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Full user review
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47 out of 48 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Reviewed 4 different Media Centers & Dlink 520 is the BEST"
Pros: Stream radio, plug/play, ^ quality 420 to 1080, back-up all DVDs to DIVX/XVID/MPEG4_SP( Read note on DivX), Buffer
Cons: Fst fwd rwd slow (4 times normal), USB Capacity, Support_ all vendors R bad, need bookmark 4 video
Summary: Reviewed 4 different Media Centers & Dlink 520 is the BEST
I have tried the Media PC (Dell), the Linksys (Cisco) , Xbot and Dlink and the Dlink is the best media center by far. However, if you are mainly a game player, go for the Xbot.
Dlink-520 = 9
Media PC = 7 (High Price too much functionality for need)
Xbot = 6 (Fair Media Center and GREAT game center)
LinkSys = 5 (High price not much functionality)
About 1.5 years ago I tried the Dlink DSM-320 and I kept it just under 30 days and returned it for a full refund because it had many deficiencies. As such I didnt expect much from the DSM-520 but to date I have been truly amazed and I plan to keep it.
Pros:
1) You can stream radio from many different internet sources & most are free.
2) System is pretty much plug/play. If you have media on your computer it will play on your TV through the 520.
3) I back-up all my DVDs into DIVX format and 520 can read this format. However you must rename extension from .divx to .avi.
4) 520 increases the quality. I have a HD TV and with an HDMI cable quality is better then normal DVD even though with DivX a movie is compressed from >5GB to <700MB.
5) You can set up different media centers on different computers. As a result your entire family can log their media onto the 520.
6) Buffer Evidently some buffer is present. I rebooted my computer during a movie (accidentally) and the movie continued to play for over 3 minutes. Once it stopped it picked back up where it left off once computer was restored.
Cons:
1) Fast forward & rewind very slow. Probably about 4 times max normal speed.
2) USB Drive I connected a 250GB USB drive and system couldnt see it. Dlink support told me 200GB was max so I connected a 150GB and still no connect. I connected a 20GB and success. So, I imagine max is somewhere between 20GB and 150GB. I will let you all know once I figure this out.
3) Dlink support is about as bad as all the rest. I reached 2nd level support after 42 minutes and they still gave me the wrong info on the USB drive (2 above).
4) Doesnt have a bookmark for video. So if you want to stop a movie & want to return you will experience #1 above.
Misc:
1) PC Configuration XP Home, 2.0 Ghz, 512MB mem, Hyper Thread.
2) Updated PC and Dlink to current software/firmware.
3) Running wireless but installed $12.99 9DB attenuators from CompUSA (on sale) on the 520 as well as my Linksys wireless router.
4) What I Paid for 520 - $202.37 which includes ship/tax at Amazon.com. This includes a $30.00 discount for charging on a new Amazon credit card which I will throw away when I get it.
I have had this 520 since 2/05/06 (1 week). It took me about 2 hours to connect to my home network. I have over 300 movies and 4,000 songs on my 6 home computers and they are now all available on my TV. The kids love it but I must admit I, the family tech guru is the most impressed. I have heard that this unit has a delay. I have not noted this and believe anyone that reports such is doing so based on the 320 version.
If requested I will give you an update after my 30th day.Updated
I've had this for 4 months now and I still love it. In fact the whole family loves it. I've experienced no problems with it and as i mentioned if you want to run this wireless you need a G router and a 9DB gain on both ends.
I've also added a DSM-G600 which connects directly to my router and with this my entire media collection is available without having to turn on the computer. My family and I have placed our entire DVD\CD\Picture collection on this server and it works flawlesly. When I purchase a new DVD I copy it on the server as well and and save my DVD so it doesn't get damaged.
I have several friends who have purchased this on my reccomendation and they also love it. I know of no one that returned the unit.
- 12 replies to this review
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does the 520 DSM support subtitles? i mean like srt , sub ?
