You should also realize you can control the volume of your receiver with your SHIELD TV remote. You have to enable it in the SHIELD settings, you're looking for CEC volume control. It also can't play TrueHD without transcoding.
include apple tv please. I use apple tv on one room (very good) and on the main room, plex player on early 2010 macmini (i installed an internal bluray drive) with plex player with bluetooth mouse. 8 audio works perfect. no issues at all.
You don´t really need a remote for the nVidia Shield if you own a somewhat modern tv that can handle the HDMI CEC standard because if you do, you can use the tv remote to control the nvidia shield. The 16gb version is all you need to be honest when it comes to Nvidia Shield & the Plex app. But to answer your question I use a HP Windows Media Center Remote that I bought from amazon a while back with an IR blaster & reciver connected to my htpc. It´s plug & play, but you can always change the buttons by using something like eventghost along with it to create custom macros for specific buttons if you for instance want some home automation along with it. I had setup to turn off all the lights in the living room if I pressed play, if I pressed pause only one light turned on and if I pressed stop all the lights in the room got lit up again.
AppleTV 4th gen works perfectly for Plex. I use mine to watch uncompressed Blu-ray backups. One benefit is support for Bluetooth audio devices, you can use wireless headphones or a Bluetooth audio receiver with headphones connected and control volume directly with the Siri remote.
AppleTV doesn't play 4k HEVC, so it's no wonder you're emphasizing "uncompressed" when you mention Blu-Ray backups. Misleading post... discussions.apple.com/thread/8164820
No sure if you noticed, the Intel NUC thingy costs $280 USED. To get a new one is actually quite expensive. Both prices are listed on the Amazon screen you shared.
of course Plex has an app for smart TVs now too, so this review is kinda pointless anymore. The TV is the playback device. All that matters is how well your server can transcode
im using a HTPC with windows 8 for movies(kodi Netflix) and gaming(steam), hook up to my projector with a 110" screen. What i like about the HTPC is that its a PC and you can do what ever you want there is no limitation, i try a lot of these devices but its like there is always something missing(doesn't support this or that format,remote control missing buttons, no 7.1 supported, etc). By the way you can get "voice control" over a HTPC, its not build in but there is so many way to work around like by using Kodi, tasker and yatse.
I just got a Nvidia Shield 2017. The 2017 version is smaller, and for the same price as the older version includes a free remote and game controller. I hate the volume slider since I keep accidentally adjusting the volume with my palm every time I pick it up but having a microphone button is super handy.
just to let you know regarding the shield remote you can control your volume from the reciever. you just have to go in the settings and turn the ir blaster on. then it will ask you the brand and have you point it at the receiver.
I bought a used Dell Optiplex 330 with a Core2Duo e8500, added an Geforce GT720 video card which allows DTS-HD pass through it's hdmi port, and a FLIRc receiver. I loaded the x64 device build of Plex Media player. The system is fantastic! I've yet to come across a file it can't play, I get full HD sound to my Denon receiver, and it's wife approved. Total cost for everything was $140 (not including the Logitech harmony remote that I already owned).
I have used everything here except the shield. I have basically narrowed it down to the XBOX for TV playback for the ease of use and PMP on a windows computer for movies for the full audio support. I used to use a RPI2 with the PLEX PMP OS but gave up on it due to its slow performance and Plex for some reason removing full HD audio support. Have you thought about revisiting this test after a couple years. Wonder if HW versions, software, or firmware updates to the various devices have made any difference in the outcome.
I'm impressed with this video. Someone who actually has gone through the effort of updating this. I think there is a few things to consider, how much data is on each media by this I mean it may perform well when you do a fresh install but over time it may lag.
So the six devices you tested were running the Plex software, but was it done using an external hard drive for your files? my smart TVs in the house are horrible at streaming Plex from a powerful iMac in the next room
I use the Nvidia Shield for one main reason. It is the only device I have found that can handle all of my MKV files with the least damage to the audio stream. Dolby TrueHD is the most problematic and at times I have to watch them via the Kodi app (or SPMC) rather than Plex but at least the Shield gives you a sporting chance of maintaining HD audio. I am a purist when It comes to audio/video quality; I have too much invested in gear to put up with degradation of image/audio quality. Apparently the NUC can do the same so that is a compelling option that I may explore in the future--Thanks for making this VID BTW. I enjoy your videos. I wonder how the PS4 would fare?
I've read that the Shield's video quality is subpar compared to an Oppo. I've had the Shield for 2 months now and I love it. I don't know if Oppo owners are right or just full of it. Thoughts? On picture quality alone, obviously when it comes to bang for buck the Oppo is no match to the Shield. On a side note, I'm waiting for a 2nd hand Darbee device i got a sweet price on. :)
Thanks for comment on audio playback. I think it's more of a license issue for most clients. I'd like to see a review of the Apple TV 4, ROKU 3, ROKU Stick, PS3, PS4 and a few smart TVs (Samsung, Vizio, LG, Sony). I'd really like to know if the smart TV's will pass through DTS HD MA or Dolby True HD. RE remote setup, my remote setups follow: Media room, HTPC using harmony hub via Bluetooth- excellent control. Bedroom, ROKU 3 using harmony hub via IP- excellent control. Office, ROKU stick using harmony hub via Bluetooth - excellent control (stick menus are a little slow, jump forward or back slow). Kids room, PS3 using harmony hub via Bluetooth and RF - playback is good, but menus, jump forward or back painfully very slow response.
Are these direct stream or transcoded videos? For example, The newer 4K devices like 4K fire stick support h.265 direct stream while the older devices like the Xbox one force the server to transcode the video to h.264 which explains the delay. Please show the Plex “playback info” to confirm your tests.
Do you have a separate video comparing these to the experience using an iPhone/Android device and Google Chromecast? Everyone in my household has a "remote control in their pocket" (ie, mobile phone) and can prep media selection without being connected to the TV and switch the actively playing video on the TV without having to turn on any third-party devices. I have Chromecasts on all TVs and you wouldn't even know it by looking as it's small & installed directly to the TV... no unsightly wires or dedicated remotes to lose.
Question. I have Kodi on my Synology in my home. I have a cottage I go to every weekend. Can I access Kodi on my home synology from my cottage? I have Nvidia, and raspberry pi at my college.
lucky for me, I got 5 of these same NUC units for free from a disgruntled employee at a local Church's Chicken (they run the digital displays). The owners had just told everyone an hour earlier that they were shutting the location down at the end of the day and everyone was out of a job. You've helped me figure out what to do with one of them, now I need to figure out what to do with the other 4.
