[JimmytheSaint]

Got my unit this morning and first impressions are good, unit is very sleek and feels like a proper 'bd/dvd player'. I'm hoping this can replace my TviX 6500, as it offers full suport of BD menus and similar to the Popcorn C-200, has a bd drive built in with e-sata and analogue 7.1 connections. Will put it through it's paces tonight! Anyone else bag one?

[skinnywhippet]

where did you order from and is it Multi region for Bluray out the box?

[JimmytheSaint]

A 'buy-in' with MPC & Divxplayer in the Netherlands. The unit is not multi out of the box, but the same region free patch can be applied, as per Dune 1.0.

[2scoops]

Originally Posted by JimmytheSaint

Got my unit this morning and first impressions are good, unit is very sleek and feels like a proper 'bd/dvd player'. I'm hoping this can replace my TviX 6500, as it offers full suport of BD menus and similar to the Popcorn C-200, has a bd drive built in with e-sata and analogue 7.1 connections. Will put it through it's paces tonight! Anyone else bag one?

I'm in the same boat as you, i'm looking for a Tvix 6500 replacement, this baby looks the part.

Good luck with testing. What are you testing DVD ISO? BD ISO? mkv etc

I'm a non premium member at MPC, is there anywhere else selling this?

[lmaolmao]

Originally Posted by JimmytheSaint

Got my unit this morning and first impressions are good, unit is very sleek and feels like a proper 'bd/dvd player'. I'm hoping this can replace my TviX 6500, as it offers full suport of BD menus and similar to the Popcorn C-200, has a bd drive built in with e-sata and analogue 7.1 connections. Will put it through it's paces tonight! Anyone else bag one?

awesome, let use know how it goes!

may I ask the cost?

[2scoops]

think it's £225 with no drive (delivered) takes 2.5" drives. Fitting your own drive obviously invalidates the warranty

[frmichaud]

Where can I find the infos to unlock a Dune HD Center
Thanks
Francois

[jeepee]

Originally Posted by 2scoops

think it's £225 with no drive (delivered) takes 2.5" drives. Fitting your own drive obviously invalidates the warranty

299£ now

[JimmytheSaint]

So far have tested it with complete BD rips in both .iso and file structure from my network and plays them all flawlessly just with SMB from my Windows XP server! Great to finally have full menu structure on everything. MKV's play perfectly as well, as does dvd.iso. Very impressive out of the box and set up as simple as I've encountered. The auto aspect and 24/50/60Hz is all working fine as well. Definately family friendly.
Tested Dark Knight, Akira and Running Scared actual BD discs and perfect playback so far. The only major complaint I have is the drive is noisy on spin up and spin down. Picture and music browsing is unrefined and lacks the finesse of the TviX, but these are early days.
The audio and picture quality are excellent.
Has to be the first network player I've ever had since the first Momitsu, which has worked without issue out of the box.
Colour me impressed !

[JimmytheSaint]

Originally Posted by frmichaud

Where can I find the infos to unlock a Dune HD Center
Thanks
Francois

Best to look at MPCClub.com for any help on any NMT or media box.

[dec-pvr]

Originally Posted by JimmytheSaint

A 'buy-in' with MPC & Divxplayer in the Netherlands.

Hmm, does anyone know if it's available easily from anywhere else (for the UK)?

I must say I'm very interested in this. I've been thinking of getting a media streamer for some time, but I would like full Blu-Ray menu support & passthrough for the HD audio formats. As I've already got a blu-ray player it would make sense to have an (almost) direct swap, so I can still just stick a disc in, but also have the full benefit of network playback.

I've been looking at the Xtreamer, O!Play etc. and PCH-C200 but I'm really not sure. It would be ideal to have something with a nice jukebox style interface as well (think XBMC).

This seems to be the most stable, reliable product so far - unfortunately also the most expensive (but you get what you pay for!). Can't remember how much the C-200 is....similar price I think?

I'm really in no rush, so will be debating for a while, it would just be nice to know if I can get hold of one easily in the UK!

