DViCO TViX S1

As a scaled-down version of the Tvix 6632N, the Dvico Tvix S1 Slim is a more affordable media centre that's one step up from the Tvix N1. It has a digital TV tuner but there's no integrated memory card reader. For the rest, the S1 is very similar to the 6632N and both use the same internal software. So can Dvico pull off another five-star product? Let's find out.

Hardware: an excellent interface

The S1 Slim looks so similar to the 6632N that there's no mistake these products are closely related. In fact, the design is identical, and we're pleased to see the return of the high-quality plastic casing (glossy this time) and brushed aluminium top-plate. Plus, a 3.5-inch hard drive can be easily inserted with no need for screws.


There's the same VFD on the front for navigating though files and folders with the TV switched off. However, we would have preferred to see an LCD like on the PopcornHour C-200, as this type of display is much easier to read.


There's been no change to the remote control either, which is exactly the same as the one supplied with the Tvix N1, 6632N and 6500. It's not too bad really. It's comfortable to hold and has well-placed buttons but there's no backlighting. Here, you'll just have to make do with phosphorescent buttons.


The real strong point of Dvico products is the internal user interface. Unlike other manufacturers, Dvico has clearly invested time and effort in developing internal software that really brings something to its products. Navigation is fast, intuitive and there are plenty of options to play around with (see insert).

Compatibility: as expected, very good

The decoder chip is a new version of the chip found in the first-generation of Tvix 6600. It has already featured in the Tvix 6600+, and can bitstream HD sound to an external amplifier via the HDMI connection.

For the moment, this works very well with Dolby Digital TrueHD but doesn't work with DTS HD MA/HR. This is because DTS doesn't allow its HD audio formats to be bitstreamed by media centres with chips not compatible with high-street Blu-ray discs.

For the rest, Dvico has clearly been at work optimising the chip. Videos with very high bitrates (70 Mbps in H.264/MKV) can be played with no trouble, internal and external subtitles are handled well, and photos load up quickly.



DVD and Blu-ray discs can be ripped to ISO and RIP files. In ripped Blu-rays, the menus are replaced with a generic menu (BD-Lite) but soundtracks and subtitles are kept in both cases.

Connections: USB 2.0 and eSATA

There are plenty of connections at the rear of the media centre, with HDMI, YUV, composite, coaxial and optical sockets. USB Host ports (including one on the front) are also on hand for hooking up USB flash drives and hard drives. The USB connection was something of a weak point in the 6600 and N1, but Dvico seems to have put things right in the S1 Slim. It's now possible to play videos with very high bitrates (60 Mbps max.) over the connection, and data transfer speeds are now perfectly acceptable at 12.2 MBps.

For fast data transfer, an eSATA port allows you to connect compatible devices for transfer speeds just as fast as with an internal hard drive.

Networking is catered for by a 100 Mbps Ethernet port, but it's barely more than average. Files are copied at speeds of around 6.8 MBps and H.264/MKV videos with bitrates over 38 Mbps are full of glitches (although this type of video isn't all that common). Wi-Fi connectivity is available as an optional extra.