It comes in 2 main parts, a TX unit which connects to a host PC and then the wireless receiver which can hook to any amplifier or audio system via a stereo RCA connectors. Compared to a Squeezebox 3 or Roku sound bridge the Linksys wireless music system seem a bit devoid of features. However given its low price this shouldn't be your main concern. Set-up is straight forward enough, the transmitter unit plugs into a free USB port on the host PC and the set-up completes so quickly you wonder if there is more left to do!

The connection to the little square receiver is via a up rated version of Bluetooth using a higher class than your standard hands free kit does, hence the better distance claims by Logitech of 330 feet as opposed the standard 10 meters. The connect button tucked away on the receive unit is in effect controlling a Bluetooth pairing exercise between the TX unit an itself, a simple push and you are hooked up to your MP3 collection back on the PC's hard drive.

To control what plays is a little more tricky due to the lack of a screen showing you what's going on back on the PC, but as an audio sender the Logitech does have a few controls, start / stop, track skip and volume to name them. The PC can be running Windows Media player 9 and above, iTunes or Musicmatch which the Logitech USB transmitter then takes control of, you also get a small remote control meaning the TX unit can sit on top of your HiFi while you control if from a chair.

So how does it sound? our first impressions were very good, in fact the Logitech was delivering audio quality as if the PC was directly plugged to the HiFi. Control is basic but for delivering MP3 music from a home PC to a decent audio set-up this is a cheap and effective method. We then wanted to test Logitech's distance claims which seemed a bit excessive even on paper. Up to around 30ft there was no sign of any disturbance and the audio quality remained steady, the next 10 ft put another wall between the two units and a little stuttering started, not much but annoying all the same. 3 walls didn't kill the playback but it was like listening to a poor VOIP call.

In free air we started to discover Logitech's claims of 330ft are just stretching the truth a little too much, without walls we found that around 120ft was possible before the interference from other wireless systems start to cut in and the audio quality dropped off. At about 200ft in free air the stuttering started and we gave up long before we got to 300ft.

All this might sound quite negative but 30ft through 1 wall is enough for most home users and working like this we had a rock solid signal with good audio quality and performance. The basic control worked well with Windows Media player and proved to be a reliable overall system.

The key to why we would recommend the Logitech Wireless Music System is its price, £77 buys you a good quality wireless music sender which when compared to the cost of a squeezebox or Roku unit it is very cheap, sure you lack many of the cool features of the other but it is a cost effective way of getting MP3 audio in your living room.

Other devices to consider the now 2 year old Netgear MP101 which adds a screen and the ability to search fro tracks from the receive for a similar price, but it does take a bit of setting up and more wireless knowledge. For a simple music sender we have to recommend the Logitech system.

Requirements-

• Windows® XP or Windows® 2000 (SP3 or later)
• Available USB port

Published - 28/05/2006

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