Ranking of the best media player for TV 2019: How to Choose

Media Player for TV - what is it and what is it for

Probably everyone remembers the most popular set-top box for your TV from the recent past - the VCR. With the help of wires it connects to the TV, I insert a video cassette with the record it and play back a recording. Media players perform the same role. Here only it is much wider possibilities. It can be equipped with a built-in hard drive on which to store video, or play video content from external media - flash drives, memory cards, hard drives, or network. The last point, in general, opens wide opportunities for use. You can watch videos from Youtube, online cinema, surf the Internet using a browser. As can be seen, the media player makes TV a real full-fledged computer with great potential.

Key features and specifications of media players

TV media centers differ opportunity to play different types of content. Almost everyone can play audio and video files. Plus there is a small list of image files.

As for the operating system, the on board may be different versions of Android, Linux, tvOS and even Windows. Which one to choose, to decide the end user. Availability of Wi-Fi will reduce the number of connections in the room. Although an Ethernet network can be gently lay a cable less noticeable. Support for the latest video formats, quality is no less important. Modern players can play 4K standard.

Which media player to choose - advice edition

First of all, perhaps, is to determine the type of device to connect to the network. If the house has a Wi-Fi-router, take the wireless option. If the network via a cable, you can take the media player and without Wi-Fi.

Fans of clear and colorful images it is best to pay attention to the maximum resolution of the device. The highest to date type - UltraHD. He is able to play back video with a resolution of 3840 × 2160. However, here you need to consider a couple of nuances. The first - the source video must also comply with 4K, or the satisfaction of high-quality images can be ruined. The second - the TV must also be able to play the UltraHD.

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The choice of operating system - rather a matter of getting used to a particular line. Accustomed to Android, please, there are versions of this system. Like Windows - the same thing. Well, if you a fan of Apple products, the tvOS. In addition to the known systems, there are different variants of Linux.

The media player must be omnivorous, that is able to play whatever he "slip." For this it must be equipped with a codec MPEG4, H.264, VC1, and others. The availability of modern sockets for the connection will greatly simplify the task of connecting the device and TV, as well as removable media. Therefore, the media player shall be equipped with standard connectors Audio, video and HDMI.

Its own memory in the form of built-in hard drive will save the content directly on the device, and then play it back as needed. Computing power in media players determine how many other mobile devices, the processor and RAM. Of course, there are also a number of other parameters, but to focus better on these two. The higher performance of the system, the better. Similarly select and memory. The media players are two types of cooling may be used: passive and active. Active is much more effective, but noisier. Passive - silent, but can not cope with overheating.

Overview of the main manufacturers of media players

Media players produce many different manufacturers. Among them immediately come to mind are the main leading brands: Apple, Nvidia, Xiaomi, Google, Pioneer, Dune, Rombica. This is just a small list, in fact there are still a lot of little-known Chinese brands. Sometimes, among them you can find a really decent and high-quality models.

Each brand uses its own characteristics, chip design. It uses its operating system or uses the already existing. Anyway, then we will meet again with some of their representatives.

Ranking of the best models of media players, regardless of the OS

Let's look at a small selection of media players on different platforms and from different brands. Among them are expensive and well-known models, as well as more simple and cheap.

Apple TV 4K 32GB

Opens selection of the player from Apple. It comes in a sleek black style. A small box with rounded edges - nothing more. The maximum resolution that is able to play the player is in the 4K standard. Play player can MOV and MP4 video formats. Sound and graphics are supported by the same all known. Connecting to a TV going for HDMI 2.0 digital channel. To communicate with the Internet, you can use Wi-Fi. Alternative interfaces can be Bluetooth and Ethernet. For connection of other devices of Apple - iPhone or iPad - available AirPlay technology.

Performance processor provides its own production - Apple A10X Fusion. RAM in the player 3 GB built - 32. It manages all the equipment has its own development, Apple - tvOS. From "box" services available to iTunes, Apple Music, Netflix, Hulu, HBO. Also there is the ability to play Flash content type. The player has the television for passive cooling. Buy this model can be for 13 thousand rubles.

