Vizo Milano Enclosure & Media Player

A Closer Look

Vizo has decided to brand the enclosure with the Model name on both sides. These writings are printed on the metal covers. The overall weight of the Milano can certainly be described as very heavy. The thick metal parts and the sturdy plastic make the enclosure almost indestructible.


The front of the Milano features a lot of buttons, which are used to browse through the interface instead of using the remote control. Below the large power button you will find the IR lens, which is actually quite sensitive and works extremely well. On the rear the Milano does not dissapoint either. The USB plug is located all the way to the left, right next to the optical audio output. the two chinch connections are used for SD and HD video output, while the S-Video is located at the right end.


The Milano actually ships in an open state. The screws to secure the cover are included in a seperate bag. The inside of the enclosure holds no real surprises. There is a metal frame to hold the hard drive in place.


Removing the PCB can be done easily by unscrewing the for philips screws in each corner of the enclosure. As you can see, there is a bare connector for an ethernet plug and a spot meant for a small chip which could be the controller for an RJ45 connector. Vizo has decided not to offer this feature in the Milano, but it would have been a great addition. The PCB is of the same dimension as the inner space of the enclosure. All the ICs and parts are soldered to the underside of the board and the Sigma chip is by far the largest one on the PCB.

Assembly

The first step required for assembly is the preperation of the hard drive. Take out the included metal frame and secure the drive with the included screws. This contraption can then be inserted in the Milano casing.


Closing the cover after connecting the hard drive proved to be a bit difficult. The crews are dropped into four holes on the opposite side of this open side. The first problem that arose was the lack of a fitting screw driver. I then used a small one to screw the parts in. There seems to be a lot of pressure on the edges, of the enclosure, which makes it hard to press the cover on once three of the four corners are screwed on tight. After applying a bit of pressure I managed to get the forth screw in as well. The upside is simple, there are no moving or loose parts and the Milano is rock solid.


The multimedia enclosure is meant to be placed on the included stand, as the front buttons are labeled in an upright position.