Unless you are looking for a linux Media Portal player then I'd recommend installing both MediaPortal (with Streamed MP) and also XBMC and see which one you prefer after a couple of weeks usage.

 

Thanks for the recommendation.  It's not so much that I'm looking for a Linux solution as looking for a non-Microsoft solution!  In particular, I want the media players to be diskless, which is difficult with a windows platform.

With all things XBMC look at OpenELEC. Theres no better way to make a slick box

With all things XBMC look at OpenELEC. Theres no better way to make a slick box

 

Indeed, thank you for all the responses.

 

My mind is made up - I intend to build an E45 system (Asus E45M1-I Deluxe) and install OpenELEC.  Actually, 'build' is probably overstating it - I won't be installing a disk drive on the machine - I have an old PSU which will be pressed into use for the time being, I have a couple of memory modules which are on the QVL, and a 4GB usb stick.  That's it - initially, there won't even be a case.  In fact, if I attach the board to the back of the TV, it may stay uncased!

99% of my stuff is BD ISO. I tried XBMC a month ago (latest stable, and nightly build) and both had problems with a good 50% of my movies and subtitles, it detected the track but when the subtitles played they disappear instantly. XBMC's video quality is also complete trash compared to my A300, I am unsure why. I'm using a GTX 680 on the computer I tested XBMC on, HDMI directly into my receiver and into the same TV I use my popcorn hour on. Everything seemed fuzzy no matter what I tried. It also refused to play 24hz, setting it to sync my TV with the media resulted in the movie playing at about 2FPS.

 

Between the subtitle issues, and the lower PQ.. I will keep using my A300. Everything else seemed superior, but those were game breakers for me.

Interesting - I have none of the issues mentioned, and my HTPC is just a mini-itx H67-based board with onboard/cpu graphics via an i3 2100.  Were you using a Windows build or an Openelec/LiveCD type build?  Sounds like a video driver issue to me at first glance.  I'm using Openelec 1.95.4 (beta 4) which is a build based on stable Eden.  Video quality is better than any alternative on default settings, and looks even better once tweaked a bit.

 

Admittedly I don't play BD ISO's though - I use libaacs and... stuff to decode actual Blurays, with a slimline sony BD reader in my HTPC (all in an Antec ISK300-150 case).  Have been tossing up backing them up to unRaid or similar, but can't be bothered so far lol

 

Probably doesn't matter as you've gone back to the A300, but just find it curious to have issues like that.

Are you all using any type of skin on your popcornhour media players?

 

I still haven't seen anything as nice as Eversion with evZAP skin, for example, in XBMC.

I have looked into XBMC and BOXEE (software) several times whenever a new version came out.

 

I have A-110 and C-200 PCH players.

 

The main drawbacks I see in using the popcornhours is music playback and picture playback (which I don't use than often anyways).

 

I would add another vote for MediaPortal. The tv series plugin is simply fantastic, for example. I have also had zero issues playing any files since a version of the LAV filters came out that allows using dxva 2 on my e-350 client. Admittedly it needs a hard drive and windows, which OP seems not to want, but a tv server comes built in, which is not a standard part of xbmc. Both are good, and both can be installed alongside each other on a windows machine.

Interesting - I have none of the issues mentioned, and my HTPC is just a mini-itx H67-based board with onboard/cpu graphics via an i3 2100.

 

That is the sort of build I was first considering (both my unRAID server and my main desktop m/c are first generation i-core/h55 builds).  It was one of these which I used as an OpenELEC test bed.  However, I read that the Intel graphics engines seem to have more problems with 23.976 frame rate than other GPUs.

Are you all using any type of skin on your popcornhour media players?

 

I still haven't seen anything as nice as Eversion with evZAP skin, for example, in XBMC.

I have looked into XBMC and BOXEE (software) several times whenever a new version came out.

 

I have A-110 and C-200 PCH players.

