2012-05-07, 17:02
Hi all,
I would like to share my first experience with my new media player/HTPC with you.
Note: I'm a typical computer heavy user, but not really a "nerd" or "computer hobbyists"
like most of you.
I'm coming from the Hifi-/High-End-/Homecinema hobby.
The idea was to replace my Xtreamer PRO. He plays really all kinds of formats,
may DTS Master and TrueHD audio output and was above all a decent picture,
but had the following weaknesses:
- In slow panning scenes in high definition film material there was stuttering slightly (always have been!)
- More and more disturbed me the more slowly becoming in the movie wall of the Xtreamer Jukebox, depends on the
number of films (there was more than 700 movies on it). This was at the end of the Xtreamer
performance and it often took longer to get the next movie Wall-sides have built up
- There was no way to load XBMC as an alternative into the PRO
- The maintenance of the movie Wall Jukebox GUI was despite a very complicated.
So I researched for weeks, what alternatives there are to now.
Condition: XBMC and audio output of DTS-HD Master and TRUE. Here you have to watch very carefully!
There are many devices that can read these formats, but then they give only a downmix out
in DTS, you can see directly on the HD AV Receiver instead display "DTS MSTR" only "DTS" or "DTS"
OR Dolby Digital instead TRUE HD.
There were in all the research very contradictory statements, also depends on the device version
from. Often it was not clear which version is currently available equipment and what the final features
are. The number of retailers surveyed are often not really experts or they hope bring the "old generation"
equipment to the people.
What I have excluded from the outset, I build an HTPC itself. For this I am missing a lot
know how doing so. On the other hand had set myself a budget limited to 300 €.
In consideration was also the new Ultra 2 Xtreamer. However, I am so far with Xtreamer
"finished", cause after 2 years lifetime the don't support with updates/frimware.
In addition, you can currently only buy the Ultra 2 from the Xtreamer Store delivered from
Hong Kong; no-go issue for me (shipping costs and so on).
There were several vendors, specify the DTS Master & Co. in its features. But if you ask
a little bit deeper: output only as downmix to DTS or Dolby Digital.
And then ... I'm become acquainted with "mad-max"...a "famous" XBMC nerd.
mad-max recommended the Lenovo Q180 for me
a) all the requirements technically met
b) fits in the budget and
c) quality/design
mad-max has me set up the Lenovo. I wanted to make sure that I get maximum
performance out of hole. Furthermore, it shoulld be ensured that DTS Master / TrueHD and remote functions
(Harmony One) works.
finally my first impressions / experiences:
- The device is a real eye-catcher design, high-quality workmanship and surprisingly small
- There are 4 USB ports alone rear and front another 2 (do even USB 3.0)!
- The concept of the boot and shutdown is getting used to for me. The Xtreamer
was ultimately served as a Blu ray player. Here we have to start first Windows 7 surface
must be controlled by mouse and open XBMC; not possible today to boot by Harmony One
- if XBMC first opened, it's on Blu-ray player control mode, normal control.
At best, you could start the Lenovo, it also my family can manage at home without my presence the device.
- I have the skin of mad-max installed, so I'm in the main menu "order" of my serveral
movie, audio files, e.g. concerts, documentaries, home video camera, HD demo trailer, etc.
IN OPERATION:
- My test equipment: Pioneer VSX-2021 AV Receiver, Panasonic HD projector PT-AE 4000, 7.1 sound system, etc.
Martin Logan electrostatic speakers, Sansui POWER AMP for front-electrostatic
- picture width of 4.30 meters with 21:9 material
- I've probably overdone it with the inititial-charge at the start: I loaded all files from my hard drives (Fanteq QB)
placed at once in the XBMC Lenovo. The movies played from the start, but the XBMC movie wall was going slow
.. the cover flow would no longer run as fast
leraning for the future!
- I spent a lot of time so that the image scaling /calibration of the Lenovo and XBMC terms, but now it's perfect
- Although I was absolutely satisfied (except for the camera pans) with the Xtreamer in terms of image, I noticed
directly with the Lenovo a better focus, better contrast and black levels and more intense colors.
The films are also panning the camera smoothly without any jerkiness.
- Although not really technically to explain: I myself have the impression that the sound details as well as the placement
of the surround effects has been again improved
- Due fast-charge of all the files I had problems initially with the Lenovo: XBMC freezed and to one or
Lenovo hung on and had to be completely rebooted. This is no more since yesterday the case.
Apparently the Lenovo needed (so the think of mad-max) a moment to cope the database.
- The movie wall cover flow is not running as quickly and smoothly as they would otherwise
as other solutions here ... BUT ... fully OK!
- The infrared sensor, which referred me to mad-max, has a very good reception performance: responding at all times "liquid".
CONCLUSION:
- full precision landing
- leaves nothing to be desired according to image and sound (on the contrary, see above!)
- exactly the solution that I wanted to reach
- very cost effective solution
- solution for pure end-users like me well suited
- If there would be a solution to boot/launch Lenovo + function start XBMC and "shut down" function
by remote control in the future: 100 points!
Many thanks to mad-max for his advice, configuration, and especially his patience!
Even though I'm Hifi-/Homecinema freak, I just noticed with this "project" my little
know how according to computer/HTPC matters.
best regards,
Blade[/size]
I would like to share my first experience with my new media player/HTPC with you.
