Cutting the Cord is a new series of posts you will see over the next few weeks that explore the different ways you can listen to Internet Radio besides sitting in front of your computer.

Cutting the Cord, Pt 3: G-town Radio on Your Stereo

Your computer allows you to listen to radio stations from anywhere in the world.  It also stores your mammoth mp3 library you have lovingly compiled over the years.  Ironically, what most computers don't do so well is play music.  Most pc speakers are tiny, tinny pieces of crap.  Sound cards are getting better all the time but do they sound nearly as good as your home stereo, or even your car stereo?

As WiFi networks in the home and in public places continue to grow products that leverage this access are slowly starting to appear in the market.  The goal of many of these products is to bypass your computer when listening to music, looking at pictures or watching movies.  The biggest limitation of internet radio has been you could only listen while sitting at your computer.  Socializing around the cluttered area you shoved your computer just so you could listen to the new songs you downloaded was never appealing and may never have to happen again.

One company is already delivering products that bring internet radio as well as your music library directly to your stereo system or anywhere in your house you would have a portable radio.  Roku has created the Soundbridge line of stereo components (pictured above).  Soundbridge players are stereo components you connect to a receiver or powered speakers.  They use WiFi to retrieve music files directly from your PC.  Turn off your PC and they can still connect to the internet to play internet radio stations from anywhere in the world (using your WiFi router).  The newest Roku addition is the Soundbridge Radio (pictured below).  This tabletop device is a self-contained radio with speakers and sub-woofers that can play internet radio anywhere in the house.  It also has an AM/FM receiver, alarm clock and station presets (for broadcast & internet radio).  The Roku products range in price from $129.99 for the low-end Soundbridge component to the $399.99 Soundbridge Radio.

The capabilities of these products is an exciting breakthrough in increasing the reach of internet radio.  While the price may be prohibitive for many the promise of newer, better, and cheaper products looms on the horizon.  New products were unveiled at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that indicate this is true.  We’ll take a closer look at two of these in the next installment of Cutting the Cord.

See also:
The Revolution Will Now Be Mobile
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