[JimmytheSaint]

The C-200 is cheaper, but more once you've added the bd-drive.
One of the forum sponsers has an advert for the new Dune range, but not sure when they will be receiving their units, should be fairly soon though.

I've got a Lexicon processor, which only accepts LPCM signals over the hdmi and has no onboard decoding, so the Dune was an obvious choice for me, as it can either decode all the formats and convert to LPCM and put it out either over the hdmi, or the 7.1 channel analogue outputs. It also bitstreams as well if required.

[2scoops]

Originally Posted by JimmytheSaint

So far have tested it with complete BD rips in both .iso and file structure from my network and plays them all flawlessly just with SMB from my Windows XP server! Great to finally have full menu structure on everything. MKV's play perfectly as well, as does dvd.iso. Very impressive out of the box and set up as simple as I've encountered. The auto aspect and 24/50/60Hz is all working fine as well. Definately family friendly.
Tested Dark Knight, Akira and Running Scared actual BD discs and perfect playback so far. The only major complaint I have is the drive is noisy on spin up and spin down. Picture and music browsing is unrefined and lacks the finesse of the TviX, but these are early days.
The audio and picture quality are excellent.
Has to be the first network player I've ever had since the first Momitsu, which has worked without issue out of the box.
Colour me impressed !

The noisy drive is a bit of a deal killer to me, I've seen some reports on MPC club of problems with the drive spinning during playback/menus even when there's nothing in the drive, have you experienced this?

[Mark Ward]

This finally seems to be the player that checks all my boxes

1. BluRay Drive - Finally get to play my actual discs

2. 7.1 Analogue outs should resolve the issue my receivers lack of HD audio support

3. Multiregion hackable will help with my DVD collection

4. Gig Lan (Option)

5. Component out means it'll work with our pre-HDMI spare room TV and my projector.

and...

Originally Posted by JimmytheSaint

The only major complaint I have is the drive is noisy on spin up and spin down.

Why does every media player have to have an achilles heal? Is this drive noisy the whole time or just at the spinup & spindown points?

I was just about to order the PCH c200, but this does more of what I need.

I'm off to do some hardware/chipset comparisons to see which I think will suit me best.

[Edit] Added some specs sheets for comparison:-
Dune-HD
PCH C200

Most noticable for me:-

Dune-HD does Blu-Ray profile 2.0 PCH doesn't appear to

PCH-C200 has more (& better?) Ram

PCH-C200 has Sigma Designs SMP8643, 667MHz CPU with floating point coprocessor, Dune-HD has Sigma Designs 8634 So. Or is this a 'typo' on the chip number?


Mark.

[JimmytheSaint]

The drive is noisy, but really only on spin up and spin down. I have seen that some people have had problems with their drives, but (fingers crossed) I have had none, no issues playing dvds or cds as yet.

[Evil Engineer]

Originally Posted by Mark Ward

Dune-HD does Blu-Ray profile 2.0 PCH doesn't appear to

The PCH does do BD-Live (profile 2.0) with either an internal hard drive fitted or a USB thumb drive.

Originally Posted by Mark Ward

PCH-C200 has Sigma Designs SMP8643, 667MHz CPU with floating point coprocessor, Dune-HD has Sigma Designs 8634 So. Or is this a 'typo' on the chip number?

No, it isn't typo. The chips are pretty much identical but apparently one supports Macrovision on the analogue outputs (Dune-HD) and the other one doesn't (PCH). It won't make any difference if using HDMI.

[skorc2000]

Originally Posted by Mark Ward

This finally seems to be the player that checks all my boxes

1. BluRay Drive - Finally get to play my actual discs

2. 7.1 Analogue outs should resolve the issue my receivers lack of HD audio support

3. Multiregion hackable will help with my DVD collection

4. Gig Lan (Option)

5. Component out means it'll work with our pre-HDMI spare room TV and my projector.

and...



Why does every media player have to have an achilles heal? Is this drive noisy the whole time or just at the spinup & spindown points?

I was just about to order the PCH c200, but this does more of what I need.

