Ask Engadget HD: What's the best HDD-equipped HD media server?
by Darren Murph 
posted Nov 19th 2008 at 11:00AM
For some, HD media streamers are the answer. For others, a dedicated HTPC does the trick. For Nick, it's an HDD-based HD media server that he's after -- you know, those HDD enclosure-sized boxes that provide local multimedia for your HDTV to play back. "I'm in the market for a hard drive-based HD media server, as I'm not really interested in messing with a network in order to stream content from a PC to my TV. Local storage of my content is fine, so I'm looking for the box with the most user friendly interface and the widest format support. Any tips?"
Surely someone out there has a bit of advice for ole Nick here. Don't let him down -- he's really putting himself out there.
Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan_C @ Nov 19th 2008 11:09AM
Mac Mini with Plex
Steve @ Nov 19th 2008 3:43PM
How do you get multichannel sound (DD/DTS, etc) out of a Mac Mini?
Dan_C @ Nov 19th 2008 4:25PM
The Mac Mini outputs optical audio. You can use a toslink to miniplug cable (http://tinyurl.com/6eqlsc) for the audio and a DVI->HDMI cable (http://tinyurl.com/6j5o2j) for video.
Kristof @ Nov 19th 2008 11:53AM
I've used the Mvix (http://www.mvixusa.com/) and have been pretty happy with it, however some of the connectivity options are a little limited (eg streaming from a windows box only) but they have updated the latest model to support NAS functionality. The mvix supports a pretty wide range of formats included many varieties of HD formats (e.g. TS, mkv, etc). I've also heard that the Tvix's are pretty good (http://www.tvix.co.kr/eng/) though no first hand experience. I currently use MacMini + VLC for my HD viewing needs but its not an appliance like the mvix or tvix. Check out the AVS forums on HD media appliances, they also mention the popcorn hour as being pretty good (http://www.popcornhour.com). I'd checkout those three appliances and see what fits your needs (eg outputs, formats, etc). Just remember these sorts of appliances are all relatively new and its cutting edge technology so they're not quite as polished as dvd player you'd pickup at a best buy.
zargon @ Nov 19th 2008 12:12PM
Personally for me, I want a network based streamer since I have a NAS. I actually started off with a Roku Photobridge, which for is time was a awesome device, especially since it was open source and the community was doing a lot of work with third party apps. My other criteria was that I must not need to be running server software to stream to the device, I just wanted to be able to connect it to a network share and have it work. It quickly became dated since it didn't handle too many formats and was lacking any mpeg-4 format, but the idea behind it was second to none.
I have been in search of a replacement for that device for some time. I feel that nothing has really lived up to it, until now, the Popcorn Hour A-100/110. What I like about the Popcorn Hour A-110 (which sadly, I just recently ordered it, not sure why I waited) is that it supports a wide range of formats, way more than the Photobridge did and it sort of an open format and does have a community behind it. It also met my criteria of not needing server software to work and also the other feature that it has that meets your needs, the ability to add a hard drive. I have not done this yet, but by adding a hard drive to the unit enables another set of good features, which include using it as a NAS of sorts and Bittorrent client to name the two bigger ones. I just got it this week and have not had much time to play with it, but it has done what I wanted it to do, stream audio and video. I also think the price of $215 for the unit with out a hard drive is a good deal consider what it does and what is out there, the Photobridge was $300-$400 and didn't have a hard drive or even give you the option to add one. One complaint I have heard about the Popcorn Hour and I guess seen is person, is the menu system can be kind of slow. This is because it is based on simple HTML in an attempt to make it "fast" and easily customizable. They claim to be working on it and in all honesty, from my experience, it isn't that bad but there is always room for improvement.
Another company that I have kept my eye on is DViCO's. They just or are releasing TViX-HD 6500, which I think has pretty much the same feature set as the Popcorn Hour. I do not think it is as open as the Popcorn Hour and therefore it doesn't really have a 3rd party community, but I am not 100% sure on this. One feature that is has out of the box (sort of, sounds like the purchase of an add-on) is the ability to watch live TV, which depending on your needs could be good or not important. One bad thing that I have heard is these can be some what difficult to obtain in the US, I am sure the details, it is just what I have heard.
I would check out both of these devices as I think they would fit your needs. As a added bonus you could stream from a computer or NAS down the road if you decided to as it is easy to do and would not require any additonal software. There is only a little configuring, none of the unit itself other than clicking a few buttons and just a little on your OS, of which there are guides on Popcorn Hours forum and plenty of guides on the internet as well.