 

The main drawbacks I see in using the popcornhours is music playback and picture playback (which I don't use than often anyways).

 

From looking as a few screenshots for the skin you mentioned it looks like Aeon MQ is very close to what you're looking for, but looks even better IMO. http://www.marcosqui.com.br/skin_english_page3_aeonMQ3.html

 

And more info here on the XBMC forums. http://forum.xbmc.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=68

That is the sort of build I was first considering (both my unRAID server and my main desktop m/c are first generation i-core/h55 builds.  It was one of these which I used as an OpenELEC test bed.  However, I read that the Intel graphics engines seem to have problems with 23.976 frame rate than other GPUs.

 

Hmm.. My TV (Sony Bravia) definitely reports 1080/24p when playing back blurays, and everything looks fine.  Not sure what else to say there!

That is the sort of build I was first considering (both my unRAID server and my main desktop m/c are first generation i-core/h55 builds.  It was one of these which I used as an OpenELEC test bed.  However, I read that the Intel graphics engines seem to have problems with 23.976 frame rate than other GPUs.

 

Hmm.. My TV (Sony Bravia) definitely reports 1080/24p when playing back blurays, and everything looks fine.  Not sure what else to say there!

 

Many TVs quote 24p but often that is not what they are actually doing.  Almost all (not absolutely all) blu-ray discs are mastered with a 23.976fps frame rate.  The difference is subtle, but significant.  Some players cannot manage 23.976p.  Some TV's can't.  Some players will speed up playback to 24p or even 25p depending on the needs of the TV.  Some won;t and then you get various types of judder from dropped/added frames and the like.  It's quite a minefield...

 

Could be your TV does do 23.976 but says 24p.  Could be your player speeds up (the ratio is 1001/1000 if memory serves).  If it doesn't speed up and your TV won't do 23.976 you'd get a minor picture judder every 41 seconds (most people won't notice it).

Yeah I've been looking into it since I posted that and it would appear that certain hardware combinations will never show the issue.  I guess mine is one of those as I'd like to think I'd notice any level of judder/dropped frames etc. as I'm pretty picky about that sort of thing.  Minefield indeed!

I've been using XMBC for a little over two years.  I used to use WMC on Win7 with all kinds of hacks to launch a player to play a ripped BD iso but finally got tired of that and just processed all my BDs to MKV moving over to XMBC and never looked back.  Ater XBMCBuntu came out I installed that on a 60 Gig SSD and I couldn't be happier.    The family easily picked up on the interface and each of my kids are begging for a "box" of their own.  My wife thinks' it magic, lol.  She loves it!

 

My only wish is that it was able to record shows and be able to use the feed coming from something like a Homerun device.  It would then be a perfect interface.

My only wish is that it was able to record shows and be able to use the feed coming from something like a Homerun device.  It would then be a perfect interface.

 

There is a PVR build of OpenELEC - whether it would do exactly what you require, I'm not sure.

My only wish is that it was able to record shows and be able to use the feed coming from something like a Homerun device.  It would then be a perfect interface.

 

There is a PVR build of OpenELEC - whether it would do exactly what you require, I'm not sure.

 

..I was just about to post the same.

Here I use ForTheRecord as my DVB-S serve (virtualized in my ESXi server) ...there is a  XBMC plugin available for the PVR build, which works quite well.

The build I use is 1.95.4 PVR, I have a networked HDHomerun.  There is a plugin (and has been for some time) to enable this tuner, and it works very nicely with the TVheadend plugin etc. - if you need any help setting it up, give me a yell.  It can be a little daunting first time.  (Providing you have a regular  Homerun that is.. note there is no plugin for the Prime).

 

The other alternative (like mentioned above) is to create a VM that runs some sort of tuner software, of which For the Record is a very good option.  Then just point the XBMC plugin at that.

