Choose a universal media player to connect to your TV. Launching the media player iconBIT HDS6L Performance and hardware platform
Iconbit has long been known for its comprehensive multimedia solutions. In particular, the line of media players, which we have covered many times, includes both expensive models of equipment and devices for the unpretentious user, the most popular ones. This popularity is due not only to their low price, but, more importantly, to their wide functionality. Which, in turn, is achieved thanks to the presence of a built-in TV tuner that supports work with terrestrial digital signal, which is broadcast in Russia. These are the popular consoles that will be discussed in this article. And so that the choice is not narrow, we will study three models at once that have similar functionality. Along the way, comparing the multimedia and other capabilities of the devices.
Completeness, design
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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The modest, discreet packaging in which the devices are supplied is equally informative: it contains quite detailed technical information about the main functions, inputs and outputs, as well as completeness.
Which, it should be noted, is also quite modest: the package contains only the most necessary accessories. For example, there is no HDMI cable, but why? It seems for a very reasonable reason: such a cable is necessary for connecting to a TV or other signal display source that supports high resolution. But if the user already has such a source, then with a high degree of probability he also has the main tool for transmitting a digital signal - the notorious HDMI cable.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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Let us note the following facts: the first set-top box, Iconbit Movie T2 (which cannot even be called a set-top box due to its miniature size), is intended for discreet placement. For example, behind the TV or in the back of a shelf. Because the infrared sensor of this set-top box, which picks up signals from the remote control, is located outside, connecting to the device with a thin meter-long cable. The sensor can be placed anywhere by gluing it with double-sided adhesive tape so that the infrared radiation from the remote control can “get” the sensor from any corner of the room. Unlike this miniature set-top box, the next two devices are placed next to or under the TV.
Despite the seemingly significant differences in the design of the consoles under consideration, we have a completely reasonable basis for comparing these devices. Since the functionality of devices is not determined by the shape of the case or dimensions. These factors simply determine the composition of the interfaces, installation methods and power supply.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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So, despite the different form factor and dimensions, all three consoles under consideration are equipped with USB ports for connecting external media with media content suitable for playback by the built-in player. These ports are located on the sides of the cases, and this arrangement is explained by the fact that the USB connector during operation of the device is most often in demand for quickly connecting media - a flash drive, card reader or USB disk.
Other interfaces that are required for a fixed connection are usually located on the back of the case. The exception here is the Iconbit Movie T2 mini-set-top box, which, due to its design, is a device with a “pass-through” type connection.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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Inputs:
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As you can see, the difference in the composition of the inputs and outputs of the devices is small. The second device, Iconbit Movie FHD T2, has the richest selection of connectors. Here, unlike the other two set-top boxes, there is a coaxial audio output, the signal from which can be sent to an audio receiver, as well as an antenna output. Thanks to the pass-through connection scheme, this antenna output may be needed in order to provide an over-the-air signal to the next TV with a digital tuner or to another set-top box located in another room.
Another important point (not important for everyone, but perhaps for many): pay attention to the presence of analog video output in all three devices. Yes, this is the same composite video output with stereo sound that more than one generation has become accustomed to, giving it its own romantic name “tulips”. Hopelessly outdated from a technological point of view, this interface is still used in many households. Perhaps even in the majority, given our reverent attitude towards old, proven technology. However, even the most “advanced” user, who has long emptied his home of heavy picture tubes, will probably have at least one CRT device. Somewhere in the garage or at the dacha, but there will definitely be one. And one of the TV set-top boxes under consideration is a great way to breathe a second life into a forgotten “box”. By the way, looking ahead, we note that the interface of all three set-top boxes allows them to be used with low-resolution TVs, and even with interlacing: the graphic elements of the interfaces are made large, without sharp contrast boundaries that could flicker when viewed on a kinescope with its interlaced scanning.
The first two models, Iconbit Movie T2 and Iconbit Movie FHD T2, have special slots in the bottom for mounting to vertical surfaces, like routers and other small stationary equipment. The third set-top box does not have this option; it is intended exclusively for desktop installation. It should be noted that there are a large number of ventilation holes in all cases - apparently, such natural cooling is enough to protect the devices from overheating.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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The plastic halves of the housings are connected either with latches (Iconbit Movie T2) or bolts. During operation, there is no need to look into the insides of the devices, but we will do this to evaluate the quality of the printed circuit boards.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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You can see that in all three models the central chip is necessarily equipped with a metal heatsink to dissipate heat. There is no forced cooling in the devices. The quality of the connection of the components is satisfactory; there are no traces of manual finishing or soldering.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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The first model of the console, the miniature Iconbit Movie T2, is equipped with an infrared remote control, also of small dimensions. Included with the other two models is a slightly larger remote control with a different button layout.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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Below are thermal photographs of the considered set-top boxes, taken after an hour of operation of the devices under room conditions with an ambient temperature of about 24 °C.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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It can be seen that the maximum temperature of individual sections of housings and electronic components after long-term operation does not exceed 60°C, which is, in general, a safe standard for modern microelectronics.
