Pivos AIOS HD Media Center: The *Semiofficial* Thread - Page 25

I dl'ed dvdfab trial and ripped a few samples to m2ts. They played back perfectly with no issues. Problem is I really don't want to spend $100 on getting a license for the software. It does have a lot of customizable options but still a lot of $$$. Also is there a way to force subtitles on without turning them on manually with m2ts like you can do with MKV. Also thanks to everyone for eir help.

I don't use DVDFab. I use AnyDVD HD for encryption removal. I then use ClownBD (free software) to rip the movie to BR folder structure, which retains the chapters just like MKV. MakeMKV is free while in beta. Thereafter, you will have to pay for it for BD option.

You can use the free part of DVDFab, HD decrypter, to decrypt the movie. Say for example you decrypt the main movie only, it rips it to a BD folder structure on your hard drive. You can then open the Stream folder and pull out the M2TS file and rename it to the name of your movie. If there are multiple M2TS files in the Stream folder then it's a seamless branch movie and requires more work which you can "stitch" together using ClownBD (free). Since your questions are more specific to ripping you should read through BD Ripping thread and post your questions there. I currently encode everything to M4V and burn in the forced subs, I don't however get the HD audio.

You don't have to pay the $100 to do what you want, it's just you'll have to pay it for the convenience.

im perfectly content to use mkv2vob, turning em into mpegs, does the aios like that format?

I just picked up one of these units.

A few questions:

First, I have tried the stock firmware, the latest official release (not beta), and a recent custom firmware.

With the latest custom firmware (semi-official), the unit did not stream True-HD MA or the highest level or DD True HD. The unit will stream those with the official release.

Is there going to be a firmware update to address this? I gather there are workarounds; but it sounds rather challenging for newbies.

Second, is there a way to get the unit to seamless play FLAC files? With the Dune units, clicking on a media file will put the unit into a streaming mode. On this unit, clicking on a jpeg or whatever plays some kind of unrelated music.
Also, on the flac front, it seems one has to change the volume in order to get the files to emit sound at times.

Third, is there a plan to have a more coherent audio output schem?. For example, it would be great to tell the unit to default to RAW unless unavailable (like for multi-channel flac).

Fourth, is there a plan to make the remote more responsive? I saw comments about this in reviews. I did not realize how bad the situation really was.

Fifth, I am amazed how much better the networking throughput was with the updated firmware. About 11x faster! Well, this is more of an observation than a question.

For the price, this is a good deal. But it could own the market with a few tweaks.

Thanks.
Edited by originalsnuffy - 10/22/12 at 6:49am

Generally speaking with this unit I think it's "you get what you pay for".
I'm seriously thinking of spending a little more and getting something a little more polished.

Hi all,

Currently watching BR disc, MKV and Divx rips on my PC. I need a media streamer to work with my old Toshiba CRT television which supports 480i resolution only. Will this unit output at this standard resolution? I just purchased a hdmi converter to component along with a 20 ft long hdmi cable from the PC to the TV. But this device only output resolutions from 480p and up. So I only get audio but the screen is blank at the TV.

Best regards.

Which wireless USB adapter is the best to use for this unit? I have looked at the ASUS USBN-10 and the TRENDnet TEW-648UB but it seems both are getting reviews of getting overheating issues. Is anyone see the overheating issues with these units? Also, does it matter which USB port is used for the wireless adapter?

I use a Realtek-based 8191 adapter made for a Patriot PBO and it runs quite well. It's cool and reliable.

Just make sure that the usb adapter you want is compatible with the Aios.

Stuck between the asus usbn10 and the patriot PCBOWAU2-N.

How's the pivos usb wifi adapter working for those that have it? stay connected and actually get at least 11G speeds?

The Pivos wifi adapter is the cheapest of the 3 from newegg.

any idea why, i have to choose 1 movie below the 1 i want to watch? my list is tower heist then trading places but clicking on trading places plays tower heist i have to go 1 movie down from trading places, should i update to latest official firmware or go to modded firmware? if so where do i get it? thanks

They're rips made with the newest release [1.78 I believe] of MakeMVK. Full bitrate video, full bitrate DTS-HD MA/DD TrueHD/PCM audio and subtitles for translations where necessary. Not currently at my computer for media info. Like I said the MKVs would stutter and M2TS files of the exact same content would be fine. Been reading the forums for some of the other media boxes and maybe they all behave live this?

Aasoror,

Thank you again for your help with this unit. I did not realize that the firmware I had been trying was not one of your versions. I found the most recent version that you created and installed it.

The audio performance was good. All audio types tested did in fact pass through.

Thank you.

Is it likely that the AIOS will someday be able to handle blu-ray menues, specifically for TV episodes such as Homeland?


Jim

no

which lately seems to be most all of them! The only reason why I sold off my aios as I was too lazy to rerip all of the tv show blu ray isos I have into something the Aios could handle...

Hy, I am from Spain and I am trying to find a good media player for listening to my flac audio, looks like the Pivos AIOS has some good hardware, I specially like the fact that it has a coaixal output, but I am wondering if its posible to set it to 44, 88, 176KHz instead of the tipical 48KHz used for movies ¿what kind of sound options does it have?,
Would really apreciate some impresiones, I need to know if this media player es perfectly souted for my needs to listen to high quility flac audio.

