fail of a product. i was sceptical looking at the first pictures, the thing looked tiny(no bigger that a 4 port router) so i wondered what it might do apart from keep papars falling off one's desk, turns out it cant do much more!
this must piss you off a little harry, time spent reviewing an item like this, for the product to be soo lowsy....mind, you did get to do the wdtv last week so its technology karma commin' to getcha!
Originally Posted by Mr T All the click to enlarge images appear to be smaller than the thumbnails themselves :s
whoops - a slight resizing error there. Sadly I won't be able to rectify till monday as the originals are at the office!
I've actually spent a great deal of time with both the WDTV Live and Xtreamer over the past few months (they were mini-reviewed in the mag) and it's frustrating how behind the Xtremer is now. As I say in the review, on paper it's the better device but the actual execution just isn't up to scratch.
SD playback is fine of course, as is 720p, but we're moving more and more towards ultra high bit-rate, 1080p content and the Xtreamer just cannot cope.
I also negated to mention that the DTS down mixing on the Xtreamer is rubbish. 5.1 > 2.0 sounds flat and imbalanced with explosions far too loud and speech far too quiet. The WDTV Live does a much better job of keeping the downmixed audio balanced and while it's obviously not perfect (if only we all had Onkyo amps and 5.1 setups) it's very mucha more pleasant auditry experience.
i have loads of 1080p content and all work flawlessly after the latest firmware (the old firmware had problems just like on the review)
and the RTD128X i is much more powerful that the one used on wd tv
So.... not very strange at all then! As you have confirmed their results from your own previous experience. I would assume that they have the original Firmware running...
It still does not solve my personal main issue with this device. As a means of streaming media it will be on display in the main part of the room and it just looks like an old 54kbps modem from the early 90's... like it fell of the set of 'Hackers'.
i played 3 blu ray files that are over 20 mb/s
and a custom vid i mad in sony that went over 25- 30 mb/s
and there was no stutter or anything what so ever
Originally Posted by OWNED66 ok there is something wrong here
i played 3 blu ray files that are over 20 mb/s
and a custom vid i mad in sony that went over 25- 30 mb/s
and there was no stutter or anything what so ever
can some one tell where i can get a 30+mb/s blu ray sample ?
I don't know what to say. I have an xtreamer and have been using it for three months now and I do not recall a single file not being read or stuttering happening. And I use it with a large range of different types of files and with lots of 1080p movies.
"the interface of the Xstreamer to be confusing and irritating." Again, I can't possibly understand how such an easy interface can be irritating and confusing. It may be too easy and therefore limited but confusing and irritating ?
I am not saying that this is the best product out there, but for 99 euros I still think it's a good deal.
EDIT:
People are complainig because this meda player is tiny ? To me being small it's a bonus (that's what she said I know :) ). I bring it with me when I travel for work and with its 500 GB disk full with movies. Portability I call it.
Originally Posted by plagio I don't know what to say. I have an xtreamer and have been using it for three months now and I do not recall a single file not being read or stuttering happening. And I use it with a large range of different types of files and with lots of 1080p movies.
"the interface of the Xstreamer to be confusing and irritating." Again, I can't possibly understand how such an easy interface can be irritating and confusing. It may be too easy and therefore limited but confusing and irritating ?
I am not saying that this is the best product out there, but for 99 euros I still think it's a good deal
same here
after the newest firmware the xtreamer reads 1080p files more than 30 mb/s
ive tried a 35 gb ts rip of 5th element and its wasnt stuttering what so ever
We test all our media testing kit with a set array of files, from publicly available HD trailers to custom samples, varying significantly in bit-rate and codec. This peaks with our 60MB/s sample, but that was by means the only thing the Xtreamer struggled to play. 1080p AVIs also refused to play and 1080p MKVs visibly stuttered under particularly high bit-rate sequences, ruining playback.
I've used both devices, side by side playing my own media collection over an extended period and there really is no contest. The WDTV has a better interface, is silent out of the box, and from our testing is much more capable when it comes to multi-formats. While the Xtreamer did play 80% of the files we gave it, the WDTV played 100% and it's that 20% difference that's critical her, especially as bit-rates and media demands are only going to rise.
If you're media library plays using an Xtreamer, fantastic, but as a reviewer I need to test more of the devices capabilities than checking to see if one or two identically encoded files play. In fact I re-tested almost every file on Thursday after spotting a new firmware release was out - it still failed to play the same HD test files and still stuttered under particularly high-bit rate 1080p MKV playback. That's not to say all 1080p MKVs struggleof course, but again, it's those minority of files that won't work that'll spoil your experience.
