Native (untranscoded) MKV network playback on TV

ginjaninja

ginjaninja

ginjaninja

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Morning All,

im in the market for a new TV. I am considering a premium for a TV that can playback my MKV files.

I have tested a series 8 samsung with content on a local USB drive which was fine with all codecs (1080p, 6 channel dts, AVC high profile, subtitles (couldnt see subtitles but subtitles did not cause a stutter a la xbox).

However network playback testing is not possible in a store.
I am happy to pay a premium for a tv that performs mkv playback natively across network (SMB preferred, dlna otherwise) without additional boxes/cables.

otherwise i will probably buy a much cheaper tv with an extender (liking the look of those ceton echos as all my content is in media browser).

anyone got any experience in this area please?

thanks
 
i completely agree with the sentiment...but was hoping that 'smarttv' had come of age. The fact that the series 8 samsung can play the content locally gives me hope that it might be possible with the latest generation of tvs.
 
Defunkt said:
My Panasonic ST50 plays all the mkv files i have tried on it and has very quick response time in regards to scrolling through large drives/libraries I used it without a problem alongside Mezzmo for around 6 months before i decided i wanted to have my library displayed in something a bit more 2012 in appearance on screen and to do that you need "movie sheets" so i bought a WDTV live and hated that (believe me the ST50 is better than a WDTV live streaming box) I then bought a Dune HD player. This is what i have now and love it for the graphical appearance on my TV compared to the basic capabilities "Smart TV's" have. That said.. I'm paying a premium for appearance on screen and nothing more. My TV would still play all my (6TB) library without the Dune player and it would actually access and play the files quicker too (only talking milliseconds here and there tho)

As far as the Panasonic TV and it's DLNA/SMB playback and use goes it's top notch. Mkv's require no transcoding the only file type i ever found that did need transcoding was the odd mp4 (some play some don't)
You won't get things like mkv chapter support without using a dedicated media player though if that's something important to you.

As for HDMI cable to PC (as some suggest) i also have this as a back-up but i never use it and am glad not to. As it's really very hit and miss if you have a nice TV. So many factors come into effect regarding the degradation of picture Q. Length of cable, Graphics card, Graphics card drivers. Even the brand of card. All of these factors will make a difference to how good your end resulting picture is (without going into the audio possibilities) Using a smart TV or a Media streaming box takes all those factors out and perform on a pretty much level field. (due to standard specifications used) You will struggle to get the best picture possible on your TV using this method. I'd only advice it if you have a cheap TV and/or substandard video source. Where you won't notice it much or care as much. If you buy a good TV and have 1080p video you are watching then i would avoid going down this route.
(plus you can't use your TV remote! you have to get up to your PC each time to do anything!)

Note: I am on a fully wired network and have no idea about wireless playback/stuttering quality
Click to expand...

Brilliant news/advice thanks...the latest panasonics are significantly cheaper than the samsung 8 series. Web browsing on a tv (and the like) is useful but not worth £500 more.

Just to confirm, your pansonic support directly streaming from a SMB network share AND through DLNA (mezzmo)?

i was looking at the GT50 which i believe is in the same family/generation as the st50.

thanks
 
I have tested various h264 profiles, bit rates, resolutions, sound tracks (ac3 +dts), subtitled files on the panasonic gt50 from a smaller usb drive and they all played. I did have trouble with vc1 but this may have been a faulty file as the first 30 seconds worked.

I could find no interface from network streaming bar DLNA........did you get \\pc\movieshare (smb) working) on a panasonic..if it only supports dlna...i need to find a dlna service that doesnt try and transcode.
 
triggerthat said:
I have to say that using a HDMI cable from my PC gives me the best picture quality. Better compared to multiple streaming services (TVersity / PS3 Media Server).

I have never used a TV that natively supports all video formats and I somehow doubt that the quality will be as good as a TV-out source.
Click to expand...

