Experience with media playing HDD enclosures ?

[nwpsys]

A recent review in Tom's has highlighted an area on which I couldn't find much info after a quick search here.

Seems these devices, which are basically a USB 2.0 HDD in an enclosure which has audio / video outputs and the ability to play mpeg4 and such like directly to TV.

Here is the link at Toms.

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/video/20050829/index.html

Seems the Mobix looks like a good device, but reading their review it seems it may have a packed bitstream issue.

A bit more research threw up a Rapsody ( yes, spelled like this ) RSH-100 - similar concept but a few more features.

http://eng.rap-sody.com/product/rsh100.asp

Just wondering if anyone has experience of these devices or any similar ? With my PC being a cable length away from my AV kit, this would be an ideal solution for me !

nwpsys

[SeeMoreDigital]

A good indication about the performance of such devices will depend on the chip-set it's been fitted with ;)


Cheers

[feliz]

I like Tivx because of its great interface, one of the few that can play ripped IFO's, playlists (winamp) and has car interface option. I don't believe any other can. :D

[nwpsys]

Feliz, can you answer a couple of questions on the tivx for me.

1) When you are browsing through files on the device, how many characters of the file name are shown ?

2) Have you had any luck with it playing xvid with packed bitstream smoothly ?

Thanks,

nwpsys

[feliz]

nwpsys
1. almost 38 characters
2. does play pack bitstream with one bframe with lates xvid release

[nwpsys]

Thanks feliz. Off to do some more research :)

[Wolfman]

The above player is basically the rapsody in a different box.
there does appear to be a few differences tho the rapsody has an optional FM transmitter card to broadcast your mp3s to your stereo. This also appears to be available to use with a 2.5inch disk (rapsody/freecom use 3.5 ) as the Tivx(?) and there is also something called the mediagate but that looks to stripped down for my liking (no display). I like the idea of the freecom tho as it has an display allowing it to be used when the telly is off.

Vitrually all these devices use the Sigma EM8511 which is capable of playing back xvid/divx but not coping with gmc or qpel. I would like anyones opinion of any of these devices as they seem ideal to me, I dont care about the (trans)-portability just the single box solution that acknowledges its a companion to a PC ... all pro's and con's gratefully received

Hardware Mfrs... I will review your kit .... (more indepth than Toms Hrdwre)

[feliz]

I don't believe the Rapsody RSH-100 has playlist support (copying .m3us file from winampor any playlist generator which can be mp3 or avi playlist) or play .ifos from ripped dvds. The playlist option saves alot of time and makes it a perfect ipod for the car. I have yet to see any hdd player have m3u support. :D

[deets]

i have the izak unibrain, and for the most part its a great player. Saying that, i did get it for £43 ($60!) for the 40gb so im chuffed.

its having an odd prob with some xvid encodes (see other thread), but if i could get that sorted, it would be really fantastic bit of kit. Its also re badged as the lacie silverscreen apparantly.

it has digital out, so i have it hooked to my amp for AC3 and it handles all my OGG files as well.

my friend also got one, hes new to all this video stuff, but he loves it as its so simple to use.