I appreciate the effort put into this. Side not, the shield starts playback more slowly when "change frame-rate" option is enabled. Turned off, its much faster. Also if you double tap the volume slider it will pause playback and hitting right or left (or holding ) side of the circle will seek during playback. Lastly you can pair almost any remote to it using bluetooth. I use PS4 remote :) I've been using the Shield for a while with my home theater and have never looked back. It has always handled anything I throw at it, at very fast speeds and is just very universal in almost every way. It also natively supports all nvidia software like geforce now and pretty much everything else using an android operating system. I mean, it flawlessly plays 4k with HD audio :D. Literally the best product I've ever purchased. Great video. Always love side by side comparisons 👍
Couple of questions: Did you have these plugged in using ethernet? Did you adjust your video settings in Plex prior to opening the videos initially, since the level of transcoding has an impact on how quickly video starts playing? - I found it interesting that you got surround sound to work on the 4K Fire TV. The original one burned me way back by not having any surround sound support. Apparently they've patched the app to get it to somewhat work on the original model.
I'm curious if some of those players were accessing Plex as though they were outside your network, as I've noticed over the years that certain players by default do (this was years ago so I'm not sure if that's still a thing, then again, your video is almost a year and a half old). The Windows players for PCs (such as the one the nuc is using) have always found the Plex servers on network. That could easily explain the load-time differences.
Wow, that little Fire TV stick still turns out to be quite impressive for such a small device. It's as good as the full size Roku 4. That's pretty amazing.
I was really bummed not to see the chromecast in this. I understand that it is pretty different from the other clients because it relies on your phone to browse and control media, but it would have been great to see how it stacks up.
I actually bought a chromecast for this video, but couldn't find a way to stack it up against the others so I returned it (along with the shield lol) I wanted to do a separate video but I was kind of in a hurry to return them because I hate the shields remote so much. the others I can find uses for, but the shield...not so much.
Haha, it's funny that those were the two that I was considering using to replace my HTPC. Great video overall, I understand why you didn't include more. BTW, what are the specs for that NUC? Like you said, there are a lot, ranging from a core i3 all the way up to an i7. I don't remember hearing which it was.
+IustoFulmine the Chromecast works ok, but audio options on it are pretty poor, and it is wifi only, so I have had it struggle to play back high quality media. Plus seeking and other functions can be pretty buggy. However, for the price it is a great option to get a client up and running.
Wonder if you could address the "gottcha" with the Roku device. It appears when used with Plex and Plex Pass the weekly schedule does not show up on the Roku. Yes, it shows up on the server but via the browser. Do any of the devices you showed allow for this on the client side?
How well does the plex client for smart TV's stack up to having a shield or a NUC? I'm sure it will vary by TV but in general how is the experience? Reasonably fast?
what about framerate switching? Do any of them support 24hz playback? That was the main reason why I went with the Shield over something like the 4g Apple TV.
Odd question, but your voice track when you are talking on the couch is impressive. It honestly sounds like you are right on top of a mic. Are you using an overhead boom mic?
I use a Raspi 3 with a 5ghz wifi dongle. I can stream high bitrate files (14000+ Kbps) from my PC to my TV without any issues. The RasPlex interface with the Black Edition Skin is so damn clean. There's no bloatware or unnecessary icon/apps on the screen like there is with the Shield etc. Highly recommended.
bataleon been testing out rasplex on rpi3b too. It beats the plex client on my Samsung TV and apple TV. No problem with direct play anything h264, mpeg2 or vc-1 On the others, it usually need to encode on the server and the plex client for the Samsung is buggy.
Wow thanks guys! Been looking for a solution to replace netflix and tidal subscription. Got an old laptop laying around and a Pi 3b+. Will look into it!!
I'm using a HTPC with PlexMediaPlayer. The HTPC also serves as my NAS and home server running PlexMediaServer. 120GB SSD for OS and PMP + 3TB WD REDs for NAS. A couple of Noctua fans makes it completely silent and a low profile case makes a good fit for my TV stand. As for remote I use a Logitech Harmony Hub + Companion paired with the HTPC as a bluetooth keyboard. Instant reaction from pressing a button and no need for a line of sight, and you can edit the keymap within PMP to suit your need. Great all-in-one setup but expensive...
I have to disagree regarding the nVidia Shield remote. It does control your receiver audio. My nVidia Shield is connected to my Yamaha receiver and audio controls via the mini remote or controller can be used to increase/decrease volume. Also... were you accessing content local to the individual devices or via a NAS or external storage device?
You mentioned the voice control of the xbox one a few times...if you don't already have a video, can you show that off a bit (don't currently own an xbox one...but hoping I can peddle the features to the wife enough to convince her to get one for the main TV)? Looking to move to Plex as we cut the cable. Already using it some for basic media serving...but may expand soon. Also, do you use the Nvidia shield for game streaming? That's my 2nd choice right now to also put my PC games on my TV.
Any update on how the performance of the new roku premier and premier + is compared to the older roku 4 seen in this video? I wonder if the performance is even better now. Seems like it did half way decent in this test.
The Roku Premium with the wired connection works the best for me. The xbox and PS4 didnt work as well. PS4 for some reason wouldn't update new files without deleting the app then re-installing it. Very frustrating. So for me Roku worked the best. Good video.
@Byte My Bits - I use a Logitech Harmony (similar to the Harmony Companion). It is paired to my HTPC's bluetooth adapter. The Harmony thinks it is paired to a PS3 and sends PS3 remote commands. I use an application called PS3 Blumote on the HTPC to map the PS3 remote commands to keyboard commands on the HTPC. This gives me the most flexibility in mapping the buttons, and no line of sight requirements. The Harmony can be directly paired with the HTPC, but the "keyboard profile" used in this mode is not as customizable.
you forgot the apple tv plex is now avalible on the new apple tv 4th generation also I am trying to set up my own plex account and I got the movies in okay but I cant get the tv shows to be reconized or show up I have a western digital my cloud that I am using how do I get the tv shows to be reconized they will only show up in home videos and it is really frustrating to me can you maybe do a video on that
I own an ATV4 and use Plex on it, and I don't like it, it's slow, original remote sucks, it's small, difficult to handle, third party remotes can't fast forward, Plex blame Apple for this, ... Dont buy an ATV4, it's just abandoned by Apple
You must add TV shows to folders that are linked to the TV Shows folder in the Plex main directory. If you add your TV show files to the Movie or Home Videos main directory folders, metadata for only one episode will be loaded. Note that generally you should have seasons and episodes labeled as SxxExx according to TheTVDB.com methodology before you add your files to the correct folders support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200220687-Naming-Series-Season-Based-TV-Shows
Of course you can FF! Hit Pause first and then you use the touch pad. It's a little wacky as it wasn't that way at first but a update changed it to act that way. So Pause, Move to where you want and then click the touch and it'll start back up. It's NOT abandoned by Apple. It gets regular updates. I have a number of devices that Plex PLEX, including TIVO which is also not talked about here, but I actually like PLEX on my AppleTV 4 the best, even though I have a Fire Stick, a Roku 2 XS and Roku 3, and a Xbox 360 and Xbox One which all support PLEX.
