these protocols it will find it automatically and make it available.
Firmware updates can be downloaded and installed directly from the device itself. The latest firmware supports connecting directly to MP3 internet radio (this feature previously required streaming through a local computer)
Most audio file formats are supported; notably absent for now are protected AAC (music you buy from the iTunes Music Store), ALE (Apple Lossless Encoding) and its Windows equivalent. Protected WMA is supported. This is the biggest limitation I found; if your music collection contains lots of music you bought from the Apple store, or if you have encoded all your CDs using ALE, the SoundBridge may not be for you until Roku can add support for these formats.
- Ease of use
The SoundBridge's user interface is extremely well thought out. The menus are clear and very easy to navigate.
Connecting to various music servers on the LAN is a breeze; if several family members have their own music collection, for instance, it is very easy to switch from one to another.
Finally, unlike many competing products the user interface is very fast and responsive.
- Sound quality
The SoundBridge offers analog stereo RCA jacks, coax and optical digital output. I didn't make any measurements but the analog output sounded excellent on my main stereo system.
Even on my busy wireless network, I have yet to experience any audio break-ups, a problem that seems to plague the competition (check their reviews).
The SoundBridge M1000 is by far the best music player available today, only surpassed by its big brother the M2000, which is essentially the same device in a larger box with a display 4 times the size at double the price.
Its closest competitor is the SlimDevices SqueezeBox, but its interface is not as slick and it requires that you install its (open source) server on your computer. The other devices don't even begin to compare.
After trying many other network players and returning them back to the store, I am absolutely thrilled to have found the SoundBridge. This one is a keeper!
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Product Description:
PRODUCT FEATURES:Built-in support for popular music player software - no additional software required;Compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networks as well as wired Ethernet;Digital optical, digital coax, and analog outputs connect directly to your stereo;Plays all your stored playlists, including iTunes Smart Playlists;Search for Song Title, Artist, Album, Composer and Keyword;Browse by Song Title, Artist, Album, Composer and Genre;Quickly browse huge music collections with patent-pending feature, Fast Browse;Create an "ad hoc" playlist to suit your mood;Shuffle and Repeat play;Up to 4 dynamic music visualizers to choose from;Small enough to place anywhere - on a shelf, bedside table, etc.
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