Conclusion:
I think the concept of this device is great, but it definitely needs a little refinement to take it to the next level. Luckily the AVOX has upgradeable firmware and
Vantec has indicated they intend to make some changes. As it stands now I would prefer to use my Tivo to access pictures and music, but I am anxious to see what updates Vantec has in store for this platform. My wish list would include the following:
• WMV playback support
• Support for M3U play lists
• Add random play mode
• More options for slideshow playback like random, and time for reload
Overall I think this product is good, but could be great with a few improvements, hopefully I won't have to wait long. Honestly for the price you can't go wrong; a search of
PriceGrabber shows that this unit can be had for under $100, which isn't a whole lot more than a quality HDD enclosure. While 2.5" drives can be found with large capacities, they are still more expensive than 3.5" drives, because of this I would like to see a similar device developed for them as well.
Given the ease of use and the quality of the features present, I award the
Vantec AVOX Jukebox Multimedia Player a final rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. That rating would quickly jump to 4.5 stars if only a few of the items on the 'Cons' list were addressed, such as supporting play lists and random play. Even with the few issues I had with the unit, it is still quite innovative, and truly a great idea.
Final Rating (3.5 out of 5 stars):
Pros:
• Easy to use
• Works great as a portable HDD
• Good video quality
• Good sound quality and passes along DD and DTS
• Great playback of DVDs
• Time search feature very useful.
• Very convenient way to take your movies and music with you on trips
• Smart design allows for future upgrades.
• Includes brightness-contrast and saturation controls to match your TV/monitor.
Cons:
• Some videos aren't supported.
• Limited remote range
• Music folder enables play w/o TV, but also forces music play with slideshow
• No random play or play list support for music
• Would like more slideshow options.
• 2.5" HDD are limited in size and are more expensive than 3.5"
Special thanks to
Vantec USA for providing the Vantec AVOX Jukebox Multimedia Player to BigBruin.Com for review!
