Beginning with this review, we are changing the presentation of our media streamer test suite results. We have updated the suite with 3D streams and also added full Blu-ray disc backups in ISO and folder format. The first aspect we will cover is container compatibility. In the tables below, it is evident we have put more stress on Blu-ray ISOs and folder structures compared to DVDs. DVD menu and folder support is pretty mature in almost all media streamers. However, Blu-rays are a different story altogether. New features (such as 3D support) keep getting added to the core specifications. In order to understand the Blu-ray rows in the tables below, we will first look at the different types of Blu-rays in existence.

Blu-ray Profiles

The earliest Blu-rays all conformed to Profile 1.0. These contained the main movie in HD and some optional extra features accessible through the main menu. Starting in November 2007, Profile 1.1 Blu-rays added Bonus View to the mix. These Blu-rays included PiP (Picture-in-Picture) streams. The rise of network enabled Blu-ray players came about due to the introduction of Profile 2.0 Blu-rays which included BD-Live capabilities. With BD-Live, users could watch downloaded content related to the Blu-ray movie (including trailers of upcoming movies from the studios) and also interact with other watchers over the Internet. Local storage is also necessary for Blu-ray players supporting this profile. 3D Blu-rays have started gaining traction over the last couple of years. Despite have a separate profile (Profile 5.0), not all 3D Blu-rays seem to fall under this profile. My general observation has been that Blu-rays which indicate an MVC encoding in their jacket fall under Profile 5.0, but 3D Blu-rays which just indicate AVC tend to not care about the profile supported by the player.

Another irksome aspect of media players supporting BD-Lite or some other similar form of Blu-ray support is the unpredictable behavior of titles with seamless branching. In this case, multiple versions of the movie are spread over multiple M2TS files and different playlists have different orderings set up to represent the multiple versions.

The table below summarizes our Blu-ray test suite:

Blu-ray Test Suite
Aspect ISO Folder Structure
Profile 1.0 What's Up Doc? Step Into Liquid
Profile 1.1 The Hangover Band of Brothers (Disc 1)
Profile 2.0 2012 Public Enemies
Profile 5.0 Alice in Wonderland 3D Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 3D
3D (Non-Profile 5.0) Coraline 3D Monsters Vs. Aliens 3D
Seamless Branching A Bug's Life Avatar Collectors Edition

The entire test suite was run off a hard disk connected directly to the streamer. For the A.C.Ryan PlayOn!HD2, this disk was put in the internal slot. For the Netgear NeoTV 550, we connected the disk over eSATA. For the Boxee Box, the disk was conenected as an external USB drive.

Container Compatibility Details
A.C.Ryan PlayOn!HD2
Firmware Version v9.5.3.r5440
Container Notes
DVD Menus Supported
ISO Supported
Folder Structures Supported
Blu-ray ISO Selectively Supported (Refer Profile Limitations Below)
Folder Structures Selectively Supported (Refer Profile Limitations Below)
BD Profile 1.0 Supported with Menus (if BD-Lite option is turned on)1
BD Profile 1.1 (Bonus View / PiP) Plays with No Menus, PiP Unavailable1
BD Profile 2.0 (BD Live) Plays with No Menus, BD Live Unavailable1
BD Profile 5.0 (3D) Plays in 2D without Menus1
Non-BD Profile 5.0 3D Blu-rays Play in 2D without Menus1
Seamless Branching Doesn't Work (Longest Playlist Chosen unless Profile 1.0 BD)
MKV Supported Video Codecs: H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (DivX / XViD)
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, DTS, DTS-HD HR2, FLAC, AAC, MP3, LPCM
Supported Embedded Subtitles: SRT, ASS/SSA (PGS Not Supported)
Multiple Video Tracks Supported
Multiple Audio Tracks Supported
Multiple Subtitle Tracks Supported
Chapters Supported (Chapter Names Not Supported)
Header Compression Supported
MKV3D (Stereoscopic Flag) Not Supported
Half SBS / TAB 3D Plays Back with Manual TV Mode Change
M2TS Supported Video Codecs: H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD MA, DTS-HD HR, LPCM
Supported Embedded Subtitles: PGS
AVI / DivX Supported Video Codecs: MPEG-4 (XviD / DivX), MJPEG
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, MP3, PCM
SBS 3D AVIs Don't Autoswitch
MP4 / M4V Supported Video Codecs: H.264
Supported Audio Codecs: AAC
Miscellaneous Containers DVR-MS Not Supported
TRP Supported
WTV Not Supported
MTS and TS Supported
M2V Not Supported
1 Audio tracks sometime go silent when playing ISO or folder structure, but navigating to the M2TS file and playing that is flawless
2 HD Audio support in MKV is very unreliable, and doesn't work most of the time (especially when HDMI Audio is set to passthrough for bitstreaming)

