MediaGate MG-450HD Review

Reviewed by K.C. Kim
http://www.mediagateusa.com/mg450hd.html
$224.99

Experience crystal HD playback on your TV with 5.1 SPDIF digital audio output. MG-450HD will lead you into a edgy experience of multimedia world. MG-450HD is not only a HD high storage capacity multimedia player, but provides Wi-Fi Networking solution that allows you to stream over the multimedia files through the local network.

Features:

* HDMI (High Definition Multimedia).
* SATA HDD Supported.
* Internet Radio.
* FTP Server & Client.
* uPnP.
* 1920x1080P Full HD.
* IEEE 802.11g(54Mbps) 802.11b(11Mbps) wireless.
* standard / 10/100Mbps wired LAN
* Easy to upgrade Firmware.
* 3.5″ Hard Disk Drive (Not-included).
* Wireless security – WPA / WEP.
* Wireless Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc Mode.
* External USB 2.0 storage via USB device connecting a computer.
* Read an external USB storage or an optical drive via USB host connecting various external USB device.
* DVD Manager – Playback of DVD File same as Original DVD title.
* Video output – HDMI, Component, S-Video and Composite.
* Audio output – Stereo, Digital Coaxial & Optical 5.1 ch. Sound.
* DTS down mix to stereo.

Specifications:

* Product Name: MediaGate MG-450HD.
* Power: DC 12V 3A.
* Dimension: 57 x 150 x 185 mm (without wireless antenna).
* Working Temperature: 0oC ~ 60oC.
* Working Humidity: 10% ~ 50%.
* USB Device: Device Port x 1ea, 480Mbps USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 compatible) USB Host: Host Port x 1ea, 480Mbps USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 compatible) supporting the capability of reading USB devices like External USB HDD, ODD, Flash Drive, Card Reader.
* Wired LAN: 10/100 Mbps LAN (RJ-45) x 1ea, 100BaseTX: UTP/STP Category 5 LAN cable compatible.
* Wireless LAN: 54Mbps IEEE802.11g, 5dBi detachable antenna x 1ea, SMA type connector.
* HDD Type: 3.5″ SATA HDD.
* HDD File System: NTFS / FAT 32.
* TV TYPE: NTSC / PAL.
* Video Format: AVI: MS-MPEG4v3/XviD/WMV9 (XviD with GMC option applied not supported) WMV: WMV9, ASF: WMV9, MP4: MPEG4 Video, DAT: MPEG1, VOB: MPEG2, MPG/MPEG: MPEG1/MPEG2, TP/TS/TRP: HD-MPEG2/SD-MPEG2
* Audio Format: MP3, OGG, WAV, WMA.
* Photo Format: JPG/JPEG, PNG, BMP.
* Video Output: HDMI (480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p), COMPONENT (480p, 720p, 1080i) S-Video, Composite.
* Audio Output: STEREO L-R S/PDIF Digital Output (Coaxial/Optical).

Intro – I am a serious movie buff and wanted a new media player to play all of my movies on the big screen. I have been using my Cowon A2 with 20 GB hard drive. But that media player fills up fast. Also the video quality is not that good with poor sound. Now there are products like the Apple TV and Archos TV+, but these models have limited codec support and in the case of Archos you have to pay additional fees to add features. So I was looking around for a better product. One that had a ton of features and connectivity options. That’s when I found the Mediagate MG-450HD, a Wi-Fi Net-Disk multimedia player.

In the box – MG-450 Device, Remote Controller, Wireless Antenna, Stand (Cradle), Power Adapter, Composite A/V Cable, Sata HDD Connector, Setup CD, Quick installation guide.

Design – The MG-450HD is one of the better looking set top players available. I like that it’s silver which matches my big screen television. Unlike the PS3 which is black that doesn’t match with my setup. And when I first open the box that I was surprise the multimedia player looks even better in person. It’s also very lightweight for moving it from room to room and traveling. Included is a stand to save space and a remote to control while your sitting on the couch.

Functions – I opened the box and hook up the cables in minutes. Had a Simpletech 160GB external USB 2.0 hard drive lying around and connected it to the MG-450HD. It immediately recognized that a USB device was connected and within minutes I was watching videos. The unit comes with a nice remote that controls the interface. The interface is rather simplistic which makes it very user friendly. The MG-450HD can have a Sata HDD installed internally. But the ability to have an external drive or stream with WIFI makes this versatile. The unit overall is very simple to use which would make it great for those who are afraid of complicated technology. This unit is pretty much dummy proof. The MG-450 also has an HDMI input so you can watch high definition video. This is the future and everyone with big plasma’s will like this feature very much. Video quality is excellent. I say it’s better than my PMP player. Another emerging feature is internet radio. This feature is a major plus and I don’t see other companies have internet radio on their set tops.

Conclusion – The Mediagate MG-450HD is an advanced powerhouse player. There are simple many options to choose from on how to play your media. The ability to play divx files out of the box is great. I think this is a nice alternative to the Apple TV and in my opinion easier to use. Not having to convert divx files over to Apple’s MP4 format is a nice plus. Providing ease of use, good value, and quality build quality makes the Mediagate MG-450HD a must buy for video enthusiasts and perfect gift for a special someone who has a home entertainment system.

9.0 Out of 10

Buy it now MG-450HD MediaGate Wireless High-Definition MPEG4 Netplayer (SATA Version)