I was wondering if you had any trouble with buffering every 5 seconds with the fire stick. I have read a lot about people having problems running plex on them. but in my situation where I need to cut my cable bill but now need to purchase 2 seperate streaming devices for kids and wife, I was about to go with the fire stick (for now anyways) just cause the cost for two of them is way cheaper than 2 of something else. that is until I found out people been having problems with them running plex. please let me know if you had any difficulties getting it to work for you
An important thing you should cover in your next comparison, Video Transcoding. This has a huge impact on server performance as well as client. I have, or have had: Google Nexus Player, Sony Playstation 4, HTPC (Windows 10), Roku 4, and Sony Google TV (Both old one with the Blu-ray and one without). Out of all of them the Roku 4 handles all video codecs, even HEVC, like a champ keeping the work off of my server. Also the Nexus Player handles most all codecs, even HEVC. The vary greatly.
bimer2000 That’s bad design. It’s a remote, you shouldn’t need to read a manual on how to use it, it needs to be intuitive. If I can’t guess the features from looking at it, they need to take it back to the drawing board.
this summer I will be making an updated video with the latest hardware. including Apple TV. I dropped the ball on testing it this round due to finances.
@ Byte My Bits - Been using HDHomerun since the beginning. Been using a cable card since the beginning as well. I have tried all the combinations you have listed in this video. As the main TV, nothing is better than a full fledged media center PC running Windows 10 with a K830 logitech keyboard. Remotes simply do not cut it for a media center. Furthermore, watching LiveTV (especially sports) is my primary usage, so having split screens (game and redzone side by side) is a huge advantage. The MOST important part of the media center, is that it supports full DRM with livetv. I can watch HBO, Cinemax, etc right on it. The added benefit of having web browing, apps, full fledged programs is a huge benefit as well.
Can i assume that all devices were hardwired for these test? Obviously the fire stick was not. What was signal strength?Router used? etc... Also you might want to look into a Logitech Harmony remote. I personally have the 650, it controls my tv, xbone and receiver all through the remote. No worries on the teleprompter, video looked great. Also another test might be to see which one was able to handle playback of different files a bit better, MKV, AVI, MP4 etc .
The issues with the XBOX likely come from the fact that it's loading from a 5400 RPM HDD. If you were to use an external SSD using the USB 3 port, it'd load faster. Also, is the NUC using a PCI-E SSD?
I use a Raspberry Pi 2 with OSMC installed on it. Then installed the Plex client app on it. As for a remote I just use my TV remote, as it seems pass on the button pushed via HDMI cable.
So intel nuc is the winner. If i build up with the entry level one with celeron processor, will it be different story or can i still expect similar performance? Thanks
I recently got the 2017 NVidia Shield TV after becoming increasingly more and more frustrated streaming from my PC running the Plex Server to the Firestick. Ohhhh boy was I overjoyed. This thing is amazing for Plex! I have the majority of my media in H.264/MPEG-4 and it never needs to transcode, always direct plays. The interface leaves a little to be desired(barely), the remote is probably a 6/10, but the speed at which the Shield TV runs everything is phenomenal. 100% recommend this device for anyone having any issues with buffering,stuttering, transcoding issues etc.
hi, my laptop as server renders smooth playback over dlna locally through my home but I've noticed casting from Android app playback is choppy, so if I buy the Nvidia shield and hook to my main TV will this still play over dlna to this TV. my main TV doesn't have plex, thanks
I use the Fire TV and Stick for bedrooms, a PS3 in the game room and an HTPC in the living room. The PS3 does a pretty decent job and kills the Amazon devices in performance, but the HTPC rules them all, since it has an i7, 16GB of RAM and an SSD. On the HTPC I use a Logitech K830 keyboard (awesome trackpad) which I found open box for $50 on Newegg. For the time comparison I would have included the time it takes from powering on the device until the media plays, or until Plex loads at least. Great vid, thanks man.
Did not understand anything . I just bought the NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 and trying to see how Plex works and what is plea but I am waiting for my NETGEAR Modem to arrive by Sunday afternoon so I can have the 1 Gigablast installed on my IMac so I have more speed than I have now.I will keep searching here but if I can get some instructions from you will be very appreciated. I am 68 years old disabled but a wiz on Apple items . Thank you and God bless
I have the Roku stick because we got it for $30 bucks at SAMs club, by far my favorite non htpc that I've seen. The amount of channels (outside of plex in this case) is quite huge. Also the Roku "feed" which allows you to follow shows and show you were you can buy them is quite cool. Overall the Roku stick was by far worth the $30 that we spent on it, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cheap option to enjoy their streaming needs, plex or otherwise.
I use the Apple TV 4 for my Plex client and absolutely love it. The new remote has a touch pad area at the top that lets you instantly slide forward or backwards in a movie with thumbnail previews. The remote does control my 5.1 audio also and has a voice button.
Hi. Don't know where else to ask this question because no one is talking about this in the Plex HTPC videos. 4K watching. Let's say that I make a build just for Plex and want to be future proof but also watch my 4K footage through Plex in the living room. I plan on building it arround Core i3 6100. Now the question. The motherboard has a 2.0 HDMI output. Is that enough to watch 4K smoothly? Or is it better to get a dedicated GPU? If so...what GPU do you suggest? I plan on running it directly with Plex Media Player so there should be no transcoding right? Also I can't find a video anywhere reviewing the GPUs surround sound capabilities. Do I get surround sound 5.1 or 7.1 with HDMI cable from GPU? Thank you!
Hi Jason, When can we expect to see the Apple TV added to the compare list? And also are you excited about the new Xbox Scorpio? Would be cool if you could add this also to your compare list.
Awesome video, exactly what I was looking for. I just have a few questions: 1. Did you test out DTS-HD-MA? 2. Are you using the Plex Client or Plex home theater? 3. Did you try out PlexBMC at all for Kodi? 4. Do you have any experience using the Raspberry PI? I am wondering if it would be a contender? I currently have a star stream x4 and let me tell you don't get one. It is overpriced and it cannot do true-hd or DTS-hd out of the box. I had to install something called Vidon XBMC to get it to work and only after paying for a subscription to Vidon XBMC. I then installed the new firmware for the Starstream X4 device and it broke my working True-HD audio through Vidon XBMC. I now no longer have DTS-HD or TrueHD, so frustrating. I have Plex pass and a Plex Media Server which I love but I could never get it to do DTS-HD or True HD audio. I think the reason being because the Starstream is not up to the task of doing this. Maybe some licensing issue I am not sure why. The reason I asked the 3rd question is because I like Kodi and its ever expanding add-ons that allow all kinds of streaming services, but I also like to use my plex media server for all my local content and when I am on the go. So I figured having Plexbmc is the best of both worlds in one software package. Thanks for the video and I will do some more research before purchasing another set top box.
do you plan on doing a full coverage and review of the nighthawk x10 , I'm very interested on the benefits for plex. it looks amazing but please give us your insight on the product
It's like a NUC, only it runs a linux backend. It's a bit slower than a x86/64 platform, but it still performs quite well. You also need to buy a remote to go with it. Although, with CEC, you usually can control it with your TV remote. Look at RasPlex if you want to give it a shot.
