Re: [SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
For the purchased-used Boom, I have the power cord in a small coil and the Boom placed on top of it. That, together with a request to my wife to not move or bump it, seems to work for now. I will see if using a small bit of masking tape connecting the cord to the back of the device will keep it from moving and maintain a stable connection. When the power remains on, the Boom works fine. I just checked - I do have a Netgear AX1800 router at this location, a second home in Southern Cal. I will get a radio and if I find trouble with the Wifi connection, the good advice y'all have provided will allow me to resolve it with an Iogear device. I have an Iogear device here in use for a Verizon minitower (not an amplifier) that has only ethernet capability that I wanted to locate away from the router location. It works fine with this router. I don't think losing battery functionality would be an issue Downloading and installing supplemental software is beyond my ability or interest. PNelson, I'll try to remember to refer back to this thread should I take a Boom out of service. Thanks again. My education and occupational pursuits were not directly in the tech field. I felt it was a big accomplishment overcoming the learning curve 15+ years ago and getting comfortable with setting up and using an SB environment in my house. It was a big deal for me, because it's something less than user friendly for a duffer. This forum and its participants have never failed to provide knowledgeable help and I again thank you all for taking the time to share your expertise. Goodsounds's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14201 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
Re: [SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
I suffer from the Wifi 6 (AX) problem and Jim (Redrum) summarizes the wifi interference problem accurately for the SB radio. Installing Wlanpoke on the radio will help with the interference but may not eliminate it. If the problem is due to a neighbor, bypassing the internal wifi in the radio using ethernet is the only 100% solution. (That is ignoring changing your neighbor's wifi as a solution.) If you don't want the Boom, I am in SoCal and would be willing to pay the shipping, so it does not get tossed. Paul P Nelson's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=58158 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
Re: [SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
Goodsounds wrote: > Thank you both for the responses. From your experiences I think I'll get > one. Replacing/repairing/etc. is well beyond my abilities or interest - > either something works adequately and I can use it, or if it no longer > does, it gets tossed. > > Just one question, Jim mentions a Wifi issue. Can you give me a bit more > info about the Wifi problem please? > > The Wifi feature died on my Boom a good number of years ago - I bought > an Iogear ethernet to wifi adaptor and it's been working well. I presume > I could configure a Radio for ethernet and then similarly use an Iogear > device if I have a problem? > > Thanks again. If you connect the Radio via ethernet, then the WIFI issues you've read about are not relevant. Redrum provided a good summary of the Radio WIFI issue. I don't have this problem either. At one location I use RADIO with ethernet. At my other location, I use Radio with WIFI, but so far have no neighbors with new routers that *may* cause the problems. *Home:* Pi4B-8GB/pCP8.2.x/4TB>LMS 8.3.x>Transporter, Touch, Boom, Radio (all ethernet) *Cottage:* rPi4B-4GB/pCP8.2.x/4TB>LMS 8.3.x>Touch>Benchmark DAC I, Boom, Radio w/Battery (Radio WIFI) *Office:* Win11(64)>foobar2000 *The Wild: *rPi3B+/pCP7.x/4TB>LMS 8.1.x>hifiberry Dac+Pro (LMS & Squeezelite) *Controllers:* iPhone14Pro & iPadAir5 (iPeng), CONTROLLER, Material Skin, or SqueezePlay 7.8 on Win10(64) *Files:* -Ripping-: dBpoweramp > FLAC; -Post-rip-: mp3tag, PerfectTunes, TuneFusion; -Streaming:- Spotify garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
Re: [SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
Goodsounds wrote: > either something works adequately and I can use it, or if it no longer > does, it gets tossed. > One last thing, don't toss these, they don't make them anymore! :) Down the road, if you posted here offering a sb device, say for the cost of shipping, someone would grab them up. JoeMuc2009 in Germany fixes booms for others, so a "for parts" would always be welcome. A lot of the rest of us like to tinker as well. Jim Redrum's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=33806 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
Re: [SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
Goodsounds wrote: > Thank you both for the responses. From your experiences I think I'll get > one. Replacing/repairing/etc. is well beyond my abilities or interest - > either something works adequately and I can use it, or if it no longer > does, it gets tossed. > > Just one question, Jim mentions a Wifi issue. Can you give me a bit more > info about the Wifi problem please? > > The Wifi feature died on my Boom a good number of years ago - I bought > an Iogear ethernet to wifi adaptor and it's been working well. I presume > I could configure a Radio for ethernet and then similarly use an Iogear > device if I have a problem? > > Thanks again. Within the last couple years a number of members experienced radios disconnecting from wifi. It has been theorized (probably true) that this is due to the introduction of wifi 6 routers (802.11ax), either the user's router or a neighbor's. I have not experienced the problems because I have older routers (ac), and live in a very rural area. Here is the thread that I remember as being one of the firsts (alot of posts!), but there are others: https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?109953-WiFi-connection-unstable-lost-on-three-Radios The source of the problem seems to be the wifi SOC/board/etc that was used on the radio, but not on the