 

It does still have a few minor quirks though (full PVR is expected in Frodo, i.e. XBMC v12, due sometime early next year) but the guy that's been working on the PVR fork has been doing so for a couple years now (since Dharma anyway) so it's half decent.

Anyone selling the Popcorn House media players?  I own a Dune D1 and a PCH-A210, and they both work excellent.  I was thinking of giving the XBMC a try, but now AIOS is making an Android media player with XBMC.  However, it is unknown if it will be able to play HD sound and have ISO support.

Does XMBC output TrueHD and DTS Master audio? How important is the video card when using XMBC? You basically output your video card into your TV? If you are doing that and have have XMBC installed on a Windows machine how would you manage that Windows box, through your TV?

 

 

XBMC on Windows - manage via TV or remote desktop.  (OpenELEC is a much better option though imho)

Video card - not that important, mine is an onboard Intel chipset.

TrueHD and DTS Master - only with a nightly Frodo build that has Audio Engine.  The OpenELEC community is producing some great versions of these:

 

http://openelec.tv/forum/20-development-discussion/37953-unofficial-openelec-frodo-general-issue-reports

 

If you're new to XBMC, I'd be wary of the nightlies though - they may be more pain than they're worth if you have any issues.  That being said, I spun up one of the OpenELEC generic nightlies last weekend on my HTPC and had no real issues with it.  I've gone back to 1.95.4 purely because of the database/thumbnail changes present in Frodo builds, and no time to deal with addressing those.

 

We're still probably 6 months away from a Frodo stable, but once that comes out, XBMC will do pretty much everything!

 

 

Eden does DTS.

Yes but not DTS Master (or more correctly, DTS-HD Master Audio)

Yes but not DTS Master (or more correctly, DTS-HD Master Audio)

 

Never having experienced HD Audio for home theatre, I would like to know whether the difference really is detectable.  Should I be looking to upgrade my a/v amp to one which supports HD audio?

imho, it depends on the individual and the acoustics in the room your av equipment is in.  I'm a muso in my spare time, and a bit of an audiophile - I can notice the difference, and I think it is significant.  (99% of my music collection, I have ripped to FLAC for example... I always cop a bit from friends as they say why not just MP3.. I try to explain the difference, but some people just don't get it!)

 

It's like video with Bluray vs DVD I suppose - if the level of picture quality from a Bluray appeals to you and you can see the (imho significant) difference between it and a DVD, then you'll probably love a HD setup.  Perhaps the best way to go is to duck down to a decent A/V vendor that has a proper media room set up so you can hear the difference yourself (if you have that option!)

imho, it depends on the individual and the acoustics in the room your av equipment is in.  I'm a muso in my spare time, and a bit of an audiophile - I can notice the difference, and I think it is significant.  (99% of my music collection, I have ripped to FLAC for example... I always cop a bit from friends as they say why not just MP3.. I try to explain the difference, but some people just don't get it!)

 

Okay, I can identify with that - I'm perfectly happy to use mp3 in the car, but at home it's all FLAC.

 

When I was in UK, I was always aware of artifacts on Digital Radio, although Radio 3, which never used less than 192kb, was better than all others.

 

It's like video with Bluray vs DVD I suppose - if the level of picture quality from a Bluray appeals to you and you can see the (imho significant) difference between it and a DVD, then you'll probably love a HD setup.  Perhaps the best way to go is to duck down to a decent A/V vendor that has a proper media room set up so you can hear the difference yourself (if you have that option!)

 

Unfortunately not an option here in Philippines, which is why I asked the question.  I don't, currently, have a lot of material with HD Audio tracks, so it's probably a mute point for the time being.

Fair enough!  For me, if I play a Bluray rip that has regular DTS, vs a full DTS-HD MA track, the difference is quite simply amazing.  I always rip Blurays with HD audio now - I'm just cautious of making a recommendation there because, more often than not, people I've been through the same exercise with don't notice the difference.. or if they do, they don't think it's a big enough difference to be worthwhile.