A.C. Ryan Playon!HD and Playon!HD mini review

Introduction

With a NAS in your home and a smartphone in your hand, today's digital multimedia collection is available on demand almost anywhere in the world.

Yet it's ironic that the big-screen TV in the living room somehow manages to remain disconnected and out of reach of your videos, images and music.

The biggest names in the industry - including Microsoft, Google and Apple - have all tried to solve the living room conundrum, but no one set-top box has yet conquered the mainstream.

Instead, niche high-def media players such as the Popcorn Hour, Western Digital TV and Compro T1000W are finding fans in an increasingly-popular area of the market with their no-frills approach and their ability to playback almost every format under the sun.

Joining those ranks is Dutch manufacturer A.C. Ryan. It's a name that might sound unfamiliar, but the company's two network media players - the Playon!HD and Playon!HD mini - attempt to tackle all of your multimedia requirements in a small, tidy package.

The players, pictured above, may look modest, but when connected to your TV they promise to play/stream a range of media formats that's about as all-encompassing as it gets.

Right out of the box, both the Playon!HD and Playon!HD mini will support all of the following:

Whether you're enjoying a simple MP3 or playing back a catalogue of Blu-ray BD-ISO disc images, the Playon!HD seems to have you covered.

And, more importantly, pricing starts from just £89.99. Intrigued? Read on to find out more.