best media box????

yusuo · Mar 4, 2014

So I'm looking at getting a new media box, I've currently got a WD live box bit this keeps crashing or auto disconnecting my drives. Looking for something that I can plug my hard drives directly into and has a remote for easy browsing, not so interested in the internet channels as I have about 3tb of media anyways.

Would need to be able to play HD stuff as well as have good compatibility

I'm not interested in getting a mini PC and loading xbmc onto it.

If you guys have any suggestions I would really appreciate it

BORTZ · Mar 4, 2014

Is that the thing I saw a commercial for today? The WD cloud or something?

yusuo · Mar 4, 2014

good little box, if it supported multiple hard drives easily, its the fact i use a usb hub that I think its crashing. Handles the 40gb 1080p files ive thrown at it so far, havent tried anything bigger

Sicklyboy · Mar 4, 2014

The WD MyCloud is actually a NAS that runs a low-end ARM powered Debian OS, I have one it's kinda neat. No kinds of video output though so not quite going to work here.

yusuo have you considered something like the RaspberryPi with XBMC? Or do you want to avoid XBMC altogether? I'd say that or try to find one of those Android powered TV stick things, other than that I've got no experience with other kinds of stuff.

trumpet-205 · Mar 4, 2014

I'd really suggest one of those NUC / Mini-PC. They are the best when it comes to media player, since it can decode any video / audio file.

With these dedicated media player, they only work with mainstream media files (basically limited support on video / audio file).

Harsky · Mar 4, 2014

I've got that same WDTV Live box and I really hope WD makes a follow up in the future. As for the original question, what about an Android box/stick with XBMC? Unfortunately, I seem to see a trend of companies releasing "streaming boxes" where people use the internet to view media and not via USB sticks and HDDs anymore.

yusuo · Mar 5, 2014

Harsky said:
I've got that same WDTV Live box and I really hope WD makes a follow up in the future. As for the original question, what about an Android box/stick with XBMC? Unfortunately, I seem to see a trend of companies releasing "streaming boxes" where people use the internet to view media and not via USB sticks and HDDs anymore.

Does yours have a habit of disconnecting the drives at random, just popping up saying "unable to find media files" or something along those lines

Harsky · Mar 5, 2014

Not really. I just keep using USB pen sticks to watch movies because connecting it to my 1tb HDD takes a loooooong time for it to scroll through the movies.

cracker · Mar 5, 2014

Are you only interested in a device that connects directly to the hard drive or can stream over a network via a connection to a pc?

yusuo · Mar 5, 2014

cracker said:
Are you only interested in a device that connects directly to the hard drive or can stream over a network via a connection to a pc?

Just connect to my hard drives

mrtofu · Mar 5, 2014

deleted

Qtis · Mar 5, 2014

Intel NUC seconded. Here a good review of the latest model: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014...tels-tiny-haswell-based-nuc-desktop-reviewed/

JayPea · Mar 5, 2014

I have one of these with a 4TB drive inside and I love it.

Joe88 · Mar 5, 2014

I would just suggest converting an older pc (preferable slim/low profile) into an HTPC along with a $15 usb remote
those nuc's are nice... until you see the price tag

yusuo · Mar 5, 2014

Basically my limit is about £100 I don't think I could buy a decent HTPC that can handle 1080p smoothly for that much hence why I said I wasn't willing to do that

kristianity77 · Mar 5, 2014

Being in the UK also I'd have to say you have the best player already in the WD Live. So in your shoes I'd just go out and buy another one if the one you have is a bit flaky as it really is the best choice IMO.

How many drives are you trying to connect to it?

In case your interested, I have one of these and I too had a problem with one of my drives "dropping out" as it were (but we are going back over a year here). Basically it was an issue that my external drive was always on and connected to the WD Live. But if the drive wasn't accessed for a period of time it would switch off. The drive had a setting to semi power down after a period of time.

I cant for the life of me remember what I did to solve it, but this was my issue, and its something which the WD Live doesn't like

I think the problem, ironically, is with WD drives connected to the WD Live player. Other drives I've used have been fine.

yusuo · Mar 5, 2014

kristianity77 said:
Being in the UK also I'd have to say you have the best player already in the WD Live. So in your shoes I'd just go out and buy another one if the one you have is a bit flaky as it really is the best choice IMO.

How many drives are you trying to connect to it?

In case your interested, I have one of these and I too had a problem with one of my drives "dropping out" as it were (but we are going back over a year here). Basically it was an issue that my external drive was always on and connected to the WD Live. But if the drive wasn't accessed for a period of time it would switch off. The drive had a setting to semi power down after a period of time.

I cant for the life of me remember what I did to solve it, but this was my issue, and its something which the WD Live doesn't like

I think the problem, ironically, is with WD drives connected to the WD Live player. Other drives I've used have been fine.

Thanks man but I don't think mines the same mine stop sometimes while randomly playing stuff, I have 2 drives connected with a hub, i'm just thinking that maybe the hub isnt getting enough power off the wd live every once and a while. Either that or its trying to read/write too much at one time and can't cache the files properly

kristianity77 · Mar 5, 2014

Hmmm it does seem odd. Ahh so you've got an older version of the WD live then (as the one I have has 2 USB ports)

BurlyEd · Mar 5, 2014

KDLINKS HD720

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CHDSPSM/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have had many Media Players, this is the best.
Honorable mention to:
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-Full-HD..._sim_e_24?ie=UTF8&refRID=1N6CAEEP0VXXD7G0NY93
It is a fourth of the price and adequate. I have one of these too. At $40 it is a best buy!
Another good choice is UGoos UT1 or wait for UT2 (Yes it is pronounced "You Goose!").
I have a Satechi Smart TV Box Streaming HD TV Digital Media Player which is made by UGoos (it is a UT1).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EO8X91Q/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I love it, but you really need to install Nova Launcher and XBMC + XMBCHUB's wizard for best results.
I wish I had waited for a UT2.
:grog:

yusuo · Mar 5, 2014

I like the look of the kdlink one, I would go for that one if it had support for more than one hdd

best media box????

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