Media players have in due time provoked the transformation of the TV from the usual receiver of a television signal into a home multimedia entertainment center. Although recently this role is increasingly placed on the built-in smart TV software, media players remain popular in the market, due to their versatility and the ability to simply replace one device with another, more modern. Our review will help to understand the trends in this category of technology and choose from the proposed range of player, the most suitable for solving specific problems.
- The fixed media player of which firm to choose
- The best media players with support for Wi-Fi
- The most popular media players with IP TV technology
- The best media players supporting 4K
- resolution What kind of stationary media player to buy
Which fixed media player choose
1. Apple
WorldwideA well-known technology company that entered the media player market in 2010.Products are characterized by uncompromising build quality and a convenient software shell.
2. Google
The Chromecast series of stationary devices uses the same software platform as the mobile hardware on the Android OS.These are affordable and functional devices that are popular all over the world.
3. IconBIT
A new player in the home appliances market. Provides a wide range of media players, including both affordable and technologically advanced models.
4. Dune HD
Veteran of the media player market, which appeared at the dawn of its formation. Delivers quality machinery for every taste.
The best media players with support for Wi-Fi
Using wireless technology allows you to refuse to install a home Ethernet network and unite an unlimited number of devices. Media players with an antenna for Wi-Fi reception can broadcast content to all TVs that you have at home, which is certainly very convenient. However, it is worth paying attention to the quality of the implementation of the wireless subsystem, its ability to broadcast video in high resolution in an uninterrupted mode.
Affordable and high-performance Wi-Fi media player
Features Google Chromecast 2015 - compact size and low cost device. The media player provides all the basic features implemented on the Chrome OS software platform and is equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter with three antennas and support for the latest high-speed 802.11ac wireless protocol.
Advantages:
- Compact size;
- Ability to provide power to the USB cable from the TV;
- Confident reception of a signal from anywhere in the apartment;
- Transfer of broadcasts from any mobile device to Android or iOS;
- Broadcast video from any site( requires the installation of third-party applications);
- Support for streaming services( Netflix, Hulu, Google Play Movies);
- A large number of additional programs in the Play Market;
- Affordable price.
Disadvantages:
- Quality of the broadcast sound;
- No internal memory;
- There is no additional USB connector;
- Some video formats are played with artifacts.
A large number of positive user reviews indicate that Google Chromecast 2015 does a great job of wireless Internet content retransmitter.
The most popular Wi-Fi media player
The popularity of Apple's technology has spread to its branded media player Apple TV Gen4.The device has excellent functionality and is well integrated into the ecosystem of other Apple home appliances.
Advantages:
- Compact housing;
- Quality of video and sound;
- Easy to set up and connect to your TV;
- Features proprietary OS, designed to take into account the specifics of media players;
- AirPlay broadcast function that supports all Apple devices;
- Convenient and functional control panel;
- Access to the iTunes media library.
Disadvantages:
- Only hdmi interface available;
- The AirPlay function is only available for Apple devices;
- Voice Assistant is not available for the Russian language;
- Small amount of free content and programs.
In user reviews invariably noted the convenience of Apple TV Gen4 in general and embedded applications in particular. The manufacturer has thought out the details of the basic functions of the media player, so everyone can cope with its configuration.
Most popular media players with IP TV technology
Users of IP TV can refuse to install a satellite dish or connect to cable television systems by browsing through TV channels via the Internet. Additional features of the technology include delayed viewing, pause at any time and many other interesting features that are not available for traditional TV broadcasting.
Media player with the highest-quality implementation of IP TV
Universal media player Dune HD Solo Lite, in addition to IP TV support, has a lot of advantages. First of all, this is a high-quality software platform that supports compatibility with any device on Android and iOS.The player is equipped with all the required interfaces and can be connected to both new TVs and old technology.
Advantages:
- Full "omnivorous" player, play files of any formats;
- Ability to easily catalog the saved content;
- Viewing digital TV channels via IP TV;
- Intuitive interface of the software shell;
- Complete set of external interfaces( including composite and component outputs);
- Qualitatively implemented function of translation via DLNA.
Disadvantages:
- Not very convenient remote control;
- Periodic hangs of the interface on older firmware versions;
- Heavy video in 4K format is sometimes reproduced with brakes;
- The case is very hot after prolonged use.
The model of the media player Dune HD Solo Lite can be called a "workhorse", able to cope with any given task. User reviews allow you to recommend this device to buy.
The best media players that support the resolution of 4K
Most likely, your new 4K TV already has a Smart TV function. But how easy is it to use it? Is the TV equipped with all the necessary connectors, can it reproduce and record content on an external storage medium? A media player with video support in ultra-high resolution eliminates the flaws of branded TV firmware and can be more interesting as a platform for a home multimedia center.
The most popular 4K media player
The small but nevertheless highly productive media player iconBIT XDS94K allows you to enjoy video content in ultra-high resolution, in addition, it significantly expands the functionality of the TV.
Advantages:
- Very compact body dimensions;
- Productive hardware platform;
- Ability to play video files of any format;
- Support for iPhone;
- Full implementation of Google Play services;
- A complete set of wired and wireless interfaces;
- Availability of IP TV function;
- Convenient control panel;
- Low cost.
Disadvantages:
- Periodic hangs of the software environment on older firmware versions;
- No new USB 3.0 interface;
- Problems with connecting large external hard drives.
Judging from the comments of the owners iconBIT XDS94K, the device does a great job of playing 4K video, has universal capabilities for connecting both on a wired and wireless home network.
The best media player for viewing video in Ultra HD
The advanced modification of Dune HD Solo 4K is equipped with a powerful processor capable of coping with the heaviest video file. The device is built on a modern hardware platform and can fully interact with the latest 4K-TV models.
Advantages:
- Wall mounting, control via remote sensor;
- Full support for 4K video codecs;
- Reading of images with movies on the network or from an external disk;
- Built-in TV tuner;
- Support for DLNA and UPnP;
- Active cooling;
- In the presence of a seat under the hard drive;
- Extensive network capabilities( FTP, NAS).
Disadvantages:
- High cost;
- A small number of additional software plug-ins;
- No USB 3.0;
- A complex implementation of the settings.
In the model Dune HD Solo 4K implemented the majority of modern multimedia technologies, the device is sure to please "advanced" users. The ratio of positive and negative reviews of owners indicate a high level of functionality of the media player.
Which stationary media player to buy
After analyzing the sellers' offers and user reviews available today, you can draw the following conclusions:
1. In terms of price-performance ratio, the most profitable purchase is Google Chromecast 2015.
2. If the media player is purchased inmainly for watching IP TV, the best candidate is Dune HD Solo Lite.
3. Maximum functionality is provided by Apple TV Gen4 and Dune HD Solo 4K.The choice between them is mainly due to whether you are an active user of Apple technology.
