DLNA utter CONFUSION

[Highlands81]

Hello, First post for a new member so go easy please. Had the idea that I would purchase a HP EX-495 MediaSmart Server with 8 TB of drives all filled to a significant degree with movies, etc. I am CONFUSED however about whether or not I can accomplish this with the Onkyo TXSR-608 receiver I currently own and have connected to my HTPC and Panasonic DLNA capable tlevision. The received DOES NOT have DLNA capability. Brilliant of me eh!?

Does this mean that I need to buy a brand new receiver to replace my 1.7 year-old Onkyo TXSR-608 which has been a fine product for me. Am also looking at: Denon AVR1912 $549.00) and the Pioneer VSX1021-K ($449.00) and the Onkyo RC-360 $299.99).

It would be great to make only "one" added purchase of one new receiver. I am leaning to the Onkyo only because it is currently on sale for under $300.00 and although it does not have the Airplay built in I understand that I can add this as a standalone new piece of software?

I understand that many of you on this site are very expert and it should be plain that I am nothing of the kind. I do not need all the fancy new bells and whistles on a receiver but I am determined to be able to stream movies within my network from MediaAmart unit and HTPC and it "appears to me that there is no magic package that will do it all for me but I will look forward to any and all assistance/guidance based on smarts in gneral.

Thanks, Scott (Highlands81)

 

[psbfan9]

Hi, and welcome to forum.

There are others here more knowledgeable but I have the same receiver and will try to help and keep it simple.

Do you need a new receiver? No. You should be able access your files through the tv without needing a new receiver. How are your components connected?

I use my Sony bluray, (built in wifi) to access my music files via DLNA. All my components are connected with HDMI cables.

 

[sholling]

There are lots of media players that will do most of what you want as well or better than a receiver. The technology is still young and none that I've seen are perfect so you'll want to match the player to your needs and don't expect super stability. Here are two that can be bought for less than $100 but there are others just make sure it supports the formats that you use. For example my music is in the lossless FLAC format and one or two brands of players don't support it.

• The latest version of the Western Digital TV Live is like the Swiss Army Knife of media players because it does a whole lot of things but there are specialized devices that do some of those functions better. It will play most video formats including MKV and ISO in full 1080P, and most 16bit audio formats. It also has a Netflix client. What it's missing is 24bit music formats and DTS-HD Master Audio.
• Netgear's NeoTV 550 is more specialized as a network media player. It plays back MKVs and ISOs in full 1080P and most 16 and 24bit audio and supports DTS-HD Master Audio pass-though. What it doesn't do is play internet services like Netflix.

There are others like Dune's well regarded line of players and D-Link's Boxee Box and many others. Here's a review of three of them.

 

[canelli]

I already had a HTCP in one room, and wanted to stream movies and music all over the house. After looking at the current selection, I just added some storage and started using Serviio media server. It's free and recommended by Sony for their devices.

I use DVDfab to rip the video/audio. Then I encode use Handbrake. In the end, all the cost was in storage and not software.