How to Compare & Choose a Media Extender

Is there a specific budget in place? Most of the time, the answer is yes. Thus, cost is usually a primary concern.

Between all of the extenders, the ThinClientV2 is the most cost effective extender. However, the other more expensive choices offer a built-in optical drive and slightly faster performance.

If local Blu-ray or DVD disc play back is sought, then higher-performance systems like the RoomClientV2 or RackClientV3 would be better choices.

Another important consideration is - where will you place the extender? If it's rackmounted, the natural choice is the RackClientV3; its 2U rackready form factor is perfect for professional installations.

If the extender will be placed into a room, then you can select between:

- ThinClientV2 - Ultra Compact
  (1.5" x 7.4" x 7.4") [38 x 190 x 190mm]

- RoomClientV2 - Miniature Design
  (1.5" x 11.0" x 7.4") [38 x 280 x 187mm]

- RackClientV3 - About the size of a DVD player, its rack ears are removable

To enjoy 7.1 high definition, lossless audio formats like DTS-HD, DTS-Master Audio, and Dolby TrueHD & have it be decoded at your receiver or sound processor, HDMI1.3 is required.

Only the RackClientV3 has these options available. Alternatively, the RoomClientV2 can support 7.1 LPCM, but note that the sound will be decoded & processed at the VidaBox, and thus, this is simply 7.1 audio, but not considered to be true bitstreaming.