Receivers playing rmvb/avi

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

Hey Edmond, me again...

I checked the Denon user manual which is available on line and I cannot find any mention of it being able to stream video files of any kind. It can stream audio files though.

I'm not sure off hand what receiver can do what your looking for at a reasonable price but I shall put on my thinking cap for this.

Many newer AV receivers can upscale video to 1080i/p these days with varying success.

Personally my home theatre has a very nice video enhancer/switcher box called a DVDO Edge. This takes all types of video inputs and performs a heap of processing and then outputs this on Hdmi to my display at any selected video type. I love this unit because it improves on every video signal even those from TiVo, DVD, YouTube, Divx, AVI, etc, etc. They are not cheap though... about $1,250 here in Australia.

That said the Integra I know has great video processing as well, so this could be a nice choice.

Does you mum want to watch YouTube, Video Podcasts, etc on this set up?

For this you may need a whole media centre PC... a whole other can of worms.

My solution, which I love, is an Apple TV ... connects wirelessly or wired to a router. You can access Video podcasts, YouTube, iTunes music, movies, TV shows. You can also rent movies very easily.

Would this suit your mum? It's super easy to use by the way so if she doesn't like technology this won't scare her. So for $449 for the 160gig version at the Apple store you are set.... and they have great customer service to help you every step of the way. Also if you have a PC setup at home don't worry it will work fine. Highly recommended.

If you want to play movies from ummm.... bit torrent sourced then it gets more complicated because you would need to do a software hack of the Apple TV.

I've done this and it works fine, but if you're not computer literate then it could be a challenge. However I don't advocate illegal movie downloads.

If bit torrent sourced material is what you want to do then maybe a Media Player is what you will need as well.... one from Western Digital is not expensive, maybe about $195 and could be an easy solution. It can't easily be connected to your network though, you need to plug in an external USB drive with the movie or whatever loaded on the drive.

It will not play iTunes movies or TV shows though because this is protected content.

So I guess I just gave you a whole other headache of things to think about.

Cheers...

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

Phew.... .rmvb are real media video files, now you really have me thinking . The Western Digital Media player deos not handle these files, my software hacked AppleTV however does handle this type of file... in fact virtually ever file type in the world is handled.

So... what to do that's user friendly?? I'm thinking your mum is not into mucking around with the PC converting file from rmvb to avi for example, meaning you have to do it everytime.

In case you want to do this anyway check this out RMVB to AVI Converter - SuperAVconverter offers RMVB to AVI converter guide to batch convert RMVB to AVI files - SuperAVconverter how to Then once converted you could use a Western Digital Media Player to play the files. But I think too much mucking around...

I remember you have an XB360 to plug in as well, right? Maybe you can hack your XB360 and put a program on it called XBMC which is X box media centre XBMC for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux | Home but to do this you need to be fairly confident with PC's. If you can do it then this might be a very nice way to have just one box to do all your games, Divx, rmvb, etc

My AppleTV actually has XBMC hacked onto it, then additonally a program called Boxee. This is how I play Divx video, programs transferred from my TiVo, etc.

I really love the DVDO Edge because of the flexibility it gives me in my system, consider that as you add various components to your system you will eventually run out of Hdmi inputs on your receiver.... unless it is a super big and expensive one. DVDO Edge has 6 Hdmi inputs.

Thinking about what you will have plugged into your system so far...

1. Blu-ray
2. Foxtel or TiVo
3. XB360
4. Media player in case you don't hack your XB360

So for an Integra 8.8 you just reached the maximum inputs available with no room fo adding future components without having to un-plug something or adding a Hdmi switcher into the mix.

The DVDO Edge also has an input for your PC or notebook, very useful as it converts the input to Hdmi to go to your projector. By the way the distance from your equipment to the projector should be a maximum of 15 metres of actual cable length, so I suggest you have all the equipment at the back of the room, also this means you don't see any distracting lights from the components.

So, let me know about whether your confident to hack your XB360 so it can play all the files you need.

Oh and while I think of it DON'T buy super expensive Hdmi cables, e.g Monster Cable.... you can get cables that will work just as well for 1/10 of those prices! We'll cover that later as it's not a priority now.

