Squeezebox for Music but what for Movies?

[admin_exported]

After a great deal of reading and deliberation I have decided to take a closer look at a laptop / Squeezebox setup. I'm looking for convenience.

But before I take the plunge I wonder if there is a simliar product that does the same for movies?

And if so what is a typical setup and cost.

 

[Anonymous]

The off-the-shelf systems that rip DVDs are awfully expensive.

However, you can rip your DVDs for free on a compter, and play back on the computer, or a PS3, Apple TV, Mac Mini, Popcorn Hour, Xbox, etc, etc.

For Mac look at Handbrake. For Windows look at DVD Decrypt and DVDX.

 

[Anonymous]

Eddie pretty much covered it, I'll just say I use an Xbox360 with Nullriver Connect360 software running on my Mac. Works a treat.

 

[Anonymous]

What about the HDX 1000 Media Tank Player? I've seen one in action and it appear to over pretty much everything. It supports pretty much every media format, so all video formats via the TV, and can be hooked up to something like a Sonos setup too.

 

[John Duncan]

Only word of warning would be that I'd bet my hat on it/them not being around in two year's time, whereas Apple TV (which seems to do the same thing, but also has onboard storage) will.....

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:Only word of warning would be that I'd bet my hat on it/them not being around in two year's time, whereas Apple TV (which seems to do the same thing, but also has onboard storage) will.....

Ok, so for Apple TV you:

1) store music and movies on PC with itunes?
2) this syncs with the Apple TV box
3) Apple TV box connects to TV via HDMI and hi-fi with phono?

How do you "control" track selection for the music - there is no screen on the remote? Or is this done on the tv screen and automatically routes the music selection to hi-fi?

Apologies for the questions but the Apple website is not very detailed.

How does audio quality for music compare with Squeezebox?

 

[Anonymous]

Apple TV comes with Apple Remote and you can also use an iPod Touch with Remote App to control the music when the TV is off.

The Apple TV has an internal hard-drive for storage, but you can also "push" music to it, like one would with an Airport Express.

I haven't listened to the analogue output of an Apple TV. The output of the Airport Express is okay, and output of the Mini is good.

However, all will sound indentical when fed to a good external DAC.

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like Johns offline so I'll be rude and jump in.

1)Yes, either stream content from your PC or store it on the 40GB or 160GB hard drive.

2) Yes.

3) Yes, looking at your set-up.

It comes with a little remote to use a very pretty on screen menu, like Front Row on a Mac.

Not sure about the SQ though, though you could always buy a DAC and have your Squeezebox and Apple TV running through it if you're planning to keep 2 channel. Otherwise I'm sure it'd be fine as is.

(Damn, too slow).

 

[chebby]

Why not get something like the Panasonic DMR-EX88 DVD/HDD/Freeview/SD/USB player recorder?

It is about £340 right now. Plays your DVDs and you can rip them to it's 400GB HDD in MPEG2 VBR (sound from DVD rips & CD rips comes out at a pretty fair 384kbps.)

You can back up the HDD and it has an optical digital output to feed a DAC or AV amp in stereo or 5.1. (Or you can use it's analogue RCA phono output until you have a DAC.

You can upscale with HDMI and of course all the menus appear on screen and are driven by a simple remote.

I have not yet explored whether videos downloaded from the internet can be stored via the USB 2.0 connection from a PC, but I am not sure if this is what you want.

Oh yes the HDD comes equipped with Gracenotes so any audio rips get their track info.

 

[Anonymous]

Cheb,

The DMR-EX88 rips DVDs..?

Interesting

 

[chebby]

Eddie Pound:
Cheb,

The DMR-EX88 rips DVDs..?

Interesting

Just checked under p56 of the English instructions and yes under advanced copy function you can record from DVD-V --> HDD but not in high-speed.