HTPC: capable, silent, reliable

[rynberg]

HTPCs no longer make sense for modern media playback. I use a PC as a Plex server but use an Nvidia Shield as the endpoint, so it can playback the full quality of 4K UHD rips, as well as serve as a much better streaming device than a PC. For music, I use Roon so have an Intel NUC running Roon ROCK OS, directly connected to my AVR. With this setup, I get full quality movie and hi-res multichannel music playback, both with wonderful organized display systems and none of the limitations/hassles of Windows/MacOS.

 

[Keith_W]

HTPCs no longer make sense for modern media playback. I use a PC as a Plex server but use an Nvidia Shield as the endpoint, so it can playback the full quality of 4K UHD rips, as well as serve as a much better streaming device than a PC. For music, I use Roon so have an Intel NUC running Roon ROCK OS, directly connected to my AVR. With this setup, I get full quality movie and hi-res multichannel music playback, both with wonderful organized display systems and none of the limitations/hassles of Windows/MacOS.

I am surprised that you are running a proprietary OS and think that Windows/Mac has "limitations" Can you run VST's on your Roon Rock OS? Use a third party convolver? Play games?

 

[escape2]

Here is another fanless option, based on Intel N100 CPU:

Sorry! Something went wrong!

 

[rynberg]

I am surprised that you are running a proprietary OS and think that Windows/Mac has "limitations" Can you run VST's on your Roon Rock OS? Use a third party convolver? Play games?

1. I am surprised you appear to be unaware of the massive limitations with 4k UHD playback and streaming on Windows/Mac machines...perhaps you are only using 1080p SDR?
2. Why would I need to run VSTs or a third-party convolver to listen to music? I EQ the system below Schroeder using my AVR and leave sources alone. If I did want to apply processing to the music, Roon has extensive processing capabilities.
3. Roon ROCK OS operates like an appliance...no managing Windows or Mac or any hassles, it works fantastically as a dedicated music playback device, including hi-res multichannel.
4. With respect to games, an Nvidia Shield offers very nice gaming...most normal HTPC builds would be inferior. If you are a serious PC gamer and also want to play on your media/living room system, then a PC is warranted, but even if I did that I would still use the Nvidia Shield and Roon ROCK devices.

 

[Keith_W]

1. Totally unaware. I don't watch TV or use any video streaming services, ever. As for my TV, it is an ancient 55" plasma ... so yes, it is 1080p SDR. And besides this is Audio Science Review
2. I need a convolver and VST's. uBACCH is a VST and it I consider it essential.
3. I don't have any hassles with my PC either. I set up Windows to bypass login and auto-boot JRiver. I just turn it on and it's ready to go. Just like an appliance.
4. I highly doubt that Nvidia shield can rival my PC, and it has a relatively humble GTX3070 in it. But then I have never looked at a Shield so I may be wrong.

 

[Chr1]

I am curious as to why you would choose to use seperate PCs as servers for Plex and Roon. Surely you could use the same PC?

 

[Music1969]

And besides this is Audio Science Review

There is a forum section dedicated on ASR to "Come here for expert news, reviews and lots of fun related to video, home theater and movies!"

Home Theater AVR and Processor Review

Come here for expert news, reviews and lots of fun related to video, home theater and movies!

www.audiosciencereview.com

So ASR is not all audio

 

[Littletycoon]

1. I am surprised you appear to be unaware of the massive limitations with 4k UHD playback and streaming on Windows/Mac machines...perhaps you are only using 1080p SDR?
4. With respect to games, an Nvidia Shield offers very nice gaming...most normal HTPC builds would be inferior. If you are a serious PC gamer and also want to play on your media/living room system, then a PC is warranted, but even if I did that I would still use the Nvidia Shield and Roon ROCK devices.

1. What limitations? Only limitation is Dolby Vision (but that even not with jriver and maybe also other software supports dv). Windows machines with the right media apps play/stream any 4k uhd rips you throw at it. Any.
4. That reasoning lacks any focus: htpc's can be spec'd in countless ways. With comparable hardware specs shield vs. Pc gaming is the same.

A Room Rock is just a PC (x86/x64 hardware) with a separate OS (Linux based in my recollection). You could run Roon OS virtualised if you really need Roon Rock. Imho running Roon Rock and Plex server on separate machines is waste of money (as is Shield).

 

[Prana Ferox]

There are a lot, a lot, of possible hardware and software solutions to "I want to watch movies / play games / listen to music on my TV" and some may be more optimal in individual cases but that doesn't make others wrong

 

[Chr1]

There are a lot, a lot, of possible hardware and software solutions to "I want to watch movies / play games / listen to music on my TV" and some may be more optimal in individual cases but that doesn't make others wrong

Indeed. I am just curious as to why you would need your Roon and Plex servers on different machines. I use Minimserver for music and Plex for films. Both on the same mini PC. Nothing wrong with either way for sure tho...