The main technical characteristics of the devices are summarized in one visual table:
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 | ||
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| Hardware | ||||
| TV tuner | Digital DVB-T/T2 | |||
| Playback | ||||
| Video | Containers | MKV, AVI, WMV, VOB, MOV, M2TS, MP4, FLV | MKV, AVI, WMV, VOB, MOV, M2TS, MP4, FLV | |
| Codecs | MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, VC1 | MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, VC1 | ||
| Audio | MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, M4A, WAV, AC3 | MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, M4A, WAV, AC3 | ||
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| USB | 1 × USB 2.0 (FAT/FAT32/NTFS) | |||
| Net | No | |||
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| Other characteristics | ||||
| Display | no (only status indicator in remote IR sensor) | matrix | no (only status indicator in housing) | |
| power unit | no, 5 V consumption from the USB port (TV or other source) | built-in | ||
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| Dimensions (W×H×D), weight | 85×45×21 mm, 41 g | 132×29×77 mm, 145 g | 150×30×90 mm, 250 g | |
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Settings, operation
First of all, we will study the operation of set-top boxes with terrestrial digital TV. We are, of course, talking about open air channels that are not encrypted by the provider. In Russia, such broadcasting is carried out in the DVB-T2 standard. Of course, perfect reception in different regions is not guaranteed, it highly depends on the location of the transmitter (or the location of the user, which is the same thing). For up-to-date information on DVB-T2 signal coverage, please visit. In some cases, having a good receiving antenna with a signal amplifier will not hurt. For our experiments, we purchased this antenna, which can be installed both indoors and outdoors:
Testing was carried out in different conditions. More precisely, in two: in a city of half a million (practically its very center, built up with reinforced concrete high-rise buildings) and in a small town of 30 thousand with predominantly private one-/two-story buildings. In the first case, the nearest repeater is located at a distance of five kilometers from the receiving point, and the signal needs to cross almost half the city diameter with the corresponding dense buildings. In the second case - “village” - the repeater is located one and a half kilometers from the reception point. In this case, practically nothing interferes with the free passage of the signal, but there is no direct visibility due to the terrain. Note: if in the city turning off the power to the receiving antenna led to a guaranteed disappearance of the signal, in the village digital television worked properly in the absence of signal amplification. True, it is unreliable - in order to obtain a picture without freezing or interruption, the antenna had to be aimed exactly at the repeater.
Turning on the set-top boxes until they are fully ready for operation (displaying the signal of the last channel watched) takes 10-15 seconds. If the devices have not been in use before or the channels in them have not yet been configured, then on the screen you will see the initial setup menu, from where you can start searching for an on-air digital signal. Despite the similar functionality, the speed of searching for channels in the compared set-top boxes turned out to be different. This difference is quite noticeable, although not fundamental - how often do we retune our TVs to complain that the search takes 60 seconds rather than 40?
In this video you can see that the number of channels found in all three cases is 20 plus three radio stations. However, in the small town mentioned, the search returned only ten TV channels. It turned out that in this area only (10 federal channels) are broadcast, while in a big city both (10 more channels) multiplexes are broadcast. According to reliable information, in Moscow and the Moscow region there is reliable reception of all three multiplexes, and that’s 30 channels! Unfortunately, the author was not able to admire these fruits of civilization due to the serious distance from them. But nothing! The broadcast digital is still at the stage of development and launch.
Having become interested in the question of the number of digital channels, we searched not for an terrestrial signal, but for a cable one. From the same cable that enters a city apartment and is serviced by one of the inexpensive city providers. However, the console used to search found absolutely nothing. Everything is correct. Our provider, along with analogue channels, also broadcasts digital TV in the amount of more than 50 channels, but this signal has the DVB-C standard, which was abandoned in Russia when building an on-air digital network. And our set-top boxes, as we already know, are equipped with tuners capable of receiving signals in only DVB-T or DVB-T2 standards.
However, our interest in channel fishing did not dry up, as a result of which it was decided to go somewhere closer to the outskirts of civilization. Not so dramatically, of course. Only 10 kilometers from the nearest repeater, the one that broadcasts the first multiplex with 10 channels. This repeater works for a small town, and therefore its power is low. The antenna was installed “facing” the repeater, which was located somewhere beyond the horizon.
Before searching for channels, the antenna was powered directly from the TV set-top box, and the antenna cable was connected directly to the Iconbit Movie T2 set-top box, rather than passing through the amplifier supplied with the antenna. The set-top box quickly found all 10 television and three radio channels available in the area.
