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dependable, simple media player suggestions

post #1 of 34
7/9/12 at 12:50am
Thread Starter 
Looking for a media player.
* Primary playback will be DVD and Blu-Ray back-up rips from a hard drive.
* Don't need streaming (Netflix, etc. - have other devices that cover that).
* Don't need network connectivity (to a computer, server, etc.).
Already went the cheap route (i.e. $100 or less) and both were useless. (Didn't fulfill priorities listed below, esp. the first one!.) Ready to pay more.

Highest Priorities:
- Works out of the box and is dependable (i.e. infrequent crashes)
- High quality 1080p video playback (including 24p/24hz) (very little of my content is interlaced)
- Able to play standard DVD/BR audio formats in 5.1, etc.
- Clear, functional interface (slick/pretty interface a plus but not necessary)
- Able to play/read DVD/BR menus
- Can attach an external drive - preference is HFS+ drive/raid via USB, eSATA, FW, etc., or, a NAS drive/raid.
- Decent up-scaling of DVD material to 1080p. (The up-scaling on the OPPO decks is amazing, is that too high a bar?)
- Internet connectivity for easier ROM/software updates.

Lower Priority:
- Able to play 3D: 3D BR format (frame packing) preferred, Side-by-Side 3D acceptable, Separate L/R streams a bonus (but not expected)
- Able to play/read subtitles.


Misc: Almost all my DVD/BR backups are strait, full disk rips, not conversions (may do that later). 3D playback or Subtitles are not deal breakers.

One last, tangential question - can BR video be played/streamed from a HD over USB 2.0? Or would I need a USB 3.0 connection?


Much, much thanks for any recommendations.
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post #2 of 34
7/9/12 at 7:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sdg4vfx View Post

Looking for a media player.
* Primary playback will be DVD and Blu-Ray back-up rips from a hard drive.
* Don't need streaming (Netflix, etc. - have other devices that cover that).
* Don't need network connectivity (to a computer, server, etc.).
Already went the cheap route (i.e. $100 or less) and both were useless. (Didn't fulfill priorities listed below, esp. the first one!.) Ready to pay more.
Highest Priorities:
- Works out of the box and is dependable (i.e. infrequent crashes)
- High quality 1080p video playback (including 24p/24hz) (very little of my content is interlaced)
- Able to play standard DVD/BR audio formats in 5.1, etc.
- Clear, functional interface (slick/pretty interface a plus but not necessary)
- Able to play/read DVD/BR menus
- Can attach an external drive - preference is HFS+ drive/raid via USB, eSATA, FW, etc., or, a NAS drive/raid.
- Decent up-scaling of DVD material to 1080p. (The up-scaling on the OPPO decks is amazing, is that too high a bar?)
- Internet connectivity for easier ROM/software updates.
Lower Priority:
- Able to play 3D: 3D BR format (frame packing) preferred, Side-by-Side 3D acceptable, Separate L/R streams a bonus (but not expected)
- Able to play/read subtitles.
Misc: Almost all my DVD/BR backups are strait, full disk rips, not conversions (may do that later). 3D playback or Subtitles are not deal breakers.
One last, tangential question - can BR video be played/streamed from a HD over USB 2.0? Or would I need a USB 3.0 connection?
Much, much thanks for any recommendations.

Dune Player is your answer and you can play br over usb 2 just fine
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post #3 of 34
7/9/12 at 7:27am
If you want something dependable that work out of the box, I would suggest Dune or PCH. If you want something that can play 3D movies, I would suggest Micca EP950, but I can't say it is 100% dependable.
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post #4 of 34
7/9/12 at 12:20pm
Thread Starter 
Much thanks for the replies. Couple (hopefully quick) questions:


Model suggestions for either the Dune or PCH?

Believe I've read in the forums that the Dune's are still using older technology/chips - is that a concern? Same true also for PCH?

The Micca EP950 looks interesting - any specifics re how it's undependable? (Playback? Connected device issues?)


I'll start looking at the specs for the players re connectivity, etc.

(Looking for a "simple to use out of the box" model so other family members can easily use it.)
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post #5 of 34
7/9/12 at 12:55pm
Dune is on an older chipset which means less bugs and more stable, PCH moves to new chipsets which means they get bugs that need to be fixed and stability could be lower.

And sd upscaling is going to be no where near the oppo lol so dont get your hopes up
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post #6 of 34
7/10/12 at 2:17pm
The most dependable is a well built and well maintained HTPC. The upscaling there with MadVR can stomp all over your Oppo if you have the hardware grunt. Most players can upscale, but there is always a limit. You only have 480/576 pixels to work with. Otherwise I'd second any of the recent 1186 Micca models.
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post #7 of 34
7/12/12 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Read some of the threads re the MiccaP950 - has the 24p/24hz playback stutter been solved?