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In your review (which I sincerely appreciate), you mention that the system had some trouble accessing a 250 GB hard-drive, finally working with a 20 GB drive. You mentioned possibly following up later with more detail. Did you ever find out more? I can't imagine the thing being limited to a specifically sized HD. The reason for my keen interest is that I want to put 500 cds on a Buffalo Terabyte drive (4 x 250 GB) that could then be played via the DSM-520.
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I am very impressed with what i have read about the Dlink 520. What concerns me is another user's extreme dislike of the user interface and how it relates to playing music ("A Waste of Money for Music", 11/20/06). My current need/desire for a media center is to enjoy my CD collection on my stereo thru a decent user interface. I do have desires to use the video and photo functions of a media center (when i upgrade my TV) so i don't want to invest in an audio only media center device. If its true that files can only be played alphabetically (after narrowing by album, genre, etc as the other user claimed) that IS truly miserable. You would think ultimately browsing by track would be an easy thing to include. Can you please elaborate more on your opinions of this product as it relates to audio . . . the UI, browsing, playing, etc. Can you browse to an album and play it or is play limited to individual songs? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I hope its not as bad as claimed. I can't imagine it could be and not be a part of everyone's "cons".
Thanks - Stoflos -
Hi Sugarski, First of all thanks for your great review of the 520. One of the comments submitted indicated a very poor rendering of digital photos. Did you experience the same lack of quality issue or do you have any thoughts on the matter?
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Been trying to decide on a media player for several weeks now, and was coming down heavily on DSM-520, and this review was just the icing on the cake. I dont mind the other neg reviews as they dont really impinge on my requirements.
Now all I need is to find one in stock in the UK !
David -
Sugarski, can you please shed some more info on those 9dB boosters you have mentioned (model, etc.) ?
Thanks. -
Photos are only 480P (720x480) which is very disappointing; cant believe this was overlooked in the system design. I have a lot invested in the rest of my digital photography flow (digital camera, PC w/backup, software, plasma TV, feeding an raising the subject matter
, this should be called Weak-Link . Funny that HD video is supported by not HD still photos, MPEG and JPEG formats use similar DCT depression (plus it does MPEG-4; why dont they use the same scaler!?)
Also, photos are scaled to fit 16:9 format in my case, which makes everyone look fat(ter).
So this is not a good toy if you hope to enjoy your digital photo library. Falls short of being an HD Media Player in my opinion.
Also does not play AVI files, which includes files exported from a DV camera, these need to be compressed first to another video format.
I guess Media PC is the way to go, would have much less delay as well, which is another annoyance. -
I would love to ask you about converting your dvd's. I have 450! I have been frustrated trying to get it to work the way I want it to. I would love to convert them to 700 mbs and be able to sort them like my music collection is. (4300 songs also)I would appreciate any light you can spread on this subject. thanks
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Sugarski - great review, very helpful. I just had a few follow-up questions:
1) Does this support Yahoo! Music service (can't seem to find that info anywhere which makes me think it does not)?
2) What is the 9DB that you added and what purpose does it serve?
3) DSM-G600: same question for this - what is it and what purpose?
Sorry I am pretty computer literate but when it comes to networking I'm a novice.
Thanks! -
Do u know if this is compatible with MCE2005., ie am i able to stream shows recorded on my pc(hdef) by MC to it? i think one person mentioned that it will not play videos recorded by MCE05, but i was unsure. thanks!
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WOW!
Sugarski...are you serious? If what your saying is true this would surely be a 10/10! If what your saying is true I want one! How about that 30 day review? How bad is the setup for a novice running XP Pro on a Dell XPS LT with internal wireless modem and Linksys G router?
So the new attennae are a must?
Thanks so much for your detailed review! I appreciated that very much... -
Thanks for the detail opinion, im thinking in buyin one media lounge, i was wondering if you are you conected wirless, what kind of router are you using band b or g, do you have any more coments on this product.
TKS
Where to buy
D-Link MediaLounge DSM-520:
$184.99 - $345.79
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$227.79 | Yes |
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$199.99 | Yes |
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$199.99 | Yes |
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$214.95 | Yes |
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$233.73 | Yes |
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