The answer still lies with MP3 and also ogg vorbis formats but the device has changed to wireless media streaming devices, why have your MP3 collection on a PC that can't play to the HiFi downstairs? Well you don't have to, we've already reviewed the Slimp3 and now the big boys are arriving on the scene like Netgear with their MP101.

The Netgear MP101 is a wireless 802.11b client which uses your existing wireless network or a point to point connection with a suitably equipped PC to stream MP3 and output audio to your HiFi system, having wireless b only did concern us but having played with the Netgear MP101 its more than enough for even the highest 320kbps rate of MP3.

The unit will decode MP3 and WMA up to 320kbps and also cope with streaming MP3 formats and playlists stored in both M3U and PLS. Audio output is provided as RCA audio jacks on the rear of the Netgear or a stereo mini jack for connection of headphones or powered speakers, quality of this output seemed to be comparable with directly replaying audio from our main PC to the HiFi so the wireless link added no degradation to the signal.

Controlling the Netgear MP101 is pretty simple, the white on black LCD panel shows track information while playing and the music library while browsing your MP3 collection, the screen is a good size which makes navigation via the remote control a pleasure.

Installation from CD is easy too, once loaded on your main PC you can search for the MP101 and add it to your wireless network, the MP101 can handle both 64 and 128bit WEP encryption, you can also connect to the MP101 via cabled Ethernet to configure it for the first time. The application you install is intuitive enough and allows you to specify IP addresses and also configure the location of your MP3 files in effect creating an MP3 server, the first boot up of the Netgear MP101 will initiate an MP3 scan of the nominated directory which can take a while.

Once complete and connected you can access both playlists and albums / tracks stored on your PC's hard drive from the comfort of just about anywhere within range, this is claimed to be about 100ft but in our tests its ok through a few walls but we doubt it would make 100ft without losing wifi integrity.

Overall Netgear have got this just right, the stylish grey unit is well priced at a shade over £90 and offers a good range of features, perhaps missing ogg vorbis support is a downside and its not as stylish as the Slimp3 offering but it delivers the goods and the Netgear MP101 gets a big thumbs up from us.

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