Wireless Audio/Video Media players

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Jazsaxman

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Master Geek

Topic # 9926 24-Oct-2006 17:20

Hey all,

Kind of looking at the range of network media players out there. I see some have limited types of audio or video that they can send through while some reviews comment on poor software that makes them hard to use.

If I was going just audio what would people suggest? I must admit that I am a bit if an audiophile but on a budget!!! Roku Soundbridge m1000/m2000? Sonos?

And what would people suggest for cheapy and nasty video? I see a few cheapies on trademe. D-Link DSM-320?

I'm interested in eveyones thoughts and experiences.

Cheers Steve

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Reply # 49516 24-Oct-2006 18:13

The D-Link DSM-320 was one of the worst experiences I ever had. At least I managed to return it.

The Sonos is great, I had a pair here for testing. But it'll be on the high end budget. The Roku Soundbridge sounds like (no pun intended) the way to go. It uses UPnP and can plug into an existing library if you install the free Microsoft Windows Connect software.

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sbiddle

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Reply # 49527 24-Oct-2006 18:58

Video can be a problem over wireless. If you get a rock solid 802.11g connection it's usable but you may experience the odd issue. If you've got a poor signal it's a waste of time.

Jazsaxman

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Reply # 49531 24-Oct-2006 19:12

Then I'll run a network cable under the floorboards and up in to the lounge. I guess wireless isnt hugely important for my setup.

Jazsaxman

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Reply # 49534 24-Oct-2006 19:19

Hey Freitasm, was that your review on here? How long ago did u try it? Firmware upgraded since then? Cheer Steve

freitasm

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Reply # 49536 24-Oct-2006 19:37

I tried with version 1.0, the problems of being an early adopter. In general I dislike D-Link products. I had problems with of their products so far.

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3g

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Reply # 49537 24-Oct-2006 19:37

I've recently picked up a cheap (US$83) Philips Streamium SL300i , which is very similar to the DSM-320.
Unfortunately it's a discontinued product but certainly seems to do what I need.

It's wireless (802.11g) and seems to be very reliable.

The biggest complaint that I hear from owners of nearly every model of device is that the server-side software is somewhat lacking. That's why I've gone with TVersity ( www.tversity.com ) which seems to be excellent.
There seems to be plenty of support for TVersity and the developers seem very responsive to new ideas for features.

Lipex666

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Reply # 49549 24-Oct-2006 21:06

1. I recomend the D-Link DSM-320 its cheap as chips on trademe and works 7 out 10 score.

2. Old modded xbox

3. Vista pc in the lounge

The dsm plays nearly all formats that you might have on the fly or natively.

Plus is not DRM protected so mo hasells.

Works best on wires as the wireless option just does not give enough grunt for a better word , coverage is poor and choppy vids.

Team it with tversity a winning combo.

The end of the day what do want to do and how much do you want to pay?

I have a two story house, lots of shall we say files I wish to view downstairs on the old Sony Wega 36 inch and the DSM320 and a cable from dickies does the job.

Remember the downloaded vids are poor quality anyway so higher speved you will see more probs.

As I said I recomend the dsm325 as its cheap does the job and looks good and tversity is the brains (its the media server and its free)

Oops forgot to add plays mp3. windows media and all the apple format files ok and playing through the old Kenwood sounds just as good as a cd to my ears.

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Nety

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Reply # 49597 25-Oct-2006 09:47

I used to own a DSM 320. It has become a LOT more useable with the firmware updates and by the end of my time with it I could play movies without problems. Music was never a problem neither were pictures.

However there are some issues.
A real pain in the a*se was the way that you were forced to move around in a movie. There were no chapters and the fast forward was around 2 or maybe 3X normal playback speed. Not an issue if you were just watching a movie but if for some reason you had to skip to a part of the movie was a real pain.
To listen to music you had to have the TV running.
If you were listening to music and left the screen that showed what track was running you could not get back to it.
The wireless just does not work. There is a mode that improves the wireless but I think you would have to put on two better aerials for it to work properly.
It is not user friendly. My wife and kids would not touch it.
Although I got it to run movies correctly it was only after a formatted them in a particular way which for a average movie took around 2 hours of re-encoding.

