Now that you have decided to add a digital media player to your home entertainment system it's time to start the process of researching what's available in the marketplace and deciding on which one is right for your needs.
There are a number of considerations to keep in mind as you go through this process, so let's take a closer look at the steps you should take along the way.
Identify the features and capabilities you want Digital media players come with a huge range of features and capabilities, making them an excellent addition to your home entertainment system.
Before you can decide on the right player for your needs it helps to consider which features and capabilities are most important to you.
Physical attributes - Digital media players are generally quite compact compared to other home entertainment system components, but there is still some variation in sizes available, and even more so in the designs.
Think about the amount of space you want to devote to this device and how it will best fit into your home entertainment set up.
Also think about the colour and shape of player that will work best.
Storage capacity - It doesn't do you much good to buy a digital media player with limited storage capacity, so it's a good idea to always get the largest capacity possible for your price and size range.
Keep in mind the device needs to have enough room to not only hold all of your current digital files, but also have enough room to store future digital files you plan to add down the road.
Of course, if you do run out of space, you can usually add more storage via the addition of a USB storage device, such as an external hard drive.
Features and playback - Think about which features are most important to you - wireless networking, internet access capabilities, high definition playback, etc.
- and try to find some video reviews so you can see how the player works.
Look for ease of playback and navigation, keeping in mind that different players use different software for these interfaces.
Balance features and capabilities with your available budget Digital media players are available in a wide range of prices so you should have little trouble finding one to fit within your budget.
The biggest challenge is generally finding the right balance between the features and capabilities you want and the amount of money you want to spend.
As with most things, the more advance and numerous the features, the more a player is likely to cost.
For most people, it's a good idea to choose a digital media player at the high end of their budget range.
Why? Because this will allow you to get a player with a wide range of features and capabilities, making it easier to use and better able to continue being appropriate for your needs as they change and grow into the future.
Think of it as building in a bit of "room to grow", much like you do when buying clothing or shoes for children.
You're going to be happier with your digital media player for a longer period of time if you invest in one that's expandable with your needs as they change over time.
It's also a good idea to spend some time talking with a professional who has experience with digital media players, home entertainment systems, and integrating them effectively.
You might find out that certain players would work better with your existing system than others, for example, or that some particular features are better suited to the way you plan to use your digital media player.