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| Date Reviewed: 12/18/2005 |
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Strengths: Easy to set up and operate. Sound quality and performance are very good--with the proper system supports.
Weaknesses: If using on a wireless network, it requires adequate bandwidth. There are limitations not mentioned in the marketing materials but which can be found, if you dig hard enough, on the Roku Web site.
Summary: Now that I have the right network equipment, I enjoy my SoundBridge a lot. I can't tell the difference between playing music through the SoundBridge or through my CD player. With the Rhapsody service, it's like having a juke box full of thousands of albums. However, to get that performance I had to purchase a new "g" series wireless router. I had terrible problems with rebuffering using the "b" rounter I had before. Before purchasing, be sure to check out the Support tips and user forums on the Roku Web site. It also took some e-mail exchanges to get it working properly with my Rhapsody service. Since they market it for Rhapsody, they should have this information more accessible. The instruction manual that comes with the player is not very helpful.
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| Date Reviewed: 10/29/2005 |
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Strengths: Cool design, comes with a wi-fi card and easy to install. It's compatible with most wma files purchased from online music store and works seamlessly with my computer.
Weaknesses: The screan is still alittle bit small and couldn't show more information about the songs.
Summary: Overall, Roku SoundBridge M500 Network Music Player have a sleek design and is highly compatible with both Windows and Mac system, delivers very good performance by wi-fi technology, easy for you to enjoy your music in the computer even in the different room. It's really a cool gadget I don't wanna miss.
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| Date Reviewed: 11/29/2005 |
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Strengths: Compact, excellent design, a great solution for easily playing all your digital music over your primary home entertainment system. Easy to upgrade the software.
Weaknesses: None too significant. The relatively small unit gets very warm to the touch after a while, but I assume it is designed to adequately dissipate the heat.
Summary: I bought this to replace a 25 disc CD changer that died after 10 years. Not only was it much more economical than a replacement large capacity CD changer/player, but much easier to use, much greater functionality, and a fraction of the size. It is the only electronic product I have bought for years that I know how to use and actually do use all the functions.
All our CD music is now readily accessible and easily playable in infinite combinations over the primary home entertainment system without ever touching a disc. I am amazed that people still load and eject discs in and out of CD players, and that there is still a market for them. The internet radio capability was a greater benefit and we use it more than anticipated (latest software stores 15 favorites stations, and intenet radio plays when the computer is off).
The display of the M500 is more than adequate (unless you sit and watch song data continuously while listening to music). Only an idiot or someone with money to burn would pay signficantly more for the more expensive Roku models that are larger with a larger display, but otherwise have the exact same functionality and sound quality.
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| Date Reviewed: 09/16/2005 |
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Strengths: Wired or wireless connectivity, with built-in ethernet port and supplied wireless card. Adaptable to different server software. Internet radio can play without any server running. Modest pricing.
Weaknesses: Does not yet support WPA wireless encryprion. Display is not as nice as the one found in the M1000. No supplied server software (though easily found online).
Summary: This is a very nice unit for the basic purpose of streaming music. It supports several different formats and is fairly flexible in most regards. There seems to be an online community and the developers of the Roku do seem interested in hearing from owners/users about the unit. I'm very pleased with my Roku Soundbridge M500!
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| Date Reviewed: 10/25/2005 |
- deshwasi
from PA
- Member Since:
Apr 2004
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Reviews
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Strengths: NA
Weaknesses: NA
Summary: Awesome music player to play all music from computer anywhere in the house via wireless network connectivity. It has a very small footprint and has excellent audio quality. display is bright albeit only 2-3 lines. But the player has great features and is highly recommended for music lovers.
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| Date Reviewed: 10/01/2005 |
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Strengths: Great wifi capable Music streaming player
Weaknesses: Supports only 802.1b
Summary: I got this player for less than $50 dollars. It is a great Mp3 wireless streaming player. It was very easy to setup and configure. This player is great overall and I have no conplains yet.