Originally Posted by Baz We test all our media testing kit with a set array of files, from publicly available HD trailers to custom samples, varying significantly in bit-rate and codec. This peaks with our 60MB/s sample, but that was by means the only thing the Xtreamer struggled to play. 1080p AVIs also refused to play and 1080p MKVs visibly stuttered under particularly high bit-rate sequences, ruining playback.
I've used both devices, side by side playing my own media collection over an extended period and there really is no contest. The WDTV has a better interface, is silent out of the box, and from our testing is much more capable when it comes to multi-formats. While the Xtreamer did play 80% of the files we gave it, the WDTV played 100% and it's that 20% difference that's critical her, especially as bit-rates and media demands are only going to rise.
If you're media library plays using an Xtreamer, fantastic, but as a reviewer I need to test more of the devices capabilities than checking to see if one or two identically encoded files play. In fact I re-tested almost every file on Thursday after spotting a new firmware release was out - it still failed to play the same HD test files and still stuttered under particularly high-bit rate 1080p MKV playback. That's not to say all 1080p MKVs struggleof course, but again, it's those minority of files that won't work that'll spoil your experience.
Incidentally, images fixed - sorry for the delay!
so what u are saying is the WDTV is better than Xtreamer in every way ?
can u tell me one HD trailer that didnt work on the Xtreamer
if there is may you please link ti to me
After testing the xtreamer (because of this review) I can confirm issues streaming FULL HD content only when the file is onto a remote storage mounted via NFS.
The really same file copied onto the internal disk of the xtreamer plays fine. I assume this is the way your xtreamer got tested, from a NAS and not using the interna drive (not included by the way).
Don't know whether this is related to the 100MB only eathernet card or the still buggy firmare. I assume (and hope) the latter.
If indeed you tested the xtremaer only straming from a NAS, your conclusions are not fair towards this little cheap fatanstic media player. I own the xtreamer since August and I am impressed by the improvements these guys are doing with firmware and by listening to the feedback in the xtreamer forum. Every time you suggest an improvement or sport a bug, you'll see that reallty improvement or bug fixed in the next firmware release. Something I have never experienced in the past.
This, obviously, is only my opinion.
EDIT :
The same file onto a remote folder mounted via samba hasn't got issue, so, even without an internal drive all HD content plays fine if you avoid NFS.
I converted six BD titles to the MKV format and did not change the bitrate. It played all of those fine, but I don;t know what the bitrate was. With the high bitrate test MKV files, with the birds, I did have the same issues as in the review, but those test files were the only ones that gave me problems. In real world use, the 1080P MKV files I had(in addition to the BD converts I made) played without issue on the newest firmware, 2.1.2
Well as things stand right now, this review is extremly unfair.
I've been using xtreamer for 2 months now, and I have to say after firmware 2.3 this thing is on a level of its own. It plays everything flawlessly, anything u can throw at it, and there is NOTHING out there that can beat it at performance vs price. Amazing features, great quality, sub file selection sub menu? You got it. Zoom in/out - stretch every way u want? You got it. Play DVD folders? u got it. And check out what's coming with firmware 3, u will be amazed (youtube HD, Opera, file hoster DL support).
And believe me, it's not very often I like a product so much as to defend it online, but it just keeps amazing me every day.
I think u guys should review it again, this little thing with the deceptively plain looks deserves more.
Comments 1 to 25 of 26
ReplyVery true... Not that I wanted to see this outdated ugly box any larger anyway.
fail of a product. i was sceptical looking at the first pictures, the thing looked tiny(no bigger that a 4 port router) so i wondered what it might do apart from keep papars falling off one's desk, turns out it cant do much more!
this must piss you off a little harry, time spent reviewing an item like this, for the product to be soo lowsy....mind, you did get to do the wdtv last week so its technology karma commin' to getcha!
peace
fatman
whoops - a slight resizing error there. Sadly I won't be able to rectify till monday as the originals are at the office!
I've actually spent a great deal of time with both the WDTV Live and Xtreamer over the past few months (they were mini-reviewed in the mag) and it's frustrating how behind the Xtremer is now. As I say in the review, on paper it's the better device but the actual execution just isn't up to scratch.
SD playback is fine of course, as is 720p, but we're moving more and more towards ultra high bit-rate, 1080p content and the Xtreamer just cannot cope.
