Philips Streamium MCi500H wireless hi-fi system launches

With 160GB hard drive

7 August 2008 11:26 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Philips has launched the MCi500H Streamium Wireless Micro Hi-Fi System that offers an internal hard drive, Wi-Fi streaming and connectivity, USB Direct connection and internet radio access.

The MCi500H boasts a 100W Class "D" digital amplifier and two-way speakers with silk dome tweeters and 5.25-inch woofers and can play back CD, CD-RW, MP3-CD and WMA-CD disks plus MP3, WMA or (non-DRM) AAC encoded tracks.

Consumers can store up to 80,000 tracks on an internal 160GB hard disk. CDs can be ripped to the hard disk at MP3 bit rates between 128 and 320kbps or alternatively using VBR - with the Gracenote system automatically adding metadata to be viewed on the colour LCD display.

The MCi500H can also receive, play and store tracks saved on a PC with music able to be transferred via drag 'n' drop either via the supplied Ethernet cable or wirelessly streamed.

USB Direct connection allows "plug and play" of USB memory devices and there's also access to all the channels and stations available to be streamed over the internet, as well as FM radio.

And, if you want to use the stereo to build a networked system throughout your home, the MCi500H offers the option to wirelessly stream music stored on the hard disk to up to five Wi-Fi "stations" located anywhere in the house.

On sale from August, the MCi500H has an estimated price of £399.