Audeo Perfect Fit Ear Buds by Phonak
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CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 62 reviews
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Product summary
The good: The D-Link MediaLounge DSM-520 is a network media device that can stream HD video, still images, and audio from networked PCs and USB-connected drives. It plays DRM-protected Windows Media files and supports Rhapsody streaming, as well as Live365 and Radio@aol Internet radio services. Its extensive connectivity options include built-in 802.11g wireless networking, an HDMI jack, and analog and digital audio outputs.
The bad: A clunky file-search function mars an otherwise solid onscreen interface and straightforward setup options.
The bottom line: Equally adept at streaming audio, photos, and HD video, the D-Link MediaLounge DSM-520 offers a winning combination of impressive features and performance at an affordable price.
Specifications: Remote control type: Remote control (Infrared); Color: Black; Weight: 5.5 lbs; ; See full specs
Price range: $179.99 - $345.79
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 05/26/2006
- Updated on: 03/22/2007
- Released on: 11/15/2005
The midsize, 45-button remote control is laid out intuitively and has shortcut keys that facilitate easy media-library navigation. The remote's four-way keypad and center-mounted Enter button handle the brunt of the work for navigating media file categories, directory levels, and track lists, while music, photo, and video shortcut buttons let you skip straight to a particular file category. Page-up and page-down buttons expedite wading through long track lists; the device has a search function, but it's clunky. Conveniently, the remote comes with volume controls. The TV-based interface is uncluttered, and its logical structure helps navigation flow naturally for the most part. Unlike some digital media receivers, the DSM-520 allows you to fire up music and an accompanying photo slide show without wading through configuration screens.
Setup is easy as far as networked media devices go. From the included CD-ROM, you install D-Link Media Server; select the video, image, and audio file types you want to make accessible for playback via the DSM-520; point the software to the PC directories where your media files are stored; and wait while the software scours your hard drive. The application took around five minutes to index approximately 1,800 media files located on our PC's hard drive. After connecting the DSM-520 to your A/V receiver and TV, you power on and follow simple prompts to connect the device to your network. Beginners can use Windows Connect Now to transfer their PC's wireless network settings to the DSM-520 via a USB thumbdrive, obviating the need for manual configuration. For wireless networks, the DSM-520 supports 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption but not WPA encryption. Right off the bat, we were prompted to download new firmware, which took only a couple minutes to complete its installation.
The D-Link MediaLounge DSM-520 offers broader range of support for video-, image-, and audio-file formats than most digital media receivers, and it works with multiple online content services. Compatible video files include MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, XviD, MPEG- 4 AVI, and WMV9 (DRM protected and nonprotected) but not earlier WMV versions. Although not officially supported, DivX and DivX HD files are acceptable too. Unlike the competing Acoustic Research Digital MediaBridge, the DSM-520 doesn't support DVD menus for virtual DVDs stored on your computer's hard drive. It did play individual VOB files but with mixed results. The DSM-520 supports resolutions of up to 1080i for MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 files and 720p for WMV HD files. Still-image support (digital photos) is also better than average; JPEG (grayscale, RGB, and YCbCy only), BMP (noncompressed), PNG, TIFF (RGB only), and GIF image files can all be streamed. Almost any size photo will work, but the DSM-520 will display them at its maximum resolution of 720x480 pixels, or the same as a standard DVD. The DSM-520 has 4:3 and 16:9 aspect-ratio modes to accommodate standard and wide-screen displays.Turning to audio, the DSM-520 plays noncompressed WAVs and AIFFs in addition to compressed MP3, WMA (DRM protected and nonprotected), and OGG audio files. Like every non-Apple digital audio receiver to date, the DSM-520 can play neither protected AAC files purchased from the iTunes Music Store, nor nonprotected AACs. To play DRM-protected Windows Media files, your PC must run Windows Media Connect. The unit is compatible with PC-based M3U and PLS playlists, and it's capable of passing a 5.1-channel audio signal through its digital outputs to your A/V receiver for surround sound.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 62 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 3 of 62 user reviewsSee all 62 user reviews
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47 out of 48 people found this review helpful
"Reviewed 4 different Media Centers & Dlink 520 is the BEST"
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15 out of 17 people found this review helpful
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14 out of 15 people found this review helpful
"D-Link DSM-520 Media Receiver is one the best among it's class and affordable too."
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D-Link MediaLounge DSM-520:
