Best box/stick to use with Emby ?

[vhds 1]

I currently have a Roku streaming stick om my TV, and use Emby on it. It's great !

 

I consider buying another box/stick to use with another TV in the house, allowing me to have different options compared to having twice the same one.

A box with Android TV seems interesting, but I'm unable to compare them and really understand what they do.

Do you have recommandations (it can be another box/stick, or even “add another Roku stick”, I'm open to every solution).

 

My needs :

- Of course, one that allows an easy use of Emby, and browsing by folder

- Something not expansive (price range of the Roku streaming stick)

- And, maybe the toughest one : something available in Canada

 

Other apps/uses I'd need on it : Youtube videos, watching a slingbox (if I can cast it from my Android cellphone, it's ok too, it works like that on the Roku app).

I don't know Kodi at all, but if it improves the Emby experience and is easy to use/configurate, I'll take a look.

 

Thank you

[BAlGaInTl 288]

The best streaming box is going to be the Nvidia Shield, but also a bit more expensive.

 

If you are happy with the Roku experience you can certainly stick with that.

[maegibbons 1287]

Hi

 

Fire TV (2nd gen NOT 3rd) works well.

 

Krs

 

Mark

[CBers 7450]

A Shield TV is the box to go with, if money is no issue.

[maegibbons 1287]

For those buying new TV's I suppose money isnt an issue @@CBers :)

 

For the rest of us the Fire gives a good compromise!

 

Krs

 

Mark

 

EDIT: I'm not bitter, just jealous!

Edited November 3, 2017 by maegibbons

[BAlGaInTl 288]

Hi

 

Fire TV (2nd gen NOT 3rd) works well.

 

Krs

 

Mark

 

 

For those buying new TV's I suppose money isnt an issue @@CBers :)

 

For the rest of us the Fire gives a good compromise!

 

Krs

 

Mark

 

EDIT: I'm not bitter, just jealous!

 

What's the issue with the new 3rd gen Amazon Fire?

[maegibbons 1287]

What's the issue with the new 3rd gen Amazon Fire?

 

 

They are not as powerful and can lag on some content.  i have NOT tried one myself but there are several reviews that point out their shortcomings.

 

Certainly put me off.

 

If I find the reviews I will post back here.

 

Krs

 

Mark

 

EDIT:

 

Herewith review:

 

https://youtu.be/WdrmfeFeisg

Edited November 3, 2017 by maegibbons

[vhds 1]

Thank you for your suggestions, yet none of Shield and Fire TV suit

- Shield is too expansive

- The Fire TV Stick was my first pick, but unfortunately it doesn't exist in Canada

[CBers 7450]

EDIT: I'm not bitter, just jealous!

[mastrmind11 722]

Thank you for your suggestions, yet none of Shield and Fire TV suit

- Shield is too expansive

- The Fire TV Stick was my first pick, but unfortunately it doesn't exist in Canada

check out Xiaomi Mi Box then.

[clarkss12 304]

How about a $40 US DIY, Amlogic box running LibreELEC with the Emby addon??  The Leia builds support Netflix in 720p, and YouTube in 1080P.  I have an Xiaomi Mi box and two Nexus Players, but I prefer my DIY boxes.

[Tur0k 148]

Here is what I am looking at when I replace my upstairs living room HTPC:

ASUS UN65U-M023M VivoMini Barebones PC with Intel Core i3-7100U and integrated 4K UHD Graphics https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WV7NB95/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Uzo.zbCTDRH74

 

I am also looking at:

https://www.pine64.org/?page_id=7147

 

I will likely load Debian and then load ET, Kodi, and a browser (Netflix).

 

I have a MiBox 3 in my master bedroom and they run ok. It seems to infrequently pause and buffer. This used to happen so much that it would happen every few minutes. I reduced this buffering to infrequently by setting the bitrate of the Emby app on the device to (21 Mbps) less than the RX rate that my wifi listed the device had (24 Mbps).

 

I was surprised that the Mibox does not have a LAN NIC, but have heard that there are USB NICS that are compatible. I prefer LAN connections for my HTPCs as running a cable for me isn't difficult. I can run over wireless as I do have a pretty nice UNIFI wireless AP. For the sake of thorough testing I will switch my 2.4 GHz wifi network from HT40 width to HT20 as it is possible that the Mibox may not fully support the wider broadcast channel.

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited November 4, 2017 by Tur0k

[clarkss12 304]

Take a look at this device.

 

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s912/mecool/670554-mecool-m8s-pro-l-4k-tv-box-amlogic-s912-bluetooth-4-1-hs

 

With this Android TV OS mod.

 

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s912/mecool/firmware-roms/676338-rom-mecool-m8s-pro-l-tvstock-nexus-rom-android-tv-7-1

 

 

Video of Emby running on one of my Mecool M8S Pro boxes.

 

 

Edit: I think this video is running on my $37 Mecool M8S Pro PLUS box. (Amlogic S905x, and plays Netflix in 1080P).  The server is running on my $55 Mecool M8S Pro (Amlogic S912), running LibreELEC.

Edited November 4, 2017 by clarkss12

[vhds 1]

I'm not sure if the Xiaomi is available in Canada (yes, the border here looks like a wall against some technology...) - actually, it was my plan B after I read good reviews and had the confirmation the Fire TV stick was unavaliable here.

Yet, a shop in Montreal could have it, I have to go there this week and will look at their options.

 

Else, is that kind of box worth ?

https://www.amazon.ca/Forart-Android-Marshmallow-Smart-Amlogic/dp/B076JBVH5R/ref=sr_1_24?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1509794061&sr=1-24&keywords=Amlogic+box

 

If it's worth, here are some options I've seen

S905 or S912 ?

Minimal memory size (to match the performances of the Roku streaming stick) ?

Having Android 6 or 7, does it really make a difference ?

[maegibbons 1287]

Cant you just "import" a Xiaomi or Fire?

 

I have both devices and they work very well AND are validated to work.

 

Other kit just isnt validated and sometimes you get weird results not being true F/ATV hardware spec.

 

i.e try your hardest to get a "standard" box to minimise your troubles

 

Krs

 

Mark

[vhds 1]

Thanks for the warning about the other kits, that's exactly the information I need

 

The reviews I read about the Xiaomi said that most of the apps were gelocalized for the USA, and didn't work in other countries

I see that there are several versions, maybe one of them is different, I have to check and to see if it's possible (yet, if it doesn't work, returning it would be quite impossible)

I still hope to find a Xiaomi not too expansive and working here (the few Canadian importators selling it here ask an increased price compared to the normal retail price)

 

The experience I read of Canadians using an imported Fire TV convinced me not to use it : restrictions and huge complications if you are in Canada. For example, Amazon customer service refusing to give assistance, US credit card mandatory for commands, etc.

[mastrmind11 722]

If all you want is access to your Emby content, there are a bunch of minimal boxes that will run Kodi.  I was using a Cubox i4 Pro running OpenELEC on 3 of my tv's w/ zero problems, and they're snappy as hell (and tiny, like 2" cube tiny).  ofc there are others like Beagle, rPi, etc.

[vhds 1]

Oh, two important things I forgot :

- MLSLive is an app I need to use often (several times a week)

- I don't care about 4K

[smerrikin 3]

Ordered a fire TV stick basic today since they now sell them on Amazon.ca

Will report over the next couple days.

[vhds 1]

Curious to have your impressions ! If they are positives, I'll probably buy one.

[smerrikin 3]

It's ok. Currently like the Nexus player with kodi much better.

 

Emby crashed a couple times already on the fire stick and also transcode more often than with kodi.

 

Also a bit confusing trying to install Emby as it's under Novelty and not under entertainment.

There is no search that I have found.

Haven't had it for long enough yet to determine but I thing I will stick with my cheap Kodi boxes as it also doesn't counts towards my 15 device limit.

[vhds 1]

Now, both Fire TV stick and Xiaomi Mi Box are available in Canada

Fire TV stick 50$

Xiaomi 140$

Not sure the Mi Box is worth the 90$ difference, especially as you can also install Kodi and other useful apps on the Fire TV Stick

[mastrmind11 722]

$140 for a MiBox???  Geez, whats a Shield go for up there?

[vhds 1]

FYI, Shield 230$, with controller 280$, Shield Pro 400$