Cheap Media Player

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990 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1540957 24-Apr-2016 08:07

Milutiche:

PANiCnz:

Raspberry Pi 3 + OpenELEC = problem solved!

Tell me more, I've played around with Arduino a little in the past but never a Raspberry Pi

There isn't that much to it really. OpenELEC is a Linux distro that uses Kodi for media play back. The Pi has hardware decoding for codecs like H264 so makes for a very popular media player. Needs a few accessories (PSU, SD card, HDMI cable, case, remote etc) to make it all work but should be achievable for around $100. OpenELEC is very easy to install and unless someone had told you you wouldn't know it was Linux i.e. no need to use the command line.

driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1541113 24-Apr-2016 13:00

Milutiche:

driller2000:

If you are prepared to wait ie. via china - the latest Amlogic S905 Android based streamers get ok reviews.

I have ordered one which will cost $87 NZD landed - incl 2G Ram, 16 G Rom, HDMI 2.0, GB Lan, 4.0 BT, Ac Wifi - so well specced for the price.

With Kodi onboard they can pretty much all file types and resolutions up to 4k - as opposed to the WD which may struggle on some.

And the play store means full access to all Apps - Media / Social / Gaming / News etc

The main risks with these is the lack of support and updates - esp for cheaper devices (but @ $88 its worth a risk in my book) and as its an import - if it breaks, returns will be expensive if its even worth it.

Yeah I don't mind waiting for a while, maybe when you get yours you can post up a little review of it.

Yep will do :)

Link: http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_321408.html

Milutiche

172 posts

Master Geek

#1541436 25-Apr-2016 07:41

I quite like the look of this, and I do have a bit of cash sitting in my paypal account . . . .

edit: .....annnnnnd I've ordered one

qwertee

709 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1541457 25-Apr-2016 08:49

Milutiche:

I quite like the look of this, and I do have a bit of cash sitting in my paypal account . . . .

edit: .....annnnnnd I've ordered one

So jealous!

I shall wait on the review.

Been curious in experimenting with Kodi and a NAS but my budget does not allow for this spend.

Maybe this is a cheaper alternative for me to experiment. But for what I do my WD player does tick the boxes.

However regarding playable formats, I have had issues with only a couple of files that refused to play and the

WD player would hang indefinitely, and required a power cycle.

cheers

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#1542475 26-Apr-2016 22:31

I also recommend a WD player. They are older units, and the menus are as ugly as sin, but I have been using two for a number of years and they have worked well. They essentially play most everything I throw at them except for .flv files, and seem to meet the OP's stated requirements at a low price-point.

richrdh18

210 posts

Master Geek

#1542554 27-Apr-2016 08:26

I have two WD media players, one is just a media player and the other virtually the same but with a Lan connection as well (networked and played media of my Plex server/pc.

Both worked great, played all formats of media no issues at all.

PM me if interested. I can get the actual make and model for you. I think they are still in the original boxes as well, with remotes.

Journeyman

1186 posts

Uber Geek

#1542562 27-Apr-2016 08:49

I've just started using a Rasp Pi 3 with https://osmc.tv/ Has support for my Samsung TVs remote control, which is nice.

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robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1542611 27-Apr-2016 10:06

Journeyman:

I've just started using a Rasp Pi 3 with https://osmc.tv/ Has support for my Samsung TVs remote control, which is nice.

I have a pi 2 running OSMC (I repackaged version of KODI) - very easy to install and as you say - the HDMI-CEC works very well with the sammy remote control.

I actually found the OSMC skin (which does look pretty) didnt let me enable/disable subtitles - so I set it back to the default kodi skin.

The pi 2 will play some HEVC/x265 files - but its a little underpowered on some files - I havent tried it past 720p - so you may get some performance issues with this sort of file.

I see the pi3 is supposed to be able to do 1080p @ 30fps so HEVC is probably all good now - unless you are trying UHD files!

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cokeman2

919 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1545536 2-May-2016 19:09

hey guys

well i recently updated my home theater amp to the onkyo trx- 646 was pretty cheap does all the latest formats atmos and soon dts X.

i been trying to get sum dts HD working and dolby atmos working on it streaming from my pc ....

i been using my lg tv media link which is powered by plex for couple of years now . i ve had it linked with optical out from my tv to my old home theather amp (in) worked brilliantly

as most of you guys can probably see why the dts hd is not working on the new amp i just read today that optical can only do dts 5.1 or 6.1 E.S ???

so i thought i try Xbox one with plex ( plex does not support atmos or dts hd yet? ) further more nor has xbox upgraded its firmware to do dts hd or atmos at the moment as i think just down mixs to 5.1

i went threw the xbox settings to do pass through bit-stream didn't work

what are my options get a media player thats supports dts hd ,atmos ? i think is my best bet ? or wait for ever for xbox to get there firmware update??

