Does anyone have any thoughts on the new Escient Vision product line?

It looks to me that this could be very good alternative to the extremely high priced Kaliedescape system. From what I've heard it won't be a slick as the Kaliedescape in terms of how you get your DVDs ripped to the system but let's face it - most of us that are browsing here have been ripping and streaming our own DVD collections for quite a while now so I think it could work.

From what I understand you'll have to decrypt your own DVDs before putting them on the system. What I don't know yet is if you have to decrypt them and then burn them to a disc and then use Escient's hardware for putting them on the server or whether you can just transfer the files to the server over a network connection. It can still use a DVD changer by the way...

The UI looks good enough.

The price is still relatively high but for someone like me that's been looking for an elegant system for quite a while I just might spring for it.

The problem with ripping DVDs has supposedly just been overcome:

http://www.cepro.com/article/escient_says_vision_dvd_server_complies_with_dvd_cca_and_dmc a/

I think the uniquely appealing thing about the Vision system, which Escient don't mention very prominently, is that it will not only support ripping of DVDs to the hard drives, but it will also support megachangers, like their existing products. The difference is that it will support megachangers with HDMI, which may include Blu-ray and HD-DVD changers in the future.

That information is from one of the videos on the Escient website, in which an Escient managers says that the VS-100 has '4 HDMI inputs to support up to 4 megachangers for up to 1,600 discs'. There's no information about support for the current Sony DVP-CX777ES though. I'm wondering if Sony are planning a replacement with HDMI...

Before the DVD ripping issue was solved (if it really is solved), Escient were saying DVDs could be ripped and imported over the network from PCs. So I would think it may be possible to import Blu-ray and HD-DVD content from a PC over the network using something like AnyDVD HD...

This is shaping up to be quite a product.

That's great news - thanks for the link.

I'm keeping my eye on this product. A local retailer will be getting them when they come out and think I'll give it a try. The convenience of being able to "rip" the disc through the media player will be nice. I don't mind using my computer to rip the DVD but being able to use the media player itself (just like Kaleidescape) is pretty slick.

And on the Sony issue - from what I've been told (by my local retailer) Sony is working on their own version of the Escient. That's why they've discontinued their old model that worked with the Escient Fireball.

Did your local Sony dealer say that the Sony DVP-CX777ES has been discontinued? I'm not sure whether that's accurate. I heard there has recently been a production problem with it due to a particular chip going out of production.

Not my local Sony dealer but my local audio/video dealer. So it may not be accurate. But to the best of their knowledge Sony has discontinued it.

Are there any new announcements on this from CES 2008? I thought the Vision was going to be launched there...

I was told by a technician at Escient that the Vision will require an add-on interface to support DVD changers. There will be two models - the CH-1 (for 1 changer) or CH-4 (up to four changers), but he couldn't tell me the prices for these units. The interfaces support HDMI.

If any forum members are at the show, I'd be grateful if you could ask the Escient people about the pricing on the interfaces, and also whether you can import Blu-ray and HD-DVDs into the Vision from a PC. Also, whether there are any new changers on the way from Sony with two-way RS232 and HDMI output.

Vision will not support either Blu-ray or HD-DVD at initial product release. However, the Vision VS-100 and VS-200 both feature four HDMI inputs with the intention of supporting one of these hi-def formats through an external changer once one becomes available. I am not currently aware of an updated Sony changer which features both RS232 control and HDMI output but I know this is something that is currently being looked into.

Vision will not support either Blu-ray or HD-DVD at initial product release. However, the Vision VS-100 and VS-200 both feature four HDMI inputs with the intention of supporting one of these hi-def formats through an external changer once one becomes available. I am not currently aware of an updated Sony changer which features both RS232 control and HDMI output but I know this is something that is currently being looked into.

MediaMax from Axonix claims that they support Blu-ray or HD-DVD. It does sound like the best Media server out there (at least on paper). The problem is that my custom installer is nervous about using product with a small customer base and he does not want to "experiment". Anyone else has experience with Axonix's MediaMax?

Pro's: less expensive than Kaleidescape. BR and HD-DVD.
Con: Not sure how they are going to handle Copyright management issues while downloading DVDs to the server.

http://www.axonix.com/MediaMax/

It's still ridiculously expensive. These companies (Kaleidescape and Axonix) are basically charging crazy prices to deliver customers turn key solutions. A solution like they are offering should easily be less than $5,000 and probably less than $3,000 and they'd STILL be making a killing.

I think you're really paying for license fees.

I STILL think that XBMC is the best option out there. It's cheap, it works and it works WELL. I can customize it to crazy extremes and it won't choke on any format that I throw at it.

It's only limitation TODAY is lack of true HD support but as most people know they are currently porting XBMC to Linux. Once they get that stable then people will be crazy not to utilize it if they are looking for serious streaming. For now I'll stick with my XBMC on the original Xbox and keep my eye on XBMC for Linux.

Currently, the 777ES is the only changer supported (check out the sell sheet for the Vision line on the Escient web site). I wish Sony or someone else would come out with a new changer with HDMI AND RS-232 (the 995V does NOT have RS-232). You have to buy an ESCIENT adapter to convert the component input to HDMI. No retail price available yet for the adapter (I talked to tech support the other day) but the main unit's suggested retail prices (SRP) are: VS-100 (SRP: $3,999), VS-200 (SRP: $5,999), VC-1 (SRP: $1,999), VX-600 (SRP: $7,999).

Has anyone heard anything more about the Vision, e.g. the date they'll start shipping, or prices for the megachanger adapters?

