Must-Haves For Digital DJs

Like many folks who have plunged into digital music, I have

a large collection- nearly 30 gigabytes-stored on a hard drive, and I

treasure the freedom to dip into it wherever I choose. So I was eager to try two

new products, the Roku SoundBridge Radio and the Apple iPod Hi-Fi, that offer

relatively inexpensive ways to enjoy digital music with high-quality sound.

The $400 SoundBridge Radio looks a bit like an oversize

version of those big clock radios you find in hotel rooms. And like them, it can

play music to put you to sleep as well as to wake you up. But in addition to AM

and FM broadcasts, a SoundBridge connected to a Wi-Fi wireless network plays

Internet radio stations-websites that stream programming-as well as any

music stored on a Windows PC or a Mac on the network.

The beauty of the SoundBridge is that it looks and feels a

lot like a radio, even when it's playing tunes from your own collection.

Nearly 100 Internet stations are preloaded, and they can be selected either by

presets or by scrolling through a list on the big, bright display. The

SoundBridge also searches your network for iTunes or other music collections,

such as Musicmatch or Rhapsody. Choose a collection, then select the song,

artist, album, or playlist that you want to hear, using either a remote or

buttons on the SoundBridge. Getting this to work the first time may require

changing some security settings, for which Roku provides clear instructions. The

SoundBridge will play purchased or subscription music protected by Microsoft's

PlaysForSure but not songs bought from the iTunes Music Store because Apple

doesn't allow use of its copy-protection technology.

iCANDY Apple's own Hi-Fi (above) and the Roku SoundBridge Radio

Roku kept the soundbridge simple by having you use a

computer to do any complicated administration, especially anything that involves

entering data. For example, you add more Internet stations by typing in their

addresses on a Web page you can access from a computer on your network. But in

one important respect, the SoundBridge is too simple. It supports only Wi-Fi's

outdated Wired Equivalent Privacy security scheme, not the much stronger Wi-Fi

Protected Access, and this requires you to use weak security on your entire

network. Roku promises to fix the flaw.

Of course, none of this means much unless the player

provides solid audio, and the SoundBridge delivers. Its two speakers and

subwoofer are a good size. It's true that the volume won't rattle your

windows, and for the best stereo effect, one might wish to separate the speakers

by more than the 11-in. width of the radio. Still, the sound is just fine for a

bedroom, study, or cozy kitchen.

Playing music through the Hi-Fi's speakers is just like

listening to an iPod through earphones. A tiny remote is included-the same one

used with Apple's new Macs-but all it does is control volume and let you

move to the next or previous song in your playlist. The Hi-Fi has the best sound

quality of any iPod speaker unit, including the popular $300 Bose SoundDock. In

fact, one ironic drawback is that the Hi-Fi will show up flaws in your music

that you would miss with cheap ear buds.

These products share a refreshing simplicity. Like good

consumer appliances, they don't try to do too much, and the things they focus

on they do well, with a minimum of fuss. If only the PC industry would take this

approach to heart.