HTPC: capable, silent, reliable

[TheInquiring]

Dear experts,

Will you please be so kind to help me identify a suitable prebuilt PC model capable of providing at least the same functional as this Android-based media player?

So far, I found only a couple manufacturers offering HTPC for somewhat reasonable prices:

• MeLE (various options)
• Beelink (multiple variants)

Mac mini M1 (not sure about the current model) is reported to provide only up to 24/48 audio through the HDMI output, and it is also not silent.

Please chime in!

 

[tifune]

I went with Beelink SEI12 because it was the only model that has an extra HD bay. No complaints, and it's often on sale during Prime Day etc.

 

[Prana Ferox]

HTPC work these days tends to be very undemanding on hardware. A Mac is probably serious overkill. You can go with practically any of the Beelink-style mini boxes, or a fanless unit, or a used 1L business computer. You can always add USB storage. For hi-def audio I would just plan on an outboard DAC, even if just a $10 dongle. While CPU need is light, a newer CPU will have better AV codecs, and a newer box tends to have better WiFi / BT standards, if you can make use of them.

I have a bigger setup with an AMD 5600G but I also play games on it.

 

[Graham849]

For a year now I have been using a mele and jriver software. Very happy as I can also remote control from phone and tablet. Output from jriver is USB to DO100, or wifi to two wiim minis.

I don't think I ever use more than 10% of the user possibilities in jriver.

I have tweaked the mele to use less power as per archimago posts at his website.

 

[Vincentponcet]

Dear experts,

Will you please be so kind to help me identify a suitable prebuilt PC model capable of providing at least the same functional as this Android-based media player?

So far, I found only a couple manufacturers offering HTPC for somewhat reasonable prices:

• MeLE (various options)
• Beelink (multiple variants)

Mac mini M1 (not sure about the current model) is reported to provide only up to 24/48 audio through the HDMI output, and it is also not silent.

Please chime in!

Last time I checked, supporting Dolby vision and Dolby Atmos on reading media files a PC is not possible afaik.
An Nvidia Shield is cheap and works (except not the full FEL support on UHD-BD rips, some other android boxes do better here)

 

[wwenze]

PC is complicated because it can go from small and really low power to big and high power, and sometimes you really do need that high power, 8k60 YouTube videos lag even lowrange discreet GPUs.

If you think Mac Mini M1 is not silent, the other mini PCs that can actually do stuff are not silent either.

 

[ban25]

People tend to like the offerings from Minisforum:

Mini PCs | Mini Work Station | Tablets | Minisforum

MINISFORUM insists on the principle of innovation & stability to provide Mini PCs from a professional perspective to global PC channel distributors with commercial value; committed to developing new products to bring a different office gaming experience to customers.

store.minisforum.com

I run a home server and NAS with an NVIDIA Shield TV Pro as a client, so no need for an HTPC as such.

 

[Keith_W]

Does it have to be prebuilt? Assembling a PC yourself is quite easy. But if you would rather not, it might be better to ask a computer shop to assemble a PC for you from your selected components. If you want silent, I would go with a fanless PC case from Streacom and choose a CPU with a low TDP. Then think about whether you need a GPU or not. The rest of the components do not generate much heat, and can be selected based on functionality and whether they will fit in the case.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

I use a Quieter 3. I do not run Roon, and I understand it's way underpowered for Roon, butttt, I do run JRiver MC 30, I can stream 4k HDR 24 Fps to my LG C1 via HDMI, so I can run Netflix Desktop, Amazon Prime, Qobuz, YouTube etc. I also run DLBC as a plugin for JRiver, and send an LPCM 5.1 channel USB audio feed to my Octo Dac 8 pro, so I run a 5.1 Channel home Theater system consisting of two LS 50 Metas L-R, a Kef HTC 3010 SE center, two OG LS 50's for SR-SL, and two SVS SB 2000 subs. The Mele runs all the legacy Codecs, but no Atmos, DTS-X or Auro 3D, unfortunately. Sounds really good, no lip sync issues, and the Picture is great. Very happy with this set up, but not Atmos sadly. Not powerful enough to run 4k HDR 60 or 120 FPS, but since movies on Netflix and Prime are natively run in 24FPS, I'm satisfied with that.

For me, a Goldilocks solution.

 

[Chr1]

Currently using a Beelink T34 Gemini as a HTPC/Server. Using Foobar2000 and the wonderful free MathAudio RoomEQ. Got several similar models cloned so that I can easily rerun RoomEQ for whatever room and use as UPNP endpoints. A very cheap option for a high quality DSP solution. I am in the UK and they are currently available at reasonable prices second hand...Recommend going for the 8GB ram version personally .

