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JohnWB · 2017-02-22, 16:11

I am thinking of changing to an RP3 from an RP2 that I use to play back movies etc from my NAS using LibreELEC and KODI

I was wondering how much difference there would be between the RP2 and RP3 especially playing HD audio etc at 1080P and is it worth the change.

Are there any files the RP3 can play that the RP2 would not be able to play.

speedwell68 · 2017-02-22, 16:42

(2017-02-22, 16:11)JohnWB Wrote: I am thinking of changing to an RP3 from an RP2 that I use to play back movies etc from my NAS using LibreELEC and KODI

I was wondering how much difference there would be between the RP2 and RP3 especially playing HD audio etc at 1080P and is it worth the change.

Are there any files the RP3 can play that the RP2 would not be able to play.

I looked at this and decided that there was no difference at all. I have been led to believe that an RPI 3 can software decode 720p H.265 but it is flaky. In fact I am not sure that there is any difference in playback between a RPI 1 and an RPI 3.

**popcornmix** · 2017-02-22, 16:51

(2017-02-22, 16:11)JohnWB Wrote: Are there any files the RP3 can play that the RP2 would not be able to play.

HEVC is substantially better on Pi3.
Pi3 can software decode 1080p MPEG-2, Pi2 cannot.

But for the standard HW decoded videos (H.264, MPEG-4, and VC1/MPEG-2 with codec licence) the playback should be identical.

JohnWB · 2017-02-22, 17:02

(2017-02-22, 16:51)popcornmix Wrote:
(2017-02-22, 16:11)JohnWB Wrote: Are there any files the RP3 can play that the RP2 would not be able to play.

HEVC is substantially better on Pi3.
Pi3 can software decode 1080p MPEG-2, Pi2 cannot.

But for the standard HW decoded videos (H.264, MPEG-4, and VC1/MPEG-2 with codec licence) the playback should be identical.

Thanks for that, can the RP3 decode H.265 files at all

Sholander · (This post was last modified: 2017-02-22, 18:07 by Sholander.)

Of course it can, as can Pi2 as well. But Pi3 can soft decode more H.265 formats than Pi2.
Average bitrate H.265 720p (8-bit encoding) video should work without problems on both models, but Pi3 will handle easier 1080p resolutions with moderate bitrates. On both models 10-bit H.265 encoding is not working.

albertstroh77 · 2017-02-24, 00:59

Also the audiophile types like the 2 better because the bluetooth and wifi can be separated on a powered and isolated usb hub. I like the 3 better for the reasons talked about above. A little more umph for video. I have too many pi's. And they're all in use.

If your REALLY going for audio, I think I've gotten even better results from a Zero.