New Dune HD Max and HD Smart anticipation thread Q3 2010 - Page 8

Originally Posted by dbone1026

Keep in mind also that the new models are meant to compliment the current Base/Prime (i.e. give users more options along the pricing scale)

As far as 3D, the impact as far as HDMI is concerned is that HDMI 1.3 will give you 1080i 3D whereas HDMI 1.4 will give you 1080p 3D. Who knows for sure if 3D will be supported. I don't know how 3D relates to this advertised feature of the dune players:



Regarding the latest/greatest, unfortunately this technology is fast moving, and when you think you have the latest/greatest in only a few months something comes out that is better. The key is to make sure you have something that you can use NOW. Latest/greatest is great, but also means you can potentially deal with instabilities/bugs as the technology matures.

Originally Posted by CDLehner

Don't tell me that I'm the only one that thinks HDMI is going to an early grave? Come on HDBaseT!!

CD

Originally Posted by dbone1026

Not anytime soon I don't believe. I am still waiting for WHDMI to take off (and get much cheaper)

Originally Posted by CDLehner

I disagree. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I think HDMI is a backwards-ass, difficult, expensive interface...which has no love-lost from anyone but the cable hucksters...and an idea like HDBaseT will get fast-tracked into implementation.

Just seems like a natural, with the drift of melding computers and TV, with digital media and online streaming anyway. And wireless HDMI? I'd be very surprised if that ever makes it off the ground; most people can't even reliably stream video wirelessly around the house, and I can't see the cost coming down enough to make if viable to the masses.

Like I said, might just be my wishful thinking...lol.

CD

Originally Posted by CDLehner

Don't tell me that I'm the only one that thinks HDMI is going to an early grave? Come on HDBaseT!!

CD

Originally Posted by elixxxer

I'm very interested in these new Dune network players as they finally make more sense (price wise). I have a couple of questions, though:

Unlike many, I want to take my computer(s) completely out of the equation when using this thing as a media device. With that in mind, is it possible to run a 3rd party GUI without having the computer on at the same time? Additionally, what are the data transfer speeds like over a network to the internal HD?

Additionally, is output of FLAC files over HDMI bit-perfect (basically no processing of any kind before it hits the receiver)?

I like the idea of these Dunes because they include well-developed firmware straight out of the box and I want something with an internal hard drive (again, to negate the need for a computer or NAS to be on). I also like the portability aspect; if I want to watch all of my media at a friend's house, I just take the entire unit with me and everything is self-contained. $20 for shipping is a bit of a rip, though, so I might wait until it is available at a standard retailer.

Originally Posted by madpoet

The new ones will allow an upgrade next year to the new chipset. The Dune Base may or may not, no one is sure. But yes, the Base is still great

Originally Posted by jmpage2

The Base is now functionally equivalent to the H1, which sells for about $110 less. However the H1 lacks a display and does not have 7.1 analog audio output.

Originally Posted by PathofNeo

So it's confirmed that the H1 is totally equivalent to the Base 3.0 minus those features? Mind I ask is having 7.1 analog output necessary? I'll be using HDMI to connect it to a 3-d 7.1 home theater, so I assume it will bitstream and sound the same as the Base 3.0 with HD tracks?

Also, about that hot swap feature. Again I need to know how easy it is to swap the harddrive with the base 3.0. I'm actually debating on just going with the H1 if it is in fact very easy to swap hardrives and scrap the whole whs idea. I have several 2TB hds and am thinking of putting different genres, tvs shows, etc on each of them. This would save me from getting a whs and dealing with a network. Anyone else plan to do the same? I know it sounds crazy but I already have a bunch of hds and kinda like the idea of an easy swap for different genres (I can only watch so many movies/shows a night). But if I go this route.. can I still bring up cover art for movies via interal hd like you can using zappiti if I'm connected online?

I was hoping that I could do this with the Base 3.0 but if it's not gonna be convenient then I to know.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by pmcd

These upgrade schemes are rarely worth it. Expensive, not optimized for the new designs, etc... It's more of a marketing gimmick than anything else. In the Dune case it does bring more customers to the table by lowering the price for those not interested in certain features. That was a smart move, but the upgradeable thing is worthless, unless they give it away at cost.

Philip

Originally Posted by BuddTX

Differences between Smart H1 and Smart D1

I am still trying to figure out the exact differences between these two, so far I get this:

H1 has a "Hot Swappable" feature, and everyone is "guessing" that there is some kind of pop out drawer or Loader assembly to load and remove the Hard Drive.

The D1 can have a HD mounted inside the device, but it needs to be taken apart to add or remove the HD. (Again, I think everyone is "guessing" that the D1 needs to be dis-assembled somehow to install/remove the HD).

The D1 has a nice LED Display, whereas the H1 has NO display.

Now here is where it gets interesting. I was assuming, that, with the exceptions listed above, the devices are the same, and when you look at the spec page on the dune web site, features are identical, word for word, with a few exceptions. (I lined both web pages up "in sync" and these were the different features.)

Here is one "difference" (Quoted from web site):
D1
Extended support for Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio: output bitstream (up to 7.1 channels) or decode to LPCM (up to 7.1 channels) for maximum flexibility when connecting audio equipment, and for extended support of advanced playback features (such as Picture-in-Picture).

