Replacement for a PS3 as a media player?

[daddy cool]

Right, my current set up is:

QNAP NAS streams movies/TV-shows via ethernet cable to PS3, then PS3 connects via HDMI to a Sony surround amp which handles the sound, then passes through the picture via HDMI to the TV (a 10 year old Sony – not a smart TV yet).
I very rarely use the PS3 to play games – its basically just used as a media player.

I think the PS3 is on the fritz (its about 12 years old!) so I want a new DLNA “box” that can do all the same duties and more:
- I can stream from my NAS (it uses TwonkyMedia) via ethernet
- Has some onboard storage so I can store files on it when the NAS is switched off – ideally formatted so it can handle files bigger than 4gb (Fat32 limit)
- Ideally can handle MKV files (the PS3 cant)
- Ideally can see/mix subtitle files (.srt) on the fly (the PS3 cant)
- Obviously needs to be able to handle all modern surround-sound formats, and ideally be 4K-ready (planning on getting a new TV soon)
- Nice classy/intuitive interface

Any ideas? Im so out of touch with tech…

[designforlife]

Xbox one X?

We use ours for netflix, casting from phones/laptops, amazon prime, spotify etc etc etc.

As it's windows based it's pretty well setup out of the box to use as a media centre.

[daddy cool]

Well, then i'd be paying ~£400 but only using a fraction of its capabilities, and still being constrained by having to use a games controller to navigate film lists and menus etc (as I do today with the PS3).
What gaming I do now is done on the PC, so just wanted a media/cinema-dedicated box ideally...

[MacW]

Depending on which QNAP NAS you have you might be able to install Kodi onto it directly.

Obviously that won't tick the box of being able to function when the NAS is turned off but saves buying a console you'd only use as a pass through for movie files.

[daddy cool]

MacW said:

Depending on which QNAP NAS you have you might be able to install Kodi onto it directly.

Obviously that won't tick the box of being able to function when the NAS is turned off but saves buying a console you'd only use as a pass through for movie files.

Its fairly old (TS-412) and ive tried installing Plex on it, and it just doesn't have the processing power to handle big movie files (so I assume Kodi is much the same).
Plus, id still need a way of getting the sound to the surround amp...

[mojitomax]

There are some nap boxes specifically for home media.

They can stream HD and have a normal looking remote for navigation they have a hdmi port to connect directly to your telly.

Can’t remember which model though

[mojitomax]

I mis read.

You have a NAS already.

Firstly, don’t switch it off unless you have to. They like to be kept switched on and will power down if unused.

I have this same setup and I use an Apple TV and use the infuse app.

It decides anything I throw at it including mob, mp4, subtitles etc.

The newest one is 4K compatible.

And mine is setup as a HomeKit hub to control the home.

+ you have the bonus of games (with the Bluetooth game controller - and I think it now supports the ps3 controller as well).

It been faultless for me

[Pravus1]

Nvidia shield.

It handles most formats apart from dolby vision and is very snappy.

You could also stream pc games to you tv with it if required.

[daddy cool]

Pravus1 said:

Nvidia shield.

It handles most formats apart from dolby vision and is very snappy.

You could also stream pc games to you tv with it if required.

Interesting - looks like that could be on budget (didn't want to spend more than ~£200).

Just to be clear - say ive got a 10gb 1080p movie (MKV) on my NAS. All I need is the Plex app on the Shield, and that has the muscle to transcode on the fly etc?

[scjgreen]

Formuler Z8 Android Box


DLNA Support
4K Support
Supports all Audio Inc HD Formats
Supports Subtitles
Decodes H.264 and H.265
Proper Remote

[Stan the Bat]

daddy cool said:

Pravus1 said:

Nvidia shield.

It handles most formats apart from dolby vision and is very snappy.

You could also stream pc games to you tv with it if required.

Interesting - looks like that could be on budget (didn't want to spend more than ~£200).

Just to be clear - say ive got a 10gb 1080p movie (MKV) on my NAS. All I need is the Plex app on the Shield, and that has the muscle to transcode on the fly etc?

Or play with Kodi or VLC .

[boxedin]

Stan the Bat said:

Or play with Kodi or VLC .

If the OP buys a Android TV, Sony for instance, Kodi can be installed.

Or put LibreElec/Kodi on a Raspberry Pi 4/3.

[PhilboSE]

Spoilt for choice now for media players. Any of the above should be fine.

For my secondary rooms I just use an Amazon firestick with Kodi installed. Means that all the screens are just treated as display only devices and the family use the firestick to access all content.

[Herbs]

I also use Amazon stick with Morpeus and Kodi on - I cannot think what else you need. TV has web browser for footie etc.

[bigandclever]

I use a cubox somethingorother on my aging Synology NAS, with LibreELEC / Kodi / Kore remote on the ipad.

https://www.solid-run.com/nxp-family/cubox-i/

[hornmeister]

tbh I wouldn't do anything until you've bought your new TV. Any reasonable smart TV will do everything you want without extra boxes.

In the meantime, pick up a 2nd hand ps3 as a stop gap and yes keep your NAS on all the time. No need for extra storage then either.

In the last 3 years I've upgraded my TV, bought a new AV amp and a Blueray player. All 3 can grab files from my NAS as standard.

[Pravus1]

daddy cool said:

Interesting - looks like that could be on budget (didn't want to spend more than ~£200).

Just to be clear - say ive got a 10gb 1080p movie (MKV) on my NAS. All I need is the Plex app on the Shield, and that has the muscle to transcode on the fly etc?

Yes I believe that is the case. I tend to just use direct play but its powerful enough to transcode. You could even go without the nas all together and use storage attached to the shield or map a network share to your nas and run plex locally

[PhilboSE]

hornmeister said:

tbh I wouldn't do anything until you've bought your new TV. Any reasonable smart TV will do everything you want without extra boxes.

In the meantime, pick up a 2nd hand ps3 as a stop gap and yes keep your NAS on all the time. No need for extra storage then either.

In the last 3 years I've upgraded my TV, bought a new AV amp and a Blueray player. All 3 can grab files from my NAS as standard.

A lot of smart TVs can access content in simple formats e.g. mp4/m4v but they have numerous deficiencies:
- the inbuilt catchup apps typically aren't upgradeable or stop being maintained, and often end up unable to access their content
- usually can't decode advanced formats like mkv
- usually can't output a native audio bitstream to a receiver for decoding into separate channels
- don't support LFE
- have very basic UIs just showing the file name rather than box art, ratings etc

It all depends what your needs are - if you just want a list of files in a simple compressed format, then a smart TV UI may be a viable option (for a while).

But if you want a good UI, support for higher resolution content and multichannel sound, then they come up short.