Cheapest Device to Play Files from USB?

Hessian · 9 Apr 2015 at 08:30

Can anyone recommend the cheapest option to be able to plug in a USB stick and output via HDMI to a TV?

My parents have an ancient DVD player with no USB input, and a Panasonic TV which only plays natively recorded files via it's USB slot. I don't need anything other than to be able to play all the usual codecs and file containers and output via HDMI. I assume the best option is a basic PVR like the August DVB400? But am wondering if there's a magic device purely for this purpose?

NexusK · 9 Apr 2015 at 09:01

A second hand WDTV Live. It will play every codec under the sun and can be picked up for ~£30.

shatpank81 · 9 Apr 2015 at 21:50

Hessian said:
Can anyone recommend the cheapest option to be able to plug in a USB stick and output via HDMI to a TV?

My parents have an ancient DVD player with no USB input, and a Panasonic TV which only plays natively recorded files via it's USB slot. I don't need anything other than to be able to play all the usual codecs and file containers and output via HDMI. I assume the best option is a basic PVR like the August DVB400? But am wondering if there's a magic device purely for this purpose?

i bought a cheap sumvision mkv player from the rainforest, was like £20 and plays all the files i have thrown at it

V F · 10 Apr 2015 at 02:06

NexusK said:
A second hand WDTV Live. It will play every codec under the sun and can be picked up for ~£30.

Must admit, I quite like the WDTV. I have the 3rd gen version of WDTV. Surprised how quick it was considering how people complain how slow and clunky they're supposed to be. 30-40GB rips start in 2 seconds and quickly jumps to whatever time frame within a second.

Deep · 10 Apr 2015 at 10:27

NexusK said:
A second hand WDTV Live. It will play every codec under the sun and can be picked up for ~£30.

I'd go for that as well.

tom_e · 10 Apr 2015 at 10:34

shatpank81 said:
i bought a cheap sumvision mkv player from the rainforest, was like £20 and plays all the files i have thrown at it

We've got a couple of these in the house and they're spot on.

V F · 10 Apr 2015 at 12:04

Sumvision Cyclone Micro 4 Media Player - Network Ready - HDMI - 1080p - Miracast Support or Cyclone Micro 2?

Micro 4 says it only supports 1080i, 1080p/50Hz and 1080p/60Hz. There is no 1080p/24Hz.

Same for the Micro 2. Says it only supports 1080/30 frames. No mention of 24Hz at all.