H1
Flexible support for Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio: output as bitstream (up to 7.1 channels) or decode to LPCM (stereo downmix) for flexibility when connecting audio equipment.

and another "difference" (again, Quoted from web site)

D1
HD audio support: pass-through (up to 7.1 channels) and decoding (up to 7.1 channels) of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA audiotracks (Blu-ray, TS, MKV), pass-through (up to 7.1 channels) of multichannel LPCM audiotracks (Blu-ray, TS, MKV), decoding (up to 7.1 channels) of FLAC audiotracks (MKV, external)

H1
HD audio support: pass-through (up to 7.1 channels) and decoding (stereo downmix) of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA audiotracks (Blu-ray, TS, MKV), pass-through (up to 7.1 channels) of multichannel LPCM audiotracks (Blu-ray, TS, MKV), decoding (up to 7.1 channels) of FLAC audiotracks (MKV, external)

So what does it mean? Almost everything else is word for word, the same.

Originally Posted by Elpee

H1 supports "stereo downmix" but D1 doesn't, I guess.
I don't understand how different "extended" and "flexible".

Originally Posted by pmcd

These upgrade schemes are rarely worth it. Expensive, not optimized for the new designs, etc... It's more of a marketing gimmick than anything else. In the Dune case it does bring more customers to the table by lowering the price for those not interested in certain features. That was a smart move, but the upgradeable thing is worthless, unless they give it away at cost.

Philip

Originally Posted by pmcd

These upgrade schemes are rarely worth it. Expensive, not optimized for the new designs, etc... It's more of a marketing gimmick than anything else. In the Dune case it does bring more customers to the table by lowering the price for those not interested in certain features. That was a smart move, but the upgradeable thing is worthless, unless they give it away at cost.

Philip

Originally Posted by BuddTX

Differences between Smart H1 and Smart D1

I am still trying to figure out the exact differences between these two, so far I get this:

H1 has a "Hot Swappable" feature, and everyone is "guessing" that there is some kind of pop out drawer or Loader assembly to load and remove the Hard Drive.

The D1 can have a HD mounted inside the device, but it needs to be taken apart to add or remove the HD. (Again, I think everyone is "guessing" that the D1 needs to be dis-assembled somehow to install/remove the HD).

The D1 has a nice LED Display, whereas the H1 has NO display.

Now here is where it gets interesting. I was assuming, that, with the exceptions listed above, the devices are the same, and when you look at the spec page on the dune web site, features are identical, word for word, with a few exceptions. (I lined both web pages up "in sync" and these were the different features.)

Here is one "difference" (Quoted from web site):
D1
Extended support for Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio: output bitstream (up to 7.1 channels) or decode to LPCM (up to 7.1 channels) for maximum flexibility when connecting audio equipment, and for extended support of advanced playback features (such as Picture-in-Picture).

H1
Flexible support for Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio: output as bitstream (up to 7.1 channels) or decode to LPCM (stereo downmix) for flexibility when connecting audio equipment.

and another "difference" (again, Quoted from web site)

D1
HD audio support: pass-through (up to 7.1 channels) and decoding (up to 7.1 channels) of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA audiotracks (Blu-ray, TS, MKV), pass-through (up to 7.1 channels) of multichannel LPCM audiotracks (Blu-ray, TS, MKV), decoding (up to 7.1 channels) of FLAC audiotracks (MKV, external)

H1
HD audio support: pass-through (up to 7.1 channels) and decoding (stereo downmix) of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA audiotracks (Blu-ray, TS, MKV), pass-through (up to 7.1 channels) of multichannel LPCM audiotracks (Blu-ray, TS, MKV), decoding (up to 7.1 channels) of FLAC audiotracks (MKV, external)

So what does it mean? Almost everything else is word for word, the same.

Originally Posted by lmaolmao


that's a good find. I think it means that if your AVR doesn't support bitstreamed HD codecs and you use LPCM then the H1 will only give you stereo, while the D1 will give you full multichannel.

Originally Posted by APorter

I'm pretty sure I read that the smart units would just be replaced with a new model (D1 for a D2), so I'm not sure how you can say they will not be optimized for the new design.

Originally Posted by jmpage2

You misunderstand, they have said that the only box they will do open heart surgery on is the Max. The Smart units will just be a straight across swap, D1 for new D2, etc. However, let's say they charge $100 plus shipping for this service. It still might be cheaper to eBay the original unit and buy the new one outright. It comes down to the upgrade cost.

Originally Posted by Suntan

I'd be a lot more interested in getting a factory refurb from Dune than I would be buying one straight off Ebay from one of you shady characters...

-Suntan

Originally Posted by bbanderic

I just ordered the D1 yesterday. I'm curious what you guys recommend for reliable 2tb external hard drives. Would I need to hook up with e-sata as opposed to USB to play BDMV/BD-ISO without any hiccups?

I was going to get the H1 with the internal hot swap option but in the end I didn't like the look of the H1, plus I like the display option.

TIA

Originally Posted by CDLehner

You realize you can still put an internal hard drive into a D1, right?

CD