What Players and Controllers Work with Lyrion Music Server?

Updated

Lyrion Music Server (LMS) works with two broad families of playback devices: dedicated hardware players from the Squeezebox line, and software players you run on your own computer, Raspberry Pi, or NAS. Controllers are a separate category — they send commands to LMS but may or may not play audio themselves. The official documentation splits these into "Hardware based" and "Software based" sections, each with its own comparison page, so you can match a device to your setup before buying or installing anything.

The three roles in the LMS ecosystem

LMS is the server: it holds your music library, manages metadata, and streams audio to whatever is connected. Around it sit three kinds of endpoints:

  • Players — receive and play audio streams from LMS.
  • Controllers — browse the library and issue commands (play, pause, skip, volume).
  • Combined devices — many Squeezebox units act as both player and controller.

This distinction matters because a controller alone won't produce sound, and a player without a controller is awkward to operate unless you drive it from the web interface or a phone app.

Hardware-based players and controllers

The hardware line is the original Squeezebox family. The documentation lists these under "Hardware based," with a Hardware Comparison page for side-by-side specs.

Device Role Notes from the docs
Squeezebox Touch Player + controller Touchscreen, listed as its own page
Squeezebox Radio Player + controller Has a dedicated OpenVPN guide for SB Radio/Touch
Squeezebox Boom Player + controller Integrated speakers
Squeezebox Duet Controller + Receiver Sold as a two-piece set
Squeezebox Controller Controller The remote half of the Duet
Squeezebox Receiver Player The audio half of the Duet
Transporter Player High-end unit with its own graphics FAQ
Squeezebox Classic Player Also documented as Squeezebox 2 and Squeezebox 1
SLIMP3 Player The earliest device in the line

If you already own any of these, LMS is designed to drive them. If you're buying used hardware, check the individual device page — the docs treat each model separately rather than assuming they behave identically.

Software-based players

Software players let you reuse hardware you already have. The docs list Squeezelite, Jivelite, SqueezePlay, SoftSqueeze, and piCorePlayer, with a Software Comparison page.

  • Squeezelite — a headless software player with its own manpage. This is the usual choice for a Raspberry Pi or a small always-on computer feeding a DAC.
  • piCorePlayer — a ready-made Raspberry Pi image that bundles the player role; the docs also cover running a full-featured LMS on a Raspberry Pi.
  • SqueezePlay — a software player with a graphical interface, and the basis for the SqueezePlay Menu System and applet development documentation.
  • Jivelite — a touch-oriented interface, typically paired with a Squeezelite player on the same device.
  • SoftSqueeze — an older software player, listed alongside the others.

The practical difference: Squeezelite gives you audio output with no screen, while SqueezePlay and Jivelite give you an on-screen interface. On a Pi you can run both a player and the server on one machine, or split them across two.

How to choose between hardware and software

Use the same dimensions the docs use when comparing:

  • Cost and availability — hardware Squeezebox units are legacy devices; software players run on hardware you may already own.
  • Interface — hardware units have built-in screens and knobs; software players need a separate screen, phone app, or web browser.
  • Placement — a Boom or Radio is self-contained for a kitchen or bedroom; a Squeezelite box needs an amp or powered speakers.
  • Maintenance — software players update with your OS; hardware firmware is fixed to what the community supports.

A reasonable default: if you want a single self-contained unit, look at the hardware comparison. If you want to add rooms cheaply or feed an existing stereo, start with Squeezelite or piCorePlayer.

Getting started

  1. Install and run LMS using the Download & Installation page or a beginner's guide (Raspberry Pi, Docker on Synology/QNAP/OMV, or macOS).
  2. Pick a player — connect a Squeezebox device to your network, or install Squeezelite/piCorePlayer on a computer or Pi.
  3. Confirm the player appears in LMS, then use a controller (hardware remote, web interface, or app) to browse and play.

If a player doesn't show up, the usual causes are network isolation between server and player, or the player software not running. The Help Guides and FAQs and the community forums cover device-specific issues.