SB2+ - £1000+


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Rating: 2.8/5 (81 votes cast)


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Review By:
Andrew Weekes

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SB2+

The SB+ existed long before the new Slimdevices Transporter.

It successfully filled a niche as the first true audiophile wireless player and its success is due to the work from Patrick et al at At-Tunes

The SB+ is a two-box solution, with a power supply unit (very heavy and solid feeling) coupled by a multi-cored cable, with some very high quality, multi-pole connectors, to the SB+ itself, which contains the audio circuitry

Is it also built into a custom case which looks the part (especially compared to the SB2 it is based on), the wood panelling is a matter of taste, but others are available

Overall, this player takes the excellent Squeezebox platform and transforms the sound quality into a true hifi component

  RatingNotes
Price 4.5star.gif It’s not cheap per se, but this has replaced a CD player costing several hundred pounds more than the SB+, and the SB+ resolutely outperformed it sonically, making it excellent value. I’ve demonstrated mine to others who have even more expensive players a
Sound Quality 5star.gif This is a very impressive player and not a second best option, it holds its own against some of the best CD players I’ve heard, beating my own Naim CD5 (which costs more) by a significant margin. The best recommendation I can give is I use it every day, a
Ease of Use 4star.gif No different in operation from the SB3. The slimserver software can be a bit ‘geeky; but once configured, can be made very easy and simple, or as complex as you like. The configurability (in the slimserver software) is both it’s piece de resistance and it
Compatibility 3.5star.gif Same as SB3 / transporter. Lots of choices for where to run slimserver and the good thing is great power isn’t required. I run mine on an old Dell P3, 600MHz and it’s as fast as it needs to be.
Looks 5star.gif This box is discrete and subtle, and very domestically acceptable.
Audio Formats 4.5star.gif As per SB3 / transporter. There’s very little it won’t play, I only use FLAC for my own material, in order to maximise the sonic performance, but the convenience of a world of internet radio, BBC stations, Listen Again and Podcasts means one never runs ou
Reliability 5star.gif No issues whatsoever after constant use.
Networking Support 5star.gif
  • 802.11b and 802.11g
  • WEP 128-bit and WPA
  • Ethernet Port
    • Overall 5star.gif This is now my primary source for music listening and the ease of use, great flexibility and superb sonic performance just allow you to get into the music. As mentioned this has replaced and expensive and well regarded CD player (a Naim CD5) and this does

    Advantages

    • Based on the excellent Squeezebox platform
    • Looks the part
    • Superb sound quality
    • High quality components

    Disadvantages

    • Expensive
    • Wood panels are an acquired taste
    • Competition from the new Transporter

    Supported hardware/software

    Top

    Compatibility

    Top
    Music Format (Info) Compatible
    WAV
    yes
    AIFF
    yes
    FLAC
    yes
    MP3
    yes
    AAC
    yes
    OGG
    yes
    WMA
    yes
    Wireless Method (Info) Compatible
    Wireless B
    yes
    Wireless G
    yes
    WEP 64
    yes
    WEP 128
    yes
    WPA
    yes
    Top
    Internet Radio Options Compatible
    Operate Without PC
    yes
    Custom Presets
    No
    IPv6
    No
    HTTP Proxy
    No
    Multicast
    yes
    Clock Radio
    No

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