High Def media players - The options

[dodgyd]

I'm starting to get a feel for how the Roku works now, looks interesting, I always prefer products that can be tweaked and the Roku certainly falls into that category! What I really want is a High Definition media player that has the following attributes:

• Ethernet
• DVI or HDMI output
• Can play .ts and DRM'd media (for the BBC iMP trial)
• Has built in DVD that can 'upscale'

I'm basically trying to consolidate the amount of equipment I have, I don't fancy having an HD media player and a DVD player when I get both in the same product.
There's a large list here, I didn't realise just how many HD players are becoming available! http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/re...spx?bCatId=522

Dave.

[jsebright]

Originally Posted by dodgyd

There's a large list here, I didn't realise just how many HD players are becoming available! http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/re...spx?bCatId=522

Dave.

Mind out - some of these are not hi-def players, just networked media players. I think the DLink player(s) referred to above are not hi-def. Manufacturers like to use terms which confuse - "scales to high definition" for example, it would be easier if they wrote "will not play back high definition sources".

[soiaf]

Originally Posted by cjgpers

Can the Roku paly WMV-HD and MPEG4 media? Their spec sheet's a bit vague, but only seems to mention MPEG1 and MPEG2. And what about PAL support?

No it doesn't natively support WMVHD or MPEG4 (though you may be able to run something like VLC on a server and stream to it).

Latest beta firmware has PAL support, but still needs some tweaking.

[jriihi]

Finally got roku and setup it. Seems to work ok so far. I installed slimroku,sonica,mplay software and flac,alac,ogg and mod tracker (mod/s3m/it/xm etc) codecs. Music worked just fine with sonica and also slimroku did have nice ui. Mplay with .ts files (1080i) worked without problems for me with seamless ts fileset playback as default but didnt do long time testing.

Setup was not very easy but not hard.. All information was in roku forums atleast so got it to work.

[dodgyd]

jriihi,

Does the Roku play multiple .ts files in succession without the need to merge them into one file?

Thanks,
Dave.

[jriihi]

Originally Posted by dodgyd

jriihi,

Does the Roku play multiple .ts files in succession without the need to merge them into one file?

Thanks,
Dave.

Yes Mplay (native 3rd party app) does that as long as files are standardly named. Example: file.0001.ts - file.0145.ts. It plays then seamlessly like they where 1 big file.

[emporer]

I have a Buffalo Linktheater which I think is perfect for hi-def stuff, it's conected to my pv500 via components and although it struggles a bit when playing very high bitrate stuff over the wireless connection it plays perfect off the drive or wired ethernet. Plays everything ive thrown at it, .ts files,wmv-hd, divx hd etc, and all the standard stuff aswell. Superb player and well worth the 170 quid. I must say that watching some IMAX stuff in hd is stunning.

[dodgyd]

emporer,

Can it play .ts files in succession without having to merge into one file (like the roku can - see above post).

Dave.

[emporer]

I think it will but I reckon it will have a pause between files, however I just use hdtv2mpeg and join them and just bung them over 2/3 dvdr's or in the case of Gladiator BEV version 5 discs!!!. It don't take long to merge them, only about 6 mins on my pc.

[dodgyd]

I've ordered a Roku HD1500, should be here tomorrow. What attracted me was its ability to seamlessly play .ts, it's slim form factor, and the pass through ability for component cable will be useful, too The deciding factor was its 'hackibility'

Dave.

[ArNx]

Originally Posted by emporer

I have a Buffalo Linktheater which I think is perfect for hi-def stuff, it's conected to my pv500 via components and although it struggles a bit when playing very high bitrate stuff over the wireless connection it plays perfect off the drive or wired ethernet. Plays everything ive thrown at it, .ts files,wmv-hd, divx hd etc, and all the standard stuff aswell. Superb player and well worth the 170 quid. I must say that watching some IMAX stuff in hd is stunning.

Were did you get it for £170

[HCman]

I got mine form 'Transparent Communications' £182.05 including VAT & Delivery. Great advice from emporer in another thread, and well worth the money ... if you have an HD display and can source good HD material, you will not be disappointed.

[emporer]

Originally Posted by ArNx

Were did you get it for £170

From wifigear.co.uk, they're based in Bournemouth. Great guys and VERY helpfull. I couldn't recommend them enough. I think the price at the time was about 189 but as I went in person I haggled with cash and got it for 170. Great bit of kit.

[dodgyd]

Well, I've spent the best part of a day trying to get the Roku working to my satisfaction. At first I had problems with lip sync, stuttering playback and loss of audio for extended periods when watching HD over my wired network. I tried so many things to correct it, mplay didn't seem to help and neither did 'cinema six'. In the end, I upgraded the firmware to beta 2.0.28 and that has made every single problem just go away. I'm happy now, I can't believe how great HD content looks on my 435xde

Dave.