Streaming media tank NAS Apple TV Transcode Plex ZZZZZZZZZ

[scootermaster]

So, I'm probably going to post something more coherent in AVS forums, because they'll probably have better answers, but here's the short [HA!] version:

I'm trying to figure out the best way to get content on my new television.

Goals (in no particular order)
1. Be able to stream crap I -- ahem -- download in full glory (i.e. hi-rez, and perhaps more importantly, with appropriate audio, up to DD 5.1. No need for HD audio formats, yet)
2. Be able to use streaming services. There may be more, but right now I only use HBOgo, WatchESPN and Amazon
3. Be able to stream apple lossless (ALAC) and MP3 to my stereo from my laptop.
4. Other cool stuff with phones and laptops that I haven't even thought of yet.

Dramatis personae:
1. Samsung 64" F8500 plasma, which has [supposedly] one of the best "smart app" suites out there. This should cover: HBOgo and Amazon. No WatchESPN. Also has DLNA. More o that later.
2. Denon 3801. Yes, this is ancient. But the TV above has digital audio out, so anything that goes to the TV should be able to get to my 5.1 setup.
3. 2011 15" Macbook Pro + Apple remote. I could theoretically jack this directly in to the TV (and I just might). This will obviously play anything I want it to, but then has to be plugged and unplugged from the HT system. Also, "couch controls" might (?) not be the best
4. PogoPlug hackable NAS box. The knowledge (but perhaps not inclination) to eff with it to make it do wonderful stuff.
5. Older 2.4ghz Core2Duo system that I could potentially set up as dedicated HTPC
6. Xbox 360. I can't imagine this will be super helpful, but it does have HBOgo, WatchESPN and Amazon, I think. And is potentially another [shitty] DLNA endpoint, but I would assume the TV works better for that.
7. iPhone 5 (for remote apps, etc)

OPTIONAL (i.e. don't own, but would consider):
8. AppleTV. Was leaning toward this, but the fact that Airplay won't send 5.1 audio in mirroring mode (but will via iTunes streaming?) sorta soured me. The update today with WatchESPN and HBOgo certainly helps!
9. Other dedicated HTPC hardware (NUC, etc)/media streamer

So, the mind boggles with all the possibilities, given all the potential use cases. Now, I know an HTPC offers the most potential "flexibility", so no need to say that. But, for example, I don't want to have to use the HTPC to acquire content. I'd rather use my laptop. Also, how do I get existing content from my laptop to the HPTC?

Potential setups:
1). Just plug in the damn laptop, and control it with a remote (fancy iPhone app)?
2). Plug in older HTPC box, set up Plex or something. Can this be set up to receive streams from my laptop? Does this support ALAC? Is this overkill?
3). Apple TV. Clean interface, presumably ALAC over streaming. Amazon via TV, HBOgo and ESPN via AppleTV. Only issue is "non-supported" movie formats, which could potentially be handled via AIrplay mirroring, except the aforementioned no 5.1 audio thing.
4). Some sort of DLNA server on my Macbook Pro, straight to the TV. This would work, except often times those softwares are finicky, and I'm probably SOL with ALAC, right?
5). Something involving the Pogoplug as a NAS. Yeah.
6). Some magical solution I'm not even considering.


Right now I'm probably going to consider the AppleTV for ESPN, ALAC and the occasional screen mirroring (and I'll see how the HBOgo interface is) and then pray the DLNA on the TV itself will handle the movie formats, streamed to the TV by PS3 Media server or Plex or something.

Other ideas? Thanks!

Postscript: I haven't owned a TV in 12 years. This is probably why.

 

[Phanuel]

Sorry, I don't do enough streaming to be able to answer any of those questions but I will say with regards to 2) - You will not get 5.1 out of your TV, most likely you will get a downsampled stereo. TVs are typically not pass-through with regards to audio except for native apps on the TV.

You will need to run the audio to the receiver from your source and skip the TV in the audio chain to get any multi-channel surround. I'd recommend getting an HDMI capable receiver to make this whole thing easier in the future but that might be out of your budget.

 

[scootermaster]

Sorry, I don't do enough streaming to be able to answer any of those questions but I will say with regards to 2) - You will not get 5.1 out of your TV, most likely you will get a downsampled stereo. TVs are typically not pass-through with regards to audio except for native apps on the TV.

You will need to run the audio to the receiver from your source and skip the TV in the audio chain to get any multi-channel surround. I'd recommend getting an HDMI capable receiver to make this whole thing easier in the future but that might be out of your budget.

Huh.

That's good advice. Thanks.

You [or anyone else] have experience with, like, HDMI switches or something of the sort? I could jack all the sources in there, then route the video to the TV and audio to the Denon.

Getting a new AVR is totally in my budget, but I'd rather wait for HDMI 2.0. So if I can hold out for one more product cycle, I'll be good.