Cheers...

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

Edmond, I checked if TiVo can play rmvb files but sadly it can't. I was thinking all you would need for your system would be a Blu-ray and a TiVo but those pesky rmbv files are causing trouble.

I found this small player on eBay Australia... [url=http://tinyurl.com/cokhb9] It will play rmbv files as well as AVI and more!

It does not have Hdmi output only a component output (YPbPr) but if you do get a DVDO Edge then you can plug it into that and and it will convert it to Hdmi ... neat hey!

It's a very cheap way to play your Asian video's.

Personally I would consider it as a stop gap measure because your putting together what I am sure will be a lovely home theatre and this solution is just not up to the standard of the rest of the system.... I think mainly the menu system of this player is likely to be horrible.

If you are confident to do some software changes to a component I would still suggest AppleTV. You will have to install a program on it called Boxee (www.boxee.com), then it can do all the following...

1. Play all your music
2. Play all video types, Divx, AVI, rmvb, etc
3. Direct access to iTunes store for Podcasts... video and audio (there are some brilliant ones and well worth it)
4. YouTube (I think later you will discover this is worth having)
5. Rent or buy movies or TV shows direct from the iTunes store.
6. Listen to internet radio stations from around the world.
7. Show your photos as a slide show

The AppleTV also has the advantage that it has Hdmi output, runs silent, small size, has an internal HDD & is easy to use

I suggest go to an Apple store and get a demonstration of the un-modified AppleTV first.

What do you think about this solution? But you must be computer literate to attempt this though.

Cheers...

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

Fantastic you can handle doing some software hacks, this means your going to love having an AppleTV option, let me know what you think once you see a demo in the store and just remember that it's functionality will be expanded heaps once you have installed Boxee

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

Yes, once you own the AppleTV you can put Boxee on it. If it ever needs to go back to service under warranty you can un-install Boxee easily.

So no need to worry.

Agree about the receiver bit... I think more likely they will add more of these features to the Blu-ray player. Already there are some Blu-ray models that allow downloading of movies from services in the USA, but forget about that for here for a few years/

Cheers...

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

No need to apologise, there is a lot to digest.

The AppleTV is in reality a computer in a small box but with no keyboard or mouse input. I has an internal HDD and an operating system.

So the 'standard' i.e un-hacked AppleTV can either store various files.... music, video & photo files. It also can stream various media such as Youtube and access photo web sites, e.g Flickr. Finally you can access both audio and video Podcasts.

The Boxee version then adds the ability to access 100's of video sites via the internet, it can store and play any type of video file (rmvb!), any type of music file type, more Photo storage sites, internet radio and even the normal internet. Although browsing the internet is slow, so just plug your notebook into the system for that.

Your likely AV receiver, say the Integra 8.8 can up-scale the video that is input however it's adjustments are very limited and it cannot adjust for each different input source. It's a one size fits all solution.

DVDO Edge not only has multiple inputs but each input can be adjusted individually to give the best picture for each input, so as you swap say from Blu-ray to AppleTV to TiVo it can remember what adjustments are needed to give the best picture for each input.

It is really good at improving the picture from say your TiVo, especially the standard definition programs.

So now all you have to do is change inputs and then always on the one Hdmi output you will get the best possible video signal to go to the projector.

Clear? Hope so.

Cheers....

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

I would probably hook it up like this...

All sources, i.e Blu-ray, TiVo, AppleTV, etc plug into DVDO Edge using Hdmi.

Then the Hdmi output will go direct to the projector, this takes care of the video side.

Then for the audio there is another Hdmi output on the DVDO Edge, this is an AUDIO only Hdmi and this will go to the AV amplifier.

So this way the AV amp stays on the one audio input and the DVDO Edge does all the switching.

So when you want to change source input you just select this from the DVDO Edge remote.

This makes for very easy control. Talking about control you should also budget for a universal remote. There are a lot of choices and prices, but for something quiet easy and useful I suggest the Logitech Harmony One unit.