I'm off to do some hardware/chipset comparisons to see which I think will suit me best.

[Edit] Added some specs sheets for comparison:-
Dune-HD
PCH C200

Most noticable for me:-

Dune-HD does Blu-Ray profile 2.0 PCH doesn't appear to

PCH-C200 has more (& better?) Ram

PCH-C200 has Sigma Designs SMP8643, 667MHz CPU with floating point coprocessor, Dune-HD has Sigma Designs 8634 So. Or is this a 'typo' on the chip number?


Mark.

I found this on DUNE-s home page:

You should read it:

HDI press release on the 3.0 products » HDI Dune

1. 8642 chip
Our 3.0 solutions are based on Sigma Designs 8642 chip, not on the 8643 one. We'd like to remind that every odd version of Sigma chips is a functionally reduced variant of the chip with the _previous_ even number (i.e. 8643-8642. 8635-8634, ...). Odd versions inc. 8643 and 8635 are never meant for playing any copyright-protected materials (like Blu-ray and DVD) and are mostly meant for cheap IPTV/VoD set-top-boxes. For example, Macrovision support is enabled in 8642 chips and disabled in 8643 ones. So only Dune players on 8642 chip have no limitations with output of protected video through analog video interfaces. Also 8643-based players can not be legally sold in any AV-stores as Blu-ray players (for example, with some preinstalled Blu-ray drive), for Dune BD players there is no such limitation and you'll be able to find them not only in Internet.

Regards

[JimmytheSaint]

Originally Posted by skorc2000

I found this on DUNE-s home page:

You should read it:

HDI press release on the 3.0 products » HDI Dune

1. 8642 chip
Our 3.0 solutions are based on Sigma Designs 8642 chip, not on the 8643 one. We'd like to remind that every odd version of Sigma chips is a functionally reduced variant of the chip with the _previous_ even number (i.e. 8643-8642. 8635-8634, ...). Odd versions inc. 8643 and 8635 are never meant for playing any copyright-protected materials (like Blu-ray and DVD) and are mostly meant for cheap IPTV/VoD set-top-boxes. For example, Macrovision support is enabled in 8642 chips and disabled in 8643 ones. So only Dune players on 8642 chip have no limitations with output of protected video through analog video interfaces. Also 8643-based players can not be legally sold in any AV-stores as Blu-ray players (for example, with some preinstalled Blu-ray drive), for Dune BD players there is no such limitation and you'll be able to find them not only in Internet.

Regards

Interesting, never knew that and yes the BD Prime 3.0 has the Sigma 8642 chipset. I think it has something to do with the fact that the BD drive is included with the Dune, so therefore all royalties to Sony for BD are paid for and therefore all BD functionality for all aspects of BD playback (ripped as well) are included.

[Mark Ward]

Originally Posted by JimmytheSaint

Interesting, never knew that and yes the BD Prime 3.0 has the Sigma 8642 chipset. I think it has something to do with the fact that the BD drive is included with the Dune, so therefore all royalties to Sony for BD are paid for and therefore all BD functionality for all aspects of BD playback (ripped as well) are included.

So are we saying that the 8642 in the Dune-BD is the better chip because the 8643 in the Popcorn C200 is a limted function set version of that same chip, ie. no macrovision?

From a users point of view which is better? What does the apparent lack of Macrovision support in PCH mean to the end user? I'm STRONGLY leaning towards the Dune right now because of Analogue outs but wanted to make sure I'm doing the right thing. I do need component video out.

Mark.

[peterjcat]

Originally Posted by Mark Ward

So are we saying that the 8642 in the Dune-BD is the better chip because the 8643 in the Popcorn C200 is a limted function set version of that same chip, ie. no macrovision?

From a users point of view which is better? What does the apparent lack of Macrovision support in PCH mean to the end user? I'm STRONGLY leaning towards the Dune right now because of Analogue outs but wanted to make sure I'm doing the right thing. I do need component video out.

Mark.