NVIDIA SHIELD

Practically omnivorous media player to your TV with USB from a known company manufacturer of graphics processors. The maximum resolution supported is in the range of 4K. List of video formats is quite wide: MKV, AVI, WMV, MOV, ASF, M2TS, MP4. The same applies to audio files - the player is able to read them all. The connection is already become standard for HDMI 2.0. Many interfaces, you can connect anything: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 USB, Ethernet.

The processor inside the device installed its own production - Nvidia Tegra X1. RAM - 3 GB. The operating system is Android 7.0. It is available the service Google Play. The cost of the device - 13 500 rubles.

Dune HD TV-102W

A very simple but functional smart media player for your TV with a large list of playable formats. Here are the main ones: MKV, AVI, WMV, ISO, VOB, MOV, MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, PCM, M4A. There is also built-in support for subtitles. Maximum resolution - 1080 that is FullHD. a set of interfaces is standard: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 USB, Ethernet. Connecting to a TV is due to HDMI.

The processor in the player set Sigma Designs SMP8674. It helps him to RAM 512 MB capacity. Internal memory, but there are the Flash, which is used as a ROM. Player value is about 7000 rubles.

TV iconBIT Movie FHD T2

The design of this device is particularly appreciated by minimalists. At first glance off it seems that it is a lifeless box. However, if you connect it to the mains, the blinking LED will flash a friendly and show the current time. This attachment is interesting in that it can play not only FullHD standards, but also TV - DVB-T, DVB-T2.

Connecting to a TV is possible via HDMI. For the rest, it is an average player that can play a large list of formats. To read from external media has a USB port that turns the console into a USB-player for the TV.

the best media player for your TV on Android

And now let's see what we can offer the media player market with the Android operating system on board.

Xiaomi Mi Box International Version

Xiaomi company is known not only for its functional smart phones, but also media players. This model - one of the most interesting and productive. Features at them quite good - the ability to play videos in 4K standard, a large set supported formats, to connect the HDMI is not only available, but also a stereo audio and composite the video input. Of the wireless interfaces can be Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can connect an external hard drive or USB flash drive via USB.

Responsible for the performance chipset Amlogic S905. RAM device 2 GB, their - 8. Cooling type passive use. It is worth such a device about 5 200 rubles.

Rombica Cinema 4k

Media player with a hard drive, which, however, have to buy separately. Is able to play video in 4K format. The list of supported video formats is simply amazing. There are more than 20. There is also a built-in support for subtitles. Connect the player to a TV, you can use the classic connectors audio and video, or via HDMI. Inside the device there is a place for hard disk format 3.5-inch.

RAM provided in the apparatus 1 GB built - 8. There is an active cooling. Bit upsetting to use the Android operating system 4.4, which is morally and technologically obsolete, and is likely to upgrade to new versions is not expected. Buy this model can be for 7000 rubles.

MINIX Neo U1

Own memory in this device is represented by 16 Gb RAM - 2. Processor Amlogic S905. Maximum video format - 4K.

Operating system - Android 5.1. Interfaces, in addition to standard wireless, there are HDMI, USB, Ethernet, microSD. Cooling device represented passive. Cost - 8500 rubles.

Google Chromecast 2015

The product from Google. Controlled by a smartphone on Android or iOS based. Can play video in 1080p.

RAM shows 512MB built - a total of 256. The cost of this device is 3000 rubles.

Budget media player Rombica Smart Cast v02

Very interesting media player. It is interesting primarily for its design. Structurally, it is a USB flash drive, which instead of a USB port connected directly to the HDMI connector.

The maximum that can play the media player, - FullHD. Despite the fact that the player is very compact, it can connect to a Wi-Fi network has AirPlay and USB port. Buy this small and compact player can be up to 2 000 rubles.

How to connect the media player to your TV - common nuances

In fact there's nothing complicated. Any modern TV is equipped with the connector HDMI. He is standardized and has the same type on all devices. You need to connect an HDMI cable. Difficult it will be, if the TV does not have HDMI on. We'll have to use a composite signal.

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In general, it's not as scary as it seems. Even if the TV and the media player do not have common connectors, there are plenty on the market a variety of adapters that can be used to connect anything to anything. In most cases, you will need to find an RCA cable - HDMI.

How profitable to buy a media player for your TV - Market Overview

We collected Extender to the TV in one table with prices and features.

As always, you can share your own experiences with the media player in the comments with others.