Topic: PDVD Media Player Blind Test Shoot-Out! Feb 27,2010

[streetsmart]

there's significant difference however in sound quality when playing the full BD-rips with TrueHD and DTS-HD ... the Xtreamer does not pass through the HD audio so I'm limited to DTS ... when Playing the Sony BD Demo (which contains DTS, DTS-HD and TrueHD), the surround sound is more distinct on the TVIX since it can pass the HD audio signals to the AVR

Interesting observation. It would have been nice to demo this.

[ert]

it would have also been better if you could compare which player can play up to 1080p files flawlessly without stuttering so that you'll be able to know the capability of each players plus the other features 

[oui]

Hi guys, Sayang, I did'nt know about this EB, I should have come and bring my HDX1000, at the same time I'll get a chance to meet you guys.

@sir iiinas, when will be the next E.B.?
 

[Onkyo606]

mahal pala grand total, ayoko kasi mag exceed ng 8-9k.

may sata connection ba ang xtreamer like the egreat 34?
if yes,
meron bang some sort of hard drive casing na sata ang connection?

sayang kasi i have a few internal HD's, ayaw basahin ng egreat ko yung external casing connections (pero sa PC ok naman)

donate mo na lang sa akin kase ako walang internal hd sorry OT 

[Onkyo606]

dapat yata may part 2 EB NMT shootout dami pa pala magagandang NMT out there

[oui]

Sana ng may Part2 EB

[gaol]

it would have also been better if you could compare which player can play up to 1080p files flawlessly without stuttering so that you'll be able to know the capability of each players plus the other features  

Hi Eric,

The blind test was limited to testing for PQ I believe for logistical reasons. Maybe next EB, this can be the subject of the testing.  

Based on my personal observations with the HD Pro, Xtreamer, WDTV Live and A200, I believe the current generation of realtek and sigma players can handle most 1080p files with ease, even the high bit rate files-as long the files are accessed via USB or internal drives. Via LAN, that's a different matter as I've encountered some stuttering with some of the players above with a number of my 1080p files. (But then my network is not optimized, so this can also be a major factor.) Moreso, if wireless streaming.

Cheers!  




  

[Clondalkin]

...Via LAN, that's a different matter as I've encountered some stuttering with some of the players above with a number of my 1080p files. Moreso, if wireless streaming. (But then my network is not optimized, so this can also be a major factor.)
 

You should invite Sci-fi Fan so he can demo/prove his wireless 1080p streaming set-up.  

[scifi-fan]

You should invite Sci-fi Fan so he can demo/prove his wireless 1080p streaming set-up.  

I'd be happy to.

Hi Eric,

The blind test was limited to testing for PQ I believe for logistical reasons. Maybe next EB, this can be the subject of the testing. 

Based on my personal observations with the HD Pro, Xtreamer, WDTV Live and A200, I believe the current generation of realtek and sigma players can handle most 1080p files with ease, even the high bit rate files-as long the files are accessed via USB or internal drives. Via LAN, that's a different matter as I've encountered some stuttering with some of the players above with a number of my 1080p files. (But then my network is not optimized, so this can also be a major factor.) Moreso, if wireless streaming.

Cheers! 

IMHO, 99% of the mistakes in setting up a home wired lan is NOT following the proper specifications for cabling.

For a simple 10/100 follow the pin-outs for crimping properly;



Most self-trained DIYers will probably just crimp a CAT 5 straight (1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc) but if you note the diagram, the GREEN pair MUST be untwisted. You would think it doesn't matter, but if some people believe different speaker wire produces audible performance increases, then one must also believe that there is a reason why we do things a certain way in computer networks as well.

If you have doubts, just change the LAN cable to one that has been pre-built with connectors already that you can buy at any reputable store and try streaming 1080p on your wired lan. I'm pretty sure it will work because there's more than enough bandwidth on a plain jane cat 5 capable LAN.

[vx2]

Wow. You learn something new here everyday. 

Sir sci-fi, how about when using gigabit cables? The same schematic applies?

[saladmaster]

dapat yata may part 2 EB NMT shootout dami pa pala magagandang NMT out there

+1 dalin ko yung  Dvico TVIX M-6500A namin...

[scifi-fan]

Wow. You learn something new here everyday. 

Sir sci-fi, how about when using gigabit cables? The same schematic applies?

Thanks...

20 years computer networking experience po kasi.

Cat 6 Pin-outs are the same but network wire must be certified. All that means is the cable is rated for higher performance (thicker insulator between twisted pairs inside) para walang cross-talk.

Madami rin other considerations sa cabling. I don't think most know that you CAN'T run ethernet wiring in the same bundle as wire with live electrical current or even RG6 used for cable TV. You also can't bundle more than 20 CAT5 together (which we do for our data centers). The weight of the wire alone will crush the innermost bundles causing problems.

[nerveblocker]

With the results of the blind test...baka dumugin to ah.....

Asan na ba ang aking 1st gen WDTV...matago nga baka nakawin....

[raptor]

Wow. You learn something new here everyday. 

