Network Media Player

[Jerm]

Recommendations? Likes/Dislikes? Cost?

I'd like to get one of these to tie my PC into my home theater system and would definitely need flac16, flac24 and .wav support...preferably gapless playback.
Looking for something that integrates via network/ethernet cable.

Started looking online and found that there are quite a few more of these available than when I first looked at them about a year ago.

Don't have tons of cash to drop on one, but am willing to pay for something that has superior sound quality. If it can play HD .tod files that'd be awesome, but it's main use would be for audio.

If this question was already posted, kindly include a link to that discussion if ya would.

Thanks!
Jeremy

[dcbullet]

I'm interested in the gapless solution too. I use my PS3 but none of the software I have used has had that capability. So if you already have an XBox or a PS3, you can do this for free, but the gapless playback is an issue (at least I haven't found a solution yet).

[dude87]

Why not connect a PC directly to your stereo? It doesn't have to be a high-end PC for music playback. If you've got an HD TV you can generally connect to the TV from your PC via HDMI, many HD TVs even accept standard 15 pin "VGA" connector cables. Then use the media player on the PC of your choice.

[dcbullet]

I assume there is a distance issue.

Additionally, these appliances or software allow you to control the media via the TV screen.

[SpikeKiller]

I'm interested in the gapless solution too. I use my PS3 but none of the software I have used has had that capability. So if you already have an XBox or a PS3, you can do this for free, but the gapless playback is an issue (at least I haven't found a solution yet).

I tried setting that up. Apparently the PS3 doesn't recommend .WMA? What format do you use for music and video? And can you use it to watch netflix?

[Jerm]

I've got a PS3 and TVersity running on the PC, but my wireless signal isn't good enough to support streaming without playback issues :(
Definitely need to add a wired port in the living room, but then there's the appliance issue...we tend to favor a minimalist/clean look so a PC may be a bit cumbersome.

Another nice thing would be DTS, DD decoding from flac or wav files ;)
But it must at least support 24bit.

[dcbullet]

I've used TVersity and PS3 Media Server (this is a third party app, it's not from Sony). I think I like PS3 Media Server the best out of the two. But again, no gapless playback!!! :down:

[dcbullet]

I tried setting that up. Apparently the PS3 doesn't recommend .WMA? What format do you use for music and video? And can you use it to watch netflix?

I don't know about .wma, I don't have any files in that format. I stream mp3's or flac to my stereo and watch DVD's as downloaded here, in the TS_Video folder format.

As far as I know you can't stream netflix to PS3. I think they want you to use their PS3 store. Xbox can stream netflix.

[Five]

first solution that comes to mind is to run reastream from winamp using the freeware ffx-4 plugin by victor burril. its at the bottom of this page:
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/vb-audio/us/products/dxrack/dxrack.htm

reaplugs here:
http://www.reaper.fm/reaplugs/index.php

I haven't tried this but have read it works very well... you just have a "recieve" computer on a local network hooked up to yer stereo then any other can be set to 'send' what you're playing to the computer by the stereo > tp the stereo. personally, I don't have a need to trigger music in another room at this time, but to each their own :hmm:

[Jerm]

After looking at the specs on many of these...I'm most impressed with the Logitech Squeezebox Duet.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/3817&cl=us,en

The reason I'm trying to do this is because my PC work area is in a separate room from my home theater and I want to view HD videos on the 52" monitor in 1080 as well as be able to listen to shows on my HD without converting them and through my A/V receiver.
Klipsch speakers on the PC sound great, but not as good as the setup in the living room.

Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't know there was a PS3 media server. Also not sure if this Duet is gapless, but it does support flac16, flac24 so that's really all I need.

[direwolf-pgh]

the Sqeezebox Duet is gapless. ($375) and has the remote with browser.

its sweet as most network/FLAC receivers are still in the $2500 range.
http://www.usa.denon.com/productdetails/3494.asp

but thats just the audio side.. no video.

this gadget is awesome for HD video playback..but no network/stream.
you cant beat it for $100: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=572

but, you can/could purchase an entry level PC package like this (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9999114000050004&type=product&id=pcmprd114100050004) PC + 20" monitor for $599 which can do it all..
con: not all audio players are preconfigured to use a remote (think winamp) and need 3rd party tweaks.
if you dont use a remote - you're back to keyboard/mouse which kinda sucks, imo.

currently Im using winamp on the local network for gapless playback
and the WDC device for HD playback of video. (two 1.5TB drives into the device = boatload of video to choose from)

also checkout www.orb.com for remote playback of audio/video (it works on your local network as well) you can even stream video and audio to a Wii web browser or cell phone (anything with a browser)

personally, Im waiting for the next gen of network audio receivers - hard drive/network direct to amp for flac audio/HD video
(these amps also handle the new HD audio codecs for blu ray..etc)

sidenote: netflix HD streaming on the xbox360 is awesome.

rambling 2¢ thoughts :wave:

[daddyray]

personally, Im waiting for the next gen of network audio receivers - hard drive/network direct to amp for flac audio/HD video
(these amps also handle the new HD audio codecs for blu ray..etc)...sez Wolf

Agreed... I am not even fucking with this stuff til it is sorted out more. I'll just burn stuff and play it til then.

[dcbullet]

but, you can/could purchase an entry level PC package like this (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9999114000050004&type=product&id=pcmprd114100050004) PC + 20" monitor for $599 which can do it all..
con: not all audio players are preconfigured to use a remote (think winamp) and need 3rd party tweaks.
if you dont use a remote - you're back to keyboard/mouse which kinda sucks, imo.


If one went the PC route and aesthetics were important, I would build my own computer in one of those tiny boxes or they also have black horizontal cases that could probably fit in with the stereo.

