Plextor MediaX 500GB review

Plextor's MediaX is a media player and streamer that can play video and audio files directly from its 500GB hard disk or across a network.

It can also record TV and pause live programmes. There are HDMI, component, SCART and composite video outputs and stereo phono and optical and coaxial digital S/PDIF audio outputs, so it can connect to almost any TV or hi-fi. In our tests, video quality over composite was predictably awful, but fine over SCART, component or HDMI.

The MediaX's on screen interface isn't pretty, but it's clear, helped by the well designed remote control. To get media files onto the unit, you can either plug it into your PC with the supplied USB cable or transfer files from USB external hard disks or flash drives using the two USB 2 ports.

To find your files you use the built-in browser. The MediaX supports MPEG1 and MPEG2 video files, DVD VOB files, DivX and XviD MPEG4 video and high definition MPEG2 HD as well as MP3, WMA and OGG audio. Audio files are played one after the other; there's no option to create playlists, which is a shame. Any JPEG or BMP files will play as a slideshow, and you can rotate photos with the keypad as they come up.

The player will record video from its SCART or composite inputs, so you can record TV from a set-top box or an ordinary telly. There's a timeshift function to pause live TV, but no timer record or programme guide, so you have to find the channel yourself and press Record at the right time.

The MediaX doesn't have built-in WiFi, but as long as you can connect it to your router with a cable (or use a WiFi to Ethernet bridge adaptor) it works beautifully as a media streamer. It will connect to any shared folders on your network and let you browse for media files. If you have media files that your PC can play but the MediaX can't, the supplied Transcode Server software will convert them on the fly to a compatible format.

Plextor's MediaX is good value and, unusually, works right out of the box. Recommended.