Review: D-Link DSM-510 media streaming device

The DSM-510 is a compact media streamer that, among other things, supports high-definition video.

Things are kept to a minimum at the rear, with the HDMI socket joined by digital optical audio and Ethernet.

There's also an AV socket and adapters that offers analogue audio and composite video with Scart.

The DSM-510 doesn't support Draft-N wireless so you're limited to 802.11g, which is rarely good enough for streaming HD video.

However, if you've got some high-speed powerline adapters or you simply hook it up to your router via an Ethernet cable, HD video is possible. Thanks to the USB port on the front, you can also load HD video using a high-capacity USB stick.

The menu system is colourful and, using the large remote control, relatively simple to navigate. The user manual makes much of Intel Viiv and, should you have a Viiv PC, the setup application will quickly configure the DSM-510 to share your media. Alternatively, by pressing the Server button on the remote, you can choose any nearby media sources - for example a PC on your network running Windows Media Player 11.

Once you've selected the source, you can use Photos, Music and Video buttons to play back your files.

The DSM-510 can be slow when browsing large collections and thumbnail previews are often slow to appear. And although outputting 720p and 1080i HD video is no problem, the streamer doesn't support the higher quality 1080p standard.

The DSM-510 is one of the better media streamers on the market and it will certainly appeal to those who have HD TVs.