Aspen Media Products is trying to make your media management as easy as possible. The company is looking right at the do-it-yourselfers with AMP’s new CL-1058DIY media server, and giving them the keys to configure it to best suit their entertainment needs.

The base model performance media server CL-1058DIY gives you a good start for all of your audio, video and digital photos, with 500 gigs of storage upgradeable to 4.5 terabytes. It comes with one cablecard tuner—ordinarily for pricier models—to PVR your favorite shows, and you can add another for $249.

The server, based on Windows Vista Media Center platform, has a standard DVD writer that you can upgrade to Blu-ray, and along with the video boost you can enhance the audio as well—a standard sound card can get a 5.1 amplifier card or 7.1 preout upgrade.

Also among AMP’s 2009 lineup are more CL-1058 options that include some of the DIY upgrades as standard, and even add surround-sound packages:

• CL-1058BD—starts $1,049 and includes Blu-ray
• CL-1058H—starts at $1,099, has the DVD writer and includes 500-watt 5.1 surround-sound speaker package with stands and 300-watt subwoofer
• CL-1058BDH—starts at $1,349 and has both Blu-ray and the 5.1 surround speaker package

Whether you’re a DIYer or not, you’ll be happy calling up all of your digital media at the push of a button or two.

Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!