Digital Trends

Logitech Squeezebox Boom

September 25th, 2008 | by Ian Bell

Performance and Testing

Installing the Squeezebox Boom can be either very simple, or more complicated, depending on what you would like the player to do. First, register the Boom with your Wi-Fi network. Type in the SSID (or the name of your network) and the WEP/WPA code to access the network. If you just want to play music from the radio, skip the software installation and go straight to the SqueezeNetwork Web site. Register your player, and you are good to go. If you want to add your own radio stations, play music from your PC, or tweak the player settings, then you will need to install the SqueezeCenter software. In either case, it’s easy to do and gives you massive control over your new Boom. 

SqueezeCenter Screenshot

We had very few problems in regard to Wi-Fi reception, and were able to take it over 100 feet away and through multiple rooms without a hiccup.

Sound quality is the best we have heard from an Internet radio player, or any other system of this size. Bass is deep considering the size of the drivers, while mid-range is warm and the tweeters are not overly bright. We experienced little-to-no distortion at high volumes either, which is surprising for a system this small.

Obviously this is not a monstrous system, so if you want something with a little more meat, we recommend going with the Sonos system or SqueezeBox Duet, and just adding those to your existing sound system.

Conclusion

The Logitech Squeezebox Boom is, to date, the best sounding media streaming system we have tested; you can tell that a lot of time and money was put into the design of this system. A few small tweaks would make this the end-all of portable radio players. An iPod dock feature is certain to make a number of people happy, and an integrated FM radio tuner seems like no-brainer. We might even recommend adding a little flair in the way of aluminum trim to help make the player look a little more upscale to match its amazing sound. In either case, if you are looking for a radio for the kitchen or bedroom the Logitech Squeezebox Boom is clearly what you are looking for.

Pros: 

• Wonderful sounding
• Easy to setup and use
• Very customizable
• Great build quality

Cons: 

• Cannot play DRM music purchased from iTunes, Zune Store, etc.
• Lacks an FM tuner
• No iPod integration
• Expensive