Slow, steady build. Seeking guidance.

[nball]

Hi, first post here. I've been lurking for some time, finally getting some religion. I will be brief, flame or suggest as you see fit. I welcome any response. Audioholics FTW!

Desired Awesomeness

• Excellent picture and audio quality in a rental. Single zone 18x30 ft.
• Easy browse interface for: audio, video, photos (AIF, MP4, CR2, etc. not pirated, I control encoding)
• Open source or Mac based software

Starting Point

• after 10+ years without a TV I ordered a Sony Bravia XBR60LX900 today, w00t
• a mint pair of 8 yr. old B&W 602's for audio (sold the other bits from a 5.1 system a few years ago due to failed negotiations with better half, sigh)
• 2 year old Denon receiver w/o HDMI
• AKG 601's for when baby is sleeping or I am listening to crazy music

The Plan

• Bluray playback device, quite possibly a PS3
• 8+ Tb. eSATA array into newish Macbook Pro (acting as server, stream wireless over local n network)\

Your mission, should you choose to accept it

• I need a good receiver. Yes I searched, save your flame.
• Am I on crack considering PS3? –*playback will be movies and nature stuff, david attenborough and saving pvt ryan, etc. My wife won't notice, but I might. Added bene of gaming, COD is amazing. I've seen super expensive (sons of VC's) stuff that was just ok.

[/LIST]

 

[GranteedEV]

- I own a ps3 and i've never even considered another blu ray player. Well maybe an oppo but who doesn't want an oppo?

- get an emotiva XPA-3 and a marantz SR5005

 

[sholling]

The PS3 is a good choice for DVD and Blu-Ray but you might want a dedicated media player or computer as well. I use a PS3 but I have a Western Digital TV Live to play back legally acquired FLACs and video. The PS3 doesn't speak FLAC and I have to idea how it handles apple lossless etc.

As far as wireless goes I haven't had much luck squeezing more than a real world 45Mb/s through my "N" network and that's not fast enough for Blu-Ray.

Emotiva has their XPA-3 amp on sale and you could just pair that with an Onkyo TX-NR708 as pre/pro and to power the surrounds..

 

[dkane360]

The PS3 is a good choice for DVD and Blu-Ray but you might want a dedicated media player or computer as well. I use a PS3 but I have a Western Digital TV Live to play back legally acquired FLACs and video. The PS3 doesn't speak FLAC and I have to idea how it handles apple lossless etc.

As far as wireless goes I haven't had much luck squeezing more than a real world 45Mb/s through my "N" network and that's not fast enough for Blu-Ray.

Emotiva has their XPA-3 amp on sale and you could just pair that with an Onkyo TX-NR708 as pre/pro and to power the surrounds..

How do you like your WDTV live? I've been considering getting one. My roommates and I are constantly trying to watch things off a USB drive onto our 360, and 50% of the time the files are unsupported. If the unit is connected to the network, does it just find all files or just the ones in shared folders? Is the GUI easy to use?

It has pretty good review on amazon, but you can't always trust people who leave those reviews

 

[sholling]

How do you like your WDTV live? I've been considering getting one. My roommates and I are constantly trying to watch things off a USB drive onto our 360, and 50% of the time the files are unsupported. If the unit is connected to the network, does it just find all files or just the ones in shared folders? Is the GUI easy to use?

It has pretty good review on amazon, but you can't always trust people who leave those reviews

The WDTV Live has a very nice, very pretty interface. There are a couple of eccentricities but you get used to them quickly and it's very Harmony friendly should you have a Harmony remote. I have WDTV Lives in both my family room and my bedroom.

Compatibility wise it's played everything I've thrown at it. DVD: VOB or ISO. BD: MKV or ISO. Music: WAV, MP3, FLAC, and 96khz/24bit FLAC. I haven't tried other formats. What it won't do is BD across the network. It just can't handle the bandwidth. I keep my concert BDs on a local external drive. DVD stored on the server play fine across the network. My only quibble is there is no access to movie menus. That's supposed to change in the next firmware upgrade but hasn't yet. Instead you hit the options button to access the audio choices. For $80-100 for the older Live version and $120 for the Live Plus (Netflix ready) version it's a pretty good deal. I've even seen some re-certified older Lives sell for <$60 now and again. In a typical home with even the best roomies you'll probably save enough on CDs not getting misplaced or used as coasters to pay for the media player. Specs Page

BTW another nice use is backing up the music collection. You can leave an external drive plugged into the WDTV and run backups across the network. I use GoodSync in backup mode (sync mode is dangerous) every time I buy and rip a new CD. In backup mode it just copies changes saving lots of time.

 

[nball]

Wow, you guys are really helpful. Thank you for the advice. I love Audioholics. My wife will feel differently I am sure. Here's what I am trying to do. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Bluray/DVD/CD player
Likely either an Oppo or PS3. Easily accessible on top of the credenza the components will live in.

iPod/iPhone dock
Very optional but wife would love it. A USB connection might suffice.

Browse home network
Audio, images, non-BR movies from 4 Tb. RAID + Mac. If going with PS3 may use PS3MediaServer. If the receiver is networkable I may go with Oppo. Will also have 500Gb USB attached to whichever component for times when network is swamped. Trying to avoid buying a Mac mini.

