DVICO TViX HD M-6500A

Hello there, I'm Ian Morris, and this is a DVICO TViX HD M-6500 and I have absolutely NO idea how any of its multitudinous names are supposed to be pronounced, although I AM pretty sure I got the 6500 bit right. Anyway, more important than the name, is the question of what this box does. Put simply, it's a media streamer. But there is a lot more to it than you might think. For a start it can play-back virtually every codec currently knocking about, including MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 in all its forms, including XviD and DivX. Quicktime is also supported, which means you can watch as many HD trailers as you can download. Happily, it doesn't struggle to understand the MKV container either. The front of the machine has a simple display, which tells the time and gives other important information. Next to the display is a controller for navigating the machine's menu system, which might be useful if you lose the remote. But all the real action goes on at the back, so let's take a look round there… The number of outputs on this little beauty are numerous. And that's great news for us, because it means no matter what TV or audio equipment you've got you can hook this up with no trouble at all. You get HDMI, which, it's worth noting, is 1.3 compliant, for deep colour and HD audio support. There is also a component output, and both S-video and composite video connectors. Audio is output via analogue RCA sockets and both coaxial and optical digital connectors. You also get a pair of USB host sockets for memory sticks and such, and there is a USB target connector, to enable you to connect it to your PC for file transfer. An Ethernet socket is provided too, but there is no built-in wireless, to go wire-free you need to buy a separate adaptor. The key to the 6500's flexibility is the fact that you can play media via a network, from a USB key or even install an SATA hard drive in the machine itself. Fitting an SATA hard drive is really simple. A rail and screws are provided in the box, which you attach to the hard drive, and slide them into the unit, all you have to do then is connect the data and power leads and way you go. So, what's it like to use? Well, we think the user interface is pretty attractive, It's fairly obvious how the user interface works, but of course it's not quite up to Apple TV standards. But, unlike Apple TV, this machine actually does something useful so we'll let it off and carry on using the Apple TV to keep our doors propped open during the balmy summer months. The remote control is fairly basic, but it works well, and once you get used to some of the glitches with the way the user interface works, everything fits together well. The box is fast and responsive too, and the only time we managed to get it to crash is when we tried to play video encoded in a daft codec on it. That said though, the company is proactive about keeping the firmware on these machines up-to-date, and adds functionality from time to time. Picture and sound quality of the TViX were both excellent and the machine is quiet and easy-to-use. We would suggest that you don't buy one with a hard-drive pre-installed because you pay a premium for that, and it's SO easy to fit your own. That was the DVICO TViX 6500A and I was, and always will be, Ian Morris.