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Has anybody asked, for what use?
I mean is it going to be a music server, plex server, or do you want to run Kodi-DSplayer or Jriver to upscale movies to watch on a large screen?
Music server is easy, plex server doing no transcoding is easy too, transcoding in real time is hard! very hard.
madVR upscaling videos, requires a beefy video card, embedded stuff won't cut it.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

1. Totally unaware. I don't watch TV or use any video streaming services, ever. As for my TV, it is an ancient 55" plasma ... so yes, it is 1080p SDR. And besides this is Audio Science Review
2. I need a convolver and VST's. uBACCH is a VST and it I consider it essential.
3. I don't have any hassles with my PC either. I set up Windows to bypass login and auto-boot JRiver. I just turn it on and it's ready to go. Just like an appliance.
4. I highly doubt that Nvidia shield can rival my PC, and it has a relatively humble GTX3070 in it. But then I have never looked at a Shield so I may be wrong.

Do you know what HT in HTPC stands for?

 

[gorman]

1. I am surprised you appear to be unaware of the massive limitations with 4k UHD playback and streaming on Windows/Mac machines...perhaps you are only using 1080p SDR?

Only limitation concerns Dolby Vision.

With proper specifications you get unrivalled upscaling through madVR or mpv. And LOTS of stuff is not and probably will not ever be available in native 4K.

 

[Chr1]

As I suggested in another thread about streamers, it seems to me to be a better, and often cheaper option to use a seperate dedicated media player for 4K and just leave the PC to server duties. Then you can use a very efficient fanless machine.
I use a Zidoo x9S for 3D playback and several Minix boxes elsewhere via Plex. Minimserver for audio.

 

[pseudoid]

HTPCs no longer make sense for modern media playback. I use a PC as a Plex server but use an Nvidia Shield as the endpoint, so it can playback the full quality of 4K UHD rips, as well as serve as a much better streaming device than a PC. For music, I use Roon so have an Intel NUC running Roon ROCK OS, directly connected to my AVR. With this setup, I get full quality movie and hi-res multichannel music playback, both with wonderful organized display systems and none of the limitations/hassles of Windows/MacOS.

This must be above my payscale:
What exactly is the limitation of a NUC, which prevents it from being utilized as an HTPC?

Feed it with a local NAS - even if you are not connected to any other network - and you can serve any entertainment (A/V) you wish it to be the control/distribution center for them. If you want to go thru your fancy AVR or if you want to feed it directly to a TV and a PowerAmp/ speaker combination, those are strictly your choice.

 

[Chr1]

3D and 4K can be taxing. Depends on how much you want to spend on your PC. Both in outlay and running cost. Dedicated play back media boxes are cheap and efficient, then your PC can be cheap and fanless and left on 24/7 as it is pretty much like a NAS.
As long as you don't play games.
Just my 2c.

 

[rynberg]

1. Totally unaware. I don't watch TV or use any video streaming services, ever. As for my TV, it is an ancient 55" plasma ... so yes, it is 1080p SDR. And besides this is Audio Science Review
2. I need a convolver and VST's. uBACCH is a VST and it I consider it essential.
3. I don't have any hassles with my PC either. I set up Windows to bypass login and auto-boot JRiver. I just turn it on and it's ready to go. Just like an appliance.
4. I highly doubt that Nvidia shield can rival my PC, and it has a relatively humble GTX3070 in it. But then I have never looked at a Shield so I may be wrong.

1. Then why are you commenting on an HTPC thread...this isn't just a music server. Windows is inferior to almost any streaming device for these purposes.
2. OK, Roon may have similar processing available...but in any case, you are in the extreme minority. I don't use processing other than EQ for room correction below Schroeder.
3. Updates with modern Windows are frequently disruptive and much more of a hassle to deal with than Roon ROCK, which actually operates like an appliance (like a streaming device).
4. Not sure why you are countering my post when you don't actually know anything about the devices in question...

 

[rynberg]

I am curious as to why you would choose to use seperate PCs as servers for Plex and Roon. Surely you could use the same PC?

If you research Roon ROCK, you would know that you can't. I don't like Swiss army knives when dedicated platforms do a much better job.

 

[rynberg]

Only limitation concerns Dolby Vision.

With proper specifications you get unrivalled upscaling through madVR or mpv. And LOTS of stuff is not and probably will not ever be available in native 4K.

I disagree, but even with your statement, that requires a serious PC (>$2,500). And unless you have a large projection screen, I doubt madVR really does a visually better job of upscaling 1080p than an NVidia Shield on a normal-sized display. And then you have to get signal from the large noisy PC to your AVR/processor.

 

[rynberg]

This must be above my payscale:
What exactly is the limitation of a NUC, which prevents it from being utilized as an HTPC?

Feed it with a local NAS - even if you are not connected to any other network - and you can serve any entertainment (A/V) you wish it to be the control/distribution center for them. If you want to go thru your fancy AVR or if you want to feed it directly to a TV and a PowerAmp/ speaker combination, those are strictly your choice.

The limitation is Windows, not the NUC. Although a NUC can be annoyingly loud if you have a quiet listening room and listen to dynamic content. I use a NUC for my Roon ROCK server, in fact.

Of course that assumes you are streaming direct play without transcoding -- a NUC will not be able to perform higher transcodes.