Loved the video! I currently use a NUC (NUC5i3RYH) for my Plex fronted with Plex Home Theater. At the time, it was the only device I could find that would natively support bitstream audio tracks (Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio) for my Blu-Ray rips. For the remote, I use the Logitech Harmony Companion system that connects to the NUC via bluetooth. This allows me to turn on all the necessary devices, change them to the right input, drop the projector screen and turn down the lights. The remote is RF back to a base station that emits IR back to all of the other devices. I also have a 2012 MacMini with a Drobo that's running Plex Media Server and Plex Home Theater connected to another TV. The downfall with this device is that OS X, today, doesn't appear to support bitstream audio formats, which was a deal breaker in my "theater".
I use a 2nd Generation Atom Compute Stick running Windows 10 with Chrome and a Logitech K400r keyboard/trackpad combo plugged into an HDMI port on my 2014 Samsung Series 5 TV. Works pretty well but I have no separate sound system although the optical out on the TV would allow me to with this combo.
It would be awesome if you did a review of the Plex app on Apple TV 4. The UI is very different compared to other Plex clients and very native to the new Apple TV UI. I enjoy it a lot.
Shield was running a newer version of Plex. Is this mentioned anywhere in the video? I want to finish but I'm pretty sure the narrator's voice is dubbed and it's deep in the uncanny valley for me.
Do you think that maybe in the future you could do a video of a Ps4 Plex Client? I'm curious as to how the Ps4 client stacks up against the the other clients, mainly the Xbox One. I have inquires about the Plex app for the console apps in general, I've heard that the Ps3 and Ps4 apps can't play back the higher formats of DD and DTS, and that they can only play back the lower formats of DD and DTS. I'd like to find out this is actually true, That and the question of Ps3 and maybe Ps4 that their Plex apps can only play back at 720p and not 1080p. Maybe I confused something, I'm not sure.
hey i have the fire tv and plex is really slow on it for me. i don't know why. i thought it was normal but seeing this video made me think it's not. like when i select a movie and wait for the info and everything for it to load up, it takes a while. like maybe 5 seconds or so. doesn't sound like a long time and that's what i thought too but when i saw your fire tv load the movie info it was almost instantaneously.
Is there no way to seek through videos on the Nvidia Shield with a slider? It looks like you have to keep pressing that 'fast forward' button to get to a specific spot of a video. I dont have the Shield, but want to get it. Do you know if the VLC android app on the Shield can quickly seek through videos with a slider?
I would be interested to know if the Xbox one performs better if you use an External SSD via USB 3 due to the internal drive being a 5400rpm Sata 2 drive.
Great detailed comparison and impressive editing on the side-by-side views. Browsing, volume control and ability to scroll are critical feature of functionality. Thank you!!
I use a combination of a Mac Mini, Roku 3 and Logitech Harmony Touch (with a Yahama amp driving the sound) and am very pleased with it. One problem with the Roku 3 - sometimes it doesn't play srt subtitles (that work through the web interface)
I've standardized on the Fire TV. The Plex functionality is great, plus the overall Amazon ecosystem beyond Plex at a good price just push it over the top for us. I also use a stick, again for travel, and the occasional time we use the mini-projector in the backyard to watch movies on the inflatable screen. Great review!
Something to consider with the Roku is smartphone remote control functionality, others may support it. Good review though, you don't get much better than this for comparison.
HTPC user here. I use an old-school official Microsoft media remote for both Kodi and Plex. Like some of the other comments, I'd be interested to see the Raspberry Pi 2 compared. Maybe one or more of those Android boxes (e.g. Minix, Zidoo, MXQ), too?
My personal pc doubles as htpc. I dual boot windows 10 and linux (main os) running OpenPHT as my plex client (on both). I also use Flirc which has to be the best pc remote option I have ever used, and I've tried many. Flirc works on windows, mac, and linux. You can use it on some android devices too. It will also also let you use ANY IR remote. I use a logitech universal, but you can use anything with an IR output. It's crazy cheap too. Programming is easy.. you just click the option you what on screen, then press a button on the remote. It assigns whatever IR code it received to that function. You can save that profile and load it to multiple Flirc receivers if you want. Plug a programmed Flirc into any pc and it works the same even without the software installed. I HIGHLY recommend Flirc as a remote option for any htpc. Less headaches all around. Flirc would be your answer for an Intel NUC or other micro htpc with linux or windows with an xbox remote.
Yes, I would have liked to have seen RasPLEX here too. I have been very happy with it. Very quick and simple and is my current favourite. Only downside is an issue with camera video footage which I haven't investigated yet.
Rasberry Pi 3 with RasPLEX: simple, speedy and CHEAP. RasPLEX with my Android phone/tablet as the remote works GREAT. If I already had an Xbox or Shield I would probably use that but if all you need is a Plex client definitely check out RasPLEX.
Thanks for the detailed comparison! I realize your goal was to cover the needs for the average consumer, it might be worth mentioning that only a few of those devices support 4K playback?
I realize that my "teleprompter", aka iPad, was a little too high on this one. For that, I apologize!
I work in television and didn't even notice, don't sweat it!
Well I tried to roll Broll over the really bad parts haha, gotta love the magic of editing
It sounded like your were reading something, so you were!
You should also realize you can control the volume of your receiver with your SHIELD TV remote. You have to enable it in the SHIELD settings, you're looking for CEC volume control. It also can't play TrueHD without transcoding.
only idiots care about that.. Thanks for the GREAT review!
Do this again, its been 3 years!!!
Could u do a 2018 update for this video?
Or 2019
Yeah for real. Super helpful video but I bet so much of this is obsolete now.
Agreed. I tested some of what you did and things have really changed.
include apple tv please. I use apple tv on one room (very good) and on the main room, plex player on early 2010 macmini (i installed an internal bluray drive) with plex player with bluetooth mouse. 8 audio works perfect. no issues at all.
ruclips.net/video/nKRGDqMi3Ss/видео.html
You don´t really need a remote for the nVidia Shield if you own a somewhat modern tv that can handle the HDMI CEC standard because if you do, you can use the tv remote to control the nvidia shield. The 16gb version is all you need to be honest when it comes to Nvidia Shield & the Plex app.
But to answer your question I use a HP Windows Media Center Remote that I bought from amazon a while back with an IR blaster & reciver connected to my htpc. It´s plug & play, but you can always change the buttons by using something like eventghost along with it to create custom macros for specific buttons if you for instance want some home automation along with it. I had setup to turn off all the lights in the living room if I pressed play, if I pressed pause only one light turned on and if I pressed stop all the lights in the room got lit up again.
I want to pick up a Sinology or Qnap NAS, how are the clients in those ?
AppleTV 4th gen works perfectly for Plex. I use mine to watch uncompressed Blu-ray backups. One benefit is support for Bluetooth audio devices, you can use wireless headphones or a Bluetooth audio receiver with headphones connected and control volume directly with the Siri remote.
