gainphile Posted November 5, 2009 Author Posted November 5, 2009 Thanks, great to know. I may try sharing a drive from my laptop soon to see. The fileserver I'm using is bad for streaming and I encounter the same issue playing music using foobar on my laptop. So I suspect that is the problem. At the moment there is a 1TB hdd attached, which functions as a backup as well so not a major convenience issue.
hired goon Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 G'day, I'm pondering one these jobbies to use for moofies/photos to replace my aged Xbox (I'll probably still use the Squeezebox for toons). What's the UI like? The XBMC skins are great eye candy and simple to use and customize, but what about the WDTV UI? Is it simple enough that my kiddies can turn it on and find a movie without having to select folders/files? --Geoff
gainphile Posted November 5, 2009 Author Posted November 5, 2009 The menu is ok but could be better. Unfortunately you can't select a "defult folder". It goes like this: main menu => movies => local/network/all movies etc. Much..much worse if network because you need to login etc.
hired goon Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 G'day, main menu => movies => local/network/all movies etc.Much..much worse if network because you need to login etc. Thanks for the info. Everything is over the network and requires a login so if the username/password are not cached on the device then that's a show stopper for me. --Geoff
emesbee Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 The menu is ok but could be better. Unfortunately you can't select a "defult folder". It goes like this:main menu => movies => local/network/all movies etc. Much..much worse if network because you need to login etc. I agree that the menu layout is fairly basic and could be improved. Its not too hard to use though. For network, you can set a default login, so that it autoconnects and you don't have to enter username/password every time. That's ok if you always want to use the same login. (Its how I've set mine up.)
voltagex Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 Anyone else getting horrible distortion with audio via HDMI? Sound system is a simple hi fi but I don't get these problems with a PS3 hooked up.
Batty Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 I have HDMI to TV only and optical to Receiver
emesbee Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 I don't use HDMI (my TV doesn't have it). Audio is connected from the optical out into my DacMagic (actually via a marantz AVR, but that is only for switching between sources).
gainphile Posted November 20, 2009 Author Posted November 20, 2009 http://www.kaiboerhd.com/views.asp?hw_id=395 With 24/96 DAC and cost of $179, this could be a WDTV killer!
gainphile Posted November 22, 2009 Author Posted November 22, 2009 Last night my WDTV prompted me for upgrade. Clicked yes, and the process went flawlessly for about 10 minutes. This is great, no downloading and installing firmware manually! Not sure what it fixed though.
likwidsh0k Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 http://www.kaiboerhd.com/views.asp?hw_id=395With 24/96 DAC and cost of $179, this could be a WDTV killer! Thanks for the firmware update info. Hmmmm.. WDTV killer? No need for buyers remorse yet me thinks $179 is US and read people now picking up the WDTV Live for ~$165 or doing a deal to get HDD cheap package. Where did you read the 24/96 DAC? Couldn't find DAC info anywhere. Also a fan.. quiet fan it claims but still fan :nana Has the same Sigma Designs chip as the WDTV Live, so expect probably same feature list as opposed to the Realtek in some others that I think have more DTS HD audio support and DVD menus.
gainphile Posted November 23, 2009 Author Posted November 23, 2009 Yes, you're right. The fan is a deal breaker for me. Apparently these devices are poliferating right now, there's another one - ACRyan. A friend in Singapore had tested few of these players (he's a movie guy) and concluded WDTVL is better overall. Plus, let's seek safety in numbers. With all the demands I wouldn't be surprised if further firmware upgrades will be released soon. But after a month of having it, I still wish it had a volume control. Hopefully I'll get over it (or healthier)
likwidsh0k Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 Yes, you're right. The fan is a deal breaker for me. Apparently these devices are poliferating right now, there's another one - ACRyan. A friend in Singapore had tested few of these players (he's a movie guy) and concluded WDTVL is better overall. There are heaps of these on the market.. Xtreamer ACRyan PlayOn!HD Asus O!Play Popcorn Hour ... http://www.mediaplayersandmore.com.au/ Plus, let's seek safety in numbers. With all the demands I wouldn't be surprised if further firmware upgrades will be released soon.I agree.But.. the WDTV had a bad reputation for very few firmware updates even for what people thought were small enhancements like the DVD menus for eg. Doesn't really bother me, just the WTDV fanboi's that proclaim it is no biggie.. just gotta rip your DVDs a special way! Pfft.. which IMO defeats the purpose of being able to rip everything as source so ANY media player now or into the future can play them. Not require multiple rips of the same files. But after a month of having it, I still wish it had a volume control. Hopefully I'll get over it (or healthier) Aha.. no volume.. Gotta say either you and this guy have ginormous mits or these things reeeally are bloody tiny
emesbee Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 Last night my WDTV prompted me for upgrade. Clicked yes, and the process went flawlessly for about 10 minutes. This is great, no downloading and installing firmware manually!Not sure what it fixed though. Mine too, also downloaded and installed flawlessly. The WD website has a release notes document which lists what is in the new firmware. Lots of bug fixes, a few GUI changes and some new features.
gainphile Posted December 7, 2009 Author Posted December 7, 2009 There is an uproar on the forums after internet firmware upgrade from .11 to .12 froze the device. I was lucky as I saw the upgrade prompt a week ago and ignored it due to laziness. http://wdtvhd.com/index.php?showtopic=9399&st=0 http://community.wdc.com/t5/forums/forumtopicpage/board-id/tv_live/page/1/thread-id/37
emesbee Posted December 8, 2009 Posted December 8, 2009 I had a couple of 'freeze ups' before I updated the firmware. Hasn't happened since the update, but I have had a couple of spontaneous reboots. I think there are still some bugs to be ironed out.
