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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 20, 2020 3:03:05 GMT -5
I want music in my new home office. Something that streams is fine, it’ll be background noise.
I have a Logitech Squeezebox that was Linda’s, but when I plug it in after sitting for 5+ years it won’t boot up. From reading on the web apparently these commonly had bad wall power supplies, so for $15 I have a returnable replacement wall wart coming from Amazon.
If that doesn’t work I’ll be shopping for a replacement. Does anyone have recommendations for a decent but inexpensive desk radio for web streaming?
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MJB
Wholenote
Who's we sucka? Smith, Wesson and me.
Posts: 634
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Post by MJB on Nov 20, 2020 5:01:11 GMT -5
We use amazon echo dot. Mainly stream amazon music or pandora. If you have SiriusXM you can stream that too. I'm sure they'll be dirt cheap for black Friday / Cyber Monday etc.
Added benefit is the other "Alexa" stuff like local weather on demand.
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Post by fkaJimmySee on Nov 20, 2020 7:20:47 GMT -5
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 20, 2020 11:06:45 GMT -5
We use amazon echo dot. Mainly stream amazon music or pandora. If you have SiriusXM you can stream that too. I'm sure they'll be dirt cheap for black Friday / Cyber Monday etc. Added benefit is the other "Alexa" stuff like local weather on demand. I would only be streaming internet stations, not paid services or my own music library - truly like a radio. Would a Echo Dot allow that? We also have other Alexa devices in the house, would they “fight” each other? |
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 20, 2020 11:08:07 GMT -5
Another table radio like the Squeezebox is what I would prefer, a simple standalone device with knobs and stuff. The Grace Mondo Elite is what I had in mind, even if I wouldn’t use the Sirius capability. |
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 20, 2020 11:10:34 GMT -5
I cancelled the power adapter order, I found the box with my VOM this morning and the Squeezebox’s power adapter is pumping out 18v as per spec. I’ll keep playing with various reset methods I found on the web, but I think it may be DOA. They apparently have issues with the coaxial power jack, I may try cracking the case to see if that’s the issue. I’d like to try and save it, as much for sentimental as practical reasons.
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Post by LTB on Nov 20, 2020 11:37:51 GMT -5
I’d like to try and save it, as much for sentimental as practical reasons. I can see that for sentimental reasons. Good luck to you. Hope you find and easily fixable solution. |
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Post by tahitijack on Nov 20, 2020 11:47:47 GMT -5
I have a couple of Amazon echo dots. I think the are regular price at $25 each. The sound quality is pretty amazing. They play everything from subscription services like SiriusXM, Apple and Amazon music to free streaming like Pandora and TuneIn. I even play my iTunes playlists on them. I didn't think I'd like the echo dot, got the first one as a gift, but after a year I use them everyday. Want it loud...just say Alexa turn it up. Want to know the time or weather, just ask. Fully recommended.
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GmanNJ
Wholenote
somewhere deep in the swamps of Joisey
Posts: 315
Formerly Known As: Your Friendly Neighborhood Gman
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Post by GmanNJ on Nov 20, 2020 14:10:03 GMT -5
if its a home office why dont you just use your PC?
I use USB powered speakers on mine and can blast crystal clear music at my desk.
Plenty of free internet stations on web sites, Pandora is free, Spotify is free and if you have Prime then Amazon Music is free for the 2 million titles they give you for free with Prime. Not to mention going down the YouTube rabbit hole for hours
To me that sounds like the easiest solution. You can use the PC/MAC speakers or external ones. I even have a sub woofer on one of my PCs
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MJB
Wholenote
Who's we sucka? Smith, Wesson and me.
Posts: 634
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Post by MJB on Nov 20, 2020 14:12:00 GMT -5
We use amazon echo dot. Mainly stream amazon music or pandora. If you have SiriusXM you can stream that too. I'm sure they'll be dirt cheap for black Friday / Cyber Monday etc. Added benefit is the other "Alexa" stuff like local weather on demand. I would only be streaming internet stations, not paid services or my own music library - truly like a radio. Would a Echo Dot allow that? We also have other Alexa devices in the house, would they “fight” each other? We have multiple Alexa devices and we give them different names. Alexa, Echo and Amazon. I know we can stream at least some of the local FM broadcast stations. |
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Post by Mfitz804 on Nov 20, 2020 14:31:38 GMT -5
Last year’s Echo Dot, which is perfectly good for what you need, is on sale for $29.99 right now, but out of stock.
Current model is $49.99, and $20 off if you buy two. Give the second one as a gift, and everyone wins.
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Post by Ricketi on Nov 20, 2020 14:49:53 GMT -5
We have Echo Dot and Echo Show 10. The Dot is in a bedroom and the Show is in the kitchen . The Show has a pretty good sound with a decent bass to it. We listen to Sirius xm on it. The Dot has a smaller speaker so a smaller sound.
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Post by Mfitz804 on Nov 20, 2020 14:52:31 GMT -5
I use a standard Echo, both at home and in the office, and I can’t imagine needing any clearer or louder sound. Plus you can just ask it to play what you want and it does.
It does look like this year’s Dot has increased in size, but I haven’t checked the specs to see if that includes a larger speaker.
