Now that Blu-ray has won the high definition DVD format battle, consumers will feel more confident about opting to purchase a media server to manage the ballooning storage requirements of their digital assets. A premium solution available is Sony’s HES-V1000 home entertainment media server and 200 disc BD/DVD/CD changer.

The HES-V1000 is a small, black tower (31 5/8 inches or 803 mm) stacked with a 500GB hard drive and room for 200 discs from your collection (actually you would have a very impressive collection just to fill it). The HDD can store up to 137 hours of video, 40,000 music files or 20,000 digital images. To access your media files Sony have included their Emmy award winning Xcross Media Bar (XMB) user interface as well as All-Media Guide (AMG) metadata technology.

To make presenting your digital images in a more appealing Sony’s x-Pict Story HD and x-ScrapBook slide show utilities are available. With x-Pict Story HD users can utilize unique layouts with sophisticated face-recognition technology and syncs transitions combined with music selections from their own library. The x-ScrapBook application automatically compiles a slide show to explore your memories in a personalized digital scrapbook format.

If you have a Sony BRAVIA Theatre Sync (or HDMI-CEC compatible) HDTV you can integrate your HES-1000 into a home entertainment network using a single HDMI cable. Music can be streamed to other rooms using DLNA compliant client systems such as the separately available CPF-IX001 wireless PC audio system.

Sony has offered a generous 3 year parts and labor warranty on the HES-V1000 with 1 year parts and labor on the hard disc drive.

Sony HES-V1000 Home Entertainment Media Server Specification

AVC-HD with x.v.Color output: yes
Input(s) : xD-Picture Card (x1); Compact Flash (x1); Secure Digital: STD/Mini (x1)
Video Codec Format : MPEG2/MPEG4-AVC/VC-1
Dolby Digital and dts Digital Output: yes
BD-Java Interactive Capability:
MP3 and JPEG Playback : from DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW
Remote Control Functions: Remote Commander RMT-HS001A
DVD+R Read Compatibility: Yes
DVD+R Recording: Yes
DVD+RW Read Compatibility: Yes
DVD+RW Recording: Yes
DVD-R Read Compatibility: Yes (Video Mode Only)
DVD-R Recording: Yes
DVD-RW Read Compatibility: Yes (Video Mode Only)
DVD-RW (VR Mode) Recording: Yes
High Definition: Full HD 1080/60p
BD-ROM: Yes
BD-R/RE Read Compatibility: Yes (BD-AV only)
JPEG Playback: Yes (Content must be in DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW or CD-R/RW Media)
x.v.Color: Yes (output without Meta Data)
Analog-to-Digital Converter: 192KHz/24bit
dts Output: Yes
MP3 Playback: Yes (Content must be in DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW format.)
Dolby Digital Decoding: Yes; HDMI™ bitstream out: Yes
Dts Decoding Yes; HDMI bitstream out: Yes
HDMI Connection Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
S-Video Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
Composite Video Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
Optical Audio Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
Coaxial Audio Digital Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
Analog Audio Output(s) : 2 Channel; 1 (Rear)
PCM Output(s) : Linear PCM Decoding; Linear PCM out via HDMI™ bitstream
Infrared Port: x1 (in)
Control-S Input(s) : x1
Ethernet Port: x1
Composite Video Input(s) : 2 (1 top / 1 rear)
S-Video Input(s) : 2 (1 top / 1 rear)
Analog Audio Input(s) : 2 (1 top / 1 rear)
i.LINK Interface: HDV DV input (1 top)
Memory Stick Media Slot : 1 (Standard/Pro/Duo)
Input(s) : xD-Picture Card (x1); Compact Flash (x1); Secure Digital: STD/Mini (x1)
Hard Drive: 500GB
Optical Drive: 200 BD/DVD/CD changer with Full HD 1080p Video Output
CD Yes: CD-R/RW (CD-DA), CD-R/RW (Data)
DVD: Yes (Video)
Dimensions (Approx.) : 12 1/4 x 31 5/8 x 15 7/8 (308mm x 803mm x 401mm)
Weight (Approx.) : 105lb (48kg)