NeoDigits' Helios X3000 and X5000 HD network media players

NeoDigits, who recently brought us that Helios HVD2085 upscaling DVD player, is back with another set of gear under the Helios brand also designed to help you get the most out of your HDTV. Like models we've already seen from SnaZio and Aircord, the upcoming 1080p-capable X3000 and X5000 HD network media players are able to stream a slew of formats from PC to TV, including MPEG-1/2/4, DivX and DivX HD, XviD HD, WMV 9/HD, WMA, MP3, AAC, Ogg, JPEG, PNG, and BMP -- and just in case those aren't enough to satisfy your media jones, you also get an upconverting DVD drive capable of reading both DVD+R and DVD-R discs along with MP3 CDs. Connectivity to your PC comes via the Ethernet port or built-in 802.11g, and you can hook up your home theater gear using HDMI, DVI, component, S-video, or composite video outputs along with analog, optical, or digital coax audio jacks. Available this month, the X3000 will go for $400 while the X5000 (pictured), which throws in a Burr-Brown low-noise Op Amp, 24bit Wolfson DAC, gold-plated RCA jacks, and a few other enhancements, will be priced at $600.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 21st 2006 11:22AM]

Sounds nice, but they could put a better display on that thing! Why do manufacturers always skimp on stuff like that?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 21st 2006 11:35AM]

There is one major flaw with all these next-gen spreading network-compatible players. They all need some sort of first party "server software" installed. What's up with this? I have a Mac, why can't I simply stream my media over smb?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 21st 2006 12:08PM]

Ditto on the mac support issue... And linux for that matter.
But the big issue, where do I find legal HD content to stream to this machine, anyway?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 21st 2006 1:32PM]

aggree....
I can't stream from my linux server?? then whatz the point?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 21st 2006 1:42PM]

Supposedly this supports UPnP. Shouldn't that enable streaming from a linux device, or a MAC for that matter?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 22nd 2006 4:16AM]

About the uPnP and connectivity, the specs say "Third party UPnP compatible server software". Still this doesn't tell what are the capabilities of this device in uPnP environment. Is it a Renderer, or just a simple Player?