D-Link DSM-320RD review

There are quite a few media players on the market, all designed to stream media files from your PC so you can enjoy them on your TV, and D-Link's DSM-320RD is the latest.

But while in many ways this is an improvement over previous products, it omits some common features.

The first thing we noticed was the Windows Media Plays For Sure Audio logo on the box. This guarantees compatibility with DRM-protected audio content, such as tracks downloaded from online music sites. This is an essential feature for subscribers to such services, and it's good to see the logo on a media player at last.

D-Link has also taken advantage of Windows Connect Now. If you have Windows XP with SP2, you can use a simple wizard to copy your wireless network settings to a USB thumb drive. Plug the thumb drive into the USB port on the back of the DSM-320RD, and it configures itself automatically, making it the easiest media player to set up. The best thing is the WPA-PSK security. Previous media players have omitted this and used WEP instead, which is harder to set up and less secure.

If you want to stream protected audio content, you'll have to use Windows Media Connect on your PC. The device is compatible with other UPnP server software such as TwonkyVision if you prefer. File format support is good for all popular audio and image formats. Video support includes Xvid, but not Microsoft's WMV format.

The DSM-320RD contains a DVD player and is shaped like one too. A memory card reader supports all the common formats except xD. The rear has all the connectors you're likely to need. Unfortunately, a dedicated component output has been sacrificed to fit a SCART connector on this European model. You can still use a component output with progressive scan by buying a SCART-to-component adaptor. Disappointingly, there is no support for HD output.

Image quality through RGB SCART was satisfactory. We streamed some video files and watched DVDs with no issues. The interface is boring, consisting of a series of text options. It doesn't even support thumbnails in the photo section. The remote is great, though, being ergonomic and clearly labelled.

The DSM-320RD has a lot going for it, thanks to the implementation of the latest Windows features. If you need to stream Plays For Sure media into your living room, this is a useful device. But it is expensive, and the lack of HD support is limiting.