Connecting the amplifier to the antenna did not help either (since the testing was carried out in an open field, we used a 220V car inverter). Thus, we can conclude that you can only believe with great... no, with enormous a stretch. After all, judging by it, we were continuously in the zone of reliable reception, which is colored green. However, we were most likely just “lucky” with the choice of testing location. The fact is that we are located almost exactly in the center of the triangle, at the vertices of which the repeaters are located. By the way, there were three small settlements very close by. They are probably sad without digital terrestrial TV. But let's hope that with the commissioning of the second multiplex throughout the territory, the transmitter power will increase, and then...
Let's touch on the graphical interfaces of the devices in question. They are, one might say, of the same type, and the whole difference lies only in certain aspects of design and the presence/absence of some unimportant points. At the same time, the menu design of the second and third set-top boxes (Iconbit Movie FHD T2 and Iconbit Movie HDS T2) is absolutely identical, as is the composition of these menus. In the following GIF animation you can see the menu composition for Iconbit Movie T2 (left) and for two stationary consoles (right).
The menu is divided into seven thematic sections, which contain the following tools:
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| TV channel settings | |
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| Video Output Settings | |
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| Search TV channels | |
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| Setting the date and time | |
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| Language and sound options | |
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| System Settings | |
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| USB media settings | |
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We will probably leave discussions about the “quality” of a digital signal (in this case, TV) to the preachers of pure copper and gold-plated contacts. Digital is different from analog transmission: either there is a signal or there is not. The third state belongs to the category of a weak signal, when the picture “freezes” or crumbles into squares, which is a huge stretch for the concept of “quality.” If you still try to stretch digital quality onto the globe of the article, then claims to quality should be made exclusively to the broadcaster. Which - and he alone - bears full responsibility for such signal shortcomings as the notorious “scattering into squares” caused by a banal lack of bitrate, for an incorrectly set aspect of the frame and similar flaws. Recordings made by one of the considered set-top boxes will help you evaluate the quality of the received signal (you must keep in mind that recording is done without any additional recoding by simply copying the received stream and packaging it in a *.MTS container). The resulting recordings can subsequently be viewed in any software or hardware player - there is no encryption in the stream, this is a free open broadcast.
Along with the TV picture, the set-top boxes receive the required accompanying information: program guide, description of the current broadcast, subtitle stream (if any), as well as teletext, if available.
All three set-top boxes have the ability to record the selected TV or radio channel using a timer. Among the timer functions is the ability to record in cycles at a certain time every day or weekly.
Let's move on to the capabilities of set-top boxes to reproduce media content. We are talking about photos, music and videos that are copied to a USB drive. One fact should be remembered here: despite the differences in design, electronic components used and minor differences in the design of graphical interfaces, all three consoles under consideration have the same ability to reproduce certain formats. The same applies to the functionality of built-in media players - it is the same, with the exception of a single function - GoTo(quick transition to the specified position) - which is available in two stationary players Iconbit Movie FHD T2/Iconbit Movie HDS T2, but is absent in Iconbit Movie T2. All other parameters are absolutely identical, and the different design of the built-in file browsers is just a design that does not affect performance in any way.
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 and Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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Set-top boxes can be called omnivorous, if you don’t go to extremes: these are, after all, primarily TV set-top boxes, the main task of which is to receive and decode a television signal. There is no need to require them to be able to play 4K video or 10-bit “anime”. The limit for set-top boxes is video with a Full HD frame size (1920×1080) at a frequency of up to 60 frames per second (frame drops are possible!), encoded with the H.264 (AVC) codec with standard parameters. That is, with a profile no higher [email protected]. Simply put, all formats that meet DVD and Blu-ray standards, as well as those close to them, will be reproduced flawlessly. Playing other videos with non-standard encoding parameters is solely at the user's own risk. For example, our set-top boxes are not even aware of the existence of the RealVideo codec. But here’s a question: have many of the readers even heard of such a codec?
The container in which the video is packaged does not play a primary role. However, being at the same time a file extension, the container allows set-top boxes to determine at least the theoretical possibility of playing such files. If the set-top box is not trained to play, for example, the aforementioned RealMedia, then files with the *.rmvb extension simply will not be displayed in the file browser.
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With this in mind, let's consider a typical playback option when the source video is a so-called BD remix (material taken from a Blu-ray disc and packed into a container without recoding - for example, MKV). The consoles do not experience any difficulties with playing such template content. Perhaps the only negative is that the devices do not know how to navigate through the chapters of the film. they simply don't see the chapter stream in the file. But all other streams located next to the video are displayed flawlessly: audio tracks and subtitle streams can be selected directly at the time of playback.
| Display subtitles | Subtitle stream selection |
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| Select audio track, display file information | GoTo function - quick transition to a specified position |
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| Fast rewind (up to 32×) | Fast forward (up to 32×) |
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As for sound, set-top boxes easily transmit all standard audio formats to the audio receiver via HDMI, and Movie FHD T2 can also transmit multi-channel AC3 without recoding to PCM (if the HDMI RAW option is enabled in the settings). However, one can hardly expect that an audiophile, who has the rare gift of hearing the difference between AC3 and DTS, will include the described consoles as part of his musical world.
In conclusion, we present the results of our universal test. It is intended to determine valid the number of frames per second that the device is capable of processing and sending to the video output. It's no secret that players equipped with insufficiently powerful processors, being unable to process 60 frames per second, are forced to resort to tricks: duplicating or discarding frames whose flow they cannot cope with.
Testing consists of sequential playback of special video files in which the hand makes a circle around the dial at a speed of one revolution per second, or one division per frame. The white rectangle at the top of the frame moves through its cells at the same speed. If during playback you photograph the TV screen with a camera with a shutter speed of one second, each frame will be recorded in the picture, no matter how many there are in the file, 24 or 60. Uniform distribution of light areas means adequate decoding of the video stream, frame-by-frame. But if the picture shows gaps instead of a trace from the arrow, or, conversely, its traces are too bright, this indicates a missed frame or its duplication. In “real life”, when watching films, these omissions and duplications will look like sharp twitching of the picture, that is, there will be no smoothness of movement to speak of.
| Frame size, frequency | Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 |
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| 1920x1080 25p |  |
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| 1920x1080 30p |  |
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| 1920x1080 50p |  |
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| 1920x1080 60p |  |
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You can see that no complaints can be made against the set-top boxes until they play Full HD video at a frequency above 30 frames per second. By the way, the obvious omissions and duplication of frames that we see in the results of 25p video playback are a direct consequence of the fact that the set-top boxes were connected to the TV with an NTSC setting, that is, 1080 60p. If we connected them with factory settings (PAL, that is, 50 frames per second), then the picture would be mirrored: files with a frequency of 25 frames per second would be played back flawlessly, but with files with a frequency of 24 and 30 frames per second, similar problems would arise. Alas, our set-top boxes are not able to automatically switch frequencies on the video output so that they match or become a multiple of the frame rate of the video being played. However, not every full-fledged media player has such a function, let alone a TV tuner with the ability to play local files.
conclusions
The considered TV set-top boxes are modest, but quite functional devices that are capable of not only providing an on-air television signal, but also reproducing any common media content. Their low cost can be compared with the price of a good receiving TV antenna. Let us summarize the found advantages and disadvantages of the devices, bringing them into one visual comparative table:
| Iconbit Movie T2 | Iconbit Movie FHD T2 | Iconbit Movie HDS T2 | |
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Judging by this table, the most preferred are Iconbit Movie T2 and Iconbit Movie FHD T2. However, the first, Movie T2, having all the functions of “full-fledged” stationary set-top boxes, is also much smaller than its colleagues. Moreover, this device also turned out to be the most inexpensive of the entire trio. Apparently, the choice should still be made based on the needs for certain interfaces. In this regard, the undoubted leadership belongs to the second console, Iconbit Movie FHD T2. As for the third representative of the line, Iconbit Movie HDS T2 is a classic “country” version of a universal player with the ability to decode digital TV broadcasts.
Instead of an introduction, we would like to draw the attention of buyers to the reduction in price and progress of Smart TV systems over the past year. The ability to connect storage devices and wide support for various formats are now available even on the most inexpensive TVs. This is great, but the functionality of the "boxes" threatens entry-level media players. Until complete disappearance.
Players are different
Today, several classes of devices can “inject” multimedia functions into a TV: followers of DVD players, computers and tablets paved their way to television screens.
The most labor-intensive type of media players are nettop class models. These avant-garde mini-computers impress with their compactness and stability, while the quality of components, ultra-low-voltage processor performance and desktop OS capabilities cannot be compared with the potential of other media players. Today, all the power of computer browsers, programs for playing content and file-sharing networks can be obtained within a quiet and compact “box”.
Nettops: media players outside - computers inside
The problem is that the everyday use of these essentially desktop computers is hardly compatible with the tasks of a set-top box. Selecting and purchasing a remote control, searching for a suitable media shell and setting up a DVB tuner will require serious patience, and therefore will turn the project into a “long-term construction”. We leave this method to experienced and determined fans of the PC platform, and we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the world of nettops in numerous news and reviews on the site.
The next subtype of media players are devices based on Android OS. Attempts to provide TVs with the functionality of smartphones and tablets have become a trend in recent years: familiar and ready-to-use applications, OS adaptation to high-resolution displays, and inexpensive processors have had a positive impact on the proliferation of such devices. The disadvantage, as in the case of nettops, is the mediocre adaptation of the system to new controls: manufacturers have to “reinvent” the Android interface taking into account the lack of touch input, and users have to get used to the specifics of using the “lazy” Air Mouse.
Mini-computers in the Android Stick format stand out among such media players. These miniature (the size of a large flash drive) devices lack a digital tuner and only have an HDMI connector. But they can boast an affordable price and a powerful operating system.
HDMI Stick - compact media players based on Android OS
The main role in the media player market is played by devices running the Sigma Designs and Realtek platforms - direct descendants of hardware DVD and Blu-ray players. The loss of an optical disc drive is compensated by the introduction of streaming services, “omnivorousness” and, sometimes, a standard HDD connector in the media player case. Being more of a household appliance than a computer, this class of devices rarely allows the installation of third-party applications and services. The efforts of the developers lie in the area of ease of use and picture quality.
Classic IPTV set-top boxes are still relevant today
Our guide will focus on the last two categories of devices.
In the dark forest of characteristics
There are different approaches to buying a media player. Nothing prevents you from being guided only by the budget for purchasing the device. And such an approach will not necessarily end in disappointment, since the functionality of even the most budget models today satisfies the needs of an undemanding user. We will try to outline priorities for those who want to get the most out of a media player with a minimal investment.
Interfaces
The variety of interfaces in the era of digital broadcasting is disappearing, so the ideal candidate for connecting a media player would be a TV equipped with an HDMI input and support for resolutions from HD Ready and higher. The digital connector will provide maximum video signal quality and greatly simplify the output of multi-channel audio to a home theater. The HDMI specification allows you to transmit digital sound to speakers in an unchanged form (bitstream technology), which makes it possible to use the full potential of a high-quality audio system on media players running Sigma and Realtek platforms. Things are worse for set-top boxes based on ARM Cortex chipsets. In their case, the sound potential is most often limited to the transfer of a stereo stream (LPCM) already processed on the set-top box to the TV.
When it comes to connecting a media player to an outdated TV, the situation becomes much more complicated. In the absence of an HDMI connector, you will have to choose from the following analog interfaces:
- Composite output. Indicated on devices as AV Out or RCA. It uses “tulips” that have been familiar for the past ten years to output video signals and stereo sound. The quality of sound and video with this connection method leaves much to be desired, and if possible we recommend using alternative connectors.
Composite interface
- Component output. Indicated on devices as YUV Out or YPbPr. It is based on the same “tulips”, but the video signal is transmitted through several cables at once, and the resulting picture quality is the best among all available analog interfaces.
Component interface
- SCART. In fact, it is not an interface, but a “container” for transmitting an RGB image with low image quality by modern standards. Rarely found among the connectors of media players and, as a rule, comes in the form of an adapter from a composite connector or S-Video interface.
SCART connector
- S-Video. The least common interface in media players and TVs. Structurally, S-Video is a slightly higher quality alternative to the composite connector. This development has not gained much popularity among TV manufacturers, and today it is more often seen among the connectors of outdated computer video accelerators.
S-Video connector
Media players with an analog tuner on board have practically disappeared from retail, and in their place came support for the DVB-T2 digital television broadcasting standard. The digital television network in Russia is rapidly expanding, but widespread broadcasting in this standard is still far away. The presence of a digital signal in a particular locality should be checked in advance on the website of the operator of all-Russian digital television broadcasting or with local providers.
Form factor and network communications
The trick familiar to VCRs with identifying a flagship “by eye” is no longer relevant. In the media player segment, the bulkiest model is not always the most productive. The dimensions of the new players are dictated only by the number of connectors for connecting to the TV, as well as the presence of a compartment for a hard drive.
It’s also not worth giving unconditional preference to media players with a HDD connector: in the absence of a “home video library,” this function will very soon cease to be in demand. Connecting a media player to a PC, constantly removing the drive to record new files, or painstakingly working with the web interface of a torrent client is tiring. But playing files from the local network will be faster and more efficient. In the case of Android-based mini-PCs, an additional argument for this use is the characteristic shortage of ports for connecting storage devices: the only USB connector is occupied by a wireless keyboard, and the low current in the device does not allow connecting a USB Hub without power supply.
Capacious storage on board will accommodate any collection of media files
Fortunately, media players without support for data exchange over the network are rare today. Even budget models can offer an Ethernet connector or Wi-Fi support for receiving content via DLNA or Samba server. If possible, you should use an RJ-45 connector - wireless playback of Full HD video will require support for Wi-Fi 802.11n and a powerful router in line-of-sight conditions.
A clear advantage of Android-based media players is their support for social functions: clients for Facebook, VKontakte, Skype and other instant messengers work quickly and are always updated to the latest versions. Some media players are equipped with support for webcams via USB-OTG, and the second half of 2014 was marked by the release of Android Stick with a video camera and microphone in the device itself. Alas, the power of the Wi-Fi transmitter in the mini-PC leaves much to be desired, and to play 1080p video over the network, you will most often need a USB to Ethernet adapter.
Playback formats
With some reservations, we can say that the “omnivorousness” of modern media players has reached almost peak values. Over the past few years, there are no models left on the market that are unable to play video files in Divx/Xvid, H.264 and MPEG 1/2 formats. As for audio files, you should pay attention to the presence of support for high-quality audio in DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD formats. Some media players do not support sound in this format (due to the lack of a codec license or design features of the chipset), so it is better to avoid an unpleasant surprise in the form of a “silent movie” in advance.
As for containers, the popular AVI, MP4 and MKV can be easily played even in budget models, which means that any modern model is suitable for watching movies in DVDRip, BDRip, BDRip-AVC and BDRemux standards.
Problems with choosing a media player plague only fans of “full-length” Blu-ray and three-dimensional video. 3D-enabled movies are often distributed as ISO images or as file folders. Truly convenient playback of such videos can only be provided by media players that support the ISO BD3D standard, but with the caveat that navigation through the film will be carried out using the simplified BD Lite menu. Support for 3D HD video in other media players will be limited to “heuristic” launching of the M2TS file from the folder structure or a complete lack of support for the standard. Unfortunately, support for the full Blu-ray specification has fallen into oblivion along with optical discs. Aggressive lobbying against copy protection called Cinavia played a role in this.
Devices developed in close cooperation with content providers stand apart - in pursuit of copyright compliance and stimulation of purchases in online cinemas, media players receive a limited list of compatible codecs and/or streaming services that are relevant only to foreign audiences.
Controls
The interface of the Sigma SDK and Realtek SDK operating systems was developed taking into account the capabilities of a standard remote control: therefore, controlling such media players will not require additional skills for users of a TV or game console. Support for computer keyboards and mice is present in many models, but is of no practical use - multi-stage menus are easier and faster to master using the same remote control than using the mouse cursor.
TV comfort versus computer functionality
Media players running Android are at the other extreme: only multifunctional remote controls with a QWERTY keyboard and Air Mouse mode, which are not particularly ergonomic, can compensate for the lack of touch input in these products. In the end, all Android Stick users are switching to control via a full-size computer keyboard and mouse set - controlling a media player from the sofa will never be easy.
Performance and hardware platform
The confrontation between Sigma and Realtek chipsets is painfully reminiscent of the picture on the PC processor market. The Sigma Designs platform typically comes with a more refined process technology and superior synthetic performance. The stability and speed of operation of the SMP series chipsets are overshadowed by the high cost of the platform for manufacturers - equally priced media players based on Realtek and Sigma will differ in functionality not in favor of the latter.
Realtek multimedia processors are much more flexible. Thanks to a loyal pricing policy, they have become much more widespread. As is often the case in budget products, a number of annoying shortcomings have plagued the RTD series platforms for a long time - experienced users of media players will nod in the direction of a well-known flaw, when video playback at a frequency of 23.976 frames/s was accompanied by constant jerks. The next negative point occurred due to the fault of careless manufacturers of TV set-top boxes: problems with ventilation in models equipped with a slot for an HDD led to overheating and unstable operation of a whole family of media players. Today, all these problems have been eliminated, and competition between the two chipset manufacturers occurs on an equal basis.
Comparison of the performance of these platforms can be done the old-fashioned way, guided only by the operating frequencies of the processor, but the lion's share of the load in the SoC of media players falls on hardware decoders. The performance of content playback for these devices is beyond the purview of benchmarks.
However, measuring performance in “synthetic” remains the only possible way to classify SoC. Specialized multimedia processors and competing chips based on the ARM Cortex architecture can be divided into five classes (in order of decreasing performance).
For buyers who are not ready to analyze the market in search of the ideal media player, we have prepared a list of current Smart TV systems for any budget and needs. These products will not necessarily include market leaders, but the ratio of price and functionality allows us to confidently recommend these models for purchase.
Upvel UM-521TV
| CPU | Rockchip RK3188 (Cortex-A9), 1.6 GHz x 4 cores |
| Graphic arts | Mali-400 MP4 |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| HD support | 1080p |
| operating system | Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean |
| Connectors | 1x USB 2.0 1x HDMI 1.4 1x micro USB card reader (SDHC) |
| Video format support | MKV, AVI, WMV, MOV, FLV, RM, RMVB (MPEG4, H.264, VC1 codecs) |
| Audio format support | MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, WAV, FLAC, APE |
| Network connections | Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 (b/g/n) |
| Additionally | Google Play app store, compatible with standard USB keyboards and mice |
| Estimated cost | 4500 rub. |
| Price.ru |
The UM-521TV media player is the best candidate for enlivening your TV screen with social networks, online entertainment and other applications for the Google platform. A quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and stock Android Jelly Bean will appeal to buyers for whom timely familiarization with news feeds and videos means much more than painstaking selection of content for long-term viewing.
TVZor TVZ100ZT
| CPU | HiSilicon Hi3716C (Cortex-A9), 1 GHz |
| Graphic arts | Vivante GC800 |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| HD support | 1080p |
| operating system | Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich |
| Connectors | 3x USB 2.0 1x HDMI 1.4 S/PDIF (optical) composite output SCART RF IN RF OUT card reader (SDHC) |
| Video format support | MKV, AVI, WMV, MOV, TP, TS, TRP, M2T, M2TS, MP4, DAT, MPG, FLV, RM, RMVB, (codecs MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, XviD, H.264, VC1) |
| Audio format support | MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, M4A, WAV, FLAC, APE, AC3, DTS |
| Network connections | Ethernet LAN 100 M, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 (b/g/n) |
| Additionally | TVZor media shell (IPTV, OTT, WEB TV), Multiscreen function (iOS / Android), support for the YouTube service, compatibility with standard USB keyboards and mice |
| Estimated cost | 3000 rub. |
| Price.ru |
The ideology of the TVZor media player goes against fashion - the model belongs to the still small class of devices developed in collaboration with content providers. In the Russian market, the limited selection of streaming services can rarely boast of success with buyers, but TVZ100ZT has every chance to change the current situation. For just 3,000 rubles, the buyer receives a media player with a rich set of equipment, a programmable remote control with a QWERTY keyboard, a DVB-T2 tuner, an online media library and a set of connectors for connecting to a CRT or LCD TV.
Unfortunately, there is no trace left of the functionality of the Android system, and access to files on the local network is closed. But 20 stable IPTV channels are complemented by a pack of free TV series in the online store, and support for formats for digital media is in no way inferior to “full-fledged” and more expensive competitors. More details with TVZor TVZ100ZT
IconBit Movie3D IPTV
| CPU | Allwinner A20 (Cortex-A7), 1 GHz x 2 cores |
| Graphic arts | Mali-400 MP2 |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| HD support | 1080p/2160p |
| operating system | Android 4.2.2 |
| Connectors | 2x USB 2.0 1x HDMI 1.4 S/PDIF (coaxial, optical) |
| Video format support | ISO BD3D, MKV, AVI, WMV, MOV, FLV, RM, RMVB (codecs MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, XviD, H.264, WMV9, VC1) |
| Audio format support | MP3, WMA, Ogg, WAV, FLAC, APE |
| Network connections | Ethernet LAN 10/100 M, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 (b/g/n) |
| Additionally | Media shell iconBIT (IPTV, OTT, WEB TV), Google Play Store, support for USB webcams |
| Estimated cost | 3000 rub. |
| Price.ru |
IconBit Movie3D IPTV
“Functionality before performance” - the Movie3D IPTV model is based on the outdated Allwinner A20 chipset, and the proprietary shell adjacent to Android leads to extremely slow navigation through the device menu. In contrast to these shortcomings, the player has a rich set of functions and a reasonable price. Work with custom IPTV playlists, support for stereo pairs of the BD3D ISO standard, numerous streaming services and access to the Google Play application store cannot but appeal to thrifty buyers. Beginners will also appreciate the abundance of free content, while experienced Android users will appreciate root access and the ability to install third-party apps. You can find out more about IconBit Movie3D IPTV in our review.
ASUS O!Play Mini Plus
| CPU | Realtek RTD1185, 500 MHz |
| RAM | 256 MB |
| HD support | 1080p |
| operating system | RTD OS |
| Connectors | 1x USB 2.0 1x HDMI 1.3 1x eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo S/PDIF (optical) composite output card reader (SDHC/MS/xD) |
| Video format support | MKV, AVI, WMV, ISO, VOB, MOV, ASF, TS, TRP, M2TS, MP4, DAT, MPG, FLV, RM, RMVB (MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, VC1 codecs) |
| Audio format support | MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, PCM, M4A, WAV, FLAC, AC3, DTS |
| Network connections | Ethernet LAN 10/100/1000 M, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 (b/g/n) |
| Additionally | YouTube, Flickr, Muzee Internet Radio + TV, etc. |
| Estimated cost | 4800 rub. |
| Price.ru |
ASUS O!Play Mini Plus
In the O!Play Mini Plus model, ASUS engineers chose not to get involved in the pursuit of smartphone functions. The lack of support for Blu-ray ISO images and shortcomings in the online component will be accompanied by fair complaints from users. However, this model is aimed at practitioners and its main goal is convenient playback of content from local and network storage devices. Gigabit Ethernet, a card reader and an eSATA connector allow you to accept any video and music fully equipped. The level of implementation of these functions directly indicates the quality of the media player. The presence of a composite output will allow you to play Full HD files even on old TVs. But O!Play Mini Plus is not respected among enthusiasts, since the media player is based on the notorious revision of Realtek MD chipsets, which means the device is completely closed for flashing at home.
Google Nexus Player
Google Nexus Player
Google presented its vision of what a TV set-top box based on the Android operating system should be. A model called Nexus Player, developed in collaboration with ASUS, has finally gone on sale. The interface and functionality of base Android have been adapted for easy use on the TV screen and streaming content. The media player supports Google Chromecast functions, allowing you to broadcast video, music and photos from your computer, smartphone or tablet to the TV screen. A distinctive feature of the interface is the automatic ranking of applications and multimedia files in accordance with user preferences.
The basic kit includes a multifunctional remote control with an integrated microphone, and a game controller is available at an additional cost.
Nexus Player is built on a quad-core Intel Atom platform clocked at 1.8 GHz. The graphics component is based on the Imagination PowerVR Series 6 video accelerator, and the memory subsystem has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. Wireless communications are represented by Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1, and among the communication connectors there are HDMI and Micro-USB. The new item costs $99.
The hero of today's story is a gadget designed to make it possible to work with the Internet through a TV, which initially does not support Smart TV or the Internet in general in any form - neither via cable nor via WiFi. This miracle is called the Android Smart TV Box for TV, which is essentially a mini computer (Mini PC Box) with a pre-installed mobile operating system. This device connects via a modern HDMI or old-fashioned AV cable to any TV that has these connectors, and turns it into a large tablet. In this manual, I will tell you in detail how to connect and configure a TV set-top box.
Features of the Android Mini PC Box TV set-top box
Surprisingly, even in 2018, while shopping, I discovered that not all modern sophisticated TVs are equipped with even a simple Ethernet port for connecting an Internet cable. What can we say about Wi-Fi. So the invention, invented by the Chinese several years ago, is more relevant today than ever.
Moreover, Android TV set-top boxes, like any electronics, are being improved along with other technologies. Therefore, top models today support video in 4K resolution, wifi in the 5 GHz range, and many other “goodies” that make our lives more enjoyable. And it will completely eliminate the need to pay a subscription fee for a television antenna, which is installed in the apartment by default.
So let's figure it out. There are now many modifications of Android TV set-top boxes on the market, differing mainly in the size of RAM, processor power and additional functions, but they all have common features:
- WiFi support
- Support for storage devices via OTG cable
- Built-in Android system
- USB ports for connecting peripherals and flash drives for watching videos or photos
- Many models have slots for SD memory cards
Installing, connecting and configuring the Android TV Box does not require any skills and works directly, as they say, “out of the box” without any additional drivers or programs - connect via HDMI cable to the TV, and off you go.
Programs for Android consoles are no different from applications for a regular phone - in most cases they immediately have Google Play, YouTube, a browser, and so on - just like on any tablet. Accordingly, new applications are installed just like in any smartphone through the Play Market. They can be controlled either through a connected mouse or keyboard, or through a special remote control.
Instructions on how to connect an Android TV set-top box to a TV as a Smart TV
But let's move from words to practical instructions and see how to actually connect an Android TV Box. Before purchasing a model, make sure your computer has an HDMI or AV input (popularly called “tulips”). The latter is available on all TVs with a “glass” tube, which means that even old TVs, inherited from parents and collecting dust on the far mezzanine for years, can be connected to the Android TV set-top box, and you can access the Internet from them or play movies, music or photos from flash drives.
The same goes for Android Smart TV itself - most inexpensive small models only have an HDMI connector; if you have a very old TV, it will not work.
Please keep in mind that if your TV supports HDMI, then naturally use it to get the highest quality picture. Even on a good modern TV, connecting a Smart TV Box via AV tulips will produce a mediocre image, like on a tube TV. Next, plug in the set-top box and in the TV menu select HDMI or AV as the input signal source, depending on which cable you used to connect the Android TV Box.
In short, it is necessary that both the set-top box and the TV have identical connectors. Better, of course, HDMI - the quality will be noticeably higher.
Let's move on to the practice of connecting a TV set-top box on Android to a TV. Choose your option:
- HDMI cable
- or AV tulips for old TVs
and connect the TV Box to the TV
A picture familiar to all Android users will appear on the screen.
Now you can install everything on the console and enjoy watching it.
How to set up an Android TV set-top box via a WiFi router?
Here you can already use pre-installed utilities, but working with Android TV Box would be incomplete without its main advantage - the ability to connect to the Internet. In order to configure the set-top box to work on the Internet and connect to the WiFi router, we do the same as on the tablet:
After this, you can already enjoy all the benefits of the Internet - download applications, watch movies on YouTube, browse websites, play games, and so on.
How to control Android TV Box from your phone?
To make it easier to manage Smart TV Box on Android, many models support work as with, which must be purchased separately. An alternative could be an application that is installed on a smartphone or tablet and turns it into a remote control for the set-top box.
There are many such programs - I have already introduced you to one of them. It was pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones. Its advantage is that it interacts not only with TV set-top boxes, but also with TVs, air conditioners and other household appliances and other elements of a smart home.
However, you won’t be able to just download it and install it, especially if we are talking about an iPhone. Therefore, today we will talk about another universal and, most importantly, cross-platform application - Cetus Play. I talked about it briefly in an article about. It can be downloaded from both Google Play Market and Apple Store. This means installing it both on Android and iOS phones - iPhone or iPad.
To control an Android TV set-top box from your phone, you need 2 conditions:
- Connecting both the set-top box and the smartphone to the same wifi network
- Install an identical application on both devices.
This means you will need to go to the same Play Market on the console and install the version of the Cetus Play program for Android TV. It is also free and publicly available.