 

Container Compatibility Details
Netgear NTV550
Firmware Version 3.2.16NA
Container Notes
DVD Menus Supported
ISO Supported1
Folder Structures Supported1
Blu-ray ISO Selectively Supported (Refer Profile Limitations Below)
Folder Structures Selectively Supported (Refer Profile Limitations Below)
BD Profile 1.0 Supported with Menus
BD Profile 1.1 (Bonus View / PiP) Plays with Menus, PiP Available
BD Profile 2.0 (BD Live) Plays with Menus, BD Live Available2
BD Profile 5.0 (3D) Doesn't Play
Non-BD Profile 5.0 3D Blu-rays Play in 2D with Menus
Seamless Branching Works Perfectly
MKV Supported Video Codecs: H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (DivX / XViD)
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, Dolby Digital Plus3, Dolby TrueHD3, DTS, DTS-HD MA, DTS-HD HR, FLAC, AAC, MP3, LPCM
Supported Embedded Subtitles: SRT, SUB, PGS, ASS/SSA
Multiple Video Tracks Not Supported
Multiple Audio and Subtitle Tracks Supported
Forced Subtitle Tracks Supported (with manual selection)
Named Chapters Supported
Header Compression Supported
MKV3D (Stereoscopic Flag) Not Supported
Half SBS / TAB 3D Plays Back with Manual TV Mode Change
M2TS4 Supported Video Codecs: H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD MA, DTS-HD HR, LPCM
Supported Embedded Subtitles: PGS
AVI / DivX Supported Video Codecs: MPEG-4 (XviD / DivX)
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, MP3, PCM
SBS 3D AVIs Don't Autoswitch
MP45 / M4V Supported Video Codecs: H.264
Supported Audio Codecs: AAC
Miscellaneous Containers DVR-MS Supported
WTV and TRP Not Supported
TS and MTS Supported
M2V Not Supported
1 Many of the ISOs and folder structures in my media library played without issues, but our test suite ISO and folder structures failed to play back correctly (the menu title took us back to the main screen)
2 Usage of BD Live features sometime tend to lock up the system requiring a hard reboot
3 Support for some of the HD audio codecs in MKV containers is not reliable. Works sometimes, sends static to the AV receiver on other occassions.
4 The M2TS splitter has some issues with H.264/AC3 content as described in this bug reported against another Sigma based media streamer.
5 Many of the MP4s in my media library played without issues, but one of the MP4s in our test suite played back with audio only (blank video)

 

Container Compatibility Details
D-Link Boxee Box
Firmware Version v1.2.2.20482
Container Notes
DVD Menus Supported
ISO Supported
Folder Structures Supported
Blu-ray ISO Selectively Supported (Refer Profile Limitations Below)
Folder Structures Selectively Supported (Refer Profile Limitations Below)
BD Profile 1.0 Plays without Menus
BD Profile 1.1 (Bonus View / PiP) Plays with No Menus, PiP Unavailable
BD Profile 2.0 (BD Live) Plays with No Menus, BD Live Unavailable
BD Profile 5.0 (3D) Plays without Menus
Non-BD Profile 5.0 3D Blu-rays Play in 2D without Menus
Seamless Branching Doesn't Work (Longest Playlist Chosen)
MKV Supported Video Codecs: H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (DivX / XViD)
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD MA, DTS-HD HR, FLAC, AAC, MP3, LPCM
Supported Embedded Subtitles: SRT, SUB, PGS, ASS/SSA
Multiple Video Tracks Not Supported
Multiple Audio and Subtitle Tracks Supported
Forced Subtitle Tracks Supported
Named Chapters Supported
Header Compression Supported
MKV3D (Stereoscopic Flag) Not Supported
Half SBS / TAB 3D Plays Back with Manual TV Mode Change
M2TS1 Supported Video Codecs: H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD MA, DTS-HD HR, LPCM
Supported Embedded Subtitles: PGS
AVI / DivX Supported Video Codecs: MPEG-4 (XviD / DivX), MJPEG (upto SD Resolution)
Supported Audio Codecs: AC3, MP3, PCM
SBS 3D AVIs Don't Autoswitch
MP4 / M4V Supported Video Codecs: H.264
Supported Audio Codecs: AAC
Miscellaneous Containers DVR-MS Supported
TRP Supported
WTV Supported
TS and MTS Supported
M2V Supported
1 The M2TS splitter has some issues with H.264/AC3 content as described in this bug reported against another Sigma based media streamer.

