Full Review
Design and Features
There are always the manufacturers that decide to wait and see how a new technology unfolds before putting all of their cards into the pot. With Blu-Ray and HD DVD still waiting to shake out a winner (HD DVD is looking to be ahead for now) there are companies like NeoDigits, Oppo Digital and even Denon and Yamaha that are waiting to see which technology is likely to win the race. So what do you do in the interim? Build on what is already available, for an affordable price.
Case in point is the Neo Digits X5000, a DVD player that doubles as a media streamer. Now as we have mentioned, the concept is nothing new and although only a handful of companies have attempted a DVD player that streams music and video, the idea really has not caught on; anything related to a PC is always complicated and can be hard to sell. The X5000 has another appealing aspect that really does separate it from the other players, the inclusion of a Wolfson DAC and BurrBrown OpAmp; two components normally associated with mid-range audiophile equipment. So even if you are not excited by the media streaming capabilities of the X5000, you might be turned on by its audiophile prowess.
The X5000 is a fairly attractive system thanks in part to its aluminum front panel, metal case and gold-plated jacks. The buttons on the front faceplate tell another story though; they feel like buttons found on computer chassis rather than a home theater component. The remote control, although backlit, lacks the same refined look as the X5000. The only positive about the remote is that the buttons are easy to read. A lot of these smaller DVD player manufacturers appear to have a tough time finding an aesthetically pleasing remote control. 
Image Courtesy of NeoDigits
The back of the X5000 reveals a plethora of inputs and outputs. You have the option of using either composite, S-Video, component video or HDMI video outputs, although the HDMI connection is the only one that will give you 1080p playback. The system also gives you the option of both optical and coaxial digital audio outputs. There are two USB ports on the X5000, one on the right side of the case, and one in the rear. This allows you to plug a thumb drive into the player directly for picture viewing. There are two network connections to choose from when connecting the X5000 to your home network; the integrated WiFi 802.11b/g or 10/100 Ethernet connection. 
Image Courtesy of NeoDigits
When it comes to movie playback, the X5000 will upscale DVD’s to 720p, 1080i and 1080p using the HDMI output connection. The system can also playback video encoded in MPEG 1/2/4, DivX 3.11/4/5, DivX 6/HD, Xvid HD, WMV 9/HD, VOB, and TS; basically any popular video codec.
On the audio front, the X5000 supports WMA/ WMA Pro, MP3, MPEG/MPEG2, FLAC, AAC, and Ogg Vorbis. Now since the X5000 is a streamer and not an audio bridge, it will not support DRM protected content such as iTunes media for example.
So what makes this a good system for playing your favorite music? Well besides the Wolfson DAC and BurrBrown OpAmp, the X5000 comes with a professional audio grade capacitor, R-core linear power supply and gold-plated jacks.
Also worth mentioning is the lack of support for Super Audio CD and DVD Audio. Apple users will also not be able to use the X5000 system since it solely supports Windows (please read the requirements on the specifications page).
Included with the X5000 is an HDMI cable (5 Ft.), wireless antenna, RCA cables, backlight remote control with batteries, and their quick start guide.
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by Rich on November 20, 2007:
“I bought this unit for $450 and REALLY wanted the networking part of it to work. Unfortunately it constantly froze and lost the network signal. I never even made it thru a single movie. The firmware upgrades are a joke as they create more problems. I think...” More...