I am also sceptical that Tv natively support all video formats. But from my testing of the latest samsung and panasonics it looks like they do support the important ones for me. mkv container, H264 various profiles (4.1,5.1), high bitrates, 1080p, AC3, DTS 5.1 downsampled to stereo ok, AC3 5.1 down sampled to stereo (incidently the 3d surround emulation on stereo seemed to be faithfully reproduced, and i didnt have trouble with too little gain).

For me native playback is not so much about quality but simple clutter free single device solution. Native playback from a digital source with 100% error correction is presumably the ultimate compared to any physical transmission such as as HDMI..although i dont think there is a practical quality issue with either (save over v. large distances).

If HDMI is giving you significantly better quality compared to streaming services, then the streaming service is transcoding the source ...not, I suspect, because streaming gives less quality than hdmi inherently.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
I've a samsung 6800, so a couple of models below the 8000.
What exactly do you want me to test, as thus far its played everything I have throw at it.
Usually by sticking a usb in the back, but network wasn't an issue the few times I have used it, so exactly what am I aiming to test for you?
Click to expand...

i am trying to find a tv that will playback mkv containers with typical data streams natively...across the network. Ideally via SMB and if it has to be through DLNA definitely without transcoding.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
Yes I got that from your initial post.

When I want to play something I just use the wireless to browse to the shared folder on my PC and click it to play it back, I am unsure what process this uses, how can i check for you?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer. I think i have answered the question though.
I have checked in store today, using ps3 media server (dlna server) with all transcoding turned off.

Latest panasonic and samsungs will play all my test mkvs/data streams fine through DLNA and neither have an SMB interface. Playback through DLNA is very functional and responsive - films start immediately and can forward and rewind responsively. I used PS3 media server as DLNA server and forced MKV to not be transcoded (which renders smb unnecessary).

This was great news and am now free to purchase the significantly cheaper panasonic, unfortunately the samsung will play flacs natively. Although i do suspect that i could get the dlna server to transcode just the flacs.

panasonic p42GT50 £950 with 5 yr warranty and 2 pairs of 3d glasses
SAMSUNG UE40ES8000 £1299 with 5 yr warranty, 2 pairs of 3d glasses, bluetooth keyboard, bd disc player, native flac playback.

decisions....decisions.....
 
Meatball said:
Both my Samsung TVs purchased in the last 2 years have natively played back my Blu-Ray MKV rips (Lossless rips, untranscoded) via Twonky on my HP Microserver :)
Click to expand...

I am wondering whether I should let the head rule and go for an older samsung model if it is capable of the same codec compatibility as the latest generation. I dont really need built in wifi, built in camera/skype, web browsing, motion and voice control, wider smart app functionality.....all i need is local content playback.

I can get SAMSUNG UE40ES6800 for £779

Whats your oldest samsung model?...please could you try a sample or two from here to confirm common codecs function (over and above lossless blurary rip)
http://www.auby.no/files/video_tests/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054962
 
morfmedia said:
That Samsung is available cheaper than that I think?
Click to expand...

and the price of the latest samsungs has dropped....richer sounds 1st included 5yr warranty and are now no longer doing online purchase/advertising price online ...possibly to prevent easy price match with john lewis?

volatile pricing times for the series 8?..
 
More in store testing complete.

Samsung Series 7 seems better value than 8..8 is £100+ for some marketting pq and a prettier bezel/stand supposedly.

spanner in the works from LG. the 760T is the first tested smart tv that could show / hide the subtitle track in the mkv....it also supported better seeking functionality (jump to specific point on timeline) in the mkv. LG couldnt play mp3s/flacs over dlna...but i have to assume this was user error and willl try again.

All samsungs from series 6 onwards can play 24bit 96khz flacs (cant read the tags or show a progress bar, but you cant have everything.

no freesat on lg :-(

microsoft have announce web browser on xbox. http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-06/04/ie-on-xbox
general feeling in store was web browsing on tv had not really come of age...hopefully ms can do better...although it will need a gold membership!
 
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Frosty81 said:
One thing to note is that almost all of the players built into the TV play the video back at 60hz.

