I beg to differ to assume models abound simply because its "obviously profit-driven", its how the market works. --- Models abound to provide choices, just like Toyota wont sell just sell Vios when other people want better features/options of,say, a Camry or Altis. Manufacturers bring more to the table and provide more choices to cover market, and it shows depth of experience and understand market demands.
Users with sophisticated AVR equipment (i.e. HD MA, etc) invested in their setup and would love to see their HD MA indicator light up. Since 500x cant do that higher models do, thus it is necessary for NMT manufacturers to address it by introducing other "ice cream flavors". Discerning consumers has a choice.
Mede8er 500x may have a good UI but playback of bluray full navigation menu isnt there(S100/S800/C200 has them). "M" supports audio HD audio support but is currently split into two firmware versions, why it cannot bring both to a unified version remains their challenge.
Most buyers may not share the same skills/passion to do endless firmware upgrades. so to simplify a more mature NMTs is best --- something that plays all files you throw at it, and with firmware so mature it requires little upgrade.
If this was the only criteria, I personally recommend PCH C200, it has latest firmware, downloads automagically, apps abound, and is sigma based, end of story.
but the fact is, PCH may cost more than "m", given its well-researched and engineers(and I dare not say because they are profit driven). They set the NMT bar, hands down.
Some like to have company with their choice of model/brand, and recommend despite little experience with the other brands. Others like them cheap and ok with mediocre PQ/SQ, But value for money means striking a balance between both cost and performance. I saw that in egreat.
Is there a new mede8er 500x that's priced as an r200 (P5500)? Measy e8HD is priced at 5200, but has no VFD display, so 300 bucks to swing in a coolness factor isnt bad for some.
As a consumer, I respect the brand/model I use, egreat users have a steady base locally and support wise, being around longer. I have seen egreat that is 5 years old and without need of firmware upgrades and still working. To me, As a user, that's quality engineering.
Since 2006 i have always enjoyed my Egreat, as a buyer/user, so when the local distributor decided to dropped the egreat, I took upon myself to buy a few last christmas for myself and a couple of good friends, not for profit, but to make sure the community still has access to Egreat offering as a choice. A few from the PDVD community encouraged me to sell to them and so I did. But was in it for the lively interface with other egreat PDVD users, who share the same passion on NMTs. Whatever little profit, is not even enough to sustain my habit of buying 1 2TB disk every 3 months
My opinion is the Pinoy NMT market, just wont be as fun if all of us at PDVD each has PCH C200/A210 -- because PCH has the best firmware, best hardware, best support -- hand down.
The China based alternatives (kaiboer, measy, himedia, egreat, etc) is what makes it very interesting. I simply like egreat coz they are around much longer so FW is not as frequently updated as others. I think R200 is a better player -- it does video preview, no coverwall, and colors crisp and toasty just like I like it.
I have yet to see an NMT with 5.1 analog audio and 7.1 analog audio support, not even popcorn, and I can only credit that to egreat engineering for coming up with the model that can do so--- to improve, as an NMT consumer, our choices.
Would be cool to have a 2011 PQ and SQ shootout, to shows merits of each brand/model.
Siguro dun ka rin nangagaling -- happy ka sa mede8er, you'd recommend mede8er. I'm happy with "e" and so that's i'd recommend egreat. err... well, on top of the fact you have better choices of going analog audio support 7.1(S800) or 5.1 (S7A),full bluray navigation menu (S100/S800), flawless playback (R200 @PHP 5.5k), or most compact (R6B @ PHP 3K)
