2017-04-03, 15:54
After some more testing (2 days), still fully satisfied with C2 (running wrxtasy's 64bit Nougat build).
TV: Samsung PS51D550 plasma
AVR: Denon X1000
Server: Intel N3150, 8GB RAM, DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 tuners, Gigabit LAN.
PQ Live TV: excellent deinterlacing, no noticeable difference compared to Intel's MCDI (which is really excellent), the C2 is perfect. SD channel upscaling is really nice, maybe not as nice as Intel's Lanczos3 Optimized, but basically the same. Since SD is really ugly anyway, no major quality difference here. Much better both deinterlacing and upscaling as Rpi2/3. Channel zapping little bit slower, but tuner is on server, so TV runs over gigabit LAN. Local would be probabyl a second faster, no it is around 2-3 sec, depends DVB-S2 and HD.
720p/1080p h264 content is also perfect, refresh rate and audio sync looks perfectly fine. No quality difference compared to Intel, Rpi2/3 is pretty much the same.
Audio: need to test multi channel audio, like DD, DTS, and HD audio, especially PCM multi channel
CEC: works perfectly fine, full control over LE with Samsung remote.
Overall speed: excellent, using 8GB eMMC. Nearly fast as the Intel box with SSD. Some lag when in background HD live tv is playing, and browsing for example TV Shows, but this is really not an issue (probably not related to eMMC at all). GUI fully responsive and fast, no need for anything faster.
Stability: not a single issue for using it for 2 days, no restart since then. Excellent.
I really think this C2 is one of the best available players now. I didn't test h265 content yet, but it will probably work the same as h264. Didn't test 3D yet, since I don't really use it. I guess RPi2 will be better here, but I don't really care.
TV: Samsung PS51D550 plasma
AVR: Denon X1000
Server: Intel N3150, 8GB RAM, DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 tuners, Gigabit LAN.
PQ Live TV: excellent deinterlacing, no noticeable difference compared to Intel's MCDI (which is really excellent), the C2 is perfect. SD channel upscaling is really nice, maybe not as nice as Intel's Lanczos3 Optimized, but basically the same. Since SD is really ugly anyway, no major quality difference here. Much better both deinterlacing and upscaling as Rpi2/3. Channel zapping little bit slower, but tuner is on server, so TV runs over gigabit LAN. Local would be probabyl a second faster, no it is around 2-3 sec, depends DVB-S2 and HD.
720p/1080p h264 content is also perfect, refresh rate and audio sync looks perfectly fine. No quality difference compared to Intel, Rpi2/3 is pretty much the same.
Audio: need to test multi channel audio, like DD, DTS, and HD audio, especially PCM multi channel
CEC: works perfectly fine, full control over LE with Samsung remote.
Overall speed: excellent, using 8GB eMMC. Nearly fast as the Intel box with SSD. Some lag when in background HD live tv is playing, and browsing for example TV Shows, but this is really not an issue (probably not related to eMMC at all). GUI fully responsive and fast, no need for anything faster.
Stability: not a single issue for using it for 2 days, no restart since then. Excellent.
I really think this C2 is one of the best available players now. I didn't test h265 content yet, but it will probably work the same as h264. Didn't test 3D yet, since I don't really use it. I guess RPi2 will be better here, but I don't really care.