Sumvison Cyclone Micro 2 and other options

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ColinPowell

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#77318 14-Feb-2011 22:40

Hi guys - I'm new to the forums and wanted to ask your thoughts on the Sumvision Cyclone Micro 2 as a media playing option. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sumvision-Cyclone-Micro-Media-Player/dp/B0046SD2MK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

My current set up is a desktop PC feeding a 40 inch Sony Bravia 1080p through HDMI with sound via an old Creative6.1 system. I bought an external HDD to play vids straight through the TV, but the Sony only wants to play nice with divx. Needless to say, most of my media are xvid or H264/x264 in MKV. So I have to re-encode if I want to use that option.

I want to buy some hardware that will run in line from the HDD to the TV - and the Sumvision really looks like a decent option for such little money. Does anyone have an opinion on them? What are my other options? Should I care about wifi access at this stage? I don't watch streaming content etc at the moment - who does with a 25gb cap?

Anyway - TL;DR - what are my options for playing MKV from an external HDD on a TV in 1080p? Thanks.

ColinPowell

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#439594 15-Feb-2011 08:32

So, I asked around and there are some good review site to check up on. Anand has a media streamer tag on a bunch of its reviews. I'll start there.

http://www.anandtech.com/tag/media-streamer

JimmyH

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#440470 16-Feb-2011 21:33

The WD TV Live will do this, and is available locally for just over $200.

I don't know how it compares to the Sumvision in terms of the range of things it will play in practice - but it does 1080p and has played everything I have thrown at it. Has more conection options than the Sumvision too, 2 USB connectors instead of one, and the ability to network it on a wired or wireless basis.

timmmay

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Lifetime subscriber

#440501 16-Feb-2011 22:24

I was looking at the WD TV Live seriously until I decided to just go with a PS3. Definitely check the WD out. I kindof wish i'd got it instead, the PS3 works well but the UI isn't great.

ColinPowell

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#440579 17-Feb-2011 09:31

Thanks, I think I'll go and have a look at the WD TV Live this weekend. I might look a bit deeper at an imported Kaiboer H1055 HD as well. However, I've been told the WDTV community is strong - and commercial support wears out quickly on these devices, so a community is a big plus.