Time to update - what's the best media player for streaming & playing files from NAS?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Time to update - what's the best media player for streaming & playing files from NAS?

iamian

46 posts

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#249445 11-May-2019 08:47

We currently have a Roku 3 but it doesn't work with some of the newer codecs (H265 etc), does anyone have experience/advice on what to get next?

Looking at:

Fire TV stick 4k

NVIDIA Shield

Roku Ultra

But open to alternatives!

Just want it for basic Netflix, Youtube etc as well as Plex (or alternative) for playing TV shows from our NAS (basic so can't really transcode anything heavy).

Thanks!

Jase2985

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#2234833 11-May-2019 09:00

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34

have you looked at other similar threads in there?

iamian

46 posts

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#2234834 11-May-2019 09:05

Jase2985:

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34

have you looked at other similar threads in there?

Huh, I did a search before posting but it only came up with one thread in off topic from over a year ago... weird.

Thanks, I'll take a look now.

Lias

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#2234938 11-May-2019 12:34

I've got a Roku Ultra and I've been really underwhelmed by it's media player for USB/LAN stuff. Great for Plex thou.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

farcus

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#2234967 11-May-2019 14:03

Vero 4K+

https://osmc.tv/vero/

Runs a slightly modified / skinned version of Kodi on a debian base.
No probs with HEVC

davidcole

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#2234973 11-May-2019 14:28

I didn’t think most of the streamers (Apple TV, Roku chromecast) were very good for off nas, without something to serve them (plex dlna etc)

Previously known as psycik

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driller2000

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#2235001 11-May-2019 15:15

Had my Nvidia Shield for a couple of years now - hands down best tech device I have purchased.

Good lower cost option is the Mi Box.

Cut and Paste from another Shield thread I posted in last year:

Love my Shield.

NF, YT, Amazon Prime and Vimeo give me 4k material.

Other video apps I use incl the usual TED, RedBull, Vevo etc. (+ Lightbox via sideload)

Recommend Stremio as well. ;)

Prefer SPMC (to Kodi) as it allows HD Audio ie. DTS:X and ATMOS - also allows voice search. Usual addons in use.

(Update - Kodi also does HD Audio now and SPMC is no longer being updated - so Kodi might be a smarter move.)

Mathuisman addons mean live IPTV + SkyGo integration - in Kodi.

Plex works OK too if that's your preference.

Streams content from my unRAID server - superfast and without issue incl 4k HD Audio rips over Cat5.

Spotify, Google Music and CloudRadio (for Soundcloud acct access)...for music.

Old school gaming via Mame4Droid - using their gamepad.

Have an original Shield so installed an SD card as internal storage so I could install other Android Games - drivers , shooters etc for casual gaming.

Has been bulletproof and reliable - highly recommended.

Also integrated with My Harmony Touch (using the shields IR sensor) and various macros - and works great.

Best tech purchase I have made in recent years.

Note: Only downside has been the pissant battery in the remote supplied remote which needs charging more frequently than I would like.

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2235014 11-May-2019 15:55

farcus:

Vero 4K+

https://osmc.tv/vero/

Runs a slightly modified / skinned version of Kodi on a debian base.
No probs with HEVC

The Vero 4k+ is great if you're looking for a simple solution.

A slightly more complex route is to get a cheap Amlogic box and install CoreELEC. I've actually switched to CoreELEC on my Vero 4k and am in the process of replacing all the players with Amlogic S905W boxes. The W is a cheaper variant, but it will play UHD to 30fps, which covers all DVD/Blu-Ray/UHD with the exception of one obscure title.

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2238288 15-May-2019 11:48

I've got a Vero 4k and I'm very happy with it. I serve the files from my 7 year old NAS via NFS. No DLNA as my NAS is too slow.

The support from the Vero / OSMC team is awesome.

Oh and since the latest version of OSMC you should be able to watch Netflix as well, albeit with an unofficial app.

richrdh18

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#2238309 15-May-2019 12:32

Plex, free version is just fine.

timmmay

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#2238315 15-May-2019 12:41

LibreElec and a R.Pi 3 is a cheap option, but fiddly. You sometimes have to mess with things using ssh to get them working how you like.

How do you get Roku to play media from a LAN? Can it run Kodi? I haven't found a way to let it run Kodi, that would be a killer app for Roku.

lomenak

119 posts

Master Geek

#2238322 15-May-2019 12:52

I have Fire TV Stick 4k running on a tv in our bedroom. netflix app and Kodi for our own library. It's been great, very fast and cheap!

rb99

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#2238338 15-May-2019 13:14

Emby is a decent alternative to Plex, though admittedly I think you get more for free with Plex.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

Quinny

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#2238340 15-May-2019 13:23

For people buying a Synology NAS hands down for me. Had a QNAP and a Neatgear sold both. Currently stream all over to browsers, to work, to ipad and to phone using Plex. Just check if you need to transcode and if so there is a spreadsheet Plex have here that lists what can do what https://support.plex.tv/articles/201373803-nas-compatibility-list/

As a dump end for your existing NAS I would just use a Chromecast Ultra. My main way to get to the TV or I use my Android Tv app. Advantage of moving to Chromcast (I now have 5) is how much else you can dump at it (Twitch, You Tube). Nice and easy helps to when showing the family how to use. Now using a google home hub as well and works great (just working on the voice side as needs a plug in)

davidcole

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#2238373 15-May-2019 14:00

timmmay:

LibreElec and a R.Pi 3 is a cheap option, but fiddly. You sometimes have to mess with things using ssh to get them working how you like.

How do you get Roku to play media from a LAN? Can it run Kodi? I haven't found a way to let it run Kodi, that would be a killer app for Roku.

No roku can't run kodi. There used to be a dropbox player, iptv, dlna and usb. But "easiest" way from a nas is via plex media server loaded on the nas.