Vantec AVOX Jukebox AVX-100TX Review

The Software:

     No software is required to use the AVOX in conjunction with your PC if you are running a current operating system.  The AVOX can be connected to any USB port where it will detect as a USB storage device.  You don't even need to use the DC adapter as the TX is capable of using the USB BUS to power the drive.  I quickly added some video and audio to the unit and sorted it using windows.  I also used DVD Shrink to make my new Star Wars EP III DVD available for testing.

     Once the data is stored on the AVOX, simply attach the power and choose the correct cabling for your setup.  The AVOX boots like your DVD player and a short trip into the configuration screen is all that is required to correctly configure the audio and video settings to match your setup.  Navigation is performed by the remote using the arrow keys and the enter button.  This picture is from the Vantec website and more accurately shows the color and detail levels than my digital camera.

     With the AVOX Jukebox attached to my TV and booted the following screen appears.  As you can see, the menus will help with media compatibility and other options.

     The second tab is for audio.  Most of the widely used formats can be played.  It is also possible to play audio while viewing pictures from the picture tab.

Picture files are limited to the JPG format and are viewable individually or as a slideshow.

     The creation of a play list is handles as a separate tab.  It is a little more complicated but basically you need to select each file and add it to the list.

Here is the music player inaction.  During playback, the progress and time info will be visible at the top left.

Test 1

Test 2

     Playback of my Star Wars DVD verses the AVOX playback was the most telling.  In the above pictures, see if you can tell which image was played of of my Toshiba progressive scan unit and which was shown off of the AVOX directly.  It might surprise you to know the Test 1 image is from my $400 Toshiba Progressive Scan DVD player using s-video connectors onto a 32" Toshiba Ultravision Set, while Test 2 is after the image has been stripped and compressed to 4.2 Gigs and displayed using the AVOX component outputs.   There is a noticeable difference but the result is still "most impressive."

Conclusion:

     The Vantec AVOX AVX-100TX is definitely a hand little toy.  Storing and sharing media between different devices has never been easier.  I find the majority of the files I transport on my external drives and flash devices are audio or video file I am sharing with friends.  With the AVOX Jukebox I no longer need to copy or burn these files to show them off on my home theater system or even a friends TV/Stereo.   I can continue to upgrade the storage by purchasing 2.5" drives to suit my needs and swapping them is simple.  More importantly, the TX audio and video quality surpass my expectations on every file type.  With a price tag around $120 the AVOX fills a nitch between your USB drive and a home theater PC nicely.