Note: I'm a typical computer heavy user, but not really a "nerd" or "computer hobbyists"
like most of you.
I'm coming from the Hifi-/High-End-/Homecinema hobby.
The idea was to replace my Xtreamer PRO. He plays really all kinds of formats,
may DTS Master and TrueHD audio output and was above all a decent picture,
but had the following weaknesses:
- In slow panning scenes in high definition film material there was stuttering slightly (always have been!)
- More and more disturbed me the more slowly becoming in the movie wall of the Xtreamer Jukebox, depends on the
number of films (there was more than 700 movies on it). This was at the end of the Xtreamer
performance and it often took longer to get the next movie Wall-sides have built up
- There was no way to load XBMC as an alternative into the PRO
- The maintenance of the movie Wall Jukebox GUI was despite a very complicated.
So I researched for weeks, what alternatives there are to now.
Condition: XBMC and audio output of DTS-HD Master and TRUE. Here you have to watch very carefully!
There are many devices that can read these formats, but then they give only a downmix out
in DTS, you can see directly on the HD AV Receiver instead display "DTS MSTR" only "DTS" or "DTS"
OR Dolby Digital instead TRUE HD.
There were in all the research very contradictory statements, also depends on the device version
from. Often it was not clear which version is currently available equipment and what the final features
are. The number of retailers surveyed are often not really experts or they hope bring the "old generation"
equipment to the people.
What I have excluded from the outset, I build an HTPC itself. For this I am missing a lot
know how doing so. On the other hand had set myself a budget limited to 300 €.
In consideration was also the new Ultra 2 Xtreamer. However, I am so far with Xtreamer
"finished", cause after 2 years lifetime the don't support with updates/frimware.
In addition, you can currently only buy the Ultra 2 from the Xtreamer Store delivered from
Hong Kong; no-go issue for me (shipping costs and so on).
There were several vendors, specify the DTS Master & Co. in its features. But if you ask
a little bit deeper: output only as downmix to DTS or Dolby Digital.
And then ... I'm become acquainted with "mad-max"...a "famous" XBMC nerd.
mad-max recommended the Lenovo Q180 for me
a) all the requirements technically met
b) fits in the budget and
c) quality/design
mad-max has me set up the Lenovo. I wanted to make sure that I get maximum
performance out of hole. Furthermore, it shoulld be ensured that DTS Master / TrueHD and remote functions
(Harmony One) works.
finally my first impressions / experiences:
- The device is a real eye-catcher design, high-quality workmanship and surprisingly small
- There are 4 USB ports alone rear and front another 2 (do even USB 3.0)!
- The concept of the boot and shutdown is getting used to for me. The Xtreamer
was ultimately served as a Blu ray player. Here we have to start first Windows 7 surface
must be controlled by mouse and open XBMC; not possible today to boot by Harmony One
- if XBMC first opened, it's on Blu-ray player control mode, normal control.
At best, you could start the Lenovo, it also my family can manage at home without my presence the device.
- I have the skin of mad-max installed, so I'm in the main menu "order" of my serveral
movie, audio files, e.g. concerts, documentaries, home video camera, HD demo trailer, etc.
IN OPERATION:
- My test equipment: Pioneer VSX-2021 AV Receiver, Panasonic HD projector PT-AE 4000, 7.1 sound system, etc.
Martin Logan electrostatic speakers, Sansui POWER AMP for front-electrostatic
- picture width of 4.30 meters with 21:9 material
- I've probably overdone it with the inititial-charge at the start: I loaded all files from my hard drives (Fanteq QB)
placed at once in the XBMC Lenovo. The movies played from the start, but the XBMC movie wall was going slow
.. the cover flow would no longer run as fast
leraning for the future!
- I spent a lot of time so that the image scaling /calibration of the Lenovo and XBMC terms, but now it's perfect
- Although I was absolutely satisfied (except for the camera pans) with the Xtreamer in terms of image, I noticed
directly with the Lenovo a better focus, better contrast and black levels and more intense colors.
The films are also panning the camera smoothly without any jerkiness.
- Although not really technically to explain: I myself have the impression that the sound details as well as the placement
of the surround effects has been again improved
- Due fast-charge of all the files I had problems initially with the Lenovo: XBMC freezed and to one or
Lenovo hung on and had to be completely rebooted. This is no more since yesterday the case.
Apparently the Lenovo needed (so the think of mad-max) a moment to cope the database.
- The movie wall cover flow is not running as quickly and smoothly as they would otherwise
as other solutions here ... BUT ... fully OK!
- The infrared sensor, which referred me to mad-max, has a very good reception performance: responding at all times "liquid".
CONCLUSION:
- full precision landing
- leaves nothing to be desired according to image and sound (on the contrary, see above!)
- exactly the solution that I wanted to reach
- very cost effective solution
- solution for pure end-users like me well suited
- If there would be a solution to boot/launch Lenovo + function start XBMC and "shut down" function
by remote control in the future: 100 points!
Many thanks to mad-max for his advice, configuration, and especially his patience!
Even though I'm Hifi-/Homecinema freak, I just noticed with this "project" my little
know how according to computer/HTPC matters.
best regards,
Blade[/size]
