Aspen Media Products intros 2009 HTPC lineup, includes DIY model

Aspen Media Products is probably even less known than the relatively unknown Okoro Media Systems, but it's hoping to break through somewhat with its stout 2009 HTPC lineup. The most interesting newcomer is unquestionably the AMP CL-1058DIY, which is supposedly aimed at the DIY crowd and starts at $949. For that, you get a chassis, a CableCARD tuner, optional 5.1 or 7.1 amplifier and freedom of choice when it comes to options such as processor, memory, storage and adding an additional CableCARD tuner. Think of it as partial barebones, we guess. The CL-1058BD (pictured) and CL-1058BDH are there for folks not looking to touch any silicon, and those can be ordered up right now starting at $1,049 and $1,349, respectively.

[Via Electronic House]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 8:33AM]

It's pretty butt ugly...

[glennS Posted Feb 12th 2009 12:30PM]

you are only going to see the faceplate when you put it in your av stand/rack. And that is pretty ho-hum, but I wouldn't call it ugly. Either way, it is overpriced.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 8:40AM]

why would anyone buy this at such expensive entry price? You can put together an HTPC on your own for far less with exactly the components/parts your looking for in a HTPC.

[PeterFnet Posted Feb 12th 2009 9:17AM]

A cablecard ready PC? doubt it

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 4:35PM]

$949 is HP/Dell CableCard PC money, and they actually INCLUDE a base processor/HDD/RAM (that you could upgrade for a little more)... if you really must have DIY, get the HP, rip out the motherboard, and put it in your own case, change out the proc, RAM, HDD, etc.

[glennS Posted Feb 12th 2009 12:36PM]

The only thing it offers is the CableCard, and at that price, it is not worth it. The cable industry has pretty much shot themselves in the foot by dragging their feet on cablecard, and making it so hard to get one in a PC. Between Hulu, Vudu, Netflix, AppleTV, Joost, et al, cable and subscription based DVR services are rapidly becoming irrelevant. I hardly use my Comcast DVR anymore, except for pausing live TV.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 2:53PM]

For anyone who likes to watch sports, the subscription TV services have a lock on that content unfortunately.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 4:42PM]

Agreed on both accounts... "tuning" and "recording" are a total hack. The future is all on-demand archived and live streaming over IP (whether it's from 3rd party/TV network websites or from a "cable TV" provider) from a multitude of sources including independents.

However, sports content is very limited on the web (and locked down in various ways like ESPN360 locking to certain ISPs/client address pools), especially if you wanted something live. Superbowl on the internet? Not in the near future... NFL, NBA, MLB all have crazy franchise rules that will make it impossible in their current form.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2009 11:54AM]

This is not all that expensive...prior to this, the nearest cablecard enabled platforms were selling for 2K and higher.

That makes this priced very competitively.

Could you put your own HTPC together for less (minus cablecard)? Sure, but not that much less. An equivalently equipped system (minus cablecard) would run you around 500-600. Therefore, you are only talking a $300 difference or so and you get cablecard support.

Keep in mind, not everyone has the time or necessary skill set to assemble their own HTPC.

That is the audience this is aimed at, not the techy guys that like to assemble their own h/w.

This just opens cablecard to the DIY guy that could not really access it in a cost effective manner.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 2:27AM]

The system is fully running and ready out of the box, you dont have to add anything to it if you do not want. It includes a processor, ram, dvd rw and cable tuner. Case, power supply, keyboard mouse and remote.

we went ahead and lowered the price to 749.00 as well! Enjoy :)