Once programmed up (via your PC and the internet) it offer great control by using macros to switch equipment on and off, switch inputs, etc. So for example you come into your home theatre, touch one icon on the touch screen and it will power on your amp, projector, Blu-ray, etc... switch to the correct inputs and maybe dim your lights ready for the movie.

AppleTV and TiVo are always on and don't need to be powered down.

Make sense?

Cheers...

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

I was thinking about something with the set-up.

I'm now thinking you might need to run the DVDO Edge INTO the AV receiver and then the OUTPUT Hdmi from the receiver to the projector.

The reason is that then you can see the GUI (Graphics User inteface, i.e menu) from the receiver control on the screen. Certainly will be needed during setup.

So all SOURCES >> Hdmi cables >> DVDO Edge >> Hdmi cable>> AV receiver >>Hdmi cable>> projector.

Also to save some money you can get a less expensive AV receiver that will still give you super sound. So instead of A$4,000 a A$2,000 - A$2,500 AV receiver plus DVDO Edge I believe would give you the excellent sound but better video.

Cool?

Cheers...

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

Hi Edmond, I think you mean the Pioneer LX81... a good choice also, it has automatic adjustment for room acoustics, called MCCAC, so this is very useful.

But you can get it for $2,800 instead of the $3,500 so looking good! I gotta say your stores in Sydney are really taking advantage of you...

Maybe I could understand if they offer installation, room setup, calibration, etc... but I guess they aren't.

So definately put that on your short list.

Your right also, if you ever run out of inputs on the DVDO Edge then yes you still have 3-4 more on the receiver to use.

By the way you will not need to spend heaps on a Blu-ray player, nor will you need some of the more expensive ones because these are ones with internal HD audio decoding and analog outputs on the back... something like a Pioneer LX81 has internal decoding for HD audio which comes via the Hdmi input. So at the moment I'm thinking you will find the right Blu-ray player for <$500

In regards to the projector I'm seriously thinking the Panasonic PT-AE3000 would be the best choice because of its ability to project as 2.35:1 cinemascope image and then easliy change to a 16:9 HDTV image for TV programs. That plus its brilliant picture!

Just have to figure out the screen cost situation.... try to avoid a microperf one. Give me some little more time to work this out.

So far costs for example;

Pioneer LX81 $2,800
Blue-ray $500
DVDO Edge $1,250
Panasonic PT-AE3000 $3,855 (on-line price)
AppleTV $415
TiVo $699

~$9,519 so far.

Screen 2.35:1 $????
Speakers $????
Subs $????
cables $????
remote $????
Professional video calibration (highly suggested) $????

Cheers...

Re: Receivers playing rmvb/avi

The Panasonic is ugly I agree...

This is my reasoning for the suggestion;

1. Your designing a dedicated home theatre for mainly movie watching, so therefore the priority should be on the best video and audio performance for this.... so cinemascope screen 2.35:1

2. because the Panasonic can vary between the cinemascope size screen... nice and wide with no black bars at the top and bottom for movies and a HDTV 16:9 (1.78:1) for TV you get the best of both worlds for when you want to watch TV from your TiVo or Foxtel.

3. I recognise it is ugly, but it can either be hidden on top of the shelf running around the room or inside a dedicated enclosure. Also it is colored black so if you have a dark ceiling (hope you do) then it well blend in anyway.

4. It has superb performance and plenty of adjustability so it can be tuned superbly for your theatre.

It's hard to find a store which can demonstrate a real cinemascope projected picture because usually you need to add a very expensive lens (anamorphic lens ) to a projector and because they cost as much as the projector not many of the general public would buy such a set up.

So you have to imagine getting a full cinema style image in your home theatre. I can say this is what I intend to do myself with my next setup!

The Mitsubishi projector is very good, just without the option to get a full screen top to bottom, left to right image without black bars when showing a cinemascope movie.

I'm not sure why you don't like Panasonic... they make very good flat panel TV displays, Blu-ray players and projectors. Reliability is also very good and the replacement lamp for the Panasonic model and the Mitusbishi model is pretty much the same here in Australia... about $520 each.

So that's my thinking...

Cheers...