Sir sci-fi, how about when using gigabit cables? The same schematic applies?

same thing applies on Gigabit Ethernet, but the Cat5 or Cat5e cables won't work ... you will need a Cat6 cable, and it is not advisable that you do the crimping for such type ... better to buy pre-fabricated cables to make sure that it will work on gigabit standards - if you would check out the quality pre-fabricated Cat6 patch cords, there's a small PCB inside the connector, and the wires are soldered into it and not crimped

[streetsmart]

The ranking per criterion:

SHARPNESS
1. WDTV – 4.43
2. Xtreamer – 4.38
3. E31B – 4.32
4. C200 – 4.22
5. Mede8er – 3.88

DETAIL
1. WDTV – 4.51
2. Xtreamer – 4.35
3. E31B – 4.28
4. C200 – 4.25
5. Mede8er – 4.05

MOTION STUTTER
1. E31B – 4.59
2. C200 – 4.56
3. Xtreamer – 4.55
4. WDTV – 4.48
5. Mede8er – 4.34

COLOR ACCURACY
1. WDTV – 4.40
2. Xtreamer – 4.30
3. C200 – 4.23
4. E31B – 4.16
5. Mede8er – 4.03

COLOR SATURATION
1. WDTV – 4.26
2. Xtreamer – 4.25
3. E31B – 4.17
4. C200 – 4.05
5. Mede8er – 4.01

EDGE ENHANCEMENT
1. Xtreamer – 4.36
2. WDTV – 4.32
3. E31B – 4.25
4. C200 – 4.23
5. Mede8er – 4.06

[streetsmart]

I forgot to thank Jazzy Jake for making the spreadsheet program for computing the scores. Ang galing ng ginawa nya. Nandun na pala ang summaries per criterion, kaya nga ang bilis ko nagawa.

[Clondalkin]

Did you even out the manual picture/image settings of all players?

[mike c]

Did you even out the manual picture/image settings of all players?

i think the rule was ... 'out of the box'

so no tweaking.

[gaol]

I'd be happy to.

IMHO, 99% of the mistakes in setting up a home wired lan is NOT following the proper specifications for cabling.

For a simple 10/100 follow the pin-outs for crimping properly;



Most self-trained DIYers will probably just crimp a CAT 5 straight (1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc) but if you note the diagram, the GREEN pair MUST be untwisted. You would think it doesn't matter, but if some people believe different speaker wire produces audible performance increases, then one must also believe that there is a reason why we do things a certain way in computer networks as well.

If you have doubts, just change the LAN cable to one that has been pre-built with connectors already that you can buy at any reputable store and try streaming 1080p on your wired lan. I'm pretty sure it will work because there's more than enough bandwidth on a plain jane cat 5 capable LAN.

Hi Scifi-fan,

I didn't dare do the crimping myself and just had the pc store do it for me. 

How about having multiple switches (is that what is called cascading) in the network. From the main wifi-G router, I setup a switch in my bedroom/AVR c onnected to the wifi router, so that I could connect the TV, a PS3 player, and the NMT/s to the network. What effect will this have?

Cheers!

[Clondalkin]

i think the rule was ... 'out of the box'

so no tweaking.

All the players tested were brand new then?

[gaol]

All the players tested were brand new then?

Hi Clon,

I think the term is more "default settings" than "out-of-box" since this would imply brand new, which they were not. The players were personal players of streetsmart and the other participants.

Cheers! 

[Clondalkin]

Fair enough. so default settings were verified?

[streetsmart]

Did you even out the manual picture/image settings of all players?

We used the default settings, except that we made the video output 1080p/24 and actual image size for all players.

Some players have settings for brightness and contrast but we left that untouched.

[mike c]

Hi Clon,

I think the term is more "default settings" than "out-of-box" since this would imply brand new, which they were not. The players were personal players of streetsmart and the other participants.

Cheers! 

yes, my bad for using the term 'out of box' because it implied new units.
but it's still applicable for users like me who never really tweak the units i get and use them, as is ... like they were out of the box

[Clondalkin]

No big deal Bros.

One more question nga pala.  What does higher score under Edge Enhancement criterion mean?  Zanks!

[markcrenz]

minimal edge enhancement scores better.

very memorable sa amin ang edge enhancement! 

[mike c]

No big deal Bros.

One more question nga pala.  What does higher score under Edge Enhancement criterion mean?  Zanks!

haha, i'll leave the edge enhancement criterion explanation to sir mark.

but he did explain to us with exampleS what edge enhancement is.  

[SETUP™]

Malaking bagay talaga ang video processor ni sir mark kaya na output ng 1080p/24. paano kaya kung walang processing? malaki kaya ang difference? mas makikita kaya natin ang output difference ng mga nmt?

[SETUP™]

Mga sirs, it was an honor for me finally meeting you guys at the eb

[iiinas]

Malaking bagay talaga ang video processor ni sir mark kaya na output ng 1080p/24. paano kaya kung walang processing? malaki kaya ang difference? mas makikita kaya natin ang output difference ng mga nmt?

sir setup, the 1080p/24 setting is from the nmts, so the signal is coming from the nmt's processing, not the denon or the beast of a sony bravia projector. i think sir mark did this because 1080p/24 is very hard to do, so if a player can do this right, the image would have been bad.