Home Theater experience with networked receivers (opinions)

[tr8er]

 

      Should I get a Roku, Xbox, or similar streaming device that will play from a hard drive?  Then get a solid Amp that will not include the networking and streaming services.  Such as the,

 

 

 

Marantz NR1403 Slim Line 5.1-channel Home Theater AV receiver  $399

 

I like Marantz, but I've not worked with a newer unit.  

 

 

       Or I get a Receiver with all kinds of cool networking tricks, like wifi streaming from your Iphone, Pandora, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Iphone control app, and even a local website for controlling the amp from your laptop or computer.  

 

 

 

Yamaha RX-V673 7.2-Channel Network AV Receiver  $299 sale price 

 

Yamaha is still a good name in receivers, and this unit is tasty and $100 less expensive.

 

So yeah, give me your opinions on these and any advise on what I should be thinking about.  

 

 

 

And Datsun.

[Komeuppance]

I use a PS3 and "ps3 media server" on my network server, and connect to the receiver through an optical cable. Works quite well. PS3 also does blueray, and of course all the online streaming apps. It's also pretty good for YouTube surfing. Before the ps3 I used a hacked Xbox.

 

I prefer an Xbox or ps3 instead of a roku/built-in-streaming-capability-device, since they can also do games and are able to be hacked for even more functionality.

 

-Robert

[metalmonkey47]

Buy another Datsun, and listen to it.


Music to my ears.

[thatguy]

I say go with the something with the latest technology. Why not have built in wi-fi? One less cable to deal with.

[GRpufnstuf]

A Smart TV has most of that then you just need a good wifi sound bar and sub. 1 remote is nice

[tr8er]

I use a PS3 and "ps3 media server" on my network server, and connect to the receiver through an optical cable. Works quite well. PS3 also does blueray, and of course all the online streaming apps. It's also pretty good for YouTube surfing. Before the ps3 I used a hacked Xbox.

 

I prefer an Xbox or ps3 instead of a roku/built-in-streaming-capability-device, since they can also do games and are able to be hacked for even more functionality.

 

-Robert

Here is one of my direct questions^.

 

You prefer play station over Xbox? Any big compelling reason? Can either of these play movies from my external hard drive?

[tr8er]

Damn price  went up on that Yamaha.  I was going to buy that thing, but now it's 499.  up 200 overnight!

[Longtooth]

That's the black Friday sale price on it now.

[Komeuppance]

Here is one of my direct questions^.

 

You prefer play station over Xbox? Any big compelling reason? Can either of these play movies from my external hard drive?

I got the ps3 for mega cheap, $100 (2 or 3 years ago) from a Starion forum member lol, that's the main reason.  I wanted HD video quality, and the original xbox I was using did not have the processing power.  I don't game much as I used to, so that was not a factor at all, though playing GT5 and GTA5 are great time wasters lol.

 

Either xbox360 or ps3 will allow you to play movies/music/pics off an external hard drive as long as it's been formatted in FAT32 (more than likely is).  The ps3 I know is slightly picky in the codec type, but using ps3 media server solves any of those issues by transcoding.

 

Besides the deal I got on it, a major reason to have a ps3 in a home theater is the blu-ray player.  And another factor is the failure/warranty rate of the xbox360's, 54% vs ps3's 10-17%(I forgot which one it was), though specialists on craigslist have popped up in xbox360 repair who can solve most issues with reliability.  EDIT: forgot to mention you need to pay for xbox live to be able to use Netflix, on ps3 there are no additional costs besides the regular Netflix fee.

 

Now that the new consoles are out, prices on these things are going to be muuuuch better.

 

Something else to think about for a home theater, do the other streaming capable devices support Netflix/Amazon's Dolby 5.1ch output or are they restricted to 2ch only??  The ps3/xbox360 are 5.1ch and 2ch capable on Netflix, not sure about 5.1 on Amazon/xbox360.

 

-Robert

[tr8er]

Good info. Thank you kindly.

[jalen]

I prefer ps3 over an xbox. Because you don't have to pay for xbox live, you have bluray, and you can also surf the Internet. While with the xbox you can't