D-Link MediaLounge DSM-520 Digital Media Streamer

Comparing digital media streaming devices is a difficult task. Not only do you need to study the supported formats, but also determine whether those formats will work at certain speeds. The D-Link Wireless HD Media Player plays high-quality video files and even streams music from many online services, but you’ll need an ideal wireless setup to get good quality.

One of the problems with digital streaming (and this issue applies to  most wireless products that support high-definition files) is interference. When another wireless client is using the network, or a neighbor fires up another 802.11g router, you might see video stutter. The D-Link DSM-520 technically supports the high-def Windows Media file format, but playback quality is not what you might expect.

In our tests, an episode of “Lost” that we recorded with the ATI HDTV Wonder tuner card streamed flawlessly only when we kept the quality at DVD level. When we raised the bitrate higher,  playback stuttered.

The wireless conditions are key for convenience. If you keep the player no more than one room away from a router and tweak some router settings for the best throughput, you can enjoy a good streaming experience.

The DSM-520 supports video recorded and copied from a digital camcorder and plays downloaded MPEG, XVID, and AVI files from the Internet. Unlike other video streaming products, the DSM-520 does not play movies from Movielink (www.movielink.com) or CinemaNow (www.cinemanow.com) or order directly from these services. The DSM-520 doesn’t even allow these licensed, protected files to be sent over Windows Media Connect. You can store video files locally, however, on a USB key or hard disk.

Like its predecessor, the new D-Link player supports music services such as AOL Radio, Live365 (www.live365.com), Real Rhapsody, and music. Once you configure your account, you can stream audio from the Internet directly to the DSM-520. This feature saves a lot of configuration and library management because you can create quick playlists from those services or listen to Internet radio without ever bothering with the music files on your PC.

The DSM-520 saves Microsoft Windows Connect configuration files onto a USB key from your PC. You then plug the key directly into the MediaLounge, dramatically cutting down setup time.

If you want to view photos on your TV, the DSM-520 supports six image formats, including JPEG and PNG. It streams images using a buffer to eliminate distortion, even on high-resolution shots. The HD support displays crisp images on a high-definition LCD. The DSM-520 provides an HDMI output port for newer displays.

If you expect DVD-quality streaming, plus photo and music playback over your network, the DSM-520 will meet your needs. Anyone looking for real HD playback will have to wait until streaming devices support the just-approved 802.11n standard.