Best (or Emby developer preferred) device for Emby?

[baaahb 2]

Is there any particular device for Emby that is best supported?  I did a quick search of the forums and didn't see any clear answers.  I've been recommending Roku to users, but if there's something better (eg more reliable, faster, etc) I will begin recommending that.  I know people seem to have the most issues with Apple TV, but I never hear any complaints about anything else.  Roku, Fire Sticks, etc. all seem to work great, but if there's an objective "best" I'd like to know.

I should probably be clear in that I'm asking about functionality / usability with Emby specifically.  I don't want or expect anyone to weigh in on the various devices in any other capacity.  Thank you!

Emby has been a blast.  A fun covid era project that has turned into long term project.  Making computers fun again for me.

Edited September 25, 2023 by baaahb

[Dizzy49 99]

TL DR;  They are all great!

In my household we have Windows PCs, Amazon Fire, Playstations, Xboxes, LG and Samsung TVs, Android and iPhones.  On the PC I've used the Browser as well as Emby Theater.  The functionality is very similar across all platforms, but there are some slight differences, and using it on a phone vs TV is different as well, even if the actual functionality is the same.

Personally my favorite is Emby Theater, but it's also the one I've prob had the most issues with.  Nothing major, just minor things.  As a family we like the Amazon Fire version because we have it on several TVs and my parents even have them on theirs and connect to my server.  I have one I travel with that I will connect to hotel TVs so I can watch stuff.

That's my $0.02

Edited September 25, 2023 by Dizzy49

[baaahb 2]

15 minutes ago, Dizzy49 said:

TL DR;  They are all great!

In my household we have Windows PCs, Amazon Fire, Playstations, Xboxes, LG and Samsung TVs, Android and iPhones.  On the PC I've used the Browser as well as Emby Theater.  The functionality is very similar across all platforms, but there are some slight differences, and using it on a phone vs TV is different as well, even if the actual functionality is the same.

Personally my favorite is Emby Theater, but it's also the one I've prob had the most issues with.  Nothing major, just minor things.  As a family we like the Amazon Fire version because we have it on several TVs and my parents even have them on theirs and connect to my server.  I have one I travel with that I will connect to hotel TVs so I can watch stuff.

That's my $0.02

Thank you for your input.  I personally use a PC connected to my home theater to watch things as well.  Sounds like for everything else they are all very similar.

[justinrh 260]

For your use-case, I'd stay away from Rokus.

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

On 9/25/2023 at 2:45 PM, baaahb said:

Is there any particular device for Emby that is best supported?  I did a quick search of the forums and didn't see any clear answers.  I've been recommending Roku to users, but if there's something better (eg more reliable, faster, etc) I will begin recommending that.  I know people seem to have the most issues with Apple TV, but I never hear any complaints about anything else.  Roku, Fire Sticks, etc. all seem to work great, but if there's an objective "best" I'd like to know.

I should probably be clear in that I'm asking about functionality / usability with Emby specifically.  I don't want or expect anyone to weigh in on the various devices in any other capacity.  Thank you!

Emby has been a blast.  A fun covid era project that has turned into long term project.  Making computers fun again for me.

for me and my use case Roku is, by far, the best device for Emby. It has an easy to use interface and good reliability. But it does have a weakness in that it does not handle some of the extreme formats/bitrates etc. that some people use. But, again for me, that is a trivial lack of functionality.

I only need good picture and sound and Roku, at least the Ultra and the older Roku 3, handles everything I need with ease. I have even moved to wireless and my Rokus handle it just fine.

I also have Fire TVs and a Shield TV but, while they do play a few more formats and bitrates nothing I have in my somewhat large library even stresses my Rokus so I almost never have the need or desire to use the inferior interfaces of my Fires or my Shield for Emby.

I know some people use files as big as 50-60 gb but the largest file I have is about 4 gb.

The best think to do if you are unsure about a client is to use one exclusively for a while and the, if it does not meet your needs, return it. Remember that what I or anyone else find "easy to use" and "plenty powerful" might be absolutely horrible for someone else.

TV viewing is one of the most subjective things people participate in.

As  far as reliability goes I have never had a Roku fail. But, like any electronic device, failures are possible. I even had two of the older Rokus (3s) survive a house fire and a heavy dousing in fire fighting foam and water and a subsequent cleaning. As a disclaimer: Neither of those was actually in the fire itself. The cases are plastic and probably would not have a chance if actually in a fire. In that same fire The Shield I had at the time and the Fire stick were totally lost.

Just a reminder: do not let anyone force you to use something unless you are sure it is fit for your use case.

[TeamB 2438]

As you pointed out you have a lot of options, the "best" one is the one that works for you in your enviroment and with your users.

For me it is Raspberry Pi 4 + Libreelec + EmbyCon

[baaahb 2]

On 9/26/2023 at 4:39 PM, Gilgamesh_48 said:

for me and my use case Roku is, by far, the best device for Emby. It has an easy to use interface and good reliability. But it does have a weakness in that it does not handle some of the extreme formats/bitrates etc. that some people use. But, again for me, that is a trivial lack of functionality.

I only need good picture and sound and Roku, at least the Ultra and the older Roku 3, handles everything I need with ease. I have even moved to wireless and my Rokus handle it just fine.

I also have Fire TVs and a Shield TV but, while they do play a few more formats and bitrates nothing I have in my somewhat large library even stresses my Rokus so I almost never have the need or desire to use the inferior interfaces of my Fires or my Shield for Emby.

I know some people use files as big as 50-60 gb but the largest file I have is about 4 gb.

The best think to do if you are unsure about a client is to use one exclusively for a while and the, if it does not meet your needs, return it. Remember that what I or anyone else find "easy to use" and "plenty powerful" might be absolutely horrible for someone else.

TV viewing is one of the most subjective things people participate in.

As  far as reliability goes I have never had a Roku fail. But, like any electronic device, failures are possible. I even had two of the older Rokus (3s) survive a house fire and a heavy dousing in fire fighting foam and water and a subsequent cleaning. As a disclaimer: Neither of those was actually in the fire itself. The cases are plastic and probably would not have a chance if actually in a fire. In that same fire The Shield I had at the time and the Fire stick were totally lost.

Just a reminder: do not let anyone force you to use something unless you are sure it is fit for your use case.

I realize it's been a few weeks, but thank you for your feedback.  I have a lot of 30+GB files in x264 and x265, but they are all transcoded to whatever the client device needs.  I think I'll stick to recommending roku.