RipNAS Statement: Not to be hidden in the cupboard

Most network attached services (NAS) resemble PCs from the 80s. Bulky, noisy and usually black, they are best stuck in sound-proofed, under-stair cupboards. Not so the RipNAS Statement, which is a leap forward in both hardware aesthetics, functionality and simplicity of use.

So striking is the silver-coloured Statement that it needs to be taken out of the cupboard and stuck on top of the Hi-Fi system. Better still, stick the Hi-Fi under the stairs and put the Statement in its place. This is not such a mindless recommendation given the Statement\'s ability to integrate with all manner of high-end audio equipment, consoles and personal computers, including iTunes, Sonos, Linn, DLNA and uPnP.

Under the bonnet, the Statement is available in a hard-disk system which offers 3TB of storage or around 70,000 tracks or a solid-state device system, claimed to be the first SSD system, with 500GB storage, around 16,5000 tracks. If this does not prove enough for my jungle music collection, I can add additional storage units achieving up to 7TB or 240,000 tracks of storage. The SSD has no moving parts so should be more reliable than a hard-disk. The other benefit of SSD memory, low noise, is largely immaterial as considerable effort has been put into sound-proofing the Statement.

And for once, beauty is so much more than skin deep. Simplicity of use is at the heart of the Statement. Ripping of CDs is foolproof and error-proof. Load the CD, go and make a boiled egg (soft boiled) and come back to find the CD ejected. It uses up to four metadata services to grab the track and picture information for the CD. After ripping, the result is tested for errors, using AccurateRip, and, if any are found, then that song is re-ripped. The software is even capable of correcting errors from scratches – useful as the gorillas often use my CDs as drink\\\'s coasters.

The Statement is configured as a Windows Home Server. So once connected to the home network any other device on the network can access all the stored media.

No news on prices yet, but RipNAS' previous media devices retailed for around £1,000 for the 1TB version, so expected prices higher than this to reflect the enhancements and styling. Irrespective of price, this could be first device which is seen as serious competition for Hi-Fi systems. The Statement is a device that style aficionados could be a proud of.