Media player for TV, suggestions?

Not sure how much you want to spend but the nVidia Shield is one of the best currently available in Canada.

audit13 wrote: ↑Not sure how much you want to spend but the nVidia Shield is one of the best currently available in Canada.

Ugh, $249. Any less expensive recommendations from anyone?

Timmyj9 wrote: ↑ Ugh, $249. Any less expensive recommendations from anyone?

It includes a lot of features that cheap players don't have and includes auto frame rate switching, HD audio passthrough, and 4k Netflix.

Timmyj9 wrote: ↑ Ugh, $249. Any less expensive recommendations from anyone?

Mi Box is $65 USD

I was the same, looking for cheaper alternatives but in the end if you really want a device that really does it all with no sacrifice than look no further than the sheild.

All other devices have some sort of limitation or crippled firmware in some way.

The only other alternative is the fire stick 4K, but recently I've been having audio sync issues with it unless i use stereo which kinda defeats the purchase.

well you kinda need to be more specific.
digital audio (AC3, 5.1)= hdmi or spdif etc
4k or just 1080p

Do you need netflix too or does it run from your tv instead?

If all you need is a player that can run 720p netflix/prime, 1080p most everything and 5.1/ac3 thru hdmi(has audio dacs available) and you want it to torrent etc. Your better served with a rpi. Sure there are better specs but there are none more stable and reliable.

I have an s905 soc running libreelec and its never in all its run ever been as stable as an rpi running libreelec. Theres always a random reboot, a quirk that randomly pops up, like loss of audio or video just doesn't play and needs a reboot. Ontop of the learning curve find the right builds.


But another option could be a firestick 4k. I think the 6.2.6.0 fixed the audio A/V async issue with auto refresh rate switching. But none of my 4k got the update yet.

It'll do most anything including your torrent android app(never used something like that, sure torrent apps in all markets are sideloaded anyway). But I never attached usb drives for android as they usually had too many limitations to drive size and format vs say linux or windows.

I wager since usb hubs work with firestick, All you need for usb support is this.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0747M ... UTF8&psc=1

lead wrote: ↑well you kinda need to be more specific.
digital audio (AC3, 5.1)= hdmi or spdif etc
4k or just 1080p

Do you need netflix too or does it run from your tv instead?

If all you need is a player that can run 720p netflix/prime, 1080p most everything and 5.1/ac3 thru hdmi(has audio dacs available) and you want it to torrent etc. Your better served with a rpi. Sure there are better specs but there are none more stable and reliable.

I have an s905 soc running libreelec and its never in all its run ever been as stable as an rpi running libreelec. Theres always a random reboot, a quirk that randomly pops up, like loss of audio or video just doesn't play and needs a reboot. Ontop of the learning curve find the right builds.


But another option could be a firestick 4k. It'll do most anything including your torrent android app(never used something like that, sure torrent apps in all markets are sideloaded anyway). But I never attached usb drives for android as they usually had too many limitations to drive size and format vs say linux or windows.

I wager since usb hubs work with firestick, All you need for usb support is this.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0747M ... UTF8&psc=1

Sorry, all that's too complicated. Had Raspberry Pi in past, don't have time to figure it out. Just want something that works.

Timmyj9 wrote: ↑ Sorry, all that's too complicated. Had Raspberry Pi in past, don't have time to figure it out. Just want something that works.

raspberry pi complicated? you install to micro usb and boot it up?

you can see plenty of people here love the shield for a reason.
it just works
it gets updated all the time...cheap android boxes never
stuff doesn't randomly crash or not launch
it has a decent interface that everyone can figure out
it supports kodi and plex
you should be able to find a version for ~200 without the game controller

the mi box is the next option down

Timmyj9 wrote: ↑ Ugh, $249. Any less expensive recommendations from anyone?

lostintransit wrote: ↑ you can see plenty of people here love the shield for a reason.
it just works
it gets updated all the time...cheap android boxes never
stuff doesn't randomly crash or not launch
it has a decent interface that everyone can figure out
it supports kodi and plex
you should be able to find a version for ~200 without the game controller

the mi box is the next option down

I bought one and don't get it.

The apps it comes with are crappy - how do you get variety and all the fantastic experiences people seem to get with the Shield?

Maybe I'm old, but I still love my HTPCs.
Every (media) screen I have still has one.

lead wrote: ↑ raspberry pi complicated? you install to micro usb and boot it up?

It's a little more complicated that if you want to tweak or add anything. An understanding of linux is required although the Pi users community is pretty helpful and will generally hold your hand through any kind of setup.

cyberzip55 wrote: ↑ It's a little more complicated that if you want to tweak or add anything. An understanding of linux is required although the Pi users community is pretty helpful and will generally hold your hand through any kind of setup.

Your going to have to give me an example of that.

It depends on the distro you pick to run on the pi. If you ran say libreelec or osmc for a mediaplayer. You add stuff thru its addons just like you add an app in android. It can even run docker addons. Android can't run docker addons.

I have both. I prefer linux distro vs android for sure 24/7 reliability. Thats more than lacking in cheap android devices.

For example a bad scenario some run a vpn and torrent in android from some app and feel confident its going to remain stable for 24/7? On a cheap android device hardware? and firmware? thats playing with fire!

lead wrote: ↑ Your going to have to give me an example of that.

It depends on the distro you pick to run on the pi. If you ran say libreelec or osmc for a mediaplayer. You add stuff thru its addons just like you add an app in android. It can even run docker addons. Android can't run docker addons.

I have both. I prefer linux distro vs android for sure 24/7 reliability. Thats more than lacking in cheap android devices.

For example a bad scenario some run a vpn and torrent in android from some app and feel confident its going to remain stable for 24/7? On a cheap android device hardware? and firmware? thats playing with fire!

For example I wanted to try and use my PI as a chromecast alternative to stream video. There is a tutorial online https://thepi.io/how-to-use-your-raspbe ... ternative/ but it seemed daunting and I gave up after step 3.
I don't know maybe it's just me.

cyberzip55 wrote: ↑ For example I wanted to try and use my PI as a chromecast alternative to stream video. There is a tutorial online https://thepi.io/how-to-use-your-raspbe ... ternative/ but it seemed daunting and I gave up after step 3.
I don't know maybe it's just me.

you mean like this I think below that uses an addon called tubecast addon. But not sure never tried it before.


Here's something to try
I think its this app yatse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... free&hl=en

It says:• Cast your phone media to your Kodi, UPnP, AirPlay, Chromecast, FireTV, Roku and Smart TV*
• Native support for Plex™ and Emby™ servers*

Only used it for remote control way back but honestly I don't use casting devices.

lead wrote: ↑ you mean like this I think below that uses an addon called tubecast addon. But not sure never tried it before.


Here's something to try
I think its this app yatse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... free&hl=en

It says:• Cast your phone media to your Kodi, UPnP, AirPlay, Chromecast, FireTV, Roku and Smart TV*
• Native support for Plex™ and Emby™ servers*

Only used it for remote control way back but honestly I don't use casting devices.

Hi thanks for the info. I eventually ended up buying a Chromecast device but will try this if I get the time.