As a result of increased convergence of the PC and Home Theater, a new type of product has emerged, referred to as the Network Media Player or Media Extender. These products allow access to PC media content or the streaming/downloading of audio, video, and still image content directly from the internet that can be played on your TV or home theater system. In addition to standalone devices, Media Player/Extender capability is also being built into other products, such as Blu-ray Disc players and even TVs. For a look at Media Player/Extender options that might work well with your home theater, check out my top picks.
1. Verismo VuNow HD1000 Network Media Extender
Photos (c) Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
The Verismo VuNow HD1000 Network Media Extender is a great way to integrate your audio and video entertainment direct from the internet or your PC (although a PC is not required). The VuNow HD1000 is a very compact set-top box that connects directly to your TV, or through a video-enabled home theater receiver, via HDMI or AV connections. With the Verismo VuNow HD1000, you can access a large amount of audio/video content from the internet, via either wired ethernet or wireless network connection, connected USB flash drives, or your own PC. For more details, check out my Review and Photo Gallery.
2. Roku Digital Video Player
Photo (c) Roku, Inc.
The Roku Digital Video Player is a $99 compact unit that, when connected to the internet, allows streaming of movies and programs from Netflix, Amazon Video-on-Demand, MLB TV and more, for viewing on any television with Composite, S-Video, Component, or HDMI inputs. However, unlike some media players, the high definition output resolution of the Roku box is limited to 720p. The Roku offers both wired and wireless internet connection options. However, although the Roku box connects to the internent via a home network, it does not access content stored on your PC or MAC, or portable USB devices. For more details on the features and operation of the Roku Digital Video Player, check out the Official Roku Digital Video Player Product Page.
3. AppleTV
The iPod may be the most successful portable entertainment device ever, including the creation of a whole industry just devoted to iPod accessories, but that isn't all that Steve Jobs has up his entertainment sleeve. AppleTV is definitely a serious contender world of network media players. This latest version of this little box is driven by an Intel processor and contains a 160BG hard drive. The AppleTV allows you either wired or wireless connection to your home network, access to iTunes music and both SD and HD video content directly from the internet. You can also store purchased content on the built-in hard drive. For all the details, check out the AppleTV Product and Specifications pages.4. Vudu 1080p HD Internet Movie Player
Photo (c) Vudu
The Vudu HD Internet Player is a great option for streaming internet audio and video content directly to your HDTV and home theater system. With the VUDU box, you can access thousands of on-demand movies in either SD (standard definition) or HD (high definition), and access YouTube, Pandora, Flickr, and other services. The Vudu HD Internet Movie Player provides full 1080p output via HDMI connection to an HDTV, as well as an easy-to-use onscreen navigation interface. However, keep mind that for an optimum HD experience, you need to have at least a 4 Mbps download speed capability from your high-speed internet connection. For all the details, check out the Vudu Product Page.
5. SageTV HD Theater
Photo (c) SageTV
The SageTV HD Theater is a great way to integrate your home theater system and PC. The HD Theater is a set-top box that can connect directly to your TV, or through a video-enabled home theater receiver, and also to your PC and high-speed internet connection via its built-in ethernet port. Using the SageTV Media Center software on your PC or MAC, you can access and view a host of PC/MAC and internet content on your home theater system and TV. The SageTV HD Theater has full complement of connections, including Ethernet, HDMI, component video (red/blue/green), and USB input for content stored on flash drives and other USB storage devices.
6. Seagate FreeAgent Theater+
Photos (c) Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
Seagate is a familiar name in the PC world as makers of hard drives that are used in PCs, DVRs, and DVD Recorder/Hard Drive Combos. Previously, I reviewed the FreeAgent Theater hard-drive based media player. Now, Seagate offers an updated model, the FreeAgent Theater+, that not only allows you to play back audio, video, still image files stored on a portable hard drive, USB flash drives and many Digital Still cameras, but adds full HD 1080p output via HDMI, as well as home networking and internet access via ethernet. To find out if the the FreeAgent Theater+ is right for you, check out both my Product Review and Photo Gallery.
7. LG BD390 Blu-ray Disc Player - Network Media Player Combination
Photo (c) Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
LG has experience with both the now-defunct HD-DVD and surviving Blu-ray Disc formats, and as kept on top of things by introducing the first networked Blu-ray Disc player at last year's CEDIA. Their new BD390 expands on the success of their networked Blu-ray Disc player platform and incorporates not only expanded video and audio streaming options (which include CinemaNow, YouTube, Vudu, and Netflix), but wireless network connectivity via built-in WiFi. This is definitely a player for those that want a complete Blu-ray and internet streaming entertainment experience.
8. Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player - Network Media Player Combination
Photo (c) Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
The DMP-BD60K offers top-notch Blu-ray playback and Panasonic continues to improve standard DVD upscaling performance over its previous models. This player is compatible with standard DVDs and most recordable DVD formats, as well as standard music CDs and CD-Rs/RWs. Standard DVDs are upscaled up to 1080p via the HDMI output. This player also provides both onboard decoding or undecodeed bitstream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD via HDMI. In addition, the DMP-BD60 includes network media player functions that allow acess to online content from YouTube, Picasa, and Amazon Video On-Demand. Check out my Short and Full Reviews, as well as a supplmentary Photo Profile and Video Performance Tests.
9. Samsung BD-P3600 Blu-Ray Disc Player - Network Media Player Combination
The Samsung BD-P3600 is a cutting edge Blu-ray Disc player that is also a great media player. First, it plays Blu-ray Discs at 1080p/60 or 1080p/24 resolution, provides bitstream output for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD via its HDMI 1.3a output, and is playback compatible with standard DVDs, most recordable DVD formats, music CDs, and CD-Rs/RWs. Also, standard DVDs are upscaled up to 1080p via the HDMI output. The BD-P3600 also adheres to Profile 2.0(BD-Live) specifications. However, the big bonuses included in the BD-P3600 are that it offers an Ethernet and WiFi adapter for either wired or wireless connection to your home network and the internet, and it also provides access to internet music and movie streaming from Netflix and Pandora.10. Sony KDL-46XBR10 46-inch LED/LCD TV - Network Media Player Combination
The Sony KDL-46XBR10 46-inch LCD TV employs LED edge-light technology, 240hz processing, 1080p native pixel resolution, and offers excellent upscaling capability for standard definition sources. Needless to say, after seeing an extensive demo of this set at a recent trade show, I can say that the picture is great. However, what really makes this TV stand out is that it offers built-in home network connectivity via ethernet that provides access to both local PC content and content streamed directly from the internet from providers such as YouTube, Amazon Video On-Demand, Sports Illustrated, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Slacker, and Epicurious.com. In addition content stored USB devices can be accessed via the KDL-46XBR10's included USB port.11. Yamaha neoHD YMC-700 Media Controller
Photo (C) Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
If you are intimidated by a traditional home theater receiver, the Yamaha neoHD YMC-700 Media Controller may be the answer. The YMC-700 is simple to use, while still providing audio/video flexibility. The YMC-700 offers 5.1 channel audio processing (including Dolby TrueHD), 3 HDMI inputs, analog to HDMI video conversion, USB, and a docking station port for iPods and Bluetooth devices. The YMC-700 is also WiFi enabled, allowing connection to a home network for accessing media content stored on a PC or from Rhapsody, and Internet Radio. However, the key to the YMC-700 is its unique onscreen menu-driven navigation system. To find out more, check out my Short and Full Reviews as well as a Photo Gallery and Video Performance Test Results.