All in all it did do what I wanted to do but in the end I got rid of it as I was the only one in the family that would turn the thing on to use it. I sold it on trademe and got a DVD/HDD recorder.

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Jazsaxman

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Reply # 49619 25-Oct-2006 11:40

Has anyone got any ideas for a next step up from a DSM-320? Cheers.

tonyhughes

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Reply # 49629 25-Oct-2006 12:39

I use an iPod for music, its brilliant. Griffin has a dock+remote solution with OSD too.

I just got a Windows Media Center PC a week or two ago too, have yet to put all my music on it, it only has about 10 CDs ripped into it for now - seems to work well, i just hoping I can get syncing from itunes playlists to work okay...

Super8

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Reply # 49632 25-Oct-2006 13:22

LOL the DSM-320 what a nightmare.

Even after doing the research and the updates and running it hard wired it was a pile of poo.
From there I went to the Hauppauge mvp. More poo.

So I'm with Nety(except for the getting it to work without crashing or chopping and wanting to hurl it off my deck)

I probably bought his one off TM!

Gave up and bought a dvd player that was capable of divx.

Latest attempt has been a modified xbox with xbmc which other than being a bit noiser than I would like is a bloody dream.
Even the wife is happy and the kids love the slide shows on the TV.

My ideal setup would be a Xbox 360 with xbmc running and MySky(come on Sky you know you want to drop the price...)

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Reply # 49668 25-Oct-2006 16:42

Interesting experiences. I have been thinking about a wireless media player for a while. While my main viewing is done a RP TV in the family room connected to a PVR running gbpvr software and a wireless (802.11a) connection to my server. That works very well. I don't even need server software on the server since I just map the server drives as UNC so gbpvr can see them. 802.11a works fine for both MPEG2 and MPEG4.

I also have a projector in the living room. To watch content on that I have to burn it to a DVD which is a hassle. A wireless media player would be good in that it would hopefully connect to the server and so I could watch content on the projector.

I had been looking at this unit

http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=167&categoryid=18

but it's not available yet it seems and not likely to be available in NZ so would have to be imported.

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Reply # 49683 25-Oct-2006 19:57

lchiu7: I had been looking at this unit

http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=167&categoryid=18

but it's not available yet it seems and not likely to be available in NZ so would have to be imported.

Uniden NZ carry the Buffalo products here, or at least have in the past. Older model here.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Lipex666

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Reply # 49687 25-Oct-2006 20:44

I still recomend the dsm320 as really there is not much else that will play downloaded vids from the internet and stream to your tv except the modded xbox or a actual pc for under $300

Also you have to remember that its in what format the vids are recorded in and at what bitreate.
Most of mine are avi and most of the tv programes I have are recorded in the use in HD format and look ok.

We have whole tv series that are not avaible here and play ok on the dsm320.

I personally think people excpect to much as you are trying to play ripped movies etc that are not that great and the dsm320 and tversity does a ok job of streaming these.

Yes I aggree the wireless sucks as I mentioned, fastford etc are limitations but as there are no adds who cares it pauses ok so I can getup to get a beer etc.

Wife the kids and cat love it and its easy to use and in fact we have tversity media server running on two pc's so the wife can stream from here pc her content.

I still rate 7 out of 10 value for money etc

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lchiu7

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Reply # 49691 25-Oct-2006 21:14

NeoTech:
lchiu7: I had been looking at this unit

http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=167&categoryid=18

but it's not available yet it seems and not likely to be available in NZ so would have to be imported.

Uniden NZ carry the Buffalo products here, or at least have in the past. Older model here.

When you go to that site and click list of authorised retailers, they are all in Australia! I have never seen them in the stores locally but then again, I haven't been looking consciously looking before

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