Greetings.

Hi,

I run everything from the Pivos Aios to my receiver using hdmi. I know of no inexpensive media player, including the Aios, that can convert the bitrate or sampling frequency before sending it out via hdmi or optical.

The Pivos Aios converts flac files to lpcm before outputting the signal, regardless of what settings you use for hmdi or optical.

The conversion of 48/24 audio tracks, as commonly found on DTS-HD and TrueHD soundtracks, to other bit rates and sampling frequencies would require a lot of processing power. SACDs using a base sampling frequency of 44.1 which yields 88.1, 176.4. DVD-A, TrueHD, and DTS-HD use a base sampling frequency of 48 which yields 96 and 192. Changing from one to the other does, in my opinion, degrade the audio quality.

Any reason you need to re-sample the signal to 44, 88, and 176?

Hy audit13, I am no expert in lossless audio, but Ive been told that 48KHz is mainly used for movies, but flac is normally at 44.1, 88, 96, 176, 192KHz, its rare to find flac at 48KHz, most flac are 44.1, that is why its better to set it nativey at 44.1Khz, they also say its better to send it PCM so that the Anthem can equalize with ARC and get the best sound possible.

If you have the Pivos Aios I also sugest you try to conect it to the Anthem receiver using coaixal, this friend of mine from Spanish forums that is quite an expert tell me that the diference is quite noticable and better through coaxial.

I must say that till recently ive been using my Ps3 with Ps3 Media Server software for reading Flac files from my PC, now it has stoped working and I cant get the software to conect to my Ps3, others have experienced the same problems, and maybe its because of some ps3 filware update.

I also have a Dune HD Smart D1 that is a totally amazing media player for MKV, fullbluray iso, but its conected to the receiver through HDMI, and the HDMI only output of the Anthem goes to my projector, that is why I need another player just for flac, so I can conect it to the receiver via Coaxial (if possible) or optical, and send the picture to my tv directly from the media player through HDMI.

I dont know of other media players with coaixal output, that is why I am considering the Pivos Aros, would happy to hear your impresiones, if it sounds good etc.., for example my Dune also reads flac but every time I select a song there is a slight cut/noise at the begining.

Greetings.

Hi,

This is in response to your post located here on the MRX-300/500/700 thread: http://email.avsforum.com/wf/click?upn=IteB9nQX1tzxZNqDHRtZpl0Fm-2BvButaQVt3mMxP6klQee69QI10wMe5ubdc-2FAv39D7KXPv8T4ae8jn6ebXP1tfatCtk-2BB6I1qixuclIu9DhvCe7-2BhK3yYIdfii5uDGONVy-2BBP-2B8kPdEiImjg5Ss9Mqiuj72BOmUUsO-2BrUFLZ1A3RppNT0qqqdbZc0a3hjB2qNL9P-2B6vsGWXdkdcc6gKjPFyFsTjuFAgHAC-2FQZF8f0Jcam5-2BbKCb2UHFAdvy-2BjgF6_MdWTzf2-2FT4hY3TSJ4qQ6HZrugEp2LejuFpxFiusAKdt6Sr-2Fs-2B3OBdC220b-2FoL2heDxa7AdvMxjOkTa8FCJoFuqanKoRLMoGa0MiukYrSsvBJ0gXAiOyhrvI5jaaK688zt5BOcUy-2F5XbHKngO0syANaGQb97DVR1eLvMauvLeEWa7PPYyvnUam30a4T9CGUlHjYC-2FZlp49-2FlSbSBZpfPmtbEfMdwsmN-2FDeaUJJB7iQGjxgN5D3GolMgxmo3Pd3QMkpBIlGzlHDOoIqPNMvJZJ7g-3D-3D

Will you be listening to 2.0 or 5.1 channel flac? The Pivos Aios is fine with high-resolution 2.0 flac but has trouble with some 5.1 flac files that are higher than 48 khz.

My Aios does not sound loud at all and I use it in a very quiet room. I know other people that use the Aios and they don't notice the fan noise either.

Overall, I am very happy with the unit; however, here are some problems I have experienced with the Aios, regardless of which firmware I use:

1) some high-resolution multichannel flac files that are more than 48/24 stutter during playback or won't play at all;
2) stereo flac files are fine at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192; and
3) turning off my tv causes 5.1 audio to playback in stereo. I solved this problem by using a Gefen HDMI Detective.

Things I love about the Aios:

1) picture quality is really good;
2) sends TrueHD and DTS-HD MA to my receiver;
3) automatic playback of Blu-ray @ 1080p/24; and
4) automatic English subtitles.

I don't use my Aios for anything other than Blu-rays and music.

The Aios comes with an external power adapter that accepts voltages from 100 to 240 so I don't think you will have a problem in Spain. You'll just have to get a different power cord because the North American plug is different from Spain.

Thank you very much for your explination, I only listen to stereo music so the Pivos Aios will work great, I will think about it, but at least I now know that the Pivos is a serious option and also seems to work great for movies.

Greetings.

I bought the one from Pivos and it was slow. movie was stuttering at high action points. What's a good wifi AP priced to go with this box?

Depends on what you want to use it for. No wireless adapter is good enough to stream high bit rate blu ray iso's reliably and consistently.
For lower encodes or dvd rips the Pivos one SHOULD be fine..