Hi,
I am thinking about getting a TVIX M4100SH but I like to know more about before I buy (likely from internet) to avoid frustration after spending some money. I appreciate your contribution. I like to give some info about my intended setup:

I want to place the unit near to my AV set, not anywhere close my PC or network is. For that reason, I need a wireless connection. I also do not want any PC to be turned-on to be able to use the device. It is ok to use a PC for configuring or arranging things. This implies a good and user friendly playlist interface. My main usage will be to store and play audio CDs and play some photo slides. I will use it as a video player but that would be a smaller percentage. I have an adsl router.

I read the manual, searched the net but I could not find or confirmed my expectations. If you can answer any of the questions below, I really appreciate:

1. Can I use any other USB wireless adapter to connect to my wireless network other that what is listed in their web site? (The manual mentions 3 models and I am not sure it is to cover their back because they tested only 3 devices or not)

2. How are the audio files arranged? Can you see them by Artist, Genre, Title etc or just with basic names? If I have hundreds of CDs, how can I navigate? Can you use a PC to create an index off-line and then M4100SH uses that index file for navigation?

3. Can you generate a playlist? Can you create a playlist off-line by a PC and use that list later on? If so can you have multiple playlists?

4. Can you use the device as an FTP server? If I connect it to my router (wirelessly in my case), can I use it as an FTP server for my music, images, and other data files? (given that I install an Hard Disk inside the unit)

5. Does the internet radio work flawlessly? Can you see the station names instead of ip addresses?

6. How quiet is the unit? Is the fan noisy?

7. Are there any issues for network connections? Can you see the unit and transfer files using PCs without any problems?

Thanks for your patience reading so far and your valuable feedback.

do your homework, search this forum and you will definitely find 1500 posts long thread

Relax bigstrand, he is a new poster. Be kind.

Personally, I find it frustrating to have everything under one thread - especially 1500 plus long (really defeats the purpose of finding responses to specific topics). It is just the culture here.

JSDUDE99 - a quick response here, the M-5100SH may be a bit over-kill if you are just wanting to focus on music, but the interface is nice. There's more cost effective solutions if you want to save a little money. As for the networking and FTP server functions, look for the topic "Tvix M-4100SH and M5100SH" and at the top of the screen "search this thread." When you get the results back, carefully pick the specific line and it will take you right to the message you are interested in.

Good luck and welcome to the avs forum!

If I were you, I'd get the Xbox (XBMC)

dont get the xbox if you plan on playing back high definition content though.

Exactly qz3fwd .. the xbmc interface is great and overall for the price you get a great box.. but definately useless for HD content. If anyone is looking for a xbmc setup I am selling my recently retired one.. <shameless aren't I>

To answer some questions:
1. Can I use any other USB wireless adapter to connect to my wireless network other that what is listed in their web site? (The manual mentions 3 models and I am not sure it is to cover their back because they tested only 3 devices or not)

No.. only the ones listed as they are the only ones supported. I have one that is listed but I have the wrong rev and it didn't even recognize it (4000 or 4100)

2. How are the audio files arranged? Can you see them by Artist, Genre, Title etc or just with basic names? If I have hundreds of CDs, how can I navigate? Can you use a PC to create an index off-line and then M4100SH uses that index file for navigation?

I believe just basic names.. just the file names really.. not the info inside of the mp3s. If you ask more specifically I can try to find out. The navigation (and the gui in general) is a little sluggish in my opinion.

3. Can you generate a playlist? Can you create a playlist off-line by a PC and use that list later on? If so can you have multiple playlists?

Never tried it.. do you mean a standard format playlist or ?

4. Can you use the device as an FTP server? If I connect it to my router (wirelessly in my case), can I use it as an FTP server for my music, images, and other data files? (given that I install an Hard Disk inside the unit)

There is an ftp server built in but I've heard its slow as the ethernet throughput isn't that high for the chipset. I personally have the 4000 and 4100 as a network only device.

5. Does the internet radio work flawlessly? Can you see the station names instead of ip addresses?

Never tried it.. post a link example and I'll try it out.

6. How quiet is the unit? Is the fan noisy?

Pretty quiet.. but without a hard drive in it I have the fan set to the slowest speed

7. Are there any issues for network connections? Can you see the unit and transfer files using PCs without any problems?

I use mine as a network only box.. using the TVIX software for the nfs mount. Pretty reliable in my opinion..

Thx ajalger for your detailed answers.

Regarding to Q2, Whether you would be able to find all the titles from say Madonna or Ray Charles, then go and play them. Or classical CDs etc. (something similar to slimdevices (system did not permit to put the url)

Q3: Like a playlist you create windows palyer file or someting similar. Just to compose list of tracks to play then hit the play button.

Q5: Cannot post any example as I do not have the device. All I can say at the moment is through reading the manual. What I wanted to learn was that when you setup the internet radio, can you give any name (text definition) to the station (thats what you see in the screen as opposed in the example given in the manual) and the device goes and plays the station from the linked IP adress/port? If too complex, do not worry about it.

Thans again, and any other comments are welcomed.

Note to other commentors: I already did some search before posting but could not find the specific answers to my questions.

@jsdude99:

I own two 4100, and are very happy with them. They are great streamers for videos, but even though I love my Tvix, I wouldn't recommend them for music as primary use. Sure they play all MP3´s and so on, but the interface is just not made for music. Forget about sorting your music, forget about catagorizing. It plays the music present in a choosen folder on your computer. That's it.