A/V Equivalent of Sonos + DAC

[admin_exported]

With Hi-Fi it is a (possibly) superior option (let's not get into a discussion about this though) to rip CDs to lossless on a PC and connect to a DAC or some sort of digital audio player, like a Sonos, into a DAC.

What would be the best option for video? There's all these high-end blu-ray players that have these wonderfully expensive components and, sure, they're great, but if I wanted to play an AVI or MKV file etc. it would be of no use to me. So what's the best way to play any downloaded/ripped a/v content. (I know there's the Popcorn Hour etc. but that couldn't compare to a 1000 pound Blu-ray player).

Thanks.

 

[John Duncan]

There's always kaleidascape if you have the odd twenty grand sitting around. But tbh, notwithstanding the fact that they don't do Blu Ray, a Mac Mini with as much attached storage as you can muster gives a pretty good A/V experience.

Course, copying movies to your hard disk (and CDs, btw) is illegal, even if you own them.

Lastly, in the same way that my Mac can go toe-to-toe with some pretty good CD players, I think you might be surprised by the quality Popcorn Hour et al can muster.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply. I love the idea of the Kaleidascape but alas I am not awash with funds. I'm thinking somewhere around the 1000 pound mark for a solution. I know the Popcorn Hour is pretty good but there must be a reason it doesn't cost several times more. What higher-end options are available? For that matter what makes one blu-ray transport (i.e. the HDMI only output section and circuitry) more expensive than another? Or is it the analogue parts that drive up the cost?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Beta4Me:
With Hi-Fi it is a (possibly) superior option (let's not get into a discussion about this though) to rip CDs to lossless on a PC and connect to a DAC or some sort of digital audio player, like a Sonos, into a DAC.

What would be the best option for video? There's all these high-end blu-ray players that have these wonderfully expensive components and, sure, they're great, but if I wanted to play an AVI or MKV file etc. it would be of no use to me. So what's the best way to play any downloaded/ripped a/v content. (I know there's the Popcorn Hour etc. but that couldn't compare to a 1000 pound Blu-ray player).

Thanks.

If you want real quality (sound and vision), you won't be able to touch a £200 BD player let alone a £1k one for ripped/downloaded content. MKV files look great but can be a bit bitty in parts. Getting HD audio from them is very difficult if not impossible - certainly by streaming.

The best way to do what you want is connect your computer directly to your receiver.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm looking at ISO rips of DVDs and BDs and MKV/AVIs of TV Shows (and the odd movie). So on that basis is a computer connected to a receiver still the best way to go? Compared to the HDX or Popcorn Hour (or another NMT)?

 

[John Duncan]

If you want to use ISO rips (or the VOB files or whatever), you're probably stuck with a computer, yes. Haven't seen a streamer that'll handle those (but then haven't looked that hard).

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Beta4Me:I'm looking at ISO rips of DVDs and BDs and MKV/AVIs of TV Shows (and the odd movie). So on that basis is a computer connected to a receiver still the best way to go? Compared to the HDX or Popcorn Hour (or another NMT)?

Yep

 

[Anonymous]

Doesn't get more hi-fi than a computer

Also there are a couple of different media players that do ISO rips. The PCH, HDX, Mediagate to name a few.

 

[John Duncan]

Cool - I might investigate those in preference to Apple TV then (though I do love Apple TV ooo shiny)

 

[Anonymous]

Apple's products in that area tend to cover the basics (emphasis on the "basics") but what they do actually do they do very well and are very easy-to-use and sleek. Unfortunately that leaves quite a few people out.