What streaming box has the best/most direct play capability?

[someguy50 0]

I really hate transcoding. 

 

My bluray rips are almost always transcoded (because of HD audio?) on my FireTV.

 

Which box, mainstream or otherwise, can direct play 1:1 bluray MKV rips?

 

 

[mastrmind11 722]

Nvidia Shield

[ebr 16169]

Depending on some other factors, your best bet would be the Shield probably.

[someguy50 0]

Nvidia Shield

 

 

Depending on some other factors, your best bet would be the Shield probably.

 

 

Thanks! Do you know if it has 23/24Hz support to? Sounds like an instant buy

[zigzagtshirt 55]

Based on research, I would say Nvidia Shield.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it can even handle Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

[pir8radio 1312]

I use the alienware alpha.    Just throwing this out as another option...   I wanted a windows based device..  Nothing wrong with the shield, I just figured I might as well get an upgradable full blown PC, that i'm familiar with.

 

Plays my 10 bit 4k, and supports atmos and other HD audio formats. (like the shield) 

Edited May 18, 2017 by pir8radio

[mastrmind11 722]

Thanks! Do you know if it has 23/24Hz support to? Sounds like an instant buy

I believe so, but that's just a guess based on various google searches on the matter.

[someguy50 0]

I use the alienware alpha.    Just throwing this out as another option...   I wanted a windows based device..  Nothing wrong with the shield, I just figured I might as well get an upgradable full blown PC, that i'm familiar with.

 

Plays my 10 bit 4k, and supports atmos and other HD audio formats. (like the shield) 

 

I used a PC previously (perfect playback), but it doesn't match a streaming box in ease of use (netflix, amazon, hulu, emby, etc) - especially when you factor in wife and kids,

[someguy50 0]

I believe so, but that's just a guess based on various google searches on the matter.

 

Thanks, I think i'll order one today and check it out

[pir8radio 1312]

I used a PC previously (perfect playback), but it doesn't match a streaming box in ease of use (netflix, amazon, hulu, emby, etc) - especially when you factor in wife and kids,

 

If you use emby theater, we use ours with a regular remote control, it acts just like any of my fireTv, ROKU, or other devices..   Let us know how the Shield goes!

[zigzagtshirt 55]

If you use emby theater, we use ours with a regular remote control, it acts just like any of my fireTv, ROKU, or other devices..   Let us know how the Shield goes!

 

What's the power usage like?  Do you leave it running 24/7?

[someguy50 0]

If you use emby theater, we use ours with a regular remote control, it acts just like any of my fireTv, ROKU, or other devices..   Let us know how the Shield goes!

 

Little things like the taskbar popping up, emby theater being windowed, windows pop ups/services, etc kinda ruined 100% ease of use for our family. And will do! Picking one up later

Edited May 18, 2017 by someguy50

[Luke 42077]

Little things like the taskbar popping up, emby theater being windowed, windows pop ups/services, etc kinda ruined 100% ease of use for our family. And will do! Picking one up later

 

Emby Theater does not have any windows popups or services.

[someguy50 0]

Emby Theater does not have any windows popups or services.

 

I meant actual Microsoft Windows pop ups and services (update installed, restart needed, windows defender) annoyingly displaying on top of Emby Theater. 

 

Emby Theater itself is great, but Windows makes it less easy to use than say, the emby app on FireTv

Edited May 18, 2017 by someguy50

[pir8radio 1312]

What's the power usage like?  Do you leave it running 24/7?

 

I actually have not put a watt meter on this one yet humm....   I do leave it running 24/7 but i guess i could set it to go to sleep.  Mine have SSD's in them.  I just measured my office alpha and idle it draws about 20-22 watts.  

[Burrito78 15]

While having the Emby look and feel on nVidia Shield is very nice it's also very expensive. 

 

An Odroid C2 board with a power supply and case and LibreELEC is what i use and it plays Blu-ray MKV rips (H.264/VC-1) with perfect 24p and bitstream output. It never transcodes (using direct play) and plays everything thanks to LibreELEC (Kodi).

 

But there is no Wifi and you also need to buy a separate remote. Maybe an option if you end up not liking the shield for some reason...

 

More info: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=258707

[clarkss12 304]

While having the Emby look and feel on nVidia Shield is very nice it's also very expensive. 

 

An Odroid C2 board with a power supply and case and LibreELEC is what i use and it plays Blu-ray MKV rips (H.264/VC-1) with perfect 24p and bitstream output. It never transcodes (using direct play) and plays everything thanks to LibreELEC (Kodi).

 

But there is no Wifi and you also need to buy a separate remote. Maybe an option if you end up not liking the shield for some reason...

 

More info: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=258707

Are you using Emby for Kodi on your Odroid running LibreELEC?

[Burrito78 15]

Are you using Emby for Kodi on your Odroid running LibreELEC?

Yes. The Odroid is very fast and responsive. Booting in only a few seconds.

 

Having a very specialized OS like LibreELEC is a big advantage for a media player.

[ebr 16169]

Thanks! Do you know if it has 23/24Hz support to? Sounds like an instant buy

 

Assuming your display does - yes.

[dcrdev 255]

To everyone using an Nvidia shield - has anyone tried the new TVHeadend server app? If so has anyone managed to get it to record to network shares (smb) ?

 

Considering getting one to replace an ageing htpc.

[Jdiesel 1431]

Just a heads up that the Android TV app does not support PGS subtitles and will require transcoding to burn them in. Other than that it does a pretty good job with everything else.

[ebr 16169]

Just a heads up that the Android TV app does not support PGS subtitles and will require transcoding to burn them in. Other than that it does a pretty good job with everything else.

 

It supports them, it just cannot render them on the client (yet) so they must be burned in.

 

I realize you said this at the end of your statement but many people don't read entire statements and would just see "does not support".

[Mael 5]

Will the Emby application on the shield support direct play of blu-ray folder rips? 

 

Update... looking at the Wiki, it appears that direct play for of blu-ray folder rips is not supported on the Emby for Andriod app   . Does anyone know how to get Direct Play working with blu-ray folder rips on the Shield?

Edited September 11, 2017 by Mael

[ebr 16169]

Will the Emby Theater Andriod application on the shield support direct play of blu-ray folder rips? 

 

No.  That app is running in a browser instance.

[ebr 16169]

It supports them, it just cannot render them on the client (yet) so they must be burned in.

 

I realize you said this at the end of your statement but many people don't read entire statements and would just see "does not support".

 

BTW the next version of the Android TV app will not have to burn in PGS subs.