AppleTV doesn't play 4k HEVC, so it's no wonder you're emphasizing "uncompressed" when you mention Blu-Ray backups. Misleading post...
discussions.apple.com/thread/8164820
@@Scarsuna it does now.
No sure if you noticed, the Intel NUC thingy costs $280 USED. To get a new one is actually quite expensive. Both prices are listed on the Amazon screen you shared.
they're like $100 though these days. I got 5 for free from a churchs chicken that was closing down
of course Plex has an app for smart TVs now too, so this review is kinda pointless anymore. The TV is the playback device. All that matters is how well your server can transcode
im using a HTPC with windows 8 for movies(kodi Netflix) and gaming(steam), hook up to my projector with a 110" screen. What i like about the HTPC is that its a PC and you can do what ever you want there is no limitation, i try a lot of these devices but its like there is always something missing(doesn't support this or that format,remote control missing buttons, no 7.1 supported, etc). By the way you can get "voice control" over a HTPC, its not build in but there is so many way to work around like by using Kodi, tasker and yatse.
I just got a Nvidia Shield 2017. The 2017 version is smaller, and for the same price as the older version includes a free remote and game controller. I hate the volume slider since I keep accidentally adjusting the volume with my palm every time I pick it up but having a microphone button is super handy.
Which device works the best for on the go streaming?
just to let you know regarding the shield remote you can control your volume from the reciever. you just have to go in the settings and turn the ir blaster on. then it will ask you the brand and have you point it at the receiver.
I bought a used Dell Optiplex 330 with a Core2Duo e8500, added an Geforce GT720 video card which allows DTS-HD pass through it's hdmi port, and a FLIRc receiver. I loaded the x64 device build of Plex Media player. The system is fantastic! I've yet to come across a file it can't play, I get full HD sound to my Denon receiver, and it's wife approved. Total cost for everything was $140 (not including the Logitech harmony remote that I already owned).
I'm wondering why there wasn't information on the videos you used for playback. Or how they perform with throwing a wrench at it
I have used everything here except the shield. I have basically narrowed it down to the XBOX for TV playback for the ease of use and PMP on a windows computer for movies for the full audio support. I used to use a RPI2 with the PLEX PMP OS but gave up on it due to its slow performance and Plex for some reason removing full HD audio support.
Have you thought about revisiting this test after a couple years. Wonder if HW versions, software, or firmware updates to the various devices have made any difference in the outcome.
I'm impressed with this video. Someone who actually has gone through the effort of updating this. I think there is a few things to consider, how much data is on each media by this I mean it may perform well when you do a fresh install but over time it may lag.
So the six devices you tested were running the Plex software, but was it done using an external hard drive for your files? my smart TVs in the house are horrible at streaming Plex from a powerful iMac in the next room
I use the Nvidia Shield for one main reason. It is the only device I have found that can handle all of my MKV files with the least damage to the audio stream. Dolby TrueHD is the most problematic and at times I have to watch them via the Kodi app (or SPMC) rather than Plex but at least the Shield gives you a sporting chance of maintaining HD audio. I am a purist when It comes to audio/video quality; I have too much invested in gear to put up with degradation of image/audio quality.
Apparently the NUC can do the same so that is a compelling option that I may explore in the future--Thanks for making this VID BTW. I enjoy your videos.
I wonder how the PS4 would fare?
I've read that the Shield's video quality is subpar compared to an Oppo. I've had the Shield for 2 months now and I love it. I don't know if Oppo owners are right or just full of it. Thoughts? On picture quality alone, obviously when it comes to bang for buck the Oppo is no match to the Shield.
On a side note, I'm waiting for a 2nd hand Darbee device i got a sweet price on. :)
We all use 2016 Roku Sticks at my house. Would you like a 2016 and a 2015 Roku Stick for testing (borrow)?
Thanks for comment on audio playback. I think it's more of a license issue for most clients.
I'd like to see a review of the Apple TV 4, ROKU 3, ROKU Stick, PS3, PS4 and a few smart TVs (Samsung, Vizio, LG, Sony). I'd really like to know if the smart TV's will pass through DTS HD MA or Dolby True HD.
RE remote setup, my remote setups follow:
Media room, HTPC using harmony hub via Bluetooth- excellent control. Bedroom, ROKU 3 using harmony hub via IP- excellent control.
Office, ROKU stick using harmony hub via Bluetooth - excellent control (stick menus are a little slow, jump forward or back slow).
Kids room, PS3 using harmony hub via Bluetooth and RF - playback is good, but menus, jump forward or back painfully very slow response.
Are these direct stream or transcoded videos? For example, The newer 4K devices like 4K fire stick support h.265 direct stream while the older devices like the Xbox one force the server to transcode the video to h.264 which explains the delay. Please show the Plex “playback info” to confirm your tests.
Do you have a separate video comparing these to the experience using an iPhone/Android device and Google Chromecast? Everyone in my household has a "remote control in their pocket" (ie, mobile phone) and can prep media selection without being connected to the TV and switch the actively playing video on the TV without having to turn on any third-party devices. I have Chromecasts on all TVs and you wouldn't even know it by looking as it's small & installed directly to the TV... no unsightly wires or dedicated remotes to lose.
Question. I have Kodi on my Synology in my home. I have a cottage I go to every weekend. Can I access Kodi on my home synology from my cottage? I have Nvidia, and raspberry pi at my college.
lucky for me, I got 5 of these same NUC units for free from a disgruntled employee at a local Church's Chicken (they run the digital displays). The owners had just told everyone an hour earlier that they were shutting the location down at the end of the day and everyone was out of a job.
You've helped me figure out what to do with one of them, now I need to figure out what to do with the other 4.
I appreciate the effort put into this. Side not, the shield starts playback more slowly when "change frame-rate" option is enabled. Turned off, its much faster. Also if you double tap the volume slider it will pause playback and hitting right or left (or holding ) side of the circle will seek during playback. Lastly you can pair almost any remote to it using bluetooth. I use PS4 remote :) I've been using the Shield for a while with my home theater and have never looked back. It has always handled anything I throw at it, at very fast speeds and is just very universal in almost every way. It also natively supports all nvidia software like geforce now and pretty much everything else using an android operating system. I mean, it flawlessly plays 4k with HD audio :D. Literally the best product I've ever purchased. Great video. Always love side by side comparisons 👍
Couple of questions: Did you have these plugged in using ethernet? Did you adjust your video settings in Plex prior to opening the videos initially, since the level of transcoding has an impact on how quickly video starts playing?
-
I found it interesting that you got surround sound to work on the 4K Fire TV. The original one burned me way back by not having any surround sound support. Apparently they've patched the app to get it to somewhat work on the original model.
I'm curious if some of those players were accessing Plex as though they were outside your network, as I've noticed over the years that certain players by default do (this was years ago so I'm not sure if that's still a thing, then again, your video is almost a year and a half old). The Windows players for PCs (such as the one the nuc is using) have always found the Plex servers on network. That could easily explain the load-time differences.
