htpc media player

evulboo

evulboo

evulboo

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Joined
27 Sep 2005
Posts
504
Location
Cornwall / Helston
Im not sure if this is in the right thread forgive me if its not but i am after a htpc (or alternative) to replace my slow wdtv live smp.

I would like if possible to be able to turn on said device by an app or by remote and have it go straight into xbmc or whichever software is used, navigate without hassle and then be able to turn it off.

The following criteria must be met:


  • It must be no bigger then 220mm H x 280mm W x 350mm D as its going in my tv cabinet
  • Work behind a closed door. (wdtv was good for this as was controlled by an app)
  • Play DTS MA & Dolby HD
  • Must have a sleek interface, easy to control
  • Read all my films from a Synology NAS

It will be connected to my Denon 2113 amp via hdmi and 5.1 speakers.

Cheers
 
I just put together a PC from bits I had lying about. I have another PC under the stairs which acts as my server.

Using my android tablet I use Fing to wake on lan both PCs. Then unified remote on my tablet to control Plex (I found Plex much easier to use than xbmc (kodi)

The PC in the living room is connected via HDMI to my receiver and outputs HD sound.
 
Play DTS MA & Dolby HD

Not sure about the above (check)

But a Raspberry Pi2 with Openelec will cover the other points. I use one in my kitchen, great device, only uses ~2-3W of power, so I just leave it on.
 
Thanks for your suggestions, been doing a bit of searching and found this

https://getvero.tv/

From what I can see from a few posts it ticks all the boxes, has anyone here had any experience with 1?
 
Fair enough mate, wasn't sure if it had anything extra? Looks like I'm either going for a NUC or forgoing Dolby hd and dts ma and getting a pi2 unless there is another option?
 
Nucs don't natively support cec. Pulseeight do an adaptor though. This way you can have it auto sleep and wake up etc.

I've not tried a pi2. Pi1 was too slow. I have 2 Nucs though.
 
bledd. said:
Pi1 was too slow, Pi2 is a lot quicker. Quad core, faster, more ram
Click to expand...

How do you control your pi2? via an app or have you got a remote?

Does it have any issues reading large files, fast forward, skip etc all smooth?

With a large database of films, music and photos does the menu slow down?

Thanks
 
Personally I've got a NUC and a Pulseeight CEC adaptor but I'm thinking fo going Pi 2 for the bedroom and simply using the Yatse app on my smartphone for controlling it (and it will wake on LAN which is nice!)

Ferretboy is right imo - the Pi 1 was far too slow (the UI I mean, playback was fine!) but everything I've read about the Pi 2 indicates it can run Kodi absolutely fine!
 
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The Amazon Firestick is also very nice, and fast. I got one last week and use it with Plex which seems very responsive and slick. Might be worthwhile taking a look.
 
I went from a pi (model B single core) to a celeron nuc and the difference in speed in navigating menu's is very noticeable, even with some moderate overclocking and openelc running from fast usb stick on the pi. Lack of CEC (on the NUC) is annoying so I got the pulse eight usb cec adapter (not cheap at £30). They have just released an internal NUC CEC kit which I ordered a few weeks ago and was dispatched last night. https://www.pulse-eight.com/p/154/intel-nuc-hdmi-cec-adapter which is £10 less and is internal so less mess and a free USB port. Plus it's now just cheaper than the FLIRC which is another alternative to CEC. IMO CEC is the best and most convenient way to use KODI. I'm not sure the FLIRC would have worked as my NUC is vesa mounted so I would have no line of sight for the ir.

Had the quad core pi been out I would have probably got one of those, but I'm very pleased with my NUC. The celeron is plenty fast enough for full HD (using openelec) though I gather 3D stuff or windows based stuff the i3 and i5 models are the ones to go for.

Dave
 
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