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Soundbridge M1001 Wi-Fi Media Player - Wireless Home Audio System | 
 enlarge | Brand: Pinnacle
Category: CE
This item is no longer available
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 41785
Media: Electronics
Fragile: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 15.8 x 11 x 4.5
MPN: 8230-10008-31
Model: 8230-10008-31
UPC: 613570219408
EAN: 0613570219408
ASIN: B000G112FK
Release Date: June 28, 2007
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Product Description
Here's a network music player that looks as good as it sounds. Pinnacle SoundBridge plays your PC or Mac digital music files anywhere in the house - connecting your stereo or powered speakers to your computer's digital music library. The SoundBridge is ne
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Not perfect but a very good product that I highly recommend August 2, 2007
Dr. K. Billen (UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Am happy with the purchase. Easily connected to my wifi network and I really like the fact that I can play internet radio through my hifi without switching on my computer. In terms of audio quality, the on-board DAC is surprisingly good despite a price tag for the Soundbridge of only 140 or thereabouts. Nevertheless the sound really opens up when a good quality external DAC is used (there are coax and optical dig. out connections on the back of the Soundbridge). Only downsides are occasional audio drop outs (the on-board buffer runs dry....am trying to overcome this by tweaking my wifi settings or even to use a wired connection instead) and a remote control with volume buttons that sometimes stick. Overall this is a fine product and well done to Roku/Pinnacle.
 Pinnacle / Roku M1000 Soundbridge June 1, 2007
L. K. Dear (UK)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought this product (model ROKM1000), the Pinnacle M1000 Soundbridge, from the Edinburgh branch of advancedmp3players, for 139.99 in May 07. I connected it to my wireless router simply by entering my network passkey, however I was initially disappointed by the realization that it doesn't seem to use reciva.com, and there appeared to be a lack of stations listed in the system. Soon, though, I found that you can add more stations on your computer - first I tried the Roku Radio Snooper, but I had no idea how to use this - it was rather frustrating and I'm not 100% sure that the program works properly. Then I tried the Roku Radio website, searched for and found my device (after overcoming some 'trust' complications), then just searched for some good stations (very many are listed) which I added to favorites / the (18?!) preset channels... and it updated my machine. Brilliant. Plugged into my hifi and there's great sound quality (although perhaps a little quiet at times? though maybe that's due to particular stations). The connection consistency is very good, and I'm getting perfect wifi reception through a very old thick stone wall.
I didn't buy this for playing music from my PC, but I've been told this is easy to do. I spent a long time comparing different internet radios - the main runners were the Bush internet radio from Argos, or the Imp Adapt. The Bush reviews were very good and to be honest I think it would've done the job for me, but the look is very... dull. Plus I had no use for its small speakers. The Imp Adapt looks much more stylish than the Bush, but I've read poor reviews, and it has few presets etc. Today I stumbled across the Pinnacle (formerly called Roku, I believe), and I'm so pleased. It says it's the M1000 on the outer shell, but the screen flashes up saying that it's the M1001, I think.
Top Device - Easy to set up May 6, 2007
SJ Goldsworthy (London, UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have 2 of these devices and I'm really happy with them. Every single Album I own is ripped to my Maxtor NAS in Apple Lossless (several days worth of listening) and they sound great - no more hunting for CDs etc.
The Downsides
Reripping everything to Apple Lossless was a long and drawn out process. Its unnecessary if you already have an MP3 library, but improves the sound quality.
You may need to change the channel your wifi router uses to allow files to buffer efficiently on the soundbridge.
I have heard some complaints from Audiophiles about the standard of the DAC in the soundbridge (I think any difference is down to whether you go for a lossy or lossless format for your music library personally) but the review in question confirms that the quality is comparable to a 1,000+ CD player when played through an external DAC via a toslink cable.
The remote could be more intuitative but that is a minor complaint.
Upsides
Access to my entire CD collection in the lounge and study. When we move I'm going to make sure we get a soundbridge in the bedroom as well!
Soundquality to my ear is extremely clear with lots of presence (but note file format (bit-rate/lossy/lossless) is more important in many ways than the DAC/underlying equipment).
Toslink to allow connection to external DAC (when we move I'm definitely getting one).
Can be used with a NAS (Network Attached Storage) box so my PC doesn't have to remain on to use it.
Easily hooked up to a wired or wireless network.
I really can't recommend these enough - for the price they will really make a difference to your listening.
 No network found January 12, 2007
Anthony B. Dodd (Brussels Belgium)
2 out of 9 found this review helpful
I researched the Roku/Pinnacle SoundBridge Network Audio player but couldn't get a network connection
in the house anywhere even though my lap top works fine. I have an 'always-on' ADSL broadband and a
Us Robotics 9108 Router working on 11g. Have neither WAP or WEP. Assume it's a problem with the 11b used by this device. Any ideas ??
Roku/Pinnacle SoundBridge M1001 November 5, 2006
Mark Eidem (London)
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
An excellent media streaming device that works with all popular "media" programs running on PC, Mac and Linux and also provides access to internet radio stations if you have a broadband always on connection.
Music quality is good especially if played through a HiFi system.
Since iTunes 7 the direct streaming link has been broken by Apple not Pinnacle. iTunes 6 and earlier will work fine, but moving to iTunes 7 is not a problem as you can use the excellent Firefly media server, which is available for PC, Mac, Linux, all BSDs, Solaris, AIX and embedded/NAS devices (which does not require your computer to be on !)
The SoundBridge plays WMA, AAC, MP3, WAV and AIFF. Protected WMA files need Microsoft's DRM 10, which is now part of Windows Media Player 10. Protected AAC files purchased from the iTunes store can not be played (at this stage). Using the Firefly server, you can also play Apple Lossless, FLAC and Ogg-Vorbis formats.
The Roku Radio Snooper is a small Windows application available from the Roku Labs website, which allows you to quickly and easily discover URL addresses for radio stations and then add them to your SoundBridges 18 presets. This works well and is much easier than hunting websites manually !
Vitually all stations are available, though Classic FM and the BBC World Service are not. The Classic FM "URL" is well hidden, whilst the BBC World Service needs a suitable voice codec for the SoundBridge to play. The latter may appear from Roku Labs with a firmware update.
Most internet radio stations connect very quickly, though BBC Radio 1-4 typically take a long time to connect during which time you have silence, along with a notice delay between live and internet (upto 1 minute). BBC Radio 5-7 however connect very quickly ! This seams more to do with the BBCs streaming server that the SoundBridge. Another benefit is that Radio 4 (Long Wave) when played on the SoundBridge is like FM :-)
Currently Real Audio streams are not supported, but most radio stations stream in Windows, MP3 or other formats that the SoundBridge can play.
Wireless connection is limited to 802.11b (11MB/s) and using WEP security, but this works well enough with an 802.11g wireless router. The only requirment being to move to WEP rather than WPA security on your router which is straight forward.
Wireless connection is probably the most likely and the SoundBridges configuration when using a secured network is easy enough.
Just a note on the Pinnacle vs. the Roku SoundBridges. They are the same, the difference lies in the distribution channel used. Pinnacle versions are promoted in UK/Europe/Asia.
The Pinnacle version also comes with a universal AC adapter, that works on 110V-240V AC, but also have clever snap outlet adapters (UK, Europe, USA etc) so you can convert your AC adapter as needed. Simple but very handy !
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