Home Theater/Game Room Thread

KurganAU

KurganAU

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Can I ask what problem you are trying to solve that requires a standalone digital media player running VLC as its operating system?

Only ever heard of VLC as a multiplatform app. You could try having it load at startup on your OS of choice in some sort of kiosk mode maybe. I think Win 11 has such a mode built in now, can configure per user.

There could also be better tools for the job, hardware and software wise, depending on your use case.
 
Kais

Kais

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Finally getting around to looking into a decent sound setup and I don't recognize half the brands anymore. So so Lost. Have decided to start with a good 3.1 to turn into 5.1 down the road if I can ever work out how to run cabling to the satellite locations with my room layout. Baby steps. So far leaning towards Polk. ES20 Bookshelfs and ES30 Center. Onkyo TX-NR6100 receiver. I wasn't really planning to spend $1,500 so open to suggestions.
 
Armadon

Armadon

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I really like my svs speakers. If the bookshelf speakers are the same quality of their floor standing then you really can't go wrong.
 
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TheNozz

TheNozz

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KurganAU said:
Can I ask what problem you are trying to solve that requires a standalone digital media player running VLC as its operating system?

Only ever heard of VLC as a multiplatform app. You could try having it load at startup on your OS of choice in some sort of kiosk mode maybe. I think Win 11 has such a mode built in now, can configure per user.

There could also be better tools for the job, hardware and software wise, depending on your use case.
Click to expand...
Trying to watch an anime (SDF Macross) i have in MKV format. Plays fine on my PC, but not on my living room TV's media player (it's never had an issue with other MKV files).

I suppose it doesnt have to have VLC as its OS but what would be a very good standalone digital media player, one i could just insert a flash drive?
 
KurganAU

KurganAU

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TheNozz said:
Trying to watch an anime (SDF Macross) i have in MKV format. Plays fine on my PC, but not on my living room TV's media player (it's never had an issue with other MKV files).

I suppose it doesnt have to have VLC as its OS but what would be a very good standalone digital media player, one i could just insert a flash drive?
Click to expand...

Ah ok. Could be a codec thing. For example your living room TV's media player might not like x265 mkv files but might play x264 mkv files just fine.
If you can find another download of the same thing it might make a difference, otherwise you could re-encode the downloads using something like Handbrake
But who has time for that :p

If you are willing to pay for an upgrade, knowing anything you download will work, buy a Nvidia Shield Pro and be done with it.
It's an Android box with a Nintendo Switch CPU, giving it enough grunt to play the 80gb to 100gb "2160p remux" downloads of 4K discs I throw at it.

I like that I get the read out on my A/V receiver and OLED that it's passing through Dolby Vision / Atmos from the Shield.
I know I'm getting an uncompromised experience for the movies I watch, whether I've bought them on disc and watch on the Panasonic UB820 or downloaded them and watch on the Shield.
There is no difference in quality between the two methods at this point.

I shelled out for lifetime Plex so use that as the app and interface to navigate hard drives / usb I plug into it, but the VLC app is a good back up and has worked well for me too.
 
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Kajiimagi

Kajiimagi

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Recently bought a Shield Pro, they are the shit! Love everything about it.
 
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Kais

Kais

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Received the Onkyo NR6100 Friday and ended up getting Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelfs instead of the Polks. They seemed to review better and front facing ports lets me place them closer to the wall. UPS lost the center channel in the east coast snow apparently so can't really set the sound profile up yet. Anyone have any thoughts to the AccuEQ calibration?

Grabbed a Shield Pro as well at Best Buy on the way home from work. Is it me or does it run just a bit stuttery? Button presses, menus, switching screens - it's not snappy.
 
Kajiimagi

Kajiimagi

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Kais said:
Received the Onkyo NR6100 Friday and ended up getting Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelfs instead of the Polks. They seemed to review better and front facing ports lets me place them closer to the wall. UPS lost the center channel in the east coast snow apparently so can't really set the sound profile up yet. Anyone have any thoughts to the AccuEQ calibration?

Grabbed a Shield Pro as well at Best Buy on the way home from work. Is it me or does it run just a bit stuttery? Button presses, menus, switching screens - it's not snappy.
Click to expand...
My Shield Pro is snappy as hell but I'm comparing it to the shit web OS on my LG TV , so I guess that that with a grain of salt?
 
Kais

Kais

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Kajiimagi said:
My Shield Pro is snappy as hell but I'm comparing it to the shit web OS on my LG TV , so I guess that that with a grain of salt?
Click to expand...
True enough, maybe i just expected more. And i grabbed for the same reason: LG OS which it is already miles better than.

Reading into it more seems there are other Launchers available with no ads and fewer previous and suggestions that make it snappier. Makes total sense being Android. Also seeing emulators for early consoles and Mame.

play.google.com

Projectivy Launcher - Apps on Google Play

Elevate Your Android TV Experience
play.google.com play.google.com
 
Kajiimagi

Kajiimagi

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Kais said:
True enough, maybe i just expected more. And i grabbed for the same reason: LG OS which it is already miles better than.

Reading into it more seems there are other Launchers available with no ads and fewer previous and suggestions that make it snappier. Makes total sense being Android. Also seeing emulators for early consoles and Mame.

play.google.com

Projectivy Launcher - Apps on Google Play

Elevate Your Android TV Experience
play.google.com play.google.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for pointing that out but: wife can use it and it makes her happy as is. So I'm not messing with it.

Remember: happy wife , no annoying bitching!
 
Kais

Kais

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Kajiimagi said:
Thanks for pointing that out but: wife can use it and it makes her happy as is. So I'm not messing with it.

Remember: happy wife , no annoying bitching!
Click to expand...
foreoveralone.jpg which allows me to indulge in my compulsive behavior to overthink, overconfiguring and fuck with just about everything i buy. Often to the point that it's too specialized and forget how it works a year later lol.

It seems like it's working real smooth tonight so far. Maybe it just needed time and a few reboots to cache and grab any background updates.

Amazon allowed me today to report non-delivery and is shipping a new Center speaker. May even arrive tomorrow.
 
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