Meganinja Posted December 8, 2009 Posted December 8, 2009 Hi Thanks for all comments, I ...Well, I just rang BingLee and about going out to Pick up one for $169, this will end the computer at the living room, I mainly play FLAC files plus ability to play MKV files and network is a big bonus, it's digital out will be connected to Dig in of my very old....Denon MD1800AL ( use as DAC only and able to select between 3 digs in but it is non oversampling , with dual old PCM 1702 dacs) but I found this DAC sound more pleasant to my ear than the stand alone one I had and sold .
emesbee Posted December 9, 2009 Posted December 9, 2009 HiThanks for all comments, I ...Well, I just rang BingLee and about going out to Pick up one for $169, this will end the computer at the living room, I mainly play FLAC files plus ability to play MKV files and network is a big bonus, it's digital out will be connected to Dig in of my very old....Denon MD1800AL ( use as DAC only and able to select between 3 digs in but it is non oversampling , with dual old PCM 1702 dacs) but I found this DAC sound more pleasant to my ear than the stand alone one I had and sold . Just make sure you get the newer WD TV Live, which has networking. The older model is still on sale, but doesn't have networking. The boxes look very similar, but only the newer one has the 'Live' label. I mention that because the price you quoted is about what most outlets are asking for the older model.
Meganinja Posted December 9, 2009 Posted December 9, 2009 (edited) Hi Thanks emesbee , it is the live version with the ethernet port at the back, it is on promotion that they put in my letter box, I rang up and they said $199, but i mention the price they put on the Ad , and they said to me this is the last one , the store is only 5 mins away , so I just come and PU. Took it home , open the box, there is little set up , plug toslink cable to the input of MD , power it up and plug a portable harddrive , and bingo everything work ...well. Try play FLAC files compare to my CDP ( Also old one AKAI CD73 with its toslink to another input of the MD, result FLAC and CD sound very similar, from Jazz to Rock, the test CD is Girl from the other room FIM super sound 01, 02, 03.. Not bad for the price, it is time to get rid of my CDP ( with 2 rose wood pieces on the side make this CDP extra wide that won't fit in the shelve ). Regards Edited December 9, 2009 by Meganinja
Monkeyboi Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Ok.. I've lived with this WDTV for a week now. So my verdict:Sound quality: 9/10 ... it's that great. If it had a native 96khz DAC i'd give 10 The sound is natural (see measurement above), clean, and resolving. There is nothing that distract me from the music and the dynamic is excellent. No hum, hiss whatsoever. There is no veil (lol) nor digital grain (rofl). And yes I've heard expensive sources before both analogue and digital. Play ability: 10/10. Plays allformat I threw, FLAC of 16/44 to 24/192khz ! WAV, mp3 if you're into that kind of thing. Usability: 8/10. I take 1 point off for small fonts on my small CRT and one point for no volume control Network: undecided due to my crappy file server. With it the playback stuters Bonuses: 10/10 (movie playback, internet radio, youtube) Amazing stuff this linux is. Truly a great appliance. This is a manufacturer who listen to the voice of the consumer and the generation. Hence it's a keeper . I'll update my opinion in the next month. And my wishlist is only one: Put a 96khz or 192khz DAC in it. pleeeease Thanks for the review gainphile. I have had the original WDTV box for some time now. The drawbacks I found with the original WDTV were - Awful internal audio DACs No dts support Digital audio output on both the optical TOSLink and HDMI limited to 24bit / 48kHz. Would not playback audio sampled at 88.2 or 176.4kHz without introducing ticks and clicks in the audio steam. This problem was the same even when using an external DAC via the TOSLink or a receiver on the HDMI connection. So I suppose the leading question for me (should I decide to update the the Live version) is will it send out all the common digital signals of - 16/44.1 16/48 24/48 24/88.2 24/96 24/176.4 24/192 to an external DAC for decoding at the native bitrates / formats? Would anyone who has got the new box be able to confirm or deny any of the above capabilities? Cheers, Alan R.
madbullram Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 @Gain: I see you have given 9/10 for music. Are you using the WD with an external DAC?
Meganinja Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Thanks for the review gainphile.I have had the original WDTV box for some time now. The drawbacks I found with the original WDTV were - Awful internal audio DACs No dts support Digital audio output on both the optical TOSLink and HDMI limited to 24bit / 48kHz. Would not playback audio sampled at 88.2 or 176.4kHz without introducing ticks and clicks in the audio steam. This problem was the same even when using an external DAC via the TOSLink or a receiver on the HDMI connection. So I suppose the leading question for me (should I decide to update the the Live version) is will it send out all the common digital signals of - 16/44.1 16/48 24/48 24/88.2 24/96 24/176.4 24/192 to an external DAC for decoding at the native bitrates / formats? Would anyone who has got the new box be able to confirm or deny any of the above capabilities? Cheers, Alan R. It is very interseting questions , I want to know too. All I know it played the 24/96 FLAC files, but I think ( I might be wrong ) everything is down sampled to 16/44.1 CD standard. Regards
gainphile Posted December 11, 2009 Author Posted December 11, 2009 @Gain: I see you have given 9/10 for music. Are you using the WD with an external DAC? Hi Madbull, No I use the internal DAC and could not fault it. Also confirmed by measurements above.
gainphile Posted December 11, 2009 Author Posted December 11, 2009 It is very interseting questions , I want to know too. All I know it played the 24/96 FLAC files, but I think ( I might be wrong ) everything is down sampled to 16/44.1 CD standard.Regards They are downsampled to 16/44, or perhaps 16/48. Definitely non hires.
madbullram Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Hi Madbull,No I use the internal DAC and could not fault it. Also confirmed by measurements above. Are you saying WDTV internal dac is as good a CDP? I have a WDTV and its no where near a match to my Marantz CD48 (which in itself is a very basic CDP)
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