My wife would not go for a regular PC case in the living room. Too ugly.

[saltman]

what about one of these?

http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingbox-prohd

[SpikeKiller]

I tried setting that up. Apparently the PS3 doesn't recommend .WMA? What format do you use for music and video? And can you use it to watch netflix?

I don't know about .wma, I don't have any files in that format. I stream mp3's or flac to my stereo and watch DVD's as downloaded here, in the TS_Video folder format.

As far as I know you can't stream netflix to PS3. I think they want you to use their PS3 store. Xbox can stream netflix.

I am trying to allow is so that my PS3 can play my media files from my computer. I got the connection working, but the file format isn't working. It would appear that .mp3 and .wav are what my files need to be in for my PS3 to play them. Is that correct?

[dcbullet]

I am trying to allow is so that my PS3 can play my media files from my computer. I got the connection working, but the file format isn't working. It would appear that .mp3 and .wav are what my files need to be in for my PS3 to play them. Is that correct?

PS3 can play lots of different files. What software are you using to do the streaming?

[SpikeKiller]

Windows Media Player 11, I used this tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmRvVC7C54g

[trustthex]

xbmc on my haxed gen1 xbox works great for all of the above for me. it can't do hd/1080 video, but thats about it. it supports shn, flac, wav and is gapless! :thumbsup

also, it is network smart. all my windows shares are belong to xbmc!

[dcbullet]

Windows Media Player 11, I used this tutorial

dmRvVC7C54g



Hmmm...never tried it. You might want to give PS3 Media Server a try. It's a small download and should only take a minute to set up. I can't do a nifty video for you though.

http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/

[SpikeKiller]

[quote=SpikeKiller;1212626]Windows Media Player 11, I used this tutorial




Hmmm...never tried it. You might want to give PS3 Media Server a try. It's a small download and should only take a minute to set up. I can't do a nifty video for you though.

http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/

Thanks for that link, I got it to work.

How secure is this link? I've noticed it allows me to browse my computer files? Can anybody else view this? Is it a security risk for my computer?

[uni-fi]

If one went the PC route and aesthetics were important, I would build my own computer in one of those tiny boxes or they also have black horizontal cases that could probably fit in with the stereo.

My wife would not go for a regular PC case in the living room. Too ugly.

I really think the shuttle cases are the way to go. They come with a better than decent video card, you can slap a blu-ray drive in there, a couple of TB of HD space, and its DVR ready out of the box as well. 7.1 ready off the shelf, and can DVR any over the air HD plus HDMI off of the included video card. They have been available like this for almost two years now. When it comes to media center pc's, I really think shuttle is about to leap into the market with a great product that for whatever reason has not been advertised or marketed as of yet. You can order from them built to suit (like a Dell or whatever) and you can get cases with video and sound cards built in that you can finish off however you like, from places like tigerdirect.com. Still a tad pricey, but worth it.

http://us.shuttle.com/barebone/Images/products/SG33G5M.jpg

[dcbullet]

Yep, shuttle cases, I forgot that's what they were called. Those are sweet and good looking too.

[dude87]

Shuttle cases are nice, but a bit expensive for what you get. I just priced out a "reasonable" home theater PC buying parts at newegg.com (means you build it yourself) for about $500 including Windows Vista Home Premium. I picked an Antec HTPC case (very nice looking, includes a power supply as well), a low-end AMD dual-core processor, 2 GB of memory (enough for an HTPC), and a blu-ray player. The case includes a Windows Media Center remote which can also be used with other media player programs. I think this is a highly flexible alternative as the one unit can support all your audio playback needs as well as function as a blu-ray player (you could save about $50 by installing a DVD burner instead). I built my own media center PC and am very happy with it, I find it's an excellent way to keep all of my audio in one place, the case I bought (a Silverstone) looks like a stereo component and my wife even approves of the whole thing (she was sick of discs all over the place).

[dcbullet]

One negative about using the streaming to PS3 method (at least with the software I've used) is that you can't browse your collection while a song is playing.

[direwolf-pgh]

Just hit the market

The Onkyo TX-NR807 connects directly to the internet or a home network via a rear-panel Ethernet port. The receiver's on-screen user interface allows users direct access to Pandora, Rhapsody, Sirius Internet Radio, and vTuner streaming radio services, or to access MP3, WMA, FLAC, Lossless, Ogg Vorbis, and AAC files from any computer or storage device on the network. The receiver is Windows 7 compatible, and its Ethernet port can also be used for firmware updates.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/10/onkyo-tx-nr807-and-tx-sr707-receivers-keep-the-updates-rolling/

nice features for $1k.

[dcbullet]

Just hit the market


http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/10/onkyo-tx-nr807-and-tx-sr707-receivers-keep-the-updates-rolling/

nice features for $1k.


:drool I wonder what the on screen interface looks like?

Now, bring down the watts per channel a bit for a lower price and smaller case and I'm just about there.

[direwolf-pgh]

^ that Onkyo will not play gapless FLAC (1sec gaps).. major issue with almost all streaming devices. (wd hd tv/wd tv live, xbox360, etc..etc.)

for this reason, a small/silent desktop is still the best solution for streaming HD Video/HD audio

Here is the new Dell Zino (http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dddeuy1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=desktops_great_deals)
custom config to suit/HDMI 1080p video out/Gapless HD audio playback/Blu-Ray ..etc..etc..

The Acer Revo looks an excellent choice (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=acer+revo) (if you can get one..sold out!)

[dcbullet]

I never thought I would reach this point, but I'm beginning to think that there could be a day when I don't have a bunch of CDs and instead have everything flac. Why do I need all these objects?