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| Date Reviewed: 09/11/2005 |
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 It is good, but not great. Strengths: easy to use, and useful
Weaknesses: only support audio, no video support.
Summary: It is easy to use, but you should download "windows media connect" from microsoft
Can listen to the internet radio without turning the computer on, then I have the oppotunity to listen to chinese radio in US.
If it supports video, then you can watch DVD on TV. But unfortunately It can not.
If it can receive every voice from pc, that will be great.
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| Date Reviewed: 04/30/2006 |
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Strengths: - Looks great w/ Home theatre set up
- Works seamlessly w/ iTunes
- Excellent support from Roku
- Optical Audio output
Weaknesses: - Pricey
- No sleep timer
Summary: Though little pricey, absolutely love my Roku M500. Works great with Itunes and easy to configure. The display is not as good as the M1000...but still pretty good. Ergonomic remote has very good range.
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| Date Reviewed: 12/28/2005 |
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Strengths: Really easy setup.
Attractive/copmact size.
Weaknesses: Requires additional software
Summary: This is my second Roku and I am using it wired rather than wireless. Also using Slimserver to serve music rather than iTunes. These are probably the smallest devices of this type . Sound is great going to my Yamaha Home Theater receiver.
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| Date Reviewed: 12/19/2005 |
- anchoi123
from KY
- Member Since:
Apr 2004
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Reviews
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Strengths: comes with the Wi-Fi card
Weaknesses: NA
Summary: It comes with the Wi-Fi card and that's a plus. The instructions were simple. It connected to my wireless router easily and everything worked without a problem, fast streaming too
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| Date Reviewed: 10/09/2005 |
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Strengths: Easy to setup, compact, and looks good.
Weaknesses: No WPA and limited internet radio formats.
Summary: The Roku 500 is very easy to setup and upgrade the firmware. I use it mostly to listen to internet radio stations and it's nice not to have to turn on the computer for that. According the Roku's website "Currently, SoundBridge supports MP3 streams, which usually end in (.M3U) or (.PLS)." I hope they come out with updates to support additional formats.
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| Date Reviewed: 10/09/2005 |
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Strengths: Very easy to configure, small, portable, looks good.
Weaknesses: Wireless doesn't support WPA
Summary: It is very cool device. I also purchased a pinnacle 1000g which doesn't support WPA so the workaround I used which was a wpa bridge also worked for this device. It would have been nice if there was speakers with this device even if it's not going to be the best quality for complete portability.
I'm using a nslu2 that is running mt-daapd which the roku detected with no interaction on my part and it's working nicely.
I really don't think it's going to be worth more than 100 dollars since there's no wpa support but that's just my opinion. Really happy so far.
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| Date Reviewed: 09/26/2005 |
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Strengths: Very intuitive to set up and use, WiFi flexibility
Weaknesses: 802.11b connectivity
Summary: Picked up one of these on a lark when they were being clearanced at a local store. Turns out that this is a very special and fun to use piece of equipment. I spent the first few days simply listening to internet radio directly thru the SoundBridge (without my PC turned on). While this alone is probably worth the price of admission, the M500's strong suit is serving up your music connection to your home stereo or other remote listening site.
The only drawback to the music server function is that your PC must remain on to allow access to your tunes. I'm currently setting up a remote server using the Linksys NSLU2 and some user-modified firmware to serve up my music remotely (i.e. no PC required).
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| Date Reviewed: 09/20/2005 |
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Strengths: Easy to set-up, easy to use.
Wireless network.
Weaknesses: none
Summary: Great product. I have been using it for more than 2 weeks now. I love it. It is great way to play the mp3 files on my computer without the messy wires. Two thumbs UP for this thing.
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| Date Reviewed: 09/18/2005 |
- sabor
from NV
- Member Since:
Feb 2005
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Reviews
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Strengths: Look, quality, easy to install, both wired and wireless
Weaknesses: no WPA
Summary: The main advantage of this unit to its competetors is the Look. It looks nothing like a network unit like others. With stand alone display there is no need to always turn on the TV to operate system ( in fact there is no TV out).
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