This may not be a problem for you, some people prefer their content to be played back at the videos native rate (usually 24hz) to try and avoid judder, most of the time I'm not that fussy.

Again a HDMI cable form the PC usually fixes this as most video cards will output at that refresh.

I have a D8000 plasma and have not really found any problems with MKV playback, subs built into the MKV will work but I don't think separate .sub files do, it will even pass 5.1 back to my receiver using ARC on HDMI.

Edit: Oh yeah I just use the samsung Allshare software on a PC to share the content, I've also used serviio and that worked as well
Click to expand...

thanks for feedback...
another 3 hours of instore testing complete.

The 2012 panasonics (LED+Plasma), samsung series 6,7,8, and LGs seem to all generally support
SBS 3D MKV
subtitle selection in mkv (as advised above) - you just have to find it.
functional seek (you just have to find it on the samsung..but it is there.

I found web browsing on the panasonic when using the supplied remote most functional (text entry and navigation)
However both the LG and Panasonic crashed when playing youtube content.
LG fared worst, then Panasonic.
Samsung faired best and did not crash on any websites..but needs a bluetooth keyboard (fortunately the samsung cashback offer means the keyboard doesnt have to cost you). + a keyboard will result in the best overall web experience no doubt (testing a keyboard next visit).
Panasonics support a keyboard.

ST50 dooesnt have freesat....

I could not get mp3 or flac files to show on ps3 media server on panasonic..could not get flacs to show on lg...i have to assume this is user error still...will try again..the manual says they are supported.

So for me, the biggest steal if you dont need freesat and dont expect 100% compatibility with websites, and like plasmas.... is the ST50 - its a bargain.
Panasonic say that html 5 and flash is supported, so hopefully compatibility will get better with future firmware updates...and general web navigation eg to bbc.co.uk is fine (and very functional on the panasonic remote). (as functional as using an on screen keyboard can be).

if you need freesat or 50", the GT50 is still significantly cheaper than series 7.
50 inch £1180
47inc series 7 £1400 but comes with £150 "voucher".

for me though for maximum confidence in codec compatibility i will go with series 7 samsung. Not being able to see mp3 and flacs in dlna on panasonic and terrible experience with codec compatibility 5yrs ago (possibly unfair), just gives me more confidence with samsung.

Series 7 is £220 more, but i because my mate wants one and we both want keyboards we can use the vouchers to ofset the additional cost + apparently better web compatability + it has skype camera + it has some voice and gesture "gimmicks" (im sure).

That said, very impressed with this years mkv compatibility, seek, subtitles and 3d accross all the brands mentioned. (Havent tried sony)
 
Further testing of Samsung 7 Series.

divx, mp4, avi containers tested.
embedded subtitle and audio track switching supported.
various divx profiles test (3,4,5, low)
xvid tested.
AC3, AAC LC, AAC LC-SBR, MP3 (Mpeg1 layer 3), tested

Only thing series 7 wouldnt play natively was 'vorbis' audio...but it at least gave a friendly "Vorbis Not Supported" message.

I wonder whether resume is part of the DLNA standard or something propriety in the Samsung software.
 
Tested upscaling on the 7000 and 8000 with some HDTVRIPs H264 720x404, side by side.
No discernible difference.
And upscaling was reasonable and no worse than my XBOX 360 (and samsung was on 46" rather than 42" panel).
trusted reviews seemed to think there may have been an upscaling difference, but i couldnt see it.
 
Ezah said:
my Samsung LED 5 & 7 series play everything I have asked of it, other than M2TS, so not really an issue!
MKV play over the network with no issues, but do not attempt via wireless unless they are small files (TV Shows etc).

I use Mezzmo for DLNA now, but the standard Samsung software worked too, in a very basic way.

The Resume function depends on the TV rather than the DLNA client.. my 7 supports it but my 5 doesn't.
Click to expand...

Just got my tv home.
ue7000 plays m2ts containers (AVC, AC3 tested).
also flacs do have a progress bar (inc 24bit 96khz)...
maybe theres been a software update.
 
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