Stream external services
Netflix, youtube, hulu, etc. We don't have, nor will we get, cable. I plan to rip bought DVDs and Netflix rentals to remove advertising (for my daughter) and Blueray for the really good stuff.

Universal Remote
Probably RF as equipment will be in a credenza, only player will be exposed, but will consider IR if its worth it. A Harmony One or similar most likely.

Video up sampling
I'm a bit on the fence here. Plenty of material won't be HD, just trying to get best possible image on a Sony 60" XBR. Would prefer to buy once here and live with it for 5-7 years before upgrading.

3D/HDMI 1.4a
I think it's lame but the TV comes with glasses and my wife and daughter will love it.

Good audio
Have B&W 603 s3 towers now. Want to go all HDMI with good cables to the speakers, eventually upgrading to a 7.2 system.

 

[bandphan]

Wow, you guys are really helpful. Thank you for the advice. I love Audioholics. My wife will feel differently I am sure. Here's what I am trying to do. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Bluray/DVD/CD player
Likely either an Oppo or PS3. Easily accessible on top of the credenza the components will live in. Either work well, if you game its a no brainer

iPod/iPhone dock
Very optional but wife would love it. A USB connection might suffice.
Pioneer offers a great interface on their AVRs with no dock required, however if your networking, the dock may not be needed
Browse home network
Audio, images, non-BR movies from 4 Tb. RAID + Mac. If going with PS3 may use PS3MediaServer. If the receiver is networkable I may go with Oppo. Will also have 500Gb USB attached to whichever component for times when network is swamped. Trying to avoid buying a Mac mini.
The aforementioned WDTVL is a great interface with plenty of modded firmware available to suit all needs.

Stream external services
Netflix, youtube, hulu, etc. We don't have, nor will we get, cable. I plan to rip bought DVDs and Netflix rentals to remove advertising (for my daughter) and Blueray for the really good stuff.
Cant comment on ripping rented DVDs See WDTVL for all other needs

Universal Remote
Probably RF as equipment will be in a credenza, only player will be exposed, but will consider IR if its worth it. A Harmony One or similar most likely.
Budget?

Video up sampling
I'm a bit on the fence here. Plenty of material won't be HD, just trying to get best possible image on a Sony 60" XBR. Would prefer to buy once here and live with it for 5-7 years before upgrading.
Your display will handle the upscaling
3D/HDMI 1.4a
I think it's lame but the TV comes with glasses and my wife and daughter will love it.
The tech is ever changing so dont get to hung up on it yet

Good audio
Have B&W 603 s3 towers now. Want to go all HDMI with good cables to the speakers, eventually upgrading to a 7.2 system.

Cables are cables are cables (for the most part, do not overspend)


edit links to the wdtv mods
http://b-rad.cc/
http://root.unknown.sk/wdtv/wiki/doku.php?id=ext3-boot-releases
http://forum.wdlxtv.com/

 

[caper26]

FLAC can be streamed from PC to PS3, but PS3 does not play that format natively.

 

[nball]

- I own a ps3 and i've never even considered another blu ray player. Well maybe an oppo but who doesn't want an oppo?

- get an emotiva XPA-3 and a marantz SR5005

I went with the PS3 (320Gb) after all. I figure it has bulletproof spec, if not audiophile. Close enough for now.

 

[sholling]

I went with the PS3 (320Gb) after all. I figure it has bulletproof spec, if not audiophile. Close enough for now.

Good choice. It's what I use for a Blu-Ray player.

 

[nball]

So far so good! Based on your advice here's what I've got so far:

Video Input
Streaming HD from Netflix -- pretty good but can see the compression in blacks especially. Not a deal killer given extreme convenience, but unfortunate. Looks pretty darn good, but not quite right.
Bluray DVD -- Only Paprika to test at the moment, have Earth and Oceans on order now, will check in when I know more.

Video Output
60" Sony XBR (HDMI in) -- first non-computer display I've owned. We don't watch TV, just owned/rented on 17" Macbook Pro or free streamed stuff.
Sony PS3 (HDMI out) -- Plays anything, haven't tested streaming internal network since the bus powered USB drive is so convenient but Netflix HD streaming is pretty damn good. I've seen some artifacts, but way better than I had expected.

Audio Output
Denon AVR-587 (toslink in from TV) -- Cheap but doesn't seem to be up to the B&W's. Sounds a little muddy I think. The speaks may be the culprit, but I doubt it. I'm willing to go full replacement for something "right." Just like you, hahahaha!
B&W DM603 S2 -- Wonderful once I attenuated the low end with bungs and distance from wall. Imaging is amazing in my semi-limited experience. I sought these out based on a listen of a friend's 803's. I've got mixed feelings about these but I've not heard something better for less than $$$$ or special circumstances.

Room
Room: 17' x 24', hardwood floor with a rug, drapes along entire left wall
Planning to measure, assess, and learn more about improving audio dynamics within constraints of toddler(s).



It occurs to me that this should be split across several threads... or I should get my game together... gah!