REVIEW - AVeL LinkPlayer 2 (Part 1)
-FOR CONSUMERS/PRODUCERS- When we first received our AVeL LinkPlayer 2 from IO-DATA a couple of weeks ago, the plan was to wait on an important firmware update before posting our review. Unfortunately, that major firmware update was delayed, and IO-DATA released an incremental firmware update instead. Thus, we decided to split our review in two parts. In Part 1 we will review the unit as of the December 29th firmware, and in Part 2 we will update our review to include additional features and bug fixes addressed by the next firmware update (expected by the end of January, 2005).
WHAT IS IT? - The AVeL LinkPLayer 2 is the first DVD player compatible with HD file formats such as Windows Media Video HD and DivxHD. In addition, it is a full featured network media player.
PACKAGING & BUILD QUALITY - 5/5
The AVeL LinkPlayer 2 comes in retail quality packaging, complete with English manuals, an easy setup guide, and an installation CD. It includes a standard A/V cable, power cable, Ethernet cable, remote control, and a D4-component cable. The build quality of the LinkPlayer is impressive; the unit feels solid and is relatively heavy, especially when compared to most of the DVD players on the market. Four raised round feet allow placement on top of another device without causing ventilation problems. The DVD mechanism opens and closes smoothly and is extremely sturdy.
CONNECTIVITY - 2/5
The LinkPlayer lacks any type of DVI or HDMI port, which is pretty inexcusable in this day and age. Furthermore, the included D4 to component cable is too short to be of any use, so we were forced to use RCA couplers and our own component cable to reach our display. On the plus side it does have a USB port so you can plug in your digital camera, memory card reader, or even an external hard drive.
INSTALLATION AND SETUP - 5/5
A consumer electronics device should be 100% plug-n-play, and the LinkPlayer is no exception. The LinkPlayer works with or without the "LinkServer" software, so it can be used with or without a computer. Operating the LinkPlayer without a computer only consists of plugging in the power and A/V cables, powering on the unit, and picking the video mode appropriate for your TV (480i/480p/720p/1080i) using the "TV Mode" button on the remote (this is clearly indicated in the easy setup guide). IO-DATA went with 1080i as the default video mode, which was extremely smart given that most people will be buying this player with their HDTVs.
The remaining setup steps are just like any other DVD player, you choose the aspect ratio of your TV and choose the output of the digital audio out ports (either Dolby Digital or Stereo). The unit does not have a built in Dolby Digital decoder, so you will need an AV receiver to hear 5.1 surround.
The LinkServer software was equally simple to install. Just pop in the CD, accept all the defaults, and you are done. If you have a router, just plug the LinkPlayer into the router and it automatically picks up an IP address and recognizes any computer on the network running the LinkServer software. By default the LinkServer software will look for media files in the "standard" folders ("My Music", "My Pictures", and "My Videos"), but it is trivial to change the default folders and add additional "watch folders" as well.
Finally, updating the firmware on the LinkPlayer is about as easy as you could expect; simply click "firmware update" in the setup screen, and it automatically looks for new firmware over the Internet and installs it. In fact, I would say this is the first consumer electronics device that allows firmware updates by even the most novice of users. The only catch is that the LinkPlayer must be connected to your home network (and thus to the Internet) for the firmware update feature to work.
FEATURES - 4/5
The LinkPlayer is as close to a HTPC (Home Theater PC) replacement as we have ever seen. It plays nearly every audio and video format you can think of, including many you probably have never heard of. Video formats include MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, DivX, XviD, and WM9, among others. Audio formats include MP3, AAC, WMA, PCM, and Ogg Vorbis. Photo formats include JPEG, BMP, GIF, and PNG. Note that these are all without the aid of a PC, they can be played from a DVD+R or DVD-R data disc!
Of course the most important feature is the ability to read and playback HD files smoothly (720p or 1080i), even from a DVD. We are happy to report it does this with flying colors. We had no problem with playing back Windows Media 9 HD (WMVHD), DivxHD, and MPEG2 HD files at bitrates up to 10Mbps, 5Mbps, and 20Mbps respectively. Playback from DVD, even at 20Mbps, was smooth as butter.
Unfortunately, if you are looking at buying commercial WMVHD DVD's, such as the popular IMAX series available at Amazom.com, hold your horses. These DVDs include DRM (a copy protection scheme) and Windows Media 9 Professional Audio (5.1 audio), both of which the LinkPlayer does not yet support. IO-Data indicates these features are being added in the next firmware release expected in January.
In any case, as a standalone DVD player, the LinkPlayer is unmatched. No other DVD player can playback HD files, period. Furthermore, very few DVD players can even recognize half the file formats the LinkPlayer supports.