The C-200 plays DVD and Blu-ray over component video, it just won't play them out over composite or S-video due to the lack of Macrovision.

[MeanDorris @ AV Aficionado]

Originally Posted by JimmytheSaint

A 'buy-in' with MPC & Divxplayer in the Netherlands. The unit is not multi out of the box, but the same region free patch can be applied, as per Dune 1.0.

Does the region free patch cover both DVD and BD disc playback?

This product is looking very interesting, although I have seen on another forum that a good few of the initial batch have some serious technical faults.

Has any one found a UK outlet for these as yet?

[JimmytheSaint]

Originally Posted by MeanDorris

Does the region free patch cover both DVD and BD disc playback?

This product is looking very interesting, although I have seen on another forum that a good few of the initial batch have some serious technical faults.

Has any one found a UK outlet for these as yet?

Region free patch covers dvd (region free or you can set it) and allows manual switch of region for BD (simply by pressing MUTE button 4 times & region number).
A number of people have had issues with their drives, but I've had none so far, other than the noise when initialising playback of BDs.
No UK outlet as yet that I'm aware of.

Like all of these media players, not one is perfect and I've owned my fair share of them over the last 6-7 years. This unit has probably been the most complete (as far as firmware is concerned) out of the box that I've had in that time. I have had a tivx (3 generations) over the past few years and now, over a year after it's release and subsequent launch of it's new generation player, the 6600, I would say the 6500 has reached a firmware/stability/performance level, which it promised on launch.
It's all about the support!

[tonbert]

I ordered one and was in backorder. This week I received a mail that there are problems with the first batch. Noisy players and some problems with accepting dvd's and 1 out of 6 bluray players should give problems.
Delivery is stopped now and they are replacing parts now.
They expect that it will be fixed in 2 weeks

[skinnywhippet]

Re: Dune BD Prime 3.0
I ordered one and was in backorder. This week I received a mail that there are problems with the first batch. Noisy players and some problems with accepting dvd's and 1 out of 6 bluray players should give problems.
Delivery is stopped now and they are replacing parts now.
They expect that it will be fixed in 2 weeks

where did you order from?

[tonbert]

Originally Posted by skinnywhippet

where did you order from?

Wifimedia, I also bought my squezebox there with with NAS.

[skinnywhippet]

Wifimedia, I also bought my squezebox there with with NAS.

thanks

[digitalera.co.uk]

Sold / Used version 1 of all the Dune machines and still use the dune base model today in my spare room.

I loved the UI but the build quality on the orginal models was shocking and for the money you would expect something that looked like it would keep working.

Going to wait a while (have to anyway as they are all sold out) before seeing if they are worth selling in the UK the orginal dunes sold fairly well. These are now made in the same factory panasonic make blu-ray players in i think so build quality is improved.

[spida_singh]

I also received one of these last week, very nice player, build quality as stated is nice, and suprisingly quite a light player. Im suprised how good it was out of the box. Drive noise should hopefully be resolved with a new fw....hdi are currently working on it.

The only problem I have is with hdmi re-initialisation, everytime i stop or play media, sometimes, my Sammy M87 looses the connection and swtiches to ext1, only when connected via my 875, direct to the tv is fine, any ideas on the 875?

I have to manually select the source to get back to it.

All my BD-RB backups played fine, unit is very responsive, so far, it hasnt struggled with anything I have thrown at it. All my DVD and Blu rays play fine.

Boot time from a complete power down to menu screen is about 40 seconds for me.

I do loose my network shares now and then, a reboot solves that. Hopefully in the next firmware this will be improved. Thumbs up from me so far.

[tonbert]

manual

http://www.hdlandforum.fr/download/file.php?id=180

review

http://www.mpcclub.com/forum/links/s...m/download.php

film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4FqJKrSMJU

Had contact today with my dealer again and they told me that if I take the internal HD I could get some problems because of the heat it generates.
So I changed my order to bluray only and I will stream from my NAS

[digitalera.co.uk]

i noticed some playback issues posted on mpcclub.
i think if those can be sorted then we are on to a winner here.