Seagate FreeAgent Theater Plus

Seagate is a major player in internal hard disk drives. Seeing the company move into the multimedia center sector makes you think of Western Digital and the success of the WD TV HD. So then, is the FreeAgent Theater+ ready to explode onto the market or rather a damp squib?

Hardware, design and build: (too) simple menu

First of all, you have to understand the thinking behind this box. There's no internal drive but a proprietary dock that allows you to house an external hard drive. The dock can only house a Seagate FreeAgent Go. Note that you can connect any old hard drive via one of the standard USB sockets (see below).


When you turn it on, you wonder if there isn't some sort of display problem but no, it's supposed to be like that: the navigation interface really doesn't look up to much. Too sober, the interface graphics are light years away from the best media centers. Although navigation is fairly rapid, you can't get enthusiastic over the house style of the remote. Average quality plastic, few buttons... the handling is ok however.

But don't expect to see any appealing options there. It won't recognise audio track TAGs or album covers. Jukebox video display (film files with cover and synopsis) is impossible and the only option you have is the display of photos in mosaic form.


Compatibility: in the top half with stereo downmix

The device does make up for all this when it comes to multimedia compatibility. All current formats are decoded no problem, including HD formats. No problems with x264 HD MKV encapsulated video as long as you're within the limit of 38 Mbps (=average).

Dolby and DTS decoding can be carried out by the device or sent bitstream to an external decoder. In particular the stereo downmix mode allows you to convert a multichannel signal and send it to your TV speakers. This function runs with Dolby (SD only) and DTS (SD and HD).

DVD and Blu-ray rip is included (RIP + ISO) and only Blu-Ray menus aren't recognised (the film launches straight off). You do keep multi-audio and subtitling support. And while we're on the subject of subtitling, support is really excellent and the only regret is that you can't modify their size or where they're placed, let alone timing. There's no 24p mode support.

Connectivity: very standard, no extravagance

You won't need long to take the tour of the various connectors: HMDI, YUV, composite, optical or RCA analogue audio. You can use either this last or the HDMI for audio. There are two USB sockets, one of which is placed on the front of the box. You can use these to link up USB keys and external hard drives (whatever the make) to read the content.