 

[Graham849]

I use a Quieter 3. I do not run Roon, and I understand it's way underpowered for Roon, butttt, I do run JRiver MC 30, I can stream 4k HDR 24 Fps to my LG C1 via HDMI, so I can run Netflix Desktop, Amazon Prime, Qobuz, YouTube etc. I also run DLBC as a plugin for JRiver, and send an LPCM 5.1 channel USB audio feed to my Octo Dac 8 pro, so I run a 5.1 Channel home Theater system consisting of two LS 50 Metas L-R, a Kef HTC 3010 SE center, two OG LS 50's for SR-SL, and two SVS SB 2000 subs. The Mele runs all the legacy Codecs, but no Atmos, DTS-X or Auro 3D, unfortunately. Sounds really good, no lip sync issues, and the Picture is great. Very happy with this set up, but not Atmos sadly. Not powerful enough to run 4k HDR 60 or 120 FPS, but since movies on Netflix and Prime are natively run in 24FPS, I'm satisfied with that.

For me, a Goldilocks solution.

Have you seen this

NEW: Bitstreaming Audio-only Files, Including Dolby Atmos

NEW: Bitstreaming Audio-only Files, Including Dolby Atmos

yabb.jriver.com

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Have you seen this

NEW: Bitstreaming Audio-only Files, Including Dolby Atmos

NEW: Bitstreaming Audio-only Files, Including Dolby Atmos

yabb.jriver.com

I have, but doesn't mean it will decode Atmos on streaming platforms, I think. I just want to decode the Atmos in Netfix and Prime. We seem to be getting closer. Erin just reviewed some Monoprice speakers with coincident drivers which would make very good cheap heights. Then there is also the problem of how to aggregate two or more DACS to create more than 8 channels of LPCM conversion. So still not feasible, but I think it's coming sooner or later, b/c the current "just buy a receiver" system is ridiculous-especially for someonee who doesn't want to create a dedicated home theater room with a "library" of Blue Ray disks in shelves along the wall.

 

[MCH]

. I just want to decode the Atmos in Netfix and Prime.

@VoidX wrote some time ago he was working on making cavern work with streams

 

[TheInquiring]

Dear experts,
Any particular fanless models from Mele or Minisforum you would kindly recommend me, please?
Looks like Beelink does not offer such PCs, unfortunately...
Please chime in!

 

[yewneek]

I've recently bought and set up a media box like this, based on the Beelink Mini S. Purchased for 129GBP with the extra RAM for 20GBP more.

Celeron N5095A with 16G RAM 128/1TB boot and storage. Running Plex Media Server and acting as a VPN domain controller. I tweaked W11 to run fast and quiet.
Even when maxxed out it's silent in a quiet room of 24dB ambient.

Fanless? Can't see the point, it is below any threshold I can hear with a fan working.

With current SSD prices falling to absurd levels, what's the point in getting a hobbled Android device when you can have it all, and more.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Dear experts,
Any particular fanless models from Mele or Minisforum you would kindly recommend me, please?
Looks like Beelink does not offer such PCs, unfortunately...
Please chime in!

Mele Quieter HD3 at $269. Has 16 GB or dual channel memory and still fanless. Should be an improvement over the Quieter 3Q which has only 8GB of single channel memory.

 

[VoidX]

@VoidX wrote some time ago he was working on making cavern work with streams

Yes, a plugin for Microsoft Spatial Audio API. I'm still learning it.

 

[Prana Ferox]

Dear experts,
Any particular fanless models from Mele or Minisforum you would kindly recommend me, please?
Looks like Beelink does not offer such PCs, unfortunately...
Please chime in!

There are a zillion different models and manufacturers. This might be a good time for you to say what features you want to prioritize... lots of boxes can be very capable HTPCs, if you want 8K output and Dolby Vision, that might cut the list down.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

There are a zillion different models and manufacturers. This might be a good time for you to say what features you want to prioritize... lots of boxes can be very capable HTPCs, if you want 8K output and Dolby Vision, that might cut the list down.

I don't know of any HTPC that does Dolby Vision. A number of them: MAC Mini, Mele, Intel Nuc will do HDR, however. And who needs 8K?

 

[Prana Ferox]

I don't know of any HTPC that does Dolby Vision. A number of them: MAC Mini, Mele, Intel Nuc will do HDR, however. And who needs 8K?

The OP links to a box that claims Dolby Vision capability, and someone upthread mentioned 8K. The point being that if you say "I want box play movies" you're going to get a million mostly useless responses, if you lay out a couple features you really want / don't care about / want to avoid, that cuts the list down hopefully quite a bit