touch, boom, etc. Again, "seems" as there is alot of (well educated) supposition involved. There are a number of "fixes" that work for many, but no definitive patch/repair/etc. Wlanpoke, wifi dongle, range extender, etc. Each "fix" seems to have it's compromise. For example the vonet wifi dongle plugs into the ethernet port of the radio, and the wifi of the dongle is used (not susceptible to wifi6). The downside is it's not a solution for use on battery. Your iogear solution for the boom is similar, and I would guess (not know) that if it works for the boom it would work for the radio, as it's the radio's internal wifi that is suspected. Here is the thread for trying wlanpoke, along with disconnection discussions: https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?114775-Simplified-instructions-for-Squeezebox-Radio-Wi-Fi-fix-(wlanpoke) So, you could start by checking your router to see it its an, ac, or ax. But the neighbors could always come into play if they are close. But of course, I have to mention again, you might not have any problems (like me and others). I would hate for this to deter you from trying a radio Jim Redrum's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=33806 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
Re: [SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
Thank you both for the responses. From your experiences I think I'll get one. Replacing/repairing/etc. is well beyond my abilities or interest - either something works adequately and I can use it, or if it no longer does, it gets tossed. Just one question, Jim mentions a Wifi issue. Can you give me a bit more info about the Wifi problem please? The Wifi feature died on my Boom a good number of years ago - I bought an Iogear ethernet to wifi adaptor and it's been working well. I presume I could configure a Radio for ethernet and then similarly use an Iogear device if I have a problem? Thanks again. Goodsounds's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14201 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
Re: [SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
I agree with the boom sound quality over the radio. I had never had a desire or a need for a radio...until I bought one. Then I bought more. I bought them for others. I love my radios. As you mention they are cheap (here in US $50 for a $300MSRP product). I find it well engineered and a great sound for a little box. Then add the portability with a $20 battery, with battery life lasting 6+ hours. The portability is huge. Use them when working outside, and when you move to another area, just take it with you. They are great for casual listening - I will be working outside, or in a certain room, and the sound is just fine for non critical listening. Of course the boom is "fuller" The radio is mixed stereo, but you can get 2 :) and use them as L and R. Regarding the boom power jack/plug, I have experienced this as well, but often it can be fixed with a little deoxit or similar - spray, insert, twist, pull out, repeat, maybe a q-tip. A couple of other advantages/disadvantages (while I am at it) - The boom display starts to fail, but they can be replaced. The boom has more areas (like faceplate) that gets sticky, where the radio it's typically the knobs and buttons The radio has the wifi6 issue. I have setup a couple non technical friends with a radio, headphone out to RCA input into their stereo, radio on fixed volume. It's not audiophile, but sounds good. I find the UI of the radio (color screen with buttons and knobs) to be very non squeezebox people friendly. You can get radios in 3 colorscollect them all!...I have :) Happy New Year Jim Redrum's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=33806 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
Re: [SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
The Boom has a better sound than the Radio. But I have both and use them both and find the Radio just fine for casual listening (on the deck, etc.). p.s. the loose power connector problem happens with both my Booms. I'm OK unless I happen to accidentally move the Boom, even slightly. *Home:* Pi4B-8GB/pCP8.2.x/4TB>LMS 8.3.x>Transporter, Touch, Boom, Radio (all ethernet) *Cottage:* rPi4B-4GB/pCP8.2.x/4TB>LMS 8.3.x>Touch>Benchmark DAC I, Boom, Radio w/Battery (Radio WIFI) *Office:* Win11(64)>foobar2000 *The Wild: *rPi3B+/pCP7.x/4TB>LMS 8.1.x>hifiberry Dac+Pro (LMS & Squeezelite) *Controllers:* iPhone14Pro & iPadAir5 (iPeng), CONTROLLER, Material Skin, or SqueezePlay 7.8 on Win10(64) *Files:* -Ripping-: dBpoweramp > FLAC; -Post-rip-: mp3tag, PerfectTunes, TuneFusion; -Streaming:- Spotify garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
[SlimDevices: Radio] Sound and performance quality of SB Radio compared to SB Boom
I'm a longtime owner of SB devices. I bought a used Boom on Ebay for a bedroom in a second home. The power socket seems to be loose and the slightest movement of the unit breaks the power connection and it turns off. I will try to tape the cord in place to make it more physically stable. I'm thinking about getting another SB device to be a spare for a backup, I see that used SB Radios are more available and less expensive than Booms. I presume the SB Radios have mono sound (one speaker?) but how otherwise does the sound quality compare? The SB device in this location is only for casual and occasional music use (not at high volume) and as an SB alarm. Do those of you who have an SB Radio think it would be suitable in a bedroom and would I find the use and listening experiences reasonably comparable to a Boom? In addition to Touches and even SB3s that I've had connected to better sound systems over the years, I've had a Boom in the kitchen of my primary home for >10 years and I'm quite familiar with them. I never did buy a Radio when they were being produced. Thanks. Goodsounds's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14201 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=117319 ___ Radio mailing list Radio@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/radio