 

[Phanuel]

As far as I know, anything that could split off the audio from an HDMI is going to be expensive since it needs to perform a handshake and be a secure link the HDMI chain. It's probably going to be just as much as a stand alone receiver. But I'm sure somebody somewhere knows of something that does this.

Or if you're using a computer as a source, it shouldn't be too much difficulty in selecting HDMI or DVI as the video output (run a DVI to HDMI converter, cheap) and use the Optical as the audio out.

 

[Tegeril]

So, I'm probably going to post something more coherent in AVS forums, because they'll probably have better answers

8\

 

[SolMiester]

The 2.4 C2D should be okay for an HTPC and stream from a Plex server, unless your DLNA client on the TV is good, you might just get away with Plex server straight over your netwrok into the TV...What apps does the TV have?, Maybe Roku3 to stream content?

 

[smitbret]

8\

Yeah, I had some ideas, but figured he'd just get all of his answers there so I won't bother.

 

[scootermaster]

Yeah, I had some ideas, but figured he'd just get all of his answers there so I won't bother.

So I was right, then. Thanks!

For what it's worth: I bought the AppleTV. Or, rather, my girlfriend did.

So we'll see how that goes.

If anyone else has any ideas, I'm all ears!

 

[smitbret]

So I was right, then. Thanks!

For what it's worth: I bought the AppleTV. Or, rather, my girlfriend did.

So we'll see how that goes.

If anyone else has any ideas, I'm all ears!

When you first met her, did you open with:

So, I'm probably going to hit on something more attractive at a different club, because they'll probably be hotter, but I thought I'd give you a shot[HA!]



If you're already heavily invested in the Apple Ecosystem, AppleTV is probably the best choice.

 

[Mushkins]

To answer your question about HDMI splitters, every one i've ever used has sucked. They all try to shoehorn in "features" like automatic signal detection and switching, but since a core feature of HDMI is device control and a *constant signal/handshake* process, it never works right. I'd kill for a solid HDMI switch that was completely manually controlled like the good old component/composite AV switches.

The C2D should be plenty as long as there's no live transcoding going on for 1080p or above. I had a C2D based plex server that could transcode 720p fine, but choked on 1080p, had to upgrade to an i3 to make up the difference.

 

[scootermaster]

When you first met her, did you open with:

So, I'm probably going to hit on something more attractive at a different club, because they'll probably be hotter, but I thought I'd give you a shot[HA!]



If you're already heavily invested in the Apple Ecosystem, AppleTV is probably the best choice.

Well, thank you for the thought, I guess.

Listen, do you have any idea how many threads here people have respond to with "...you might have better luck on AVS" or "...have you looked at AVS?"? I was just trying to preempt that. If you want to get indignant about that and/or your inability to be helpful, that's fine. I'll live, either way.

At any rate, I bought some cables, and think I can route video to the TV and audio to the AVR, both with my Xbox and AppleTV. The only gotcha is I'll have to switch inputs on both, but that's not the end of the world.

The only outstanding issues are the quality of the audio on the TV-based apps (which at this point is only Amazon, since the AppleTV has everything else) and how to get movies streamed from somewhere (my laptop, etc) to the TV (either via DLNA on the TV proper, or to the AppleTV), and get 5.1 audio on them.

 

[scootermaster]

To answer your question about HDMI splitters, every one i've ever used has sucked. They all try to shoehorn in "features" like automatic signal detection and switching, but since a core feature of HDMI is device control and a *constant signal/handshake* process, it never works right. I'd kill for a solid HDMI switch that was completely manually controlled like the good old component/composite AV switches.

The C2D should be plenty as long as there's no live transcoding going on for 1080p or above. I had a C2D based plex server that could transcode 720p fine, but choked on 1080p, had to upgrade to an i3 to make up the difference.

Huh. That's good advice. I thought about getting an "active" one to handle the audio/video routing separation, but I think I'd just handle having to switch inputs on both the TV and AVR until I get a new one. Seems like you're saying it's not worth the hassle, otherwise.


Thanks.

 

[master7045]

If you want a cheap receiver, this may be a good option Yamaha RX-V573, its a refurb, but at $250, a good price. This will handle all of your HDMI handshake issues. Also, do some research on Plex on the ATV, I think they just found a work around to get it to work. That should handle all of your personal media streaming issues. I think you have a 360, that will handle WatchESPN, HBOGo, & Netflix, not sure about amazon though. What others have done w/ Plex is to use a MacMini as their plex front end, which will handle all formats you throw at it, plus you can use any available streaming site (thinking Amazon instant video) that doesn't have an app on any of your other devices.

 

[dclive]

I simply use a Synology box with Sickbeard/SABNZBD for getting content. Any PC/Mac that can run a web browser can access the frontends and schedule more downloads / get more content.

I use a WDTV Live Streaming (v3, the $80 one still being sold) or a Boxee Box on my network to watch all the content - no silly transcoding required.

Done...