 

Setup, User Interface and Jukebox Capabilities Video Codec Support
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  • Rainman200 - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link

    I'm not too surprised to see Boxee come out on top, much of the media streamer industry is very behind the times.

    That said I would have liked to have seen a HDI Dune player included given their reputation for stability and image quality to see if they live up to the claims which Boxee comes away with the top spot in this article.
  • Memphist - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link

    I have used the Xtreamer Products and have found them to be the best for playing all formats. I have yet to find a format it can not play. It appear to be compatible with every format conceivable. I have a Sidewinder an Xtreamer Pro.

    I read these review for a laugh at how much they cost and how many CODECs they can't play.

    My TV is a Panasonic and Blu ray player a Sony, neither can play half the the CODEC mix that the Xtreamer's can play.

    If you're new to Media Streamers do your self a favor and look at the Xtreamer Products first and compare the rest.
  • pseudo7 - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link

    I've never liked xtreamer products, of which I have only owned the original xtreamer but it was enough to shove me to building my own HTPC and installing XBMC (neither of which I had done before.

    My biggest niggle is that they have a great website with great text, pics and videos put there products seems lacking.

    The xtreamer ultra can ship with openelec which runs XBMC... I can see it heading to XBMC a lot more.
  • Destiny - Tuesday, November 22, 2011 - link

    If you're new to Media Streamers it is best to AVOID Xtreamer brand - there are many alternatives out there from other brands. My experience with them is not good and maybe others may have better experience.

    Comparing prices for Xtreamer Products to what is available here in the USA - the costs are the same after VAT, International Shipping, and Customs fees if ordered from Over Seas Shop... plus the Xtreamers that are available here in the USA is not really lower cost that what is exactly available that is using RealTek chipsets... plus the codec is the same for all RealTek chipsets because they share the same RealTek SDK - no need to review a twin...

    Plus a quick google search for Xtreamer would show customer service is horrible combined with marketing gimmicks... You'll fair better with AC Ryan and even better with Med8er using the same RealTek chipsets...
  • SlyNine - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link

    How it organizes the library, and how easy someone who never touched it before can get to the movie (on my network) that they want to watch.
  • juhatus - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link

    How about testing oppo-93, something more of a "top-end" streamer/blu-ray.. pretty please :)
  • plonk420 - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link

    do these output 24/48 or 16/48?
  • ganeshts - Sunday, November 20, 2011 - link

    Please look at the Sampling Frequency entries in the Audio Codec section. The POHD2 and NTV550 are faithful, but Boxee Box is not.
  • MadMan007 - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link

    The quest doesn't continue - the answer is an HTPC, and software has finally become decent enough that it's not a huge hassle like it was in the past. Although more expensive than these boxes the near-unlimited flexibility of something like a Zacate-based HTPC cannot be beat.
  • Deanodxb - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link

    ...of the problems users face with these players.

    I have purchased two Boxee Boxes, one for playback of material by USB and one for playback of material through a wider network of NAS boxes.

    Boxee updates firmware automatically, without any user intervention. The last update lost all SMB shares, prevented me from adding the shares again and lost all scrapped media. Multiple users have complained to Boxee about this and their customer service has got worse and worse. They have done nothing to respond to customer tickets raised on this issue and are more concerned with pushing new products such as dongles and live TV.

    Check out this link and read the comments to see what I am referring to: http://boxee.zendesk.com/entries/20342452-new-firm...

    I ended up re-flashing to old working firmware and blocking the auto update address in my router. Boxee works great but all manufacturers should know that customers aren't their beta or alpha testers.

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