Wow, that little Fire TV stick still turns out to be quite impressive for such a small device. It's as good as the full size Roku 4. That's pretty amazing.
I was really bummed not to see the chromecast in this. I understand that it is pretty different from the other clients because it relies on your phone to browse and control media, but it would have been great to see how it stacks up.
I actually bought a chromecast for this video, but couldn't find a way to stack it up against the others so I returned it (along with the shield lol) I wanted to do a separate video but I was kind of in a hurry to return them because I hate the shields remote so much. the others I can find uses for, but the shield...not so much.
Haha, it's funny that those were the two that I was considering using to replace my HTPC. Great video overall, I understand why you didn't include more. BTW, what are the specs for that NUC? Like you said, there are a lot, ranging from a core i3 all the way up to an i7. I don't remember hearing which it was.
I will need to add it to the video descirtion when I get some time. But it was flashed during the price segment as a screenshot of the amazon page.
Oh, sorry I missed that. It would be great to have!
+IustoFulmine the Chromecast works ok, but audio options on it are pretty poor, and it is wifi only, so I have had it struggle to play back high quality media. Plus seeking and other functions can be pretty buggy. However, for the price it is a great option to get a client up and running.
Wonder if you could address the "gottcha" with the Roku device. It appears when used with Plex and Plex Pass the weekly schedule does not show up on the Roku. Yes, it shows up on the server but via the browser. Do any of the devices you showed allow for this on the client side?
why is the background black for the roku and xbox? it's like that on ps4 too and it's really annoying.
How well does the plex client for smart TV's stack up to having a shield or a NUC? I'm sure it will vary by TV but in general how is the experience? Reasonably fast?
what about framerate switching? Do any of them support 24hz playback? That was the main reason why I went with the Shield over something like the 4g Apple TV.
Odd question, but your voice track when you are talking on the couch is impressive. It honestly sounds like you are right on top of a mic. Are you using an overhead boom mic?
yeap
I use a Raspi 3 with a 5ghz wifi dongle. I can stream high bitrate files (14000+ Kbps) from my PC to my TV without any issues. The RasPlex interface with the Black Edition Skin is so damn clean. There's no bloatware or unnecessary icon/apps on the screen like there is with the Shield etc. Highly recommended.
bataleon been testing out rasplex on rpi3b too. It beats the plex client on my Samsung TV and apple TV. No problem with direct play anything h264, mpeg2 or vc-1
On the others, it usually need to encode on the server and the plex client for the Samsung is buggy.
Wow thanks guys! Been looking for a solution to replace netflix and tidal subscription. Got an old laptop laying around and a Pi 3b+. Will look into it!!
I'm a big fan of the RasPi with RasPlex. I use ethernet for everything that sits still, so don't use a wifi dongle. RasPlex is an awesome interface.
I'm using a HTPC with PlexMediaPlayer. The HTPC also serves as my NAS and home server running PlexMediaServer. 120GB SSD for OS and PMP + 3TB WD REDs for NAS. A couple of Noctua fans makes it completely silent and a low profile case makes a good fit for my TV stand. As for remote I use a Logitech Harmony Hub + Companion paired with the HTPC as a bluetooth keyboard. Instant reaction from pressing a button and no need for a line of sight, and you can edit the keymap within PMP to suit your need. Great all-in-one setup but expensive...
I have to disagree regarding the nVidia Shield remote.
It does control your receiver audio. My nVidia Shield is connected to my Yamaha receiver and audio controls via the mini remote or controller can be used to increase/decrease volume.
Also... were you accessing content local to the individual devices or via a NAS or external storage device?
You mentioned the voice control of the xbox one a few times...if you don't already have a video, can you show that off a bit (don't currently own an xbox one...but hoping I can peddle the features to the wife enough to convince her to get one for the main TV)? Looking to move to Plex as we cut the cable. Already using it some for basic media serving...but may expand soon. Also, do you use the Nvidia shield for game streaming? That's my 2nd choice right now to also put my PC games on my TV.
I been using the Plex app on my Tivo Roamio OTA and TiVo mini. So far I been happy with it.
Any update on how the performance of the new roku premier and premier + is compared to the older roku 4 seen in this video? I wonder if the performance is even better now. Seems like it did half way decent in this test.
The Roku Premium with the wired connection works the best for me. The xbox and PS4 didnt work as well. PS4 for some reason wouldn't update new files without deleting the app then re-installing it. Very frustrating. So for me Roku worked the best. Good video.
@Byte My Bits - I use a Logitech Harmony (similar to the Harmony Companion). It is paired to my HTPC's bluetooth adapter. The Harmony thinks it is paired to a PS3 and sends PS3 remote commands. I use an application called PS3 Blumote on the HTPC to map the PS3 remote commands to keyboard commands on the HTPC. This gives me the most flexibility in mapping the buttons, and no line of sight requirements. The Harmony can be directly paired with the HTPC, but the "keyboard profile" used in this mode is not as customizable.
you forgot the apple tv plex is now avalible on the new apple tv 4th generation also I am trying to set up my own plex account and I got the movies in okay but I cant get the tv shows to be reconized or show up I have a western digital my cloud that I am using how do I get the tv shows to be reconized they will only show up in home videos and it is really frustrating to me can you maybe do a video on that
I own an ATV4 and use Plex on it, and I don't like it, it's slow, original remote sucks, it's small, difficult to handle, third party remotes can't fast forward, Plex blame Apple for this, ... Dont buy an ATV4, it's just abandoned by Apple
You must add TV shows to folders that are linked to the TV Shows folder in the Plex main directory. If you add your TV show files to the Movie or Home Videos main directory folders, metadata for only one episode will be loaded. Note that generally you should have seasons and episodes labeled as SxxExx according to TheTVDB.com methodology before you add your files to the correct folders support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200220687-Naming-Series-Season-Based-TV-Shows
Of course you can FF! Hit Pause first and then you use the touch pad. It's a little wacky as it wasn't that way at first but a update changed it to act that way. So Pause, Move to where you want and then click the touch and it'll start back up.
It's NOT abandoned by Apple. It gets regular updates. I have a number of devices that Plex PLEX, including TIVO which is also not talked about here, but I actually like PLEX on my AppleTV 4 the best, even though I have a Fire Stick, a Roku 2 XS and Roku 3, and a Xbox 360 and Xbox One which all support PLEX.
Thanks for the tip. Glad I didn't.
Forget about Plex. Just use Infuse PRO on Apple TV 4th gen
What's the best plex client for home videos you want to share on a home network and view on televisions around the house?
I was wondering if you had any trouble with buffering every 5 seconds with the fire stick. I have read a lot about people having problems running plex on them. but in my situation where I need to cut my cable bill but now need to purchase 2 seperate streaming devices for kids and wife, I was about to go with the fire stick (for now anyways) just cause the cost for two of them is way cheaper than 2 of something else. that is until I found out people been having problems with them running plex. please let me know if you had any difficulties getting it to work for you
What was he running for an OS on the NUC? Was that Windows with the Windows store Plex client?