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Post by Ricketi on Nov 20, 2020 16:47:50 GMT -5
I Just looked it up, 2nd gen 1.1" speaker, 3rd gen 1.6" speaker. Its suppose to have better sound.
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Post by fkaJimmySee on Nov 20, 2020 18:54:11 GMT -5
I listen to a lot of Internet radio in the office -- faves are Classic FM from London, and Radio Caroline Flashback.
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Post by Mfitz804 on Nov 20, 2020 19:54:36 GMT -5
I Just looked it up, 2nd gen 1.1" speaker, 3rd gen 1.6" speaker. Its suppose to have better sound. Current one is the 4th Gen, it does have a 1.6” speaker. |
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Post by Ricketi on Nov 20, 2020 19:58:19 GMT -5
Awe yes I see that now, I'm way behind. Lol
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Post by rkstrat on Nov 20, 2020 20:50:16 GMT -5
Maybe I’m missing something.
I use my phone to stream radio to a
Bluetooth speaker.
I can also stream from my phone to my
high power sound system with Bluetooth.
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Post by Mfitz804 on Nov 20, 2020 21:02:06 GMT -5
Maybe I’m missing something. I use my phone to stream radio to a Bluetooth speaker. I can also stream from my phone to my high power sound system with Bluetooth. Yeah, that works too. My daughter uses this Bose speaker, which really has great sound being as small as it is. Bose SoundLink |
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Post by tahitijack on Nov 20, 2020 22:46:38 GMT -5
Tip for Echo Dot... if you want more bass place it in a corner.
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Ragic
Wholenote
Posts: 170
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Post by Ragic on Nov 20, 2020 23:56:22 GMT -5
I have a Grace Digital Encore. I really like it a lot. Sounds good as is but if I want it louder, I have it bluetoothed to my home stereo.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 21, 2020 6:53:13 GMT -5
I do have a Dot here right now, all I use it for is the security cameras. After I move, it will be surplus. I still would like to get the Squeezebox running again, but maybe the Dot can be my plan B. if its a home office why dont you just use your PC? I use USB powered speakers on mine and can blast crystal clear music at my desk. Plenty of free internet stations on web sites, Pandora is free, Spotify is free and if you have Prime then Amazon Music is free for the 2 million titles they give you for free with Prime. Not to mention going down the YouTube rabbit hole for hours To me that sounds like the easiest solution. You can use the PC/MAC speakers or external ones. I even have a sub woofer on one of my PCs Problem is that, by work policy, when I’m logged in all internet traffic is routed through the VPN and work servers. Streaming isn’t allowed, and even if it were it would probably be laggy. I’ll check that model out. Thank you! (Trying home made multiquote here...) |
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 21, 2020 6:58:45 GMT -5
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jellybones
Wholenote
Posts: 181
Formerly Known As: Gelee Bon (en francais)
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Post by jellybones on Nov 21, 2020 8:25:25 GMT -5
I feel like I’m just scratching the surface with what Alexa can do. I can say “Hey Alexa, play WXRT or play KCRW or WGN” and just like that I’ll be listening to radio. Or I can say “Play Electric Light Orchestra” and I can listen to ELO for a while. Go goes on and on from there.
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Post by Mfitz804 on Nov 21, 2020 9:10:19 GMT -5
Holiday Sale Alert!!
Current Echo Dot is now on sale for $28.99 from $49.99 for a limited time.
The catch? Alexa has to order it for you. So you have to be a current Echo user or know someone who is.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 22, 2020 12:51:25 GMT -5
Maybe I’m missing something. I use my phone to stream radio to a Bluetooth speaker. I can also stream from my phone to my high power sound system with Bluetooth. I missed this before. I dislike doing this, to me a dedicated appliance is much preferable - you know, one with knows and stuff. An Alexa is probably tolerable, since it would be seamless and could stay logged into the WiFi for immediate use with no fiddlefart setup each time. I do use a BT speaker when traveling. |
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Post by Mfitz804 on Nov 22, 2020 14:51:03 GMT -5
The Bose speaker connects every time its power is turned on. No fiddlefarting required.
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Post by Ricketi on Nov 22, 2020 14:57:22 GMT -5
+1 on the Bose. We use one in our travel trailer. Great sound and hooks up effortlessly. Like Fitz said no fiddlefarting required. No issues what so ever.
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michael
Wholenote
Recent Retiree
Posts: 620
Age: old enough to know better and not care
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Post by michael on Nov 22, 2020 18:21:28 GMT -5
i've had a few different internet radios but i think grace is best. there is an application for phones that gives remote control through your wifi. i think it's easier to search and add stations to the presets and enables the use of the memory easier (in my opinion).
i have added external speakers to each...
i can access the same stations from my laptop if i want and a lot of stations show a play list... the radios themselves show the name of the tune playing and artist.
i don't know if there's a regular radio in the house now or not....
if you get one, a station i like in particular is 181.FM: classical guitar... it does have a commercial occasionally. the station also has a website...
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Post by Mfitz804 on Nov 22, 2020 18:31:41 GMT -5
+1 on the Bose. We use one in our travel trailer. Great sound and hooks up effortlessly. Like Fitz said no fiddlefarting required. No issues what so ever. Just have to keep it charged, which is where my 13 year old often runs into difficulty. |
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