2011 Media Streamer Roundup : Netgear NTV550, A.C.Ryan PlayOn!HD2 and the Boxee Box
by Ganesh T S on November 20, 2011 10:32 AM EST- Posted in
- Home Theater
- Media Streamer
- NetGear
- Boxee Box
We have come to the business end of the review. After having analyzed the pros and cons of each of the units, it is quite difficult to select one of them as an outright winner. In fact, with all the pending issues, it is actually hard to recommend any of these players as the perfect media player.
All three of the players we have covered today should be available at reduced prices soon. For example, the NTV550 was recently on Amazon for $110. At this price, it can be definitely recommended in many usage scenarios. In the same way, the Boxee Box was available for $90, and at that price, it is a very good deal. The A.C.Ryan PlayOn!HD2 combines media player functionality with NAS and DAS capabilities in a single package. Consumers looking for such a package may find it an attractive proposition for CAD 170.
At this stage of the game, it is very clear that there is no such thing as an ultimate media player. Devices with a good OTT capabilities disappoint in the extent of support for local media playback. On the other hand, streamers with Blu-ray menu capabilities (such as the NTV550) and other such local media goodies have disappointing (or almost non-existent) support for online media services. Our quest for the ultimate media streamer continues.
Updates / Manufacturer Responses:
I will use this subsection to update the piece with responses from the manufacturers.
A.C.Ryan sent us this update:
...would just like to inform you that solutions have been found to some of the issues you have raised, namely for SUB/IDX subtitles and the YAMJ jukebox. The SUB/IDX issue is only with our latest r5440 firmware. We expect both to be updated on the next official firmware release.
I notice under Streaming Services that there is no mention of the Video Podcast service available in the Internet Media menu of the Playon!HD2.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
43 Comments
View All Comments
Methusela - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link
What is a media streamer roundup without the latest WDTV? Just because you had another Sigma-based design from a different company? WD is the market leader in sales for network media tanks/streamers.loox - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link
Surprised here, as well. I honestly believe that there is no way the WDTV has been tested extensively by Anandtech (or else it'd be here).Like the folks at Anandtech, I too have spent YEARS finding a decent solution to playing multiple media formats on my HDTV, beginning with Lacie's Silverstream device.
Ultimately, I settled on the WDTV (gen 1), then the Plus, and sticking with the WDTV Live.
It just works. It works with my TV, my HDTV, hotel room TV's, My friends TV, My Parents TV (its very portable), HDMI, HDMI w/ Optical audio out, 7 ch. PCM, Bitstream Passthrough, Component HD, Composite SD, my Sony Amplifier/Receiver, DTS, DD, can stream DNLA content, as well as the iTunes server content on my WD My Book World Edition. Blu-ray ISO's, DVD ISO's, WMV, AVI, MP4, MKV, and the list goes on.
It also supports Windows 7's PlayTo functionality and streams Netflix and other online content in HD with considerable less buffering/lag than any other solution.
My conclusion is that at this moment, for watching (or listening to) media on a Television set (not so much internet browsing) the only superior solution to a WDTV Live is a good HTPC or quite laptop with recent hardware.
Souka - Tuesday, November 22, 2011 - link
I have a networked Brite-View unit....great product except for the interface....kinda basic.but that being said, I've been able to play pretty much any video file I've tossed at it.
Friends with WD units have compatibility issues with various files, but I don't.
I'm not a huge video watcher....except when I'm bettween jobs..heh
my $.02
ganeshts - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link
This review is primarily meant to finish up coverage of the review units we have had for a long time. The WDTV Live Hub has been extensively tested and reviewed here:http://www.anandtech.com/show/3990/western-digital...
In addition, the WD TV Live Streaming Media Player has been with us for the last 1 month or so. Still some pending issues to fix up in that player, and I am waiting for a stable firmware from WD before reviewing it.
jonyah - Monday, November 28, 2011 - link
Funny, I think the same thing, but replace WDTV with PopcornHour. There is no match for the latest PCH (now the A-300). WDTV just seems like a little plastic toy box in comparison. Yes it's twice as expensive, but with that you get something that supports everything, integrates with IMDB, has apps addons, etc.pseudo7 - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link
Nice round up, though it would be nice to XBMC in the review round up (especially after next release).There are number a commercially available boxes:
http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/
Plus shed light on a nice opensource project
kolepard - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link
Agree. XBMC is a fantastic piece of work, and I'd love to see it compared in the roundup. The Boxee software is based on XBMC, and one of the reasons I purchased a Boxee was that they support the XBMC project.Rainman200 - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link
Well those are PC's not really off the shelf boxes, XBMC is getting there though to a point were a set top box running XBMC is viable.The Arm linux port of XBMC is making progress and Sigma Designs are porting XBMC too so in the future you might see XBMC powered players like a WDTV Live that use it for GUI rendering and jukebox creation.
Hopefully the Pulse Eight guys can cook up an low cost Arm set top box that runs XBMC.
pseudo7 - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link
Hmm The pulse eight box seems "off the shelf" as there is no assemble required.Also you can get the xtreamer ultra with openelec preinstalled (and hense XBMC)
Boopop - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
I concur, I've been a fan of XBMC since the early days when it was only available on the original Xbox. It would be nice to see how the people here think it compares!