Any chance of an updated version of this Video. Excluding the Nvidia Shield which we all know is still the best.
How easy is it to add a harmony controller to the NUC and after that controlling the plex media player like you do a media player? Thanks!
An important thing you should cover in your next comparison, Video Transcoding. This has a huge impact on server performance as well as client.
I have, or have had: Google Nexus Player, Sony Playstation 4, HTPC (Windows 10), Roku 4, and Sony Google TV (Both old one with the Blu-ray and one without). Out of all of them the Roku 4 handles all video codecs, even HEVC, like a champ keeping the work off of my server. Also the Nexus Player handles most all codecs, even HEVC. The vary greatly.
If you double tap the shield remotes "touch strip" It plays/pauses
bimer2000 That’s bad design. It’s a remote, you shouldn’t need to read a manual on how to use it, it needs to be intuitive. If I can’t guess the features from looking at it, they need to take it back to the drawing board.
any word on testing the apple tv 4k and maybe the new shield... plus atmos compatibility?
this summer I will be making an updated video with the latest hardware. including Apple TV. I dropped the ball on testing it this round due to finances.
Any thoughts of doing an update video? For example is the XBox client better? The new amazon TV4K or stick?
Have you tested Plex on Pi3 or HDHomerun Prime with Plex DVR beta? I am interested on you take on these.
I'm curious why you didn't test a Chromecast out?
Wait, doesn't the shield have a built in Plex server?? Does the others have that??
@
Byte My Bits - Been using HDHomerun since the beginning. Been using a cable card since the beginning as well. I have tried all the combinations you have listed in this video. As the main TV, nothing is better than a full fledged media center PC running Windows 10 with a K830 logitech keyboard. Remotes simply do not cut it for a media center. Furthermore, watching LiveTV (especially sports) is my primary usage, so having split screens (game and redzone side by side) is a huge advantage. The MOST important part of the media center, is that it supports full DRM with livetv. I can watch HBO, Cinemax, etc right on it. The added benefit of having web browing, apps, full fledged programs is a huge benefit as well.
Can i assume that all devices were hardwired for these test? Obviously the fire stick was not. What was signal strength?Router used? etc... Also you might want to look into a Logitech Harmony remote. I personally have the 650, it controls my tv, xbone and receiver all through the remote. No worries on the teleprompter, video looked great. Also another test might be to see which one was able to handle playback of different files a bit better, MKV, AVI, MP4 etc
.
The issues with the XBOX likely come from the fact that it's loading from a 5400 RPM HDD. If you were to use an external SSD using the USB 3 port, it'd load faster. Also, is the NUC using a PCI-E SSD?
I use a Raspberry Pi 2 with OSMC installed on it. Then installed the Plex client app on it. As for a remote I just use my TV remote, as it seems pass on the button pushed via HDMI cable.
Great comparison. Additionally, Rocku 4 does not play mix media from Plex. If you have a video and photos on a playlist, it will ignore the video.
So intel nuc is the winner. If i build up with the entry level one with celeron processor, will it be different story or can i still expect similar performance?
Thanks
I recently got the 2017 NVidia Shield TV after becoming increasingly more and more frustrated streaming from my PC running the Plex Server to the Firestick. Ohhhh boy was I overjoyed. This thing is amazing for Plex! I have the majority of my media in H.264/MPEG-4 and it never needs to transcode, always direct plays. The interface leaves a little to be desired(barely), the remote is probably a 6/10, but the speed at which the Shield TV runs everything is phenomenal. 100% recommend this device for anyone having any issues with buffering,stuttering, transcoding issues etc.
Was the Shield run just as a client? Or was it being used as the server for the test too?
hi, my laptop as server renders smooth playback over dlna locally through my home but I've noticed casting from Android app playback is choppy, so if I buy the Nvidia shield and hook to my main TV will this still play over dlna to this TV. my main TV doesn't have plex, thanks
I am interested in a test between tv, mac/pc, Apple TV and NAS. Or a answer who seems the best.
were the devices wired or Wireless or a combination of both
What about clients natively supported by TV sets? e.g. Samsung, LG, Android TV
The Plex client works very well on Samsung Smart TV's, no need to buy other box to act as client. All you need is a cheap PC to act as server.
I use the Fire TV and Stick for bedrooms, a PS3 in the game room and an HTPC in the living room. The PS3 does a pretty decent job and kills the Amazon devices in performance, but the HTPC rules them all, since it has an i7, 16GB of RAM and an SSD.
On the HTPC I use a Logitech K830 keyboard (awesome trackpad) which I found open box for $50 on Newegg. For the time comparison I would have included the time it takes from powering on the device until the media plays, or until Plex loads at least. Great vid, thanks man.
Did not understand anything . I just bought the NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 and trying to see how Plex works and what is plea but I am waiting for my NETGEAR Modem to arrive by Sunday afternoon so I can have the 1 Gigablast installed on my IMac so I have more speed than I have now.I will keep searching here but if I can get some instructions from you will be very appreciated. I am 68 years old disabled but a wiz on Apple items . Thank you and God bless
I have the Roku stick because we got it for $30 bucks at SAMs club, by far my favorite non htpc that I've seen. The amount of channels (outside of plex in this case) is quite huge. Also the Roku "feed" which allows you to follow shows and show you were you can buy them is quite cool. Overall the Roku stick was by far worth the $30 that we spent on it, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cheap option to enjoy their streaming needs, plex or otherwise.
whats is the best option for me if i want to jus watch kodi and play games between buying a 4k smart android tv or getting a plex server
I use the Apple TV 4 for my Plex client and absolutely love it. The new remote has a touch pad area at the top that lets you instantly slide forward or backwards in a movie with thumbnail previews. The remote does control my 5.1 audio also and has a voice button.
Hi. Don't know where else to ask this question because no one is talking about this in the Plex HTPC videos. 4K watching. Let's say that I make a build just for Plex and want to be future proof but also watch my 4K footage through Plex in the living room. I plan on building it arround Core i3 6100. Now the question. The motherboard has a 2.0 HDMI output. Is that enough to watch 4K smoothly? Or is it better to get a dedicated GPU? If so...what GPU do you suggest? I plan on running it directly with Plex Media Player so there should be no transcoding right? Also I can't find a video anywhere reviewing the GPUs surround sound capabilities. Do I get surround sound 5.1 or 7.1 with HDMI cable from GPU? Thank you!
I have a roku stick. They have an extender to work for turning on and off your tv, changing your tv source, volume check it out
Hi Jason,
When can we expect to see the Apple TV added to the compare list? And also are you excited about the new Xbox Scorpio? Would be cool if you could add this also to your compare list.
Awesome video, exactly what I was looking for. I just have a few questions:
1. Did you test out DTS-HD-MA?
2. Are you using the Plex Client or Plex home theater?
3. Did you try out PlexBMC at all for Kodi?
4. Do you have any experience using the Raspberry PI? I am wondering if it would be a contender?
I currently have a star stream x4 and let me tell you don't get one. It is overpriced and it cannot do true-hd or DTS-hd out of the box. I had to install something called Vidon XBMC to get it to work and only after paying for a subscription to Vidon XBMC. I then installed the new firmware for the Starstream X4 device and it broke my working True-HD audio through Vidon XBMC. I now no longer have DTS-HD or TrueHD, so frustrating.
