Squeezebox Players

[hificat101]

I have a friend that has a restaurant, and I am thinking of recommending a Squeezebox to him to connect to the stereo at his club. My one concern is the internal speaker. Is it possible to turn it off, or does it turn off when there is something connected to the headphone jack? It seems like its a dealbreaker if the internal speaker can't be disabled. 

Thanks for your assistance. 

[squeezeit · Accepted solution]

Yes, the headphone jack can be used without the speaker playing.  But I'd suggest for such use (bar/club) that he use the SqueezeBox Touch vs the players with speakers like the Radio or Boom.

[hificat101]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking about the Squeezebox Radio instead of the touch because we can get the cool looking red one for about $140, while the Touch goes for $249. I'm thinking the Touch probably has actual line level outs that would be nice, but to save over a hundred bucks on budget I'm leaning toward the red Radio, as long as the function is still the same. 

[garymc]

as you note, the RADIO does not have line level out (and the Touch does).  If one is going to feed anything other than actual headphones (i.e., speakers in a club!!), the RADIO is likely a bad idea.

[hificat101]

Thanks for the heads up Gary. Depending on where the Squeezebox winds up being placed (behind the bar, or with the electronics) it may need to be connected via a 50 ft cable. Because I've read a couple reviews alluding that the headphone amp in the unit isn't very strong, I am planning on purchasing a a headphone amp to drive it. ART makes a nice 4 channel unit that would work nicely. It's small, attractive, AC powered (rather than battery powered) has both 1/4" and 1/8" ins and outs. I have to say I'm still really liking the red radio, just because it's would look so nice in the bar area as it has orange walls, but I will definately offer the Touch as an option. With the $50 headphone amp the price difference is down to $80. 

[garymc]

well, it's your money and you can do as you like of course, but in my opinion it would be a BIG mistake to drive your bar system with a radio and headphone amp. A very BIG mistake.  The TOUCH as a source can compete with a $10,000 CD player. The RADIO with headphone out.....well you know my opinion on that. 

And why do you need the 50 ft cable?  The Touch (or the radio) can connect via WIFI back to your Router.   Where are you going to store your music? (i.e., computer that is running logitech media server).   Or are you going to use only mysqueezebox.com and something like Pandora, spotify, MOG, etc.?

anyhow, good luck with getting something set up!

[garymc]

p.s. I have a RED radio too. It is a nice looking little unit and works well (for its intended use!)

[hificat101]

Hi Gary. The 50 ft cable is to get audio back to the receiver. If we go this way, I may do it over wifi, but more likely would run Cat 6 to it. The router we have has a hard limit on the number of  wireless connections it can have at once, so I'd like to keep them open for customers. But I will follow your advice and recommend the owner goes with the Touch if we go with a Squeezebox. 

I spoke with him today, and this is a little off topic, but they are kind of leaning toward a Sirus unit. It seems they had issues with ASCAP coming around before, and if you have a paid, commercial Sirius acct (about 28 bucks a month), they can't lean on you for cash. I'm just about to look into if Rhapsody has anything commercial to offer us, that we could stream by genre for a monthly fee through the Squeezebox. I'd really like that, as I have come to believe the Squeezebox hardware is better than what Sirus can offer. That and I don't have to install a Sirius antena. The new restaurant is in a small regional airport, so I'd like to stay away from antennas as much as possible. 

Thanks for the assist. 

[garymc]

Yes, cat5e or 6 would be best to connect player back to router, particulary in the situation you describe.  And yes, ASCAP fees need to be paid when music is played in a commercial establishment (and they seem to be pretty good and finding you, even in very small commercial establishments).  Of course one can play sirriusXM on a squeezebox as well (with the internet "premium" siriusXM description). But I'm not sure if having the sirius commercial subscription both works on squeezebox AND solves (prepays) the ASCAP fees.

[hificat101]

Hi Gary,

I know it solves the ASCAP fees, and I'm pretty sure it would work on the Squeezebox. They have two different tiers of Sirius Business accts. The $30 a month tier, you get a docking radio and a more hearty antenna, then they have an internet based plan for $5 a month more. I bet the internet plan would work with the Squeezebox Sirius App, but that's something we'd have to ask. If not there is another service that has an app for Squeezebox called Radioio, that has a roalty paid commecial service for $35/month. 

Thanks for getting me thinking about this Gary. I should contact Sirius and Radioio today, and confirm their commercial accts will work with the respective apps. 

You help me much more with this job, and I'm gonna have to cut you in. )