Re an HTPC - can I use a Mac Mini? All the threads I've read are PC based.

Thanks!
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post #8 of 34
7/12/12 at 6:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiddles88 View Post

The most dependable is a well built and well maintained HTPC. The upscaling there with MadVR can stomp all over your Oppo if you have the hardware grunt. Most players can upscale, but there is always a limit. You only have 480/576 pixels to work with. Otherwise I'd second any of the recent 1186 Micca models.
Hahahahahaha.. Too funny, really?
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post #9 of 34
7/12/12 at 6:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiddles88 View Post

The most dependable is a well built and well maintained HTPC. The upscaling there with MadVR can stomp all over your Oppo if you have the hardware grunt. Most players can upscale, but there is always a limit. You only have 480/576 pixels to work with. Otherwise I'd second any of the recent 1186 Micca models.
LOL tongue.gif

craigr
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post #10 of 34
7/13/12 at 2:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CIR-Engineering View Post

LOL tongue.gif
craigr

What are you laughing about?
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post #11 of 34
7/13/12 at 5:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiddles88 View Post

What are you laughing about?

The same thing I am laughing at, your post...
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post #12 of 34
7/13/12 at 5:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by streamerlover View Post

The same thing I am laughing at, your post...

Then why don't you explain you useless slag.
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post #13 of 34
7/13/12 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
Don't want to interrupt the fun, but any responses to ...

Read some of the threads re the MiccaP950 - has the 24p/24hz playback stutter been solved?

Re an HTPC - can I use a Mac Mini? All the threads I've read are PC based. Or, is the HTPC a controversial point? (Admittedly it seems like more work to set up.)
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post #14 of 34
7/13/12 at 6:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sdg4vfx View Post

Don't want to interrupt the fun, but any responses to ...
Read some of the threads re the MiccaP950 - has the 24p/24hz playback stutter been solved?
Re an HTPC - can I use a Mac Mini? All the threads I've read are PC based. Or, is the HTPC a controversial point? (Admittedly it seems like more work to set up.)

No the stuttering / frame issue has not been fix. You can use a HTPC as a media player. Maintenance will depend on your set up.
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post #15 of 34
7/14/12 at 2:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GusGus748s View Post

No the stuttering / frame issue has not been fix. You can use a HTPC as a media player. Maintenance will depend on your set up.

That's to bad re the stuttering issue, the MiccaP950 was starting to look good. Guessing that's true for all the players that use the Realtek 1186 chip.

So, current questions ...

- Back to Dune or PCH, any recommendations on specific models?

- Can I use a Mac Mini for an HTPC? (I'm more Mac/Unix savvy, no in-depth experience with Windows.)

Thanks
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post #16 of 34
7/14/12 at 3:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sdg4vfx View Post

That's to bad re the stuttering issue, the MiccaP950 was starting to look good. Guessing that's true for all the players that use the Realtek 1186 chip.
So, current questions ...
- Back to Dune or PCH, any recommendations on specific models?
- Can I use a Mac Mini for an HTPC? (I'm more Mac/Unix savvy, no in-depth experience with Windows.)
Thanks

I think the stuttering / frame issues are related to 3D movies, and it will depend on your home theater set up. There are some people who do not have any issues due to the TV's frame refresh rate covering it up. However, the Micca is a good 2D media player.
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post #17 of 34
7/14/12 at 9:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GusGus748s View Post

I think the stuttering / frame issues are related to 3D movies, and it will depend on your home theater set up. There are some people who do not have any issues due to the TV's frame refresh rate covering it up. However, the Micca is a good 2D media player.

I have the himedia 900b which is micca ep950 both made by himedia--I also have a dune base 3.0 that plays everything fine--my 900b stutters on my andromeda series and hate it--its in 2d most other 2d is fine --its a hit or miss--himedia and micca are not fixing the major issues which could be related to the realtek chip.
I am looking to another player that does 3d but might just have to wait until something decent comes along
Dont like the dune smart series with internal hdd as no cooling fan
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post #18 of 34
7/14/12 at 9:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by denass View Post

I have the himedia 900b which is micca ep950 both made by himedia--I also have a dune base 3.0 that plays everything fine--my 900b stutters on my andromeda series and hate it--its in 2d most other 2d is fine --its a hit or miss--himedia and micca are not fixing the major issues which could be related to the realtek chip.
I am looking to another player that does 3d but might just have to wait until something decent comes along
Dont like the dune smart series with internal hdd as no cooling fan
So, just get an external dock for the Dune..Buy a D1 and you can have a worthless display as well! (well to me it is, some people seem to like it)biggrin.gif
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post #19 of 34
7/15/12 at 1:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by streamerlover View Post

So, just get an external dock for the Dune..Buy a D1 and you can have a worthless display as well! (well to me it is, some people seem to like it)biggrin.gif

I bought the D1 just because it looked nicer, but now I wished I saved the $10 dollars and had bought the H1. The D1's display is useless.
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post #20 of 34
7/18/12 at 2:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by denass View Post

himedia and micca are not fixing the major issues which could be related to the realtek chip.
I am looking to another player that does 3d but might just have to wait until something decent comes along

Did some more research on my own to ask more focused questions. Apparent round-up (for what I'm looking for) seems to be ...