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driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1545547 2-May-2016 19:31

cokeman2:

hey guys

well i recently updated my home theater amp to the onkyo trx- 646 was pretty cheap does all the latest formats atmos and soon dts X.

i been trying to get sum dts HD working and dolby atmos working on it streaming from my pc ....

i been using my lg tv media link which is powered by plex for couple of years now . i ve had it linked with optical out from my tv to my old home theather amp (in) worked brilliantly

as most of you guys can probably see why the dts hd is not working on the new amp i just read today that optical can only do dts 5.1 or 6.1 E.S ???

so i thought i try Xbox one with plex ( plex does not support atmos or dts hd yet? ) further more nor has xbox upgraded its firmware to do dts hd or atmos at the moment as i think just down mixs to 5.1

i went threw the xbox settings to do pass through bit-stream didn't work

what are my options get a media player thats supports dts hd ,atmos ? i think is my best bet ? or wait for ever for xbox to get there firmware update??

Nvidia Shield TV is your best option - as it does all the above and more.

I have one as my main media machine in the media room (it replaced an ion2 htpc) - and my set up incl an onkyo 646 - and with a special build of kodi - atmos works ie. blue light comes on : )

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=252852

Note: There are other threads on the above board worth reading as well.

The Shield is expensive compared to to other streamers (approx $340 NZD landed) - but it is a truly brilliant device.

cokeman2

919 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1545581 2-May-2016 20:14

driller2000:

cokeman2:

hey guys

well i recently updated my home theater amp to the onkyo trx- 646 was pretty cheap does all the latest formats atmos and soon dts X.

i been trying to get sum dts HD working and dolby atmos working on it streaming from my pc ....

i been using my lg tv media link which is powered by plex for couple of years now . i ve had it linked with optical out from my tv to my old home theather amp (in) worked brilliantly

as most of you guys can probably see why the dts hd is not working on the new amp i just read today that optical can only do dts 5.1 or 6.1 E.S ???

so i thought i try Xbox one with plex ( plex does not support atmos or dts hd yet? ) further more nor has xbox upgraded its firmware to do dts hd or atmos at the moment as i think just down mixs to 5.1

i went threw the xbox settings to do pass through bit-stream didn't work

what are my options get a media player thats supports dts hd ,atmos ? i think is my best bet ? or wait for ever for xbox to get there firmware update??

Nvidia Shield TV is your best option - as it does all the above and more.

I have one as my main media machine in the media room (it replaced an ion2 htpc) - and my set up incl an onkyo 646 - and with a special build of kodi - atmos works ie. blue light comes on : )

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=252852

Note: There are other threads on the above board worth reading as well.

The Shield is expensive compared to to other streamers (approx $340 NZD landed) - but it is a truly brilliant device.

yeah thats quite expensive. as i haven't got much toy money left after buying the amp lol .... max was going to was 150

as i only want it as as media streamer not much of a gamer .... kodi threads quite good .... no mention of any other streamers in the thread i think

Social Bitcoin meetup every 2 weeks in Hamilton PM me for details

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1545586 2-May-2016 20:36

Do you have Dolby ATMOS speakers configured in your room?

driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1545597 2-May-2016 21:06

Umm.....you talking to me or the OP?

Anyhoo....

I do - just the Onkyo up-firing modules for now - works well on the movies I have tested.

PS: Link to streamer thread: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=252916

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1545603 2-May-2016 21:15

driller2000:

Umm.....you talking to me or the OP?

Anyhoo....

I do - just the Onkyo up-firing modules for now - works well on the movies I have tested.

PS: Link to streamer thread: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=252916

Sorry - I was referring to cokeman.

cokeman2

919 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1545613 2-May-2016 21:33

Dunnersfella:

driller2000:

Umm.....you talking to me or the OP?

Anyhoo....

I do - just the Onkyo up-firing modules for now - works well on the movies I have tested.

PS: Link to streamer thread: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=252916

Sorry - I was referring to cokeman.

onkyo 646 can only do a 5.1.2 setup ...at the moment i ve got it set up on 7.1 srrround mode thinking of moving the back srround as celling speakers.

i thought i get the atmos working first before i got carried away started putting holes in the ceiling (actually just going to attach them to the selling as they slim design speakers)

last thing i want to do drill big holes in the ceiling

Social Bitcoin meetup every 2 weeks in Hamilton PM me for details

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