Currently, the 777ES is the only changer supported (check out the sell sheet for the Vision line on the Escient web site). I wish Sony or someone else would come out with a new changer with HDMI AND RS-232 (the 995V does NOT have RS-232). You have to buy an ESCIENT adapter to convert the component input to HDMI. No retail price available yet for the adapter (I talked to tech support the other day) but the main unit's suggested retail prices (SRP) are: VS-100 (SRP: $3,999), VS-200 (SRP: $5,999), VC-1 (SRP: $1,999), VX-600 (SRP: $7,999).
Yeah - It is crazy. Why doesn't denon just build a universal 400 disk changer with their denon link, reon video chip and hdmi (a 400 disk version of the 2930CI).

Has anyone heard anything more about the Vision, e.g. the date they'll start shipping, or prices for the megachanger adapters?
My salesman called me last week to tell me that shipments are delayed until the end of the month. He still didn't have a price for the adapters.

By the way, the Sony DVP-CX777ES has now been discontinued.

Yes, the 777ES was discontinued last year, I think. However, you can still find them on eBay. I have 5 of the silver models. They are beautiful machines although I wouldn't want to use them without my Escients. When I used them stand alone, the disc explorer would often "forget" titles, which was extremely annoying. Anyway, I digress, all I can say is that I am looking forward to trying the VS-100 or 200.

Does anyone know when the Vison products are going to start shipping? The Escient website still has a press release from December saying that they were planning to start shipping them in February...

Also it still doesn't give any information about the CH-1 and CH-4 changer adapters - does anyone know what the pricing will be on these?

My salesman called me a couple of weeks ago. The release has been delayed yet again. Maybe mid-April. Doesn't bode well. Not sure of what problem is.

FYI...I'm told deliveries are now late-May to June. I think the product looks pretty solid (even though pricey) and has many of the "issues" worked out for ease of DVD management. We'll see.

On that note...I'm new here so please don't beat me up if I'm asking stupid questions. I have searched the forum for a day so I have picked up a few answers to questions. In a nutshell, I am currently researching these Media Servers for adding to our business offerings and I am becoming more confused each day. There are many companies out there touting their wares, and they all have slightly different approaches to the market, but most don't have answers to some pretty simple items....

1. How are DVD's copied and stored on the computer legally...using the premise of the fact that the consumer has a right to make a backup copy.

2. Once a DVD is on the system how is the cover art and "value added" content (outtakes, deleted scenes, etc.) made available to the end user as it was on the original copy.

3. How can consumers use the DVR functionality with DirecTV....which the majority of our customers use....especially as they add more and more HD content.

Any help from members of this forum would be greatly appreciated.

Matt

Any further news on a release date?

According to this post:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13977502#post13977502

it's delayed again - August.

Jeff

CE Pro announced that the Escient Vision line is now shipping:

http://www.cepro.com/article/escient_ships_vision_media_servers_finally/#When:14:52:00Z

What would be really cool is if the vision can control the yet to be released sony blue-ray mega disc changer. 400 BD with fireball control.

5 fireballs and counting...

What would be really cool is if the vision can control the yet to be released sony blue-ray mega disc changer. 400 BD with fireball control.

5 fireballs and counting...

I've heard that's the plan, and why they included the 3 HDMI and USB connections on the unit. This would be GREAT.

Just connected our demo Vision to our 52" Samsung 81 Series lcd tv. The movies we imported were extremely soft looking upon playback. The gui looks nice and sharp but there is a problem with the playback. This is from either component or hdmi with either 480p or 1080p output.

This is also after we upgraded the software to the new version which took roughly 3/4 of an hour.

So far it is disappointing compared to our Kaleidescape system.

I enjoy the fact that Escient does not charge you for s/w updates and for use of their database when looking up new discs. Since the release of Vision a week and a half ago, there have been 2 s/w updates in order to take care of bugs being found in the initial release. I am very happy with my VS

Kaleidescape doesn't charge for updates. Where did you hear that?

how does one update the firmware of the unit. I've updated the software with the inital install, but was told I need to update the firmware manuall the first time (all others would be automatic). I've imported a couple movies, but they look "soft" especially when compared with the sharpness of the GUI. I believe the update fixes this problem.

I can't find a spot to update firmware anywhere in the menu.

go to menu, go to set-up, go to utilities, go to update software.

the update does not fix the problem. but the engineers are working on it.

I have my vision system vx-200 installed with music and video(at 480P) and I have a digilinx/netstreams installation across the house. I am finding out that while the vx-200 is successful at streaming the list of contents to my digilinx the music streaming doesn't seem to work at all. Has anyone noticed this?

I have my vision system vx-200 installed with music and video(at 480P) and I have a digilinx/netstreams installation across the house. I am finding out that while the vx-200 is successful at streaming the list of contents to my digilinx the music streaming doesn't seem to work at all. Has anyone noticed this?

The Dealer Setup Software only allows you to select an Escient FireBall server, not a Vision Server. The two servers use slightly different URLs to stream the actual music. NetStreams is aware and working on the issue.

It's still ridiculously expensive. These companies (Kaleidescape and Axonix) are basically charging crazy prices to deliver customers turn key solutions. A solution like they are offering should easily be less than $5,000 and probably less than $3,000 and they'd STILL be making a killing.

I think you're really paying for license fees.

I STILL think that XBMC is the best option out there. It's cheap, it works and it works WELL. I can customize it to crazy extremes and it won't choke on any format that I throw at it.


Apples & oranges.
Standalones vs. web severs.
And you don't know why their more expensive?

Is anyone tracking a list of titles that have problems importing on the Vision systems?

Does anyone know if the VS 100 will support the new Crestron BluRay changer

Crestron ADC-200BR

http://www.crestron.com/products/show_products.asp?jump=1&model=ADC-200BR#resources