Micca/Himedia/Realtek probably not going to fix the 24 hz issue. (Bummer.)

PCH and Dune pricey. If either did full 3D (not just side-by-side, etc.) I'd happily buy them.

For the price of the PCH and Dune's I'm considering an HTPC on a Mac Mini. Best software appears to be XMBC and Plex.

Will a Mac Mini HTPC playback 24hz? Does the Plex (or XMBC) software playback 3D?

Or, I just wait for a future player that fulfills my needs ...

Thanks!
Edited by sdg4vfx - 7/19/12 at 6:44pm
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post #21 of 34
7/19/12 at 6:43pm
Thread Starter 
Two questions ...

Do any of the PCH units playback full res 3D? (Not just side-by-side, over-under, etc.)

If I set up a Mac Mini HTPC with Plex or XMBC, can either of those programs playback full res 3D?

Thanks
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post #22 of 34
7/19/12 at 7:58pm
no pch will not do full res 3d your only option for them are the realtek based players like the micca/himedia.
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post #23 of 34
7/19/12 at 8:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by halfelite View Post

no pch will not do full res 3d your only option for them are the realtek based players like the micca/himedia.
Or sidewinder 3 or pop box 3d
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post #24 of 34
7/19/12 at 9:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zoro View Post

Or sidewinder 3 or pop box 3d

Sidewinder 3 is based off realtek 1186 and popbox 3d does not to full resolution 3d only SBS
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post #25 of 34
7/22/12 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies.

Sounds like the media player I want doesn't exist yet. So, ignoring 3D for now and assuming in a year or so I'll have to buy a new, probably higher priced and more full featured Media Player ...

Is there a basic media player in the $100 or less range I can buy (for now) that ...
- is dependable, easy to use and mostly bug free out-of-the-box
- has good 1080p video playback (24p/24hz, standard BR audio formats) from an external HDD (HFS/HFS+ format a big plus)
- can play/read DVD/BR menus
- has a clear, functional interface (slick/pretty interface a plus but not necessary)
- is able to play/read DVD/BR menus

BTW, don't need streaming (Netflix, etc.)

(Maybe there is an older PCH model I could buy used that fits the above?)
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post #26 of 34
7/22/12 at 1:10pm
If you did not want BD menus being java menus you could go with the popbox v8, But under the or around the 100$ price range not sure you will find much that supports full bluray menus, unless you find a used popcorn hour A210 or soemthing.
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post #27 of 34
7/22/12 at 2:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sdg4vfx View Post

Thanks for the replies.
Sounds like the media player I want doesn't exist yet. So, ignoring 3D for now and assuming in a year or so I'll have to buy a new, probably higher priced and more full featured Media Player ...
Is there a basic media player in the $100 or less range I can buy (for now) that ...
- is dependable, easy to use and mostly bug free out-of-the-box
- has good 1080p video playback (24p/24hz, standard BR audio formats) from an external HDD (HFS/HFS+ format a big plus)
- can play/read DVD/BR menus
- has a clear, functional interface (slick/pretty interface a plus but not necessary)
- is able to play/read DVD/BR menus
BTW, don't need streaming (Netflix, etc.)
(Maybe there is an older PCH model I could buy used that fits the above?)

Micca EP 600 G2, my review of it is somewhere on this site. $120.
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post #28 of 34
7/22/12 at 2:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiddles88 View Post

Micca EP 600 G2, my review of it is somewhere on this site. $120.

Doesnt that only support bd profile 1.0 so not bluray menus.
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post #29 of 34
7/22/12 at 4:15pm
Micca EP950 and EP600 are the same, and I believe they support full BD menus, but do not support a full jukebox. I think it only supports poster file. For $100 dollars, you won't find anything that has full menu support.
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post #30 of 34
7/22/12 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
Sounds like options are:

- $129 can get the Micca 600 or a used PCH A210 that will do BR menus. I'll look those up in the forums.

- Pop Box v8 is also $129 but no BR menu support. (Same price as Micca 600?, but has Sigma chip ...)

Anything worth the upgrade at if I up the price range to $150-ish?

Again thanks!
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