Network media player

Dexstroyer · 15-03-2010, 18:44

Hi guys,

Im in the market for a media player to sit at my main tv in the lounge and playback files from my Buffalo NAS on my network.

I'd like one that plays ALL media including mkv .264 HD & 1080p etc etc etc, including my music collection.

Doesnt really need to have its own HDD though, just the capability of playback, the Xbox 360 does an ok job but wont play all the files, especially most of the 1080p ones.

If theres no cheaper alternative am I best off getting a ps3, if so what files do they play?

Thanks,

**Graham M** · 15-03-2010, 19:43

Playstation 3 will play most things you throw at it, although for those it won't there's PS3 Media Server which is a Java UPNP server that encodes stuff on the fly so that the PS3 can read it, I stream 1080p media to mine over G wireless.

**Matt D** · 15-03-2010, 20:35

I use my PS3.

It will play... http://a8t8.spaces.live.com/blog/cns...13E8!188.entry

For streaming from the PC, I use PS3 Media Server (as mentioned above by Graham). You can also of course use any other UPnP Media Server, such as tversity or WMP11/12, but I prefer PS3 Media Server. It will stream everything the PS3 can natively handle, plus transcode/re-mux-on-the-fly & stream anything the PS3 can't natively handle.

There are easy ways to play .mkv files on the PS3 if using a server which doesn't transcode stuff (e.g. WMP): Use something such as mkv2vob or tsMuxeR (both free) to re-mux your .mkv files into a PS3 compatible container (e.g. .vob), without losing any quality (as no transcoding takes place, the H.264 content is simply repackaged into a container the PS3 can handle).

Dexstroyer · 15-03-2010, 21:45

Does this mean that anything it wont play I will need to stream from a Pc with alternate software running? Sorry guys I dont follow, wanna mainly run files from my Buffalo NAS so to save having the Pc on.

So which are the best types of file to look out for

so the Ps3 will playback 1080p, also does that include DolbyDigital within the file.....

Hiroki · 15-03-2010, 21:53

Does the ps3 play xvid's?

15-03-2010, 22:24

I just ordered one of these from Amazon

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/site/ima...yclonemkv2.pdf

- its not due for a few days, but I'll try to remember to post back with my opinion of it

Dexstroyer · 15-03-2010, 23:16

I had seen one of these also, few different models I noticed, which did you buy & what was the cost,

Will be interesting to see what it plays,

**Graham M** · 15-03-2010, 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroki

Does the ps3 play xvid's?

Yes no problem

**Matt D** · 15-03-2010, 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexstroyer

Does this mean that anything it wont play I will need to stream from a Pc with alternate software running? Sorry guys I dont follow, wanna mainly run files from my Buffalo NAS so to save having the Pc on.

So which are the best types of file to look out for

so the Ps3 will playback 1080p, also does that include DolbyDigital within the file.....

Ah, sorry. I missed the Buffalo in your first post

A PS3 could play stuff from the Buffalo NAS so long as the Buffalo has a UPnP Media Server. It would only be able to play certain things though, not everything.

PS3 compatible containers & codecs are listed in the first link in my previous post. 1080p is fine, Dolby Digital (AC-3) is fine (depending on container). Although it won't play an .mkv file, it can play an .mt2s or .vob file containing H.264 video & AC-3 (DD) audio... and .mkv files can be quickly changed (re-muxed) with no loss of quality to .vob or .m2ts using free software on a PC (mkv2vob or tsMuxeR). It'll also play WMV HD (VC-1).

16-03-2010, 00:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexstroyer

I had seen one of these also, few different models I noticed, which did you buy & what was the cost,

Will be interesting to see what it plays,

Once it arrives I'll post back with more details - Amazon wasn't the cheapest option, but I haven't seen it for much less than £70.

The description is Sumvision Cyclone MKV FULL 1080p HD Player

This is the one I ordered

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sumvision-Cy...ef=pd_sim_ce_4

*sloman* · 16-03-2010, 11:47

popcorn hour

hard to get hold of in the uk sometimes but has constant updates for new codecs etc...

i have popcorn hour a110 play everything inlc 10GB 1080p bluray rips with ease!

Hom3r · 16-03-2010, 11:55

I really want one of these that is wireless, has a built in HDD, and plugs into a TV, so that I can upload video files to it, and play without the PC being on.

Hiroki · 20-03-2010, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazfan

Once it arrives I'll post back with more details - Amazon wasn't the cheapest option, but I haven't seen it for much less than £70.

The description is Sumvision Cyclone MKV FULL 1080p HD Player

This is the one I ordered

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sumvision-Cy...ef=pd_sim_ce_4

Has it arrived? If so what's it like then?

20-03-2010, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroki

Has it arrived? If so what's it like then?

Gaah - it doesn't work - looks like a faulty unit & I'm very disappointed.

Not representative, I'm sure, but it just displays a blank screen whether I plug it into my monitor (hdmi), my PC capture card (composite), or our HD TV - hdmi or composite...

I'm currently waiting for a reply from the supplier, but if anyone knows how to reset a Sumvision Cyclone MKV adapter back to factory defaults, please let me know