OT: Best media center under $2-3K

simon.007 · #1 11/15/2007, 12:02 PM

Hi, I am looking to make or buy a good media center to:

1. Hold my BluRay, HD and DVDs
2. Hold Pictures
3. Hold Music
4. Hold TV shows
5. Expand on space with eSATA
6. Quiet and power efficient
7. Have inputs for component, SVideo and Audio
8. Finally have component and HDMI outputs.
9. CableCard inputs for Digital HD cable to record upto 4 channels

Optional are:

a. Be a NAS drive
b. Connect to internet
c. Not use MS Windows

I know of Sony's Media center, Alienware and Kaleidescape. Any more or a DYI link?

Thanks in advance
Simon

sps_addict · #2 11/15/2007, 12:40 PM

Axonix Media Max is more affordable than the Kaleidescape, but those listed above are great products.

You can also DIY, using a media receiver (~$200) and open source media server software run on your computers.

simon.007 · #3 11/15/2007, 12:51 PM

Steve, Any links for DYI? I have a gaming PC E6600, 2GB, Vista Ultimate with 1.5TB DS and 8800 GTX. What h/w for the component in and component/HDMI out? PC is noisy and concumes 280W runtime any other option? I am thinking of adding bluray/hd/dvd player.

Thanks
Simon

Quote:

Originally posted by sps_addict
Axonix Media Max is more affordable than the Kaleidescape, but those listed above are great products.

You can also DIY, using a media receiver (~$200) and open source media server software run on your computers.

faded1004 · #4 11/15/2007, 01:30 PM

new egg has the blueray for like 240? i forget, i just made my new computer and thought about it. but i heard that it will drop soon so i didn't want to buy one yet...

jjirsa78 · #5 11/15/2007, 01:34 PM

I use the DLink Media Lounge and serve off my PC. Does everything I need ... but may not work for everyone. Personally, I still perfer a standalone DVD player for that sort of thing.

sps_addict · #6 11/15/2007, 01:38 PM

Sorry Simon, I don't have a link, but here is what I did, since I didn't want to spend $3k on the media server when I could build 2 beefy PC's for that much.

Hardware:
HD Media Player
Extra PC
Ethernet Cables

Software:
TwonkyVision media server

Installation:
After adding additional HD's to the extra pc, I plugged it in to my home network. Installed the TwonkyVision media server. Mapped other computers and drives that on other computers that have music and movies. Ran twonkyvision and scanned all drives for all media types. Plugged in the hdmi from the media receiver to my TV turned it on. Turned the media receiver and it detected all the movie backups, music, photos. It was pretty easy. Depending on what brand media receiver, depends on the interface. There are some very nice GUI and others are just okay.

HTH, let me know if you need any help setting it up.

simon.007 · #7 11/15/2007, 05:04 PM

jjirsa,
Does the DLINK have HDMI and component out?Are there other (better) this type of Media receiver?

Thanks
Simon

Quote:

Originally posted by jjirsa78
I use the DLink Media Lounge and serve off my PC. Does everything I need ... but may not work for everyone. Personally, I still perfer a standalone DVD player for that sort of thing.

jjirsa78 · #8 11/15/2007, 05:42 PM

The newest version (DSM 520) does both HDMI and Component. I use the DSM 320 which is component only.

At $250 new from DLink (you can find cheaper), it's way under your budget and probably does most of what you want.

simon.007 · #9 11/15/2007, 05:59 PM

So I use the DSM 520 to feed the video to my TV and the DSM 520 get the data from my computer? Any special s/w h/w needed?

Simon

jjirsa78 · #10 11/15/2007, 06:35 PM

The DSM will come with some software you install on your PC. That software basically says "Pick the folders on your computer you want to share with your TV", and will make that available. Then, you'll hook the DSM into your TV, and be able to browse the media on your PC (s) from your TV/living room /couch. You can have more than one PC, and you can filter by media type (show me only music, show me only movies, show me only files in this folder).

It'll come with all of the software/hardware needed. It'll work wired via ethernet or wireless over 802.11b/g.

jjirsa78 · #11 11/15/2007, 07:08 PM

In re-reading your post, this is *** backwards from what you want. The DSM is a thin client to access media already stored on your PC, it will not record TV shows or act as a storage device. It may be nice for some people, but doesn't address the requirements you have.