What media player will do what I want?

[collegeaudio]

I've got a question to hopefully narrow down the media player search.

I'm running a Marantz 5004 (No network capabilities, no USB) and would like to stream content from the internet and locally. I have access to Amazon Prime (VOD), Netflix, and HBO Go. Pandora is a major plus. I also have an ever growing library of content, including .AVI DVD's, ripped bluerays, mp3's and 24 bit FLAC's. I would like to be able to attach a hard drive filled with content to some kind of media device to play audio directly to the receiver and video to my old rear projection 55" Sony (Composite video, not HDMI).

From what I've gathered: WD TV Live (the newest generation) does nearly all of that with the exception of 24 bit flacs. With my modest 5.1 setup, I'm not sure I could tell the difference between 16 bit and 24 bit flacs. Roku's are great from streaming, but not great for local players. Netgear 550's are great for local media, but not so great at online media. How about XBox 360's, PS3's, blueray players? I would like to keep this under $150, but stretching just a tad is possible.

Any input? Thanks.

 

[jinjuku]

Save another $50 and wait for a close out computer with Windows 7...

Hit sites like dealnews.com and keep looking. You will find it.

 

[Lordhumungus]

I like the interface of the Boxee Box, although I am still pissed about them dropping support for their PC user base. It will play 24-bit FLAC files, but there is currently a firmware bug that causes the interface to lag out and eventually freeze after playing several in a row. I think they are working on a fix though.

IMHO the most elegant solution is to build a cheap HTPC. You'd be surprised how inexpensive it can be if you pick your components wisely and the flexibility is unmatched.

 

[collegeaudio]

Size, boot time, cost and UI are all issues with HTPC. I have been running video through my laptop from sites like HBO GO, but it's slow and cumbersome. I'm also missing a solution for component video hookups. I've got an HDMI to RCA converter, but the video quality is not the best. How does one work around that?

 

[Lordhumungus]

Can you define slow and cumbersome? An HTPC would theoretically have infinitely more flexibility in playing whatever formats you want, while being small (is shoe box sized small enough?) and significantly faster. You can also customize the UI however you like with add-ons like XBMC, My Movies etc. The downside is it would cost a little more ($250-300 for new parts). But it's worth the difference if you ask me.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Size, boot time, cost and UI are all issues with HTPC. I have been running video through my laptop from sites like HBO GO, but it's slow and cumbersome. I'm also missing a solution for component video hookups. I've got an HDMI to RCA converter, but the video quality is not the best. How does one work around that?

I 100% agree with you. PC based HTPC is nothing but a hack and only to be used if it's absolutely necessary (like for QAM cable tuner)

I bought the netgear which sholling convinced me to and I have no regrets - yes like you said - it's great for local content - including blurays & dvd ISOs [w/hd-audio] and a 24 bit native streaming flacs, but really bad in streaming..

Roku is the opposite. Boxee box is doing both pretty good, but the noisy fan is a big turn-off for me, plus amazon is not supported anyhow

Sholling runs both (netgear and roku) and he's quite happy

 

[Lordhumungus]

PC based HTPC is nothing but a hack and only to be used if it's absolutely necessary (like for QAM cable tuner)

I'm extremely interested in how you came to this conclusion. Where does an HTPC falter for you?

 

[jinjuku]

Size, boot time, cost and UI are all issues with HTPC. I have been running video through my laptop from sites like HBO GO, but it's slow and cumbersome. I'm also missing a solution for component video hookups. I've got an HDMI to RCA converter, but the video quality is not the best. How does one work around that?

Size? There are several SFF (Small Form Factor) computers out there. Last week there was a Foxconn SFF AMD Brazos E350 based bare bones for $98 shipped.

Costs? It's relative. Add 2GB RAM for $20, SSD HD for $60, BR Drive for $60. If you are in college Windows Licenses are dirt cheap. I was paying $12 for Windows XP back in they day.

Boot times: I am to my desktop in 18 seconds. I tend to leave the system on.

Less than $300 including keyboard/Mouse/ Green Button remote.

Component Video? In 2012? The problem isn't getting converted over to component, the problem is your using it. Modern receivers are dumping component.

I have tried the WDTV Live Plus, the Asus OPlay!, and a Netgear unit. They all went back.

