Best Network Media Players and Media Streamers

It's about time that we have a network media player to rival the picture and sound quality of a Blu-ray Disc. The WD TV Live Hub is a stunning performer that comes close.

The newest media player in Western Digital's WD TV Live line has been named the Live "Hub" because it is more than a network media player. It is also a media server with an internal 1TB hard drive. You can use the WD TV Live Hub as a dumping ground to store media, rather than using network attached storage (NAS) or an external hard drive for your network's central media library. For more details and perspective on this exciting product, check out the review by About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez

The CiragoTV Platinum CMC3000 is a network media player with a built-in hard drive that also features DVR and NAS (Network Attached Storage Device) functions. The CMC3000 allows you to play back audio, video, and still image files stored on your home network or connected USB devices, as well as being able to watch, record, and play TV programs (external tuner required). You can also listen to Internet Radio, share media files via BitTorrent, and also access streaming services, such as Netflix, via the optional PlayOn service. To find out if the CiragoTV CMC3000 is right for you, check out my Review, Photo Profile and Video Performance Tests.

The Sony Media Player SMP-N100 is one of a growing number of affordable add-on boxes that can bring a host of internet-based audio and video content from the internet to your TV and home theater system. The SMP-N100 features great picture quality, bolstered by precision video upscaling and also provides HDMI-CEC home theater control. In addtition, the SMP-N100 can easily find DLNA media servers, but it can only play a limited number of file formats. To find out if the Sony Media Player SMP-N100 is right for adding to your TV and home theater experience, check out our four-article series that features a comprehensive review and detailed look at the how to set up and use this interesting media player product.

Seagate is a familiar name in the PC world as makers of hard drives that are used in PCs, DVRs, and DVD Recorder/Hard Drive Combos. Previously, I reviewed the FreeAgent Theater hard-drive based media player. Now, Seagate offers an updated model, the FreeAgent Theater+, that not only allows you to play back audio, video, still image files stored on a portable hard drive, USB flash drives and many Digital Still cameras, but adds full HD 1080p output via HDMI, as well as home networking and internet access via ethernet. To find out if the the FreeAgent Theater+ is right for you, check out my Review and Photo Gallery. Also, check out a follow-up review from About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez, that includes some updated features.

The WD TV Live Plus HD Media player by Western Digital is smaller than a paperback book. Still, it is powerful enough to find the media on your network and stream it to your TV in 1080p full high definition.The WD TV Live Plus HD also has a fast processor, and is compatible with just about any non-copy-protected photo, movie or music file format . The WD TV Live Plus also adds Netflix and Mediafly, and Hulu Plus*. To find out if the WD TV Live Plus Network Media Player is right for you, check out the review from About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez.

The Roku Digital Video Player is a compact unit that, when connected to the internet, allows streaming of movies and programs from Netflix, Amazon Video-on-Demand, MLB TV and more, for viewing on any TV with Composite, S-Video, Component, or HDMI inputs. However, the HD output resolution of the Roku box does not look that great, especially when compared to HDTV broadcasts, Blu-ray Discs, or even upscaled DVD. The Roku offers both wired and wireless internet connection options. However, although the Roku box connects to the internet via a home network, it does not access content stored on your PC or MAC, or portable USB devices. For more details on the features and operation of the Roku Player, check out the Official Roku Product Page.

The SageTV HD Theater is a great way to integrate your home theater system and PC. The HD Theater is a set-top box that can connect directly to your TV, or through a video-enabled home theater receiver, and also to your PC and high-speed internet connection via its built-in ethernet port. Using the SageTV Media Center software on your PC or MAC, you can access and view a host of PC/MAC and internet content on your home theater system and TV. The SageTV HD Theater has full complement of connections, including Ethernet, HDMI, component video (red/blue/green), and USB input for content stored on flash drives and other USB storage devices.

If you are intimidated by a traditional home theater receiver, the Yamaha neoHD YMC-700 Media Controller may be the answer. The YMC-700 is simple to use, while still providing audio/video flexibility. The YMC-700 offers 5.1 channel audio processing (including Dolby TrueHD), 3 HDMI inputs, analog to HDMI video conversion, USB, and a docking station port for iPods and Bluetooth devices. The YMC-700 is also WiFi enabled, allowing connection to a home network for accessing media content stored on a PC or from Rhapsody, and Internet Radio. However, the key to the YMC-700 is its unique onscreen menu-driven navigation system. To find out more, check out my Short and Full Reviews as well as a Photo Gallery and Video Performance Test Results.

Seagate has made it simple for everyone to share their media. Part of the GoFlex family of home network entertainment products, GoFlexHome is Seagate's "network storage system" -- network attached storage (NAS) device.

GoFlex Home is available in one or two Terabytes of storage, which is big enough to be both your centralized media server for your network-enabled home theater components, as well as providing centralized backup for all of your computers. To find out if the Seagate GoFlex is right for your, check out the review from About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez.

The NETGEAR Stora, network attached storage (NAS) device is an easy to use, reliable solution with many options to remotely access. You can use the Stora to store all you media files and then access them with a network-enabled media player and view or listen to them on your TV or home theater system. To find out if the Stora is the right centralized storage drive solution for you, read the review from Barb Gonzalez.

The Boxee Box by D-Link connects you with friends to see what TV shows, movies and online videos that they are watching and recommending. Boxee's approach to a network media player/media streamer is as unique as its oddly-shaped design. Boxee lists what your Facebook and/or Twitter friends are watching, as well as displays popular recommendations from other Boxee users. Boxee's other unique feature is its ability to find specific TV shows and movies on the web. Unfortunately, the results are limited because the Boxee Box by D-Link has yet to work out deals with Netflix, Hulu, Disney and most TV networks. Still, Boxee's performance and content make it a great network media player addition to your home theater. For more details, read a review of the Boxee Box, as reported by About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez.