TV USB media player

chrismox · 4 Nov 2024 at 07:47

I’m looking for a basic media player that can take a USB stick with video files on it and play them on a TV. It needs to be able to cope with the current formats and be simple to use. No online connectivity is required, the person I’m buying it for already has a Chromecast for watching Netflix etc.

Thanks in advance.

Philtor · 4 Nov 2024 at 09:14

Have a look for Sumvision media players.

Used to have one and worked really well for playing videos from USB.

chrismox · 4 Nov 2024 at 09:17

Thanks.

pepp77 · 4 Nov 2024 at 09:44

Can they not be played directly from the USB on the TV?

chrismox · 4 Nov 2024 at 09:47

I wondered that, but it’s a pretty cheap telly. Worth a look, thanks for the suggestion.

Buffalo2102 · 4 Nov 2024 at 12:13

Raspberry Pi with Kodi on it?

Pretty versatile and can be re-purposed when they buy a new TV.

chrismox · 5 Nov 2024 at 16:41

Good idea. I'll look into whether the Pi with Kodi handles a USB drive in a friendly manner.

Buffalo2102 · 5 Nov 2024 at 17:05

It's fine in my experience and if you make the USB stick a library on Kodi it should download artwork and stuff and present it nicely - if the Pi is connected to the internet of course.

There are apps available so that you can control Kodi from your phone - no remote control needed. The Pi and phone need to be connected to the local network for that too of course.

chrismox · 5 Nov 2024 at 17:07

Good to know, thanks. The lack of a remote hadn't occured to me, that could be an issue for the person I'm sorting this out for.

Gray2233 · 5 Nov 2024 at 17:17

I haven't seen a TV in years that didn't support USB playback, even cheap ones.

Bubo · 6 Nov 2024 at 11:45

I got my dad a Sumvision Cyclone Micro 2+ 4k player for about £40, plays HEVC/H.265 and below fine. Comes with a remote. Has a USB port and a Micro SD port.

chrismox · 6 Nov 2024 at 11:52

That sounds like the answer then, thanks.

RobDogDog · 6 Nov 2024 at 12:03

I have a Samsung TV in my old bedroom at my Mum's house which must be 14 years old'ish. It has a USB connection and definitely plays videos from USB.

Bubo · 6 Nov 2024 at 12:19

Before I got the Simvision my Dad's Sony tv, which is probably a similar age, couldn't play HEVC/H265, and also was very picky about the audio codec used as well, even if the video codec was supported. Would have had to re-encode everything to suit. The Sumvision gizmo sorted all that. The interface is a basic explorer view though, but it can't download any artwork anyway as it is just a player.