 

[jinjuku]

I 100% agree with you. PC based HTPC is nothing but a hack and only to be used if it's absolutely necessary (like for QAM cable tuner)

HACK? Media Center kicks butt. Encrypted QAM, OTA (uncompressed HD), FM and Sirius, MKV Playback, some really nice plug-ins.

My Movies and AnyDVD-HD.

378 hours of DVR time.

Music Playlists rock.

Hulu, Vudu, Pandora, Amazon all need to get their crap together an get plug-ins for MCE. But I can still play them all.

I bought the netgear which sholling convinced me to and I have no regrets - yes like you said - it's great for local content - including blurays & dvd ISOs [w/hd-audio] and a 24 bit native streaming flacs, but really bad in streaming..

Can you record OTA? Tune Local FM? Sirius? I doubt the UI is up to the My Movies standard. QAM Tuners?

How many additional boxes would you need to do each one of those?

 

[collegeaudio]

Okay, okay, fair enough. These devices will not do what I want. However, $300 is not in the cards at the moment. Is it possible to turn my perfectly capable i7/8gb HP into a "portable" HTPC?

Also, although my component video might be stone age, it's what I've got. My understanding is there is no way to convert HDMI into composite video for legal reasons (DRM workaround or something). Is there a solution?

 

[jinjuku]

Okay, okay, fair enough. These devices will not do what I want. However, $300 is not in the cards at the moment. Is it possible to turn my perfectly capable i7/8gb HP into a "portable" HTPC?

Why didn't you say you have a modern laptop. What is the exact model # of HP?

Also, although my component video might be stone age, it's what I've got.

Amazon.com: HDMI to YPbPr Component Video Converter for HDTV PC PS3 STB, DVD and Projector (Support HDCP 1.2): Electronics

Just Google hdmi to component converter. I don't have any experience with any converter fyi.

If you use something like ANY DVD HD HDCP won't be a problem either for DVD and BR Titles.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Jin, I never said component is all i got lol
I'm too tired now, but i'll explain my thoughts tomorrow:
my basics issues:
lower power usage and no noise
full remote control including power
support for hd audio
fully functional hdmi port
instant power on/off

 

[Lordhumungus]

Pretty much everything Jin has said is 100% on point. I'd like to add I'm not sure about the cost, but I've heard very good things about the HDFury line of converters. They allegedly do a really good job with the HDCP handshake.

 

[Lordhumungus]

Jin, I never said component is all i got lol
I'm too tired now, but i'll explain my thoughts tomorrow:
my basics issues:
lower power usage and no noise
full remote control including power
support for hd audio
fully functional hdmi port
instant power on/off

Power - If you build it right the PC will use around 100 watts under load, less than a light bulb under most usage conditions and a few watts when sleeping.

Remote - There are remotes that power on the system (I have one built into my case). There are also a bunch of alternatives to this (using smartphones, wake-on-lan, boot on keyboard/mouse, etc).

Noise - It is incredibly easy to build a PC that is silent using large fans at low RPM

HD Audio - Natively supports any HD Audio you need via bit streaming over HDMI.

Fully functional HDMI port - No idea what this means. My HDMI port is as functional as they come

Boot Speed - Fast boot options exist. I can get into windows in about 5 seconds. If I turn my HTPC and TV on at the same time, I'm in Windows before the TV can turn on completely. If you need to go any faster than that, you might want to free up your schedule

 

[collegeaudio]

Why didn't you say you have a modern laptop. What is the exact model # of HP?


Amazon.com: HDMI to YPbPr Component Video Converter for HDTV PC PS3 STB, DVD and Projector (Support HDCP 1.2): Electronics

Just Google hdmi to component converter. I don't have any experience with any converter fyi.

If you use something like ANY DVD HD HDCP won't be a problem either for DVD and BR Titles.

It's a Pavilion Dv7. i7, 8gb RAM. I'm very interested as to what you'll suggest as the solution! It sounds cheap, which is a plus.

I'll check out those converters, as well as HDFury. Thanks.

 

[jinjuku]

lower power usage and no noise

AMD Brazos E-350 platform: ~30-40 watts. No fan. Either on the CPU heatsink or in the power supply.

full remote control including power

You can get a full remote sans power. Not a big deal IMO.

support for hd audio

It's a PC of course it has HD Audio

fully functional hdmi port

With Radeon 6K series graphics it is most likely blowing away the SOC stuff in the Netgear and WD players for PQ.

instant power on/off

Again, my system is low power enough that I leave it on. But since my machine functions as a DVR it has to stay on. Just like a DVR.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Power - If you build it right the PC will use around 100 watts under load, less than a light bulb under most usage conditions and a few watts when sleeping.

100W for htpc??? Netgear uses 15W on load - 1-2W on standby

Remote - There are remotes that power on the system (I have one built into my case). There are also a bunch of alternatives to this (using smartphones, wake-on-lan, boot on keyboard/mouse, etc).

like I said - hacks, including one build into case, which by the way makes htpc build more restrictive and expensive

Noise - It is incredibly easy to build a PC that is silent using large fans at low RPM

Large fans don't feet into small htpc case. Yes, it's possible to find a fully silent platform & case - its not "incredibly easy"

HD Audio - Natively supports any HD Audio you need via bit streaming over HDMI.

By HD audio - I meant native bitstreaming of HD codecs like DTS-HD, nvidia still doesn't do this to my knowledge, only new (since 5xxx) ATI gpus do this

Fully functional HDMI port - No idea what this means. My HDMI port is as functional as they come

I had htpc with Nvidia Ion platform - I spent day trying to passthru audio thru it with no success and secondly the rgb range didn't match my monitor, which wasn't a problem with vga out. (0-255 vs 16-255)

Boot Speed - Fast boot options exist. I can get into windows in about 5 seconds. If I turn my HTPC and TV on at the same time, I'm in Windows before the TV can turn on completely. If you need to go any faster than that, you might want to free up your schedule

Cost of windows alone adds another $100 to price of htpc. My whole netgear cost this much.
Even win7 is not super-stable and still have issues working with cifs shares if woken from sleep mode



See my responses in bold

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

AMD Brazos E-350 platform: ~30-40 watts. No fan. Either on the CPU heatsink or in the power supply.

True, but like I said my media box uses 15W under load.

You can get a full remote sans power. Not a big deal IMO.



It's a PC of course it has HD Audio

see my remarks above.

With Radeon 6K series graphics it is most likely blowing away the SOC stuff in the Netgear and WD players for PQ.

The difference (if any) could be noticeable only with bad source (bad interlace or jagged material) - The difference would be neglectable in most cases

Again, my system is low power enough that I leave it on. But since my machine functions as a DVR it has to stay on. Just like a DVR.

As I said, if I really wanted my htpc to be dvr - I would have no choice but getting into windows media center, qam card, my movies etc...
But this system would have plenty of limitations for me: to play blurays - you would need to purchase additional software and it's highly questionable it's integration into wmc. No mkv file support, no dvd iso support without more hacks etc...

see comments in bold

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

bottom line is this:
YES, I agree HTPC is much more flexible tool than standalone client, BUT
this road is full with compromises, hacks and a lot of spending for extras

It's just too much pain in the rear even for a techie to make it work just right, forget about average Joe

I want to come home and relax after work (doing IT all day long) and not to "work" again just to play a movie or tv show

 

[jinjuku]

Cost of windows alone adds another $100 to price of htpc. My whole netgear cost this much.
Even win7 is not super-stable and still have issues working with cifs shares if woken from sleep mode

See my responses in bold

Not everything is about price. CIFS? For a home network? NTFS is just fine. Don't create complexity were simplicity will suffice.

My Win7 HTPC is rock solid. I have went 3/4 months w.o. power off. Records all my programs that I have setup for series recording. My Movies is always responsive. Netflix always responsive. etc...

bottom line is this:
YES, I agree HTPC is much more flexible tool than standalone client, BUT
this road is full with compromises, hacks and a lot of spending for extras

It's just too much pain in the rear even for a techie to make it work just right, forget about average Joe

There is a common belief it seems that great functionality should come w/o any monetary or labor effort. Not disagreeing with these STB and Media Streamers. I just wanted an all in one solution with a very slick interface. I was willing to put in the $$ and a little effort to setup the initial system and have been operating smooth as glass since then.

I want to come home and relax after work (doing IT all day long) and not to "work" again just to play a movie or tv show

I do with my HTPC and calling what I did a 'hack' well it's wrong headed. I didn't hack anything.

Long term I would rather have a $400 box that I am happy with day to day then one or two (possibly three) boxes that I felt I compromised on. As a matter of fact OTA, Netflix, Amazon Video helped me cut the cord and save me $60 a month. So my initial investment was paid off in less than a year and I haven't looked back since.

Worrying about 15 watt vs 30 is just nitpicking IMO.