Need Recommendation for Network Movie Streamer that can decode DTSMA and TrueHD to 5.1 PCM!!!!!

Hi All,

I recently purchased two Mede8er1000s before realizing that they do not have the capability to decode HD Audio tracks to uncompressed multi-channel PCM (they only downmix to 2 channel PCM). This presents a big problem for me, as I desperately need a streamer (such as a Dune, Popcorn Hour, etc.) with the the ability to decode the DTS-MA/HD and Dolby Digital TrueHD audio tracks found in my blu-ray collection (ripped to a network NAS) to multi-channel PCM. This is because my surround sound processor will only process HD Audio tracks that have first been decoded to multi-channel PCM (it does not recognize bitstream HD Audio Tracks). That being said, I would greatly appreciate advice from those forum members who are experienced in this area (fyi-I'm not interested in a HTPC solution). Specifically, I would like to purchase a movie streamer that has the following capabilities:

1. Can stream 2D (3D movies would be nice but less of a priority) blu-ray folders/.mt2s/.mkv off of a NAS such as Synology Server;

2. Will decode DTSMA/HD and Dolby TrueHD to uncompressed 5.1 PCM *** this is critically important!!!

3. Has exeptional video and audio playback (stability and reliability is imporant)

4. Has a very good user interface

5. Optional local storage playback would be nice but not a necessity

6. Cost is not an object

Lastly, according to the reviews posted on SmartMediaServer.net relating to the latest 3D streamer offerings from Dune, Popcorn Hour and Mede8er, it looks like none of these models can decode HD Audio bitstream to "multi-channel" PCM so please consider this before making recommendations!!!

Many thanks to all!!!

Battles
Edited by battles - 3/13/13 at 9:45am

Thanks Litlgi74, I appreciate your feedback. Very helpful. I think I'll wait until the Dune Max 3D is released this summer. MarkHotchkiss, I guess I set myself up for that remark! Nice!

Thanks guys. My good friend is a dealer for Kaleidescape so I'm familiar with the product. As for being bullet proof and extremely stable, it's hard to beat. But considering that it's a relatively small company with a deep pocketed plaintiff (the US Government), I'm not keen on investing in a product that could lose product support in a couple of years. For now...Dune seems like a more sensible investment and definitely prevails over the "K" in any cost vs. benefit analysis I can think of!

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