I also negated to mention that the DTS down mixing on the Xtreamer is rubbish. 5.1 > 2.0 sounds flat and imbalanced with explosions far too loud and speech far too quiet. The WDTV Live does a much better job of keeping the downmixed audio balanced and while it's obviously not perfect (if only we all had Onkyo amps and 5.1 setups) it's very mucha more pleasant auditry experience.
i have loads of 1080p content and all work flawlessly after the latest firmware (the old firmware had problems just like on the review)
and the RTD128X i is much more powerful that the one used on wd tv
So.... not very strange at all then! As you have confirmed their results from your own previous experience. I would assume that they have the original Firmware running...
It still does not solve my personal main issue with this device. As a means of streaming media it will be on display in the main part of the room and it just looks like an old 54kbps modem from the early 90's... like it fell of the set of 'Hackers'.
come on this is a modding community, I would just make an acrylic case for it ^_^
i played 3 blu ray files that are over 20 mb/s
and a custom vid i mad in sony that went over 25- 30 mb/s
and there was no stutter or anything what so ever
can some one tell where i can get a 30+mb/s blu ray sample ?
No, not everyone mods. As for the retro look... I doubt you are watching Blu-Rays on an old 20" tube based tv.
"the interface of the Xstreamer to be confusing and irritating." Again, I can't possibly understand how such an easy interface can be irritating and confusing. It may be too easy and therefore limited but confusing and irritating ?
I am not saying that this is the best product out there, but for 99 euros I still think it's a good deal.
EDIT:
People are complainig because this meda player is tiny ? To me being small it's a bonus (that's what she said I know :) ). I bring it with me when I travel for work and with its 500 GB disk full with movies. Portability I call it.
same here
after the newest firmware the xtreamer reads 1080p files more than 30 mb/s
ive tried a 35 gb ts rip of 5th element and its wasnt stuttering what so ever
I've used both devices, side by side playing my own media collection over an extended period and there really is no contest. The WDTV has a better interface, is silent out of the box, and from our testing is much more capable when it comes to multi-formats. While the Xtreamer did play 80% of the files we gave it, the WDTV played 100% and it's that 20% difference that's critical her, especially as bit-rates and media demands are only going to rise.
If you're media library plays using an Xtreamer, fantastic, but as a reviewer I need to test more of the devices capabilities than checking to see if one or two identically encoded files play. In fact I re-tested almost every file on Thursday after spotting a new firmware release was out - it still failed to play the same HD test files and still stuttered under particularly high-bit rate 1080p MKV playback. That's not to say all 1080p MKVs struggleof course, but again, it's those minority of files that won't work that'll spoil your experience.
Incidentally, images fixed - sorry for the delay!
EDIT :
It seems you were using the latest release.
so what u are saying is the WDTV is better than Xtreamer in every way ?
can u tell me one HD trailer that didnt work on the Xtreamer
if there is may you please link ti to me
The really same file copied onto the internal disk of the xtreamer plays fine. I assume this is the way your xtreamer got tested, from a NAS and not using the interna drive (not included by the way).
Don't know whether this is related to the 100MB only eathernet card or the still buggy firmare. I assume (and hope) the latter.
If indeed you tested the xtremaer only straming from a NAS, your conclusions are not fair towards this little cheap fatanstic media player. I own the xtreamer since August and I am impressed by the improvements these guys are doing with firmware and by listening to the feedback in the xtreamer forum. Every time you suggest an improvement or sport a bug, you'll see that reallty improvement or bug fixed in the next firmware release. Something I have never experienced in the past.
This, obviously, is only my opinion.
EDIT :
The same file onto a remote folder mounted via samba hasn't got issue, so, even without an internal drive all HD content plays fine if you avoid NFS.
Still not corrected this :)
Choices:
WDTV Live
XStreamer
A.C. Ryan Mini
I've been using xtreamer for 2 months now, and I have to say after firmware 2.3 this thing is on a level of its own. It plays everything flawlessly, anything u can throw at it, and there is NOTHING out there that can beat it at performance vs price. Amazing features, great quality, sub file selection sub menu? You got it. Zoom in/out - stretch every way u want? You got it. Play DVD folders? u got it. And check out what's coming with firmware 3, u will be amazed (youtube HD, Opera, file hoster DL support).
And believe me, it's not very often I like a product so much as to defend it online, but it just keeps amazing me every day.
I think u guys should review it again, this little thing with the deceptively plain looks deserves more.
-
« Previous
-
1
-
2
-
Next »
Discuss in the forums