Mike S @ Nov 19th 2008 12:50PM
Here's a good store that offers these:
http://www.cyclopsav.com/
I have my eye on the Markus Hantech 800:
http://www.cyclopsav.com/Products/Markus-800.htm
Another good source for info is:
http://www.mpcclub.com/
Marshall @ Nov 19th 2008 1:09PM
I use my popcorn hour every day (use playon for hulu and netflix). For the $$, I haven't seen any device that offers more in terms of video functionality, though music/pictures leave a bit to be desired. For a more balanced solution, AppleTV with Boxee may be the ticket.
Charles @ Nov 19th 2008 1:26PM
I'll agree with Dan_C on this one.
Mac Mini with Plex
Steve @ Nov 19th 2008 2:20PM
I just received my HDX1000 NMT today!! This is one step up from the Popcorn Media Hour because it has an all black aluminum housing, has an SDHC card slot, and both digital coax and fiber inputs. HDMI is 1.3 so it accepts HD audio formats. Combined with the MyIhome software and MovieJukebox plugin, this thing will be AWESOME. I'll add either a 2.5" 250GB HD or a SSD drive so that I can use torrent locally too.
http://www.hdx1080.com/ for more info
Marshall @ Nov 19th 2008 2:43PM
Popcorn Hour A-110 does the same thing (minus the SD slot) for less $$. In fact, it's pretty much the same device.
Marshall @ Nov 19th 2008 2:50PM
Additionally, mpcclub is a great place to read up more on popcorn hour-style devices (NMT).
drphil7 @ Nov 19th 2008 2:36PM
I got my eye on the LaCie LaCinema Rugged, which was featured on here yesturday.
Steve @ Nov 19th 2008 2:51PM
Marshall,
The PCH A-110 is a whopping $34 cheaper then the HDX1000 and yes, they are very similar except the 3 extras I mentioned in my first post.
Mike S @ Nov 19th 2008 3:28PM
Another good store to buy these at:
http://onlybestrated.com/
Tom @ Nov 19th 2008 4:48PM
I set up a micro-HTPC with an Minix AMD 780G motherboard. It's tiny, runs extremely quiet, and the AMD built-in MPEG2 and H264/MPEG4 acceleration is offloaded onto the chipset and allows smooth 1080p playback of all my files while keeping the CPU nice and cool. The codecs from PowerDVD are excellent and enable Vista Media Center to use the hardware acceleration as well. So now I boot directly to MCE, and with my wireless keyboard/mousepad combo and Vista remote the family can watch anything on the box without having to worry about what's running in the background. Built-in gigabit ethernet also lets me download any content in the background while I watch local content, again with no stuttering and whisper-quiet. And because it's a PC, updating to other specific codecs is a breeze (I added divx/xvid and AC3 codecs).
Normally I'd be the last one to recommend a PC-based solution, but after long evaluation of everything on the market I'd have to say this is the best thing on the market. The board is mini-ITX and blows any Via or Intel mini-ITX boards out of the water when it comes to HD playback capabilities.
Tomer @ Nov 20th 2008 7:43AM
Can you give more information about your system? CPU, wireless, case, memory... I'm in the market for something similar and I don't want to buy something without enough power to output 1080p.
Thanks.
AJ MEDIA MAN @ Nov 19th 2008 6:18PM
FOR divx X vids and simple avi's
NOTHING BEATS the mg 350 hd
I have used pc hour, egreat, htc, mvix, tvco, china OEM and stiull to this day, the media gate kills them all, obviously no support for MKV..... but (if they arent bankrupt as rumored) when they do drop a media center with the capability of a media tank....
CLICK BOOM they will all be blown away!
Bob @ Nov 19th 2008 11:45PM
I have a MediaGate 350 hd (the wireless one) and it has been running happily for more than 2 years. Everything that isnt a DVD gets played on the MG, configured as a NAS so I just drop it into a folder from my PC upstairs - or just grab a file out of a shared directory over the WLAN. Pictures and music are ok but controls are limited. No MKV support but other than that, It hasnt been stumped.
complaints
1) bad remote
2) sometimes a little slow streaming over wi-fi
3) explaining to everyone what it is
Mike S @ Nov 20th 2008 10:20AM
I may consider the Mediagate as a NAS, sounds cool.
KilgoreTrout @ Nov 24th 2008 6:50PM
No thanx.
I wouldnt change my Niveus Rainier for any of those BS
nmtrsl @ Dec 3rd 2008 8:32PM
Elektron EHP-606, another Networked Media Tank
Built quality is so much better than Popcorn.
http://www.elektronhd.com
zargon @ Dec 4th 2008 7:46AM
Unless you have hands on experience with both units, from the images they like they have identical build quality and the remote looks to be exactly the same.
I do have a PCH and while the build quality could be better, it was much better than I was expecting.