AppleTV picture quality

[mohