50 inch TV that plays all formats on USB?

[goodyet]

I bought a 32" Samsung J5300 recently. It play's most formats: it supports flac, vp8/vp9, vorbis/ogg etc. It even recognizes separate .srt subtitle files.

The TV doesn't allow turning off screen/display while playing audio files (mp3/flac), which I think is a major drawback. If I play audio only content for hours, it might lead to screen burning as same image gets displayed continuously. However, the screen can be turned off while playing analogue tuner/component input and hopefully HDMI input too ( I have not checked HDMI input yet). Also, it doesn't seem to have ARC.

 

[Appys]

Chromecast.. Well most tvs today support dlna playback, that is better than chromecast, you can use apps like vget to cast a web url directly to the dlna tv.. I boughtand sold the chromecast in a day.. Buy a wifi enabled smart tv and thats all you need, if you have money buy a 4k tv and bug the showroom to throw in a good bluray player that should cover all the media formats as a freebie..

 

[deepakvrao]

Blue ray player? Thought that that would play only blue ray discs?

 

[regeHA]

Seems most people do not get the idea behind the Chromecast. Chrome-cast as in a casting device that will cast content from your smartphone, tablet, phablet, etc. It is not a HTPC or a media server, but works very well in conjunction with one or anything alike i.e. Plex, Kodi, etc. For $35 it is unmatched by anything else and when you factor in the fact that it can convert any ordinary TV into a Smart TV (Chromecast audio does the same for any old analog device, hi-fi equipment), it is pretty much the best thing ever for smart devices, portability, wireless networking, etc.

PS: I have been an early adopter of smart TVs, and can tell you that DLNA and smart TVs are not everything they are made out to be. For starters, the OS is never updated, it is clunky and a pain to navigate, typing text, even watching YouTube videos is a pain in the wrong place. They just do not have apps or app support and certainly no updates ever. At the very least you will need a wireless keyboard (if it is supported at all). Compare that to an app on your Android device that you can speak into or Swype with ease.

 

[deepakvrao]

Seems most people do not get the idea behind the Chromecast. Chrome-cast as in a casting device that will cast content from your smartphone, tablet, phablet, etc. It is not a HTPC or a media server, but works very well in conjunction with one or anything alike i.e. Plex, Kodi, etc. For $35 it is unmatched by anything else and when you factor in the fact that it can convert any ordinary TV into a Smart TV (Chromecast audio does the same for any old analog device, hi-fi equipment), it is pretty much the best thing ever for smart devices, portability, wireless networking, etc.

PS: I have been an early adopter of smart TVs, and can tell you that DLNA and smart TVs are not everything they are made out to be. For starters, the OS is never updated, it is clunky and a pain to navigate, typing text, even watching YouTube videos is a pain in the wrong place. They just do not have apps or app support and certainly no updates ever. At the very least you will need a wireless keyboard (if it is supported at all). Compare that to an app on your Android device that you can speak into or Swype with ease.

OK, another noob question please.

I have resolved my issue. I can play all the formats that I want from my Mac to my TV via an HDMI cable. Will a Chromecast do the same without wires? Reliably and with same quality? As in no buffering, no drop in image/audio quality?

 

[regeHA]

OK, another noob question please.

I have resolved my issue. I can play all the formats that I want from my Mac to my TV via an HDMI cable. Will a Chromecast do the same without wires? Reliably and with same quality? As in no buffering, no drop in image/audio quality?

That is a yes to all.

However, keep in mind that the picture quality and the sound quality actually depends on the video/media player on the Mac and its settings. This is also true for HTPC and ditto when using Chromecast.

Go to YouTube and search for Chromecast local streaming, Chromecast HTPC streaming, and similar terms - you will find tons of tutorial videos.

You will need a media server running on your PC, most common are Kodi and Plex, and personally I did not like Plex, it transcodes way too much on the fly and reduces the quality. However, it is the easiest to setup and run for nontechies and noobs. Kodi offers a lot more as well as endless customization including streaming TV channels, but obviously not out of the box. Have a play with both and see what works for you.

 

[Appys]

Well.. If you are investing usd35 might as well invest in a raspberry pi and make an htpc out of it.. When i bought and sold off my chromecast it did not even support 1080p videos, I'm not sure of the scene now as i was happy with vget /dlna and then moved to kodi on a pi.. Plex worked with dlna as well.. If you use a pi there is just one device instead of the pc needed to run side by side as well

 

[deepakvrao]

That is a yes to all.

However, keep in mind that the picture quality and the sound quality actually depends on the video/media player on the Mac and its settings. This is also true for HTPC and ditto when using Chromecast.

Go to YouTube and search for Chromecast local streaming, Chromecast HTPC streaming, and similar terms - you will find tons of tutorial videos.

You will need a media server running on your PC, most common are Kodi and Plex, and personally I did not like Plex, it transcodes way too much on the fly and reduces the quality. However, it is the easiest to setup and run for nontechies and noobs. Kodi offers a lot more as well as endless customization including streaming TV channels, but obviously not out of the box. Have a play with both and see what works for you.

Thanks again. I realise that quality will depend on the source and player, but will Chromecast give me the same quality that I get for the same file played on the same software [VLC] as I get when I play the same thru a HDMI cable?

Also, won't VLC do the job just for movies? Why Kodi, though I will download and give it a shot.

 

[raghupb]

May sound like old school
Cable down for movies and music; and you can't go wrong
Wireless still has someways to go before it matures and becomes ubiquitous

Cheers,
Raghu

 

[regeHA]

Well.. If you are investing usd35 might as well invest in a raspberry pi and make an htpc out of it.. When i bought and sold off my chromecast it did not even support 1080p videos, I'm not sure of the scene now as i was happy with vget /dlna and then moved to kodi on a pi.. Plex worked with dlna as well.. If you use a pi there is just one device instead of the pc needed to run side by side as well

Exactly what I said at http://www.hifivision.com/television/61125-50-inch-tv-plays-all-formats-usb-3.html#post675837. You are missing the point if you compare Chromecast to anything, it is one of a kind and there exists nothing like it. It is not a PC, so why compare it to one? Its functionality is to convert non-smart devices into smart devices, anything with a HDMI input or even DVI or VGA, like AVRs, TVs, even PC monitors. With Chromecast Audio it is the same thing but with audio inputs. You cannot really call the Chromecast a PC, a HTPC, or even an Android TV box. All it does is take data from an external device and play it wirelessly on another device.

Why compare it to a Raspberry Pi? The Pi's competition should be with a ZBOX, Intel Compute Stick, or something like WDTV, Apple TV, or a Roku since that is the functionality it is striving for. At the very least, a HTPC with either Kodi or Plex. When compared with such devices, the Raspberry Pi only has the price going in its favor. I have a ZBOX, Roku 3 and 4, and Nvidia Shield and they do a million things the Raspberry Pi cannot. Now it would be silly to compare the Raspberry Pi to such devices, but it is even sillier to compare a Chromecast to the Pi. I am not even going to talk of the ease of using the Chromecast or setting it up, even my grandmother could do that. The Raspberry Pi is all kinds of difficult for non-techies to get to work. Not even sure why you would be comparing the Raspberry Pi to a Chromecast?

Thanks again. I realise that quality will depend on the source and player, but will Chromecast give me the same quality that I get for the same file played on the same software [VLC] as I get when I play the same thru a HDMI cable?

Also, won't VLC do the job just for movies? Why Kodi, though I will download and give it a shot.

Yes it will in terms of PQ (upto 1080P, for 4K Roku 4 is the better option).

Kodi (and Plex) are media servers and as such let you play content wirelessly via compatible DLNA devices or with the use of a device like Chromecast hence the recommendation. If you are happy pulling a wire and VLC then you do not really need Kodi or Chromecast.