Logitech's new and sexy Wireless DJ Music System

There are plenty of wireless music systems already competing for our home entertainment dollar, but this new Wireless DJ Music System from Logitech is looking snazz enough to at least give a second glance. Taking a welcome cue from our usual favorite, Sonos, Logitech's remote features a clickable scroll wheel, and while their LCD isn't near as impressive, it should get the job done. The system's StreamPoint software can hook up with popular jukeboxes like iTunes, Windows Media Player and Musicmatch, and uses some 2.4GHz wireless tech for digitally streaming your tunes to the included Music Receiver, which also happens to be a dock for charging up your remote. Logitech has the price set fairly low at $250, but there's no word on when this setup is due to hit the streets.

[Thanks, Dave Z.]

[catnamedmac @ Aug 9th 2006 10:16AM]

No mention of Mac compatibility in the specifications (e.g., "...Your PC...", Windows XP Home or Professional, etc.). Is there any idea of when/if it would be available for the Mac?

[jmchez @ Aug 9th 2006 11:20AM]

What if you have an HTPC? Right now my HTPC outputs its digital signal coaxially to my receiver (letting the receiver's DA converters do the work). Obviously, I have to either turn on the TV monitor or use my laptop's remote control software to work my music app. This remote would negate the need to turn on the TV or rely on the laptop (and be more convenient to use than a pocket PC) but I don't need the streaming part and, $250 is a little bit much.

[kleger @ Aug 9th 2006 11:22AM]

ichat mobile? haha

[Chris Heinonen @ Aug 9th 2006 12:38PM]

Since the literature they have on their site is very non-specific, I don't suppose anyone knows for sure that it can play FLAC and Apple Lossless? I plan to get around to ripping all my CD's with EAC, then copying them into iTunes so I could stream it across the house. This looks like a nice, cheap setup option, but if it can't do that, then I'll have to go with a Squeezebox.

[Grover Saunders @ Aug 9th 2006 2:41PM]

I think this is aimed more at creating a whole house system than it is give you headless access to your jukebox. I agree that $250 is a lot for what would essentially be remote for you, but $250 plus only $79 for each additional room for a whole house system actually sounds pretty reasonable compared to what else is out there.

Let's hope it actually comes out.

[JSM @ Aug 9th 2006 3:08PM]

ok, I'll echo chez - I've got all my music going to my main, digital, system by optical cable - no way I would give that up for RCAs, BUT, I'd love to use this to stream the collection to the bedroom - can it manage both the traditional through-computer output as well as it's own streaming, and, as long as I'm at it, does it have an alarm clock built in? Heck, give me two remotes (one for the bedroom and one for the living room) and the features mentioned above and I'd pay $300 for the set.

Think functionality logitech. (And while your at it, how about a 21st century update of the trackman?)

[Dave @ Aug 9th 2006 5:23PM]

This isn't related to this, but...

Why can't logitech make some mp3 players. I bet they could make a really sweet small flash based one.

[Rob @ Aug 9th 2006 6:13PM]

In response to JSM: who says the receiver doesn't have a digital out?

[Craig @ Aug 9th 2006 7:40PM]

This is the perfect solution for playing mp3's on a home stereo... you really do need a remote with a display so you can pick albums and songs. Otherwise, the unit is not much better than a large CD changer since you still have to walk over to the unit to change albums. This seems more like a wireless iPod. The party mode will be fun.

I love Sonos's concept and approach to playing mp3's at home, but the remote is so bulky and expensive, there's no way I'd want to carry it around the house. And I don't need a color screen, so this is great.

If the sound quality is good, I'll buy one.

Oh, and Chris, it only plays MP3, M4A, M4P, and WMA. But if you rip with EAC and encode to mp3 with LAME, you'll have the best-sounding, universally compatible audio files:

www.ubernet.org

[Jeremy @ Aug 11th 2006 7:30PM]

I've read about this being the "poor man's Sonos". Wrong. It's the smart man's Sonos. Reasonably priced, it offers access to DRM protected songs like those downloaded from iTunes, an easy plug-and-play set up, AND a display that's sorely lacking from it's predecessor and other comparable systems (including Apple's own finicky Airport). It doesn't advocate or even enable stealing of intellectual property, but it does extend my ability to enjoy music I've paid for and have the right to listen to in whatever room of my house I'd like. I can't wait till Sept.

[Mike @ Aug 14th 2006 11:32AM]

At least it's cheaper than the Sonos, that is probably a key selling point.

[Steve @ Sep 13th 2006 6:44PM]

Looks nice, especially since its design allows it to stream more audio formats than more expensive systems like Sonos. I don't know if it's a "whole house" solution though - according to cnet.com's review, you can have multiple receivers but can only stream to one at a time. Perhaps you could connect 2 transmitters to 2 USB ports on the same PC - but judging from the recommended system requirements, it would have to be a fairly high-end PC. Also, there would probably be synchronization problems if you were trying to stream the same song to 2 receivers (zones) in your house at the same time - unless you could control both transmitters simultaneously via one running instance of the Logitech's StreamPoint software.

[Stephan Kinsella @ May 29th 2007 5:58PM]

I just got it. It is available and works great. It sounds very nice--just as good as the buggy Airport Express I was using previously. I think it does not work with Mac. One problem I've had: now I can't get my laptop to play iTunes on the laptop's speakers...

[Lori @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:39PM]

I am looking to purchase this. There is a radio broadcast on during the day which I miss due to being at work. If I go to the shows website I can listen to the archives on my computer (I am not downloading them throught I-tunes etc). Would I be able to hear this through this system. If anyone can help I would be so greatful. Thanks Lori