Of course, the LinkPlayer is also a network media player, which means you can play media files stored on your computer via the LinkPlayer, in effect turning the LinkPlayer into a conduit between your computer and your TV. It will even recognize your Windows Media Player or iTunes music database (we only tried Windows Media Player), and list music by genre, artist, or album.
The LinkPlayer is flexible as well. If you don't like the interface and/or features provided by the default LinkServer software, use the server software provided by Momitsu instead (http://www.momitsu.com/dvd_880n_mmc.html). This adds features to the LinkPlayer such as basic web browsing, Internet Radio, RSS news, and a better interface. Since the server software is basically just a glorified web server, expect to see various 3rd party incantations of the server software over time.
Finally, for the advanced user, there is an additional piece of software appropriately named "Advanced Server". The key feature added by "Advanced Server" is the ability to playback file types incompatible with the LinkPlayer. For example, we have .m2t files (MPEG2 Transport Streams) from our JVC HD10U HDV camcorder. Although the LinkPlayer can playback some .m2t files natively, it has problems with the files that come from our camera. With the Advanced Server, it will "transcode" these files in realtime into an MPEG2 format compatible with the LinkPlayer, and voila, the file magically starts playing. In essence, almost any file you can play through Windows Media Player can be played via the Advanced Link Server. The only caveat is that the quality may drop considerably, simply because of the bitrate limitations of the transcoding software (8 Mbps). This feature is especially important for people who work with HDV professionally, because with the Advanced Server the LinkPlayer can playback both Cineform .AVI's and .M2T files.
PERFORMANCE - 3/5
Unfortunately the HD component output of the LinkPlayer can best be described as soft. SD and upconverted material looks great, and while native HD material doesn't look bad by any stretch of the imagination, it just doesn't have that HD "ultra-real" look. The reason for this is unclear, but the initial consensus is that the included D4 cable may be to blame. As such, we have ordered a replacement D4 cable from JVC (http://www.jvcservice.com/store/ProductDetail.asp?Part=QAM0465-001), and when that arrives we will do A/B comparisons between the old and new cables.
To further explore this issue, we did a quick test with a couple of WMVHD files. We would switch between 480p and 720p output on the LinkPlayer with the same file, and then ask people in the room which one looked "better". The result was that nobody could tell the difference (ourselves included). Then, I stood about 4 feet from the screen (where the difference between HD and SD should be obvious), and switched back and forth between the different output modes. Again, I couldn't tell the difference. Mind you, this is on a very nice HD projector (Sanyo PLV-70) on a 100" screen, and HD on this setup typically looks pristine. So the question is, is the 480p output on the LinkPlayer (along with the PLV-70's scaler) just that good, or is the 720p output on the LinkPlayer just that bad?
Another performance related issue is the excessive "overscan" of the outputs on the LinkPlayer. We are accustomed to perfect geometry and screen alignment with HD devices (such as HD Receivers, progressive DVD players, etc.), but the LinkPlayer produced an image that was "too big" for the screen, even at 720p (the native resolution of our projector).
Finally, there are known audio issues with certain A/V receivers, although we were not able to confirm these problems. IO-DATA claims these issues will be resolved in the next firmware release.
Having said all of that, compared to 99% of the DVD players on the market, the picture from the LinkPlayer is outstanding. It produces a great SD and upconverted picture. It is just unfortunate that the HD output isn't as nice as we had expected, and hopefully that will be resolved by switching out the cable.
VALUE - 5/5
At a street price of $250.00, the LinkPlayer is a steal. Sure, you can get a DVD player for $50, but keep in mind this is the first player of its kind on the market. A market entry price of $250 is insanely low, in my opinion. By comparison, the Kiss unit coming out in the Summer of 2005, based on the same Sigma chip, is already listed at $350.00 for pre-order. Also, other players on the market (such as players from Momitsu and V. Inc.) that simply upconvert from 480p to 720p, are in the same price range as the LinkPlayer.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The remote control that comes with the LinkPlayer is weak to say the least. It has a very short range, and you must point it directly at the IR pickup to get it to work at all. Most people with HD systems likely have universal remotes that will quickly replace the LinkPlayer's remote, but in any case we had to mention the included remote is pretty bad.
OVERALL - 3.5/5
Feature-wise the LinkPlayer is unmatched among DVD players and network media players, and most likely it will play every type and resolution of file you throw at it. Furthermore, it is your ONLY choice for playing back native HD material without the aid of a computer. However, the performance issues really knocked the score down. I want to stress that if the "retail" WMVHD issues and the HD performance issues can be resolved, then this score becomes at least a 4.5/5. Overall it is a great piece of equipment, and well worth $250.00.
Please visit us again for Part 2 of this review, where we will see if firmware updates and a new cable resolve some of the negative issues covered in Part 1.
by Ben Buie
WHAT IS IT? - The AVeL LinkPLayer 2 is the first DVD player compatible with HD file formats such as Windows Media Video HD and DivxHD. In addition, it is a full featured network media player.
PACKAGING & BUILD QUALITY - 5/5
The AVeL LinkPlayer 2 comes in retail quality packaging, complete with English manuals, an easy setup guide, and an installation CD. It includes a standard A/V cable, power cable, Ethernet cable, remote control, and a D4-component cable. The build quality of the LinkPlayer is impressive; the unit feels solid and is relatively heavy, especially when compared to most of the DVD players on the market. Four raised round feet allow placement on top of another device without causing ventilation problems. The DVD mechanism opens and closes smoothly and is extremely sturdy.
CONNECTIVITY - 2/5
The LinkPlayer lacks any type of DVI or HDMI port, which is pretty inexcusable in this day and age. Furthermore, the included D4 to component cable is too short to be of any use, so we were forced to use RCA couplers and our own component cable to reach our display. On the plus side it does have a USB port so you can plug in your digital camera, memory card reader, or even an external hard drive.
INSTALLATION AND SETUP - 5/5
A consumer electronics device should be 100% plug-n-play, and the LinkPlayer is no exception. The LinkPlayer works with or without the "LinkServer" software, so it can be used with or without a computer. Operating the LinkPlayer without a computer only consists of plugging in the power and A/V cables, powering on the unit, and picking the video mode appropriate for your TV (480i/480p/720p/1080i) using the "TV Mode" button on the remote (this is clearly indicated in the easy setup guide). IO-DATA went with 1080i as the default video mode, which was extremely smart given that most people will be buying this player with their HDTVs.
The remaining setup steps are just like any other DVD player, you choose the aspect ratio of your TV and choose the output of the digital audio out ports (either Dolby Digital or Stereo). The unit does not have a built in Dolby Digital decoder, so you will need an AV receiver to hear 5.1 surround.
The LinkServer software was equally simple to install. Just pop in the CD, accept all the defaults, and you are done. If you have a router, just plug the LinkPlayer into the router and it automatically picks up an IP address and recognizes any computer on the network running the LinkServer software. By default the LinkServer software will look for media files in the "standard" folders ("My Music", "My Pictures", and "My Videos"), but it is trivial to change the default folders and add additional "watch folders" as well.
Finally, updating the firmware on the LinkPlayer is about as easy as you could expect; simply click "firmware update" in the setup screen, and it automatically looks for new firmware over the Internet and installs it. In fact, I would say this is the first consumer electronics device that allows firmware updates by even the most novice of users. The only catch is that the LinkPlayer must be connected to your home network (and thus to the Internet) for the firmware update feature to work.
FEATURES - 4/5
The LinkPlayer is as close to a HTPC (Home Theater PC) replacement as we have ever seen. It plays nearly every audio and video format you can think of, including many you probably have never heard of. Video formats include MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, DivX, XviD, and WM9, among others. Audio formats include MP3, AAC, WMA, PCM, and Ogg Vorbis. Photo formats include JPEG, BMP, GIF, and PNG. Note that these are all without the aid of a PC, they can be played from a DVD+R or DVD-R data disc!
Of course the most important feature is the ability to read and playback HD files smoothly (720p or 1080i), even from a DVD. We are happy to report it does this with flying colors. We had no problem with playing back Windows Media 9 HD (WMVHD), DivxHD, and MPEG2 HD files at bitrates up to 10Mbps, 5Mbps, and 20Mbps respectively. Playback from DVD, even at 20Mbps, was smooth as butter.
Unfortunately, if you are looking at buying commercial WMVHD DVD's, such as the popular IMAX series available at Amazom.com, hold your horses. These DVDs include DRM (a copy protection scheme) and Windows Media 9 Professional Audio (5.1 audio), both of which the LinkPlayer does not yet support. IO-Data indicates these features are being added in the next firmware release expected in January.
In any case, as a standalone DVD player, the LinkPlayer is unmatched. No other DVD player can playback HD files, period. Furthermore, very few DVD players can even recognize half the file formats the LinkPlayer supports.
Of course, the LinkPlayer is also a network media player, which means you can play media files stored on your computer via the LinkPlayer, in effect turning the LinkPlayer into a conduit between your computer and your TV. It will even recognize your Windows Media Player or iTunes music database (we only tried Windows Media Player), and list music by genre, artist, or album.
The LinkPlayer is flexible as well. If you don't like the interface and/or features provided by the default LinkServer software, use the server software provided by Momitsu instead (http://www.momitsu.com/dvd_880n_mmc.html). This adds features to the LinkPlayer such as basic web browsing, Internet Radio, RSS news, and a better interface. Since the server software is basically just a glorified web server, expect to see various 3rd party incantations of the server software over time.
Finally, for the advanced user, there is an additional piece of software appropriately named "Advanced Server". The key feature added by "Advanced Server" is the ability to playback file types incompatible with the LinkPlayer. For example, we have .m2t files (MPEG2 Transport Streams) from our JVC HD10U HDV camcorder. Although the LinkPlayer can playback some .m2t files natively, it has problems with the files that come from our camera. With the Advanced Server, it will "transcode" these files in realtime into an MPEG2 format compatible with the LinkPlayer, and voila, the file magically starts playing. In essence, almost any file you can play through Windows Media Player can be played via the Advanced Link Server. The only caveat is that the quality may drop considerably, simply because of the bitrate limitations of the transcoding software (8 Mbps). This feature is especially important for people who work with HDV professionally, because with the Advanced Server the LinkPlayer can playback both Cineform .AVI's and .M2T files.
PERFORMANCE - 3/5
Unfortunately the HD component output of the LinkPlayer can best be described as soft. SD and upconverted material looks great, and while native HD material doesn't look bad by any stretch of the imagination, it just doesn't have that HD "ultra-real" look. The reason for this is unclear, but the initial consensus is that the included D4 cable may be to blame. As such, we have ordered a replacement D4 cable from JVC (http://www.jvcservice.com/store/ProductDetail.asp?Part=QAM0465-001), and when that arrives we will do A/B comparisons between the old and new cables.
To further explore this issue, we did a quick test with a couple of WMVHD files. We would switch between 480p and 720p output on the LinkPlayer with the same file, and then ask people in the room which one looked "better". The result was that nobody could tell the difference (ourselves included). Then, I stood about 4 feet from the screen (where the difference between HD and SD should be obvious), and switched back and forth between the different output modes. Again, I couldn't tell the difference. Mind you, this is on a very nice HD projector (Sanyo PLV-70) on a 100" screen, and HD on this setup typically looks pristine. So the question is, is the 480p output on the LinkPlayer (along with the PLV-70's scaler) just that good, or is the 720p output on the LinkPlayer just that bad?
Another performance related issue is the excessive "overscan" of the outputs on the LinkPlayer. We are accustomed to perfect geometry and screen alignment with HD devices (such as HD Receivers, progressive DVD players, etc.), but the LinkPlayer produced an image that was "too big" for the screen, even at 720p (the native resolution of our projector).
Finally, there are known audio issues with certain A/V receivers, although we were not able to confirm these problems. IO-DATA claims these issues will be resolved in the next firmware release.
Having said all of that, compared to 99% of the DVD players on the market, the picture from the LinkPlayer is outstanding. It produces a great SD and upconverted picture. It is just unfortunate that the HD output isn't as nice as we had expected, and hopefully that will be resolved by switching out the cable.
VALUE - 5/5
At a street price of $250.00, the LinkPlayer is a steal. Sure, you can get a DVD player for $50, but keep in mind this is the first player of its kind on the market. A market entry price of $250 is insanely low, in my opinion. By comparison, the Kiss unit coming out in the Summer of 2005, based on the same Sigma chip, is already listed at $350.00 for pre-order. Also, other players on the market (such as players from Momitsu and V. Inc.) that simply upconvert from 480p to 720p, are in the same price range as the LinkPlayer.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The remote control that comes with the LinkPlayer is weak to say the least. It has a very short range, and you must point it directly at the IR pickup to get it to work at all. Most people with HD systems likely have universal remotes that will quickly replace the LinkPlayer's remote, but in any case we had to mention the included remote is pretty bad.
OVERALL - 3.5/5
Feature-wise the LinkPlayer is unmatched among DVD players and network media players, and most likely it will play every type and resolution of file you throw at it. Furthermore, it is your ONLY choice for playing back native HD material without the aid of a computer. However, the performance issues really knocked the score down. I want to stress that if the "retail" WMVHD issues and the HD performance issues can be resolved, then this score becomes at least a 4.5/5. Overall it is a great piece of equipment, and well worth $250.00.
Please visit us again for Part 2 of this review, where we will see if firmware updates and a new cable resolve some of the negative issues covered in Part 1.
by Ben Buie
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