This review is a little late coming, but here goes. I am on my third (yes) M500 after replacing two previous ones. The Roku M500 is a streaming audio box that allows you to stream internet radio, music from a NAS box, computer, iTunes, etc. It comes with a nice remote and it has a built-in display that’s bright and displays the time while off (via NTP update). I use (or used) the Roku because AM and FM reception are sketchy up here in the mountains, and also I like to listen to radio from Canada (CBC, etc.) from time to time. Most of the time I do not use it because I use my new Yamaha RX-V2700 to stream audio.
Pros:
- Supports every internet station I listen to or would want to listen to. Even support the Windows Media stations we have locally (not just MP3). Quick to acquire stations.
- It’s cheap. I bought it for $99 (coupon HAPPY99) from their website.
- Technical support is fast and uncomplicated.
Cons:
- It fails all the time. I suspect it’s because of the altitude of my house (7400′) causing the device to overheat. I do leave it out of my equipment cabinet to try and keep it cool, all to no avail.
- It chokes on Protected AAC files (chokes so bad it reboots).
- Difficult to add new tunes.
- A little buggy: Keeps losing its mind, forgetting its time zone.
- No way to save and restore station settings from its UI.
