Replacement for a PS3 as a media player?
Discussion
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…
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…
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...
What gaming I do now is done on the PC, so just wanted a media/cinema-dedicated box ideally...
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).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.
Plus, id still need a way of getting the sound to the surround amp...
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).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.
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?
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