I have Plex pass and a Plex Media Server which I love but I could never get it to do DTS-HD or True HD audio. I think the reason being because the Starstream is not up to the task of doing this. Maybe some licensing issue I am not sure why. The reason I asked the 3rd question is because I like Kodi and its ever expanding add-ons that allow all kinds of streaming services, but I also like to use my plex media server for all my local content and when I am on the go. So I figured having Plexbmc is the best of both worlds in one software package.
Thanks for the video and I will do some more research before purchasing another set top box.
do you plan on doing a full coverage and review of the nighthawk x10 , I'm very interested on the benefits for plex. it looks amazing but please give us your insight on the product
The xbox remote doesn't work with the intel nuc?
What about the Raspberry Pi 3, has anyone tried that?
It's like a NUC, only it runs a linux backend. It's a bit slower than a x86/64 platform, but it still performs quite well. You also need to buy a remote to go with it. Although, with CEC, you usually can control it with your TV remote. Look at RasPlex if you want to give it a shot.
Loved the video! I currently use a NUC (NUC5i3RYH) for my Plex fronted with Plex Home Theater. At the time, it was the only device I could find that would natively support bitstream audio tracks (Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio) for my Blu-Ray rips. For the remote, I use the Logitech Harmony Companion system that connects to the NUC via bluetooth. This allows me to turn on all the necessary devices, change them to the right input, drop the projector screen and turn down the lights. The remote is RF back to a base station that emits IR back to all of the other devices.
I also have a 2012 MacMini with a Drobo that's running Plex Media Server and Plex Home Theater connected to another TV. The downfall with this device is that OS X, today, doesn't appear to support bitstream audio formats, which was a deal breaker in my "theater".
What about the NUC and Intel graphicss issues with 24p? Has that been sorted?
I use a 2nd Generation Atom Compute Stick running Windows 10 with Chrome and a Logitech K400r keyboard/trackpad combo plugged into an HDMI port on my 2014 Samsung Series 5 TV. Works pretty well but I have no separate sound system although the optical out on the TV would allow me to with this combo.
Hi will you be doing a video of plex on freenas 9.10 I'm having trouble with plex plug in not starting
It would be awesome if you did a review of the Plex app on Apple TV 4. The UI is very different compared to other Plex clients and very native to the new Apple TV UI. I enjoy it a lot.
Shield was running a newer version of Plex. Is this mentioned anywhere in the video? I want to finish but I'm pretty sure the narrator's voice is dubbed and it's deep in the uncanny valley for me.
any sort of update coming to compare the AppleTV client?
Wich Roku were you using? And you forgot to mention that NUC requires SSD RAM and W7/10 License.
As the Nuc is essentially a HTPC. What was the spec you were using?
Do you think that maybe in the future you could do a video of a Ps4 Plex Client? I'm curious as to how the Ps4 client stacks up against the the other clients, mainly the Xbox One. I have inquires about the Plex app for the console apps in general, I've heard that the Ps3 and Ps4 apps can't play back the higher formats of DD and DTS, and that they can only play back the lower formats of DD and DTS. I'd like to find out this is actually true, That and the question of Ps3 and maybe Ps4 that their Plex apps can only play back at 720p and not 1080p. Maybe I confused something, I'm not sure.
hey i have the fire tv and plex is really slow on it for me. i don't know why. i thought it was normal but seeing this video made me think it's not. like when i select a movie and wait for the info and everything for it to load up, it takes a while. like maybe 5 seconds or so. doesn't sound like a long time and that's what i thought too but when i saw your fire tv load the movie info it was almost instantaneously.
Is there no way to seek through videos on the Nvidia Shield with a slider? It looks like you have to keep pressing that 'fast forward' button to get to a specific spot of a video. I dont have the Shield, but want to get it. Do you know if the VLC android app on the Shield can quickly seek through videos with a slider?
I would be interested to know if the Xbox one performs better if you use an External SSD via USB 3 due to the internal drive being a 5400rpm Sata 2 drive.
Hi could do a review comparing with khadas vim3 pro as a plex client and using synology nas as a client
Great detailed comparison and impressive editing on the side-by-side views. Browsing, volume control and ability to scroll are critical feature of functionality. Thank you!!
I use a combination of a Mac Mini, Roku 3 and Logitech Harmony Touch (with a Yahama amp driving the sound) and am very pleased with it. One problem with the Roku 3 - sometimes it doesn't play srt subtitles (that work through the web interface)
I've standardized on the Fire TV. The Plex functionality is great, plus the overall Amazon ecosystem beyond Plex at a good price just push it over the top for us. I also use a stick, again for travel, and the occasional time we use the mini-projector in the backyard to watch movies on the inflatable screen.
Great review!
Something to consider with the Roku is smartphone remote control functionality, others may support it. Good review though, you don't get much better than this for comparison.
HTPC user here. I use an old-school official Microsoft media remote for both Kodi and Plex.
Like some of the other comments, I'd be interested to see the Raspberry Pi 2 compared. Maybe one or more of those Android boxes (e.g. Minix, Zidoo, MXQ), too?
My personal pc doubles as htpc. I dual boot windows 10 and linux (main os) running OpenPHT as my plex client (on both). I also use Flirc which has to be the best pc remote option I have ever used, and I've tried many.
Flirc works on windows, mac, and linux. You can use it on some android devices too. It will also also let you use ANY IR remote. I use a logitech universal, but you can use anything with an IR output. It's crazy cheap too. Programming is easy.. you just click the option you what on screen, then press a button on the remote. It assigns whatever IR code it received to that function. You can save that profile and load it to multiple Flirc receivers if you want. Plug a programmed Flirc into any pc and it works the same even without the software installed.
I HIGHLY recommend Flirc as a remote option for any htpc. Less headaches all around.
Flirc would be your answer for an Intel NUC or other micro htpc with linux or windows with an xbox remote.
Would have been nice to have included the new Apple TV. Also, the Raspberry Pi 3 for the lowest cost option.
Yes, I would have liked to have seen RasPLEX here too. I have been very happy with it. Very quick and simple and is my current favourite. Only downside is an issue with camera video footage which I haven't investigated yet.
Rasberry Pi 3 with RasPLEX: simple, speedy and CHEAP. RasPLEX with my Android phone/tablet as the remote works GREAT. If I already had an Xbox or Shield I would probably use that but if all you need is a Plex client definitely check out RasPLEX.
Apple TV doesn't support 4k HEVC streaming. It's absolute garbage.
discussions.apple.com/thread/8164820
Thanks for the detailed comparison! I realize your goal was to cover the needs for the average consumer, it might be worth mentioning that only a few of those devices support 4K playback?