Logitech Squeezebox Radio: Wi-Fi in full color

Logitech's Squeezebox Radio

Debuted in late 2009, Logitech’s Squeezebox Radio ($200 list price) packs a real visual punch, combining full-color LCD imagery (a 2.4” screen) with WiFi radio reception – we’re talking logos and type display for all stations it receives (100,000+ radio stations and shows); display album art, scrolling artist/track info; Flickr photo slideshows and very cool lists of any city’s stations across the planet. Of course, you can hardwire the unit to your internet connection as well. The mysqueezebox.com network is powered and organized by RadioTime’s search engine.

Each station list you call up from the menu includes the station’s logo as well (choose by genre as well as location via numerous narrow-down options). The RadioTime platform is just as easy and efficient to use as its functionality on the iPhone and Blackberry. The Squeezebox Radio also has six station button presets, along with your own favorites menu.

This receiver, which comes in black and red, is compact and doesn’t sound as great as its big cousin, the Squeezebox Boom (a two speaker boom box that just plain fills a room). However, it can easily send a line out to a big stereo system to be amplified. Don’t get us wrong, the single speaker does sound decent, but no bass/treble adjustments. User controls do allow for crossfade adjustments between songs and offers auto gain control so some songs don’t sound much louder than others. You can also download software to your PC to allow it to stream directly to the radio wirelessly. We like the completely independent volume knob.

More features: You can stream your MP3/iPod collection (line-in cord included), any digital music stored on your PC/laptop and music services like Rhapsody, Napster, Slacker, Sirius, Last.fm and Pandora. There is a next track FWD button, but no separate "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" buttons for Pandora -- however, you can use a drop-down menu option to approve or dump each song. The unit also adds Facebook integration--a first on Squeezebox products--so you can share your favorite tracks with friends. You can also use Flickr and Facebook photos as a screen saver. You can display your Facebook page right on the screen; and send music recommendations to Facebook friends at will. It also comes with an optional remote and battery pack (available this Summer) for portability.

Getting connected is about the easiest procedure out there – very user- friendly, especially on entering your WEP code.

It’s also an alarm clock with seven days of settings and auto-dimming display. Choose a different station and wake-up time for every day of the week.

You’ve heard the pro’s, now the cons: Under music genres, stations are not organized alphabetically (unlike the Reciva platform radios). It takes time to find a station you’re looking for in this menu option, but there is always the straight “search” option if you’re looking for something specific. The unit, like the Squeezebox Boom, glitches from time to time. Sometimes a factory reset option is necessary, sometimes just power on and off. However, 90% of the WiFi radios we’ve tested glitch from time to time, so this is fairly normal. There is a bit of a learning curve on setting your favorites in the favorites menu (a little different than the Boom model), but once that hurdle was passed, it was all cake from then on. A really nice unit overall that stands out from the crowd.

--Carl Marcucci