On test: Helios X5000
Media Center PCs have been around a while now, and there's no better all-round tool for recording, watching, listening to music and downloading media. But not everyone has the cash to go out and buy or build a second PC to put in their AV rack, and it isn't always the greatest idea if you want the ultimate in quality or reliability either.
The alternative is to buy a network streamer so you can access downloaded and ripped video and music stored on your PC while still being able to play your CD and DVD collection. But at this point most people's AV racks would be creaking, and again that issue of quality is always likely to raise its head. I haven't yet seen a dedicated network streamer that's capable of matching a decent DVD player for quality, and the same goes for music playback.
Helios thinks it has the answer.



