Best media player to run XBMC exclusively?

StevieP

StevieP

StevieP

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I've got a WDTV Live at the moment but I really like the experience of XBMC so I'm looking for the best option for running it as my primary media hub in the house!

I've tried a Lenovo nettop but had issues with the boot up time (although I was using Windows 7 rather than XBMCbuntu!) and a graphics glitch and I've also tried a Raspberry Pi running Raspbmc.

The Pi is great.....except for the UI speed which I'm assuming is an inherent problem due to the CPU and RAM - don't get me wrong, the playback from my Synology NAS is flawless but navigating the menu's is painfully slow!

I guess what I'm asking is, are there any media players out there, at a reasonable cost (ie. sub-£150) that will run XBMC smoothly?

Ideally I'd like a dedicated remote that can turn the unit itself on and off too!

I've read about these Sumvision boxes but dont know enough about them to know if they are what I'm looking for!

Thanks for any suggestions guys...
 
I have a sum vision box, cyclone nano slim+ or something, and it works perfectly.

Except wifi is dire (needs a cable), you can't skin or mod it much and the menu's are fast enough, but not mind blowing. Remote works well, though, and layback is great.

Does the job great on a second screen, but the HTPC experience is so much better.

That said a HTPC is £300' these are like £40...
 
The MyGica EnjoyTV 1200 was quite well recommended when I was looking for the same thing. In the end I went for a RaspberryPi and to be honest the UI speed issue doesn't bother me, it plays even my largest of Blu-Ray rips and that's all I'm bothered about.
 
I know what you mean, the Pi's playback is staggering considering the power and cost of it but the UI being slow and unresponsive is driving me mad! (it's probably my own fault for having XBMC on my i7 laptop and it being as smooth as anything!)

Ideally I want what the Pi gives me but with a bit more smoothness in the UI, which is why I thought one of these dedicated media boxes might be the way to go!

Is it generally XBMC that has the codec support or do I need to be loking for something specific in the box specs??
 
StevieP said:
The Pi is great.....except for the UI speed which I'm assuming is an inherent problem due to the CPU and RAM - don't get me wrong, the playback from my Synology NAS is flawless but navigating the menu's is painfully slow!
Click to expand...

Might be worth spending a few minutes with it (perhaps try USB install, keeping the metadata/imagery local and going with a 'lite' theme like Confluence-MOD) because it certainly isn't normal for the UI to be 'painfully' slow - granted it'll never be buttery smooth, unless heavily OC'd, but it shouldn't be painful to use - certainly mine isn't and that's with a fair few TBs of films and TV series in the library.

Otherwise another solution would be to use one of the Chinese 'special' Android devices running the XBMC app - certainly small, compact and relatively cheap and would give you access to Android for TV browsing etc.
 
visibleman said:
Might be worth spending a few minutes with it (perhaps try USB install, keeping the metadata/imagery local and going with a 'lite' theme like Confluence-MOD) because it certainly isn't normal for the UI to be 'painfully' slow - granted it'll never be buttery smooth, unless heavily OC'd, but it shouldn't be painful to use - certainly mine isn't and that's with a fair few TBs of films and TV series in the library.

Otherwise another solution would be to use one of the Chinese 'special' Android devices running the XBMC app - certainly small, compact and relatively cheap and would give you access to Android for TV browsing etc.
Click to expand...

I really like the "Transparency" skin but I've no idea if it's a quick one or not!?!?

Maybe I'm being overly dramatic when I say "painfully" slow but it is the sort of thing that will really bug me!

I've been having a scout around and found a "Linux XBMC G-Box Midnight" which appears to tick all the boxes - small, silent, quick and running the Linux XBMC rather than the Android one that has problems!

I really don't need (or want) the unit to do anything other than run XBMC from my NAS so I'm thinking this might be the way to go!

Has anyone got any experience of this product (or similar)??
 
Hmmmm, a further update is I've had a look at "The Little Black Box" which looks to fit the bill of a dedicated XBMC hub for me!

Has anyone tried one yet and have any opinions??
 
I have just been checking out `The little Black Box` and I have to say it does look very impressive. I have recently setup a RPi to stream stuff from my Nas to the TV upstairs but I am hoping that I can get something like this that I can setup downstairs that the wife can use and this does look like a good solution. I have a look around the forum and they seem to have only just started to ship them out so I will give it a couple of weeks and I might order myself one.
 
Have you tried the official XBMC Remote App for your tablet/phone StevieP?

I find I use it more than the menus in XBMC at the moment, to simply start a show off I just browse into it on the app and the episode plays :)
 
Eulogy said:
Have you tried the official XBMC Remote App for your tablet/phone StevieP?

I find I use it more than the menus in XBMC at the moment, to simply start a show off I just browse into it on the app and the episode plays :)
Click to expand...

Fair point, I hadn't thought of that, although half of the point of having XBMC is showing off the browsing of the fan art etc! :p
 
I have dont some research on the little black box and it would appear it doesnt pass though HD audio and they cant fix this with an update. This box would have been Ideal fo rme but I really want to watch film from it in full 1080p pass trough to my 5.1 surround system. The search for the Idea XBMC box continues for me.
 
I wanted the flawless UI on the TV too, in the end I went for an Intel i5 NUC (i have Pis in other rooms), quite a lot more than your £150. You could though try Intel NUC Celeron for £140, but you will need a USB stick or SSD, memory and a power cable.

I was concerned though that the celeron had some 24p playback issues (apparently) and the i5 should do full 1080p 3D (although it didn't quite manage it on my test, maybe abad file).

My I5 NUC also runs plex so I can stream to my mobile devices when away from home, not that I bother :P
 
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Another thought is a HP Microserver, can be had for as little as £75 after cashback (when it's on). Put in a dedicated graphics card.
Only issue is it isn't completely silent, but isn't bad.

Mine got noisier over time, so in the end became my NAS.
 
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To thow this in the works.... its not xbmc but the SKYNOW tv box (currently £9.99 & same chip as R-PI) can run plex app & iplay etc etc. Its not a full blown media center but its £10
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions guys - much appreciated!

I've tried Plex and maybe it's just me being dim but I just couldn't get my head around it!

I've considered the HP Microserver in the past but my problem is that it would need to be situated in the living room near the TV so the noise would be an issue (as well as the physical size of it as there isn't much space left with all of my other gadgets!)

I might look into the NUC (as I know literally zero about it!) but I'm inclined to lean towards either the Little Black Box or another dedicated Linux/XBMC unit such as the G-Box Midnight!

Decisions, decisions....
 
Im running a HP microserver but I have it located in a different room connected to my Living room TV via HDMI and all run off my android tablet or phone ....works great.
 
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