Orb MP-1: A Cheaper Approach to Music Streaming

That's not to say that the MP-1 is a match for Sonos equipment in sound quality, functionality, or user interface--it's not. But if you're looking for an inexpensive way to port music around your house, it's well worth considering.

Once all of the pieces are in place, you can play music from your local hard drive, including music and playlists in your iTunes library. Or you can play Internet radio stations or streams from the Pandora or Sirius music services.

Setting up an MP-1 is pretty simple. After downloading Orb Caster, you connect the MP-1 to your Windows or Mac PC. A wizard configures the MP-1 to work on your wireless network; then you disconnect the puck from your computer and plug it into your stereo. You can set up multiple MP-1 units throughout your house and control them all from your mobile phone. (You can't, however, play the same music in sync on different MP-1s throughout your house, a function that Sonos systems support.)

Some glitches persist. When you choose an Internet radio station, the controller offers not only to play the station but to record it. Unfortunately, whenever I chose the recording option, the Orb Caster software on my computer crashed. Another oddity: The controller app has entries for accessing video and photos, even though the MP-1 streams only music. That's because the Orb Caster software can serve video and photos to your mobile device, though not to the MP-1.

The sound you get from the MP-1 will depend largely on what you connect it to. Connected to my very old receiver and a nice set of Paradigm bookshelf speakers, it sounded just fine with no obvious digital artifacts.

You can get a digital music streamer with more functionality and fewer oddities than the Orb MP-1 offers, but it'll cost you a lot more. The Orb is a good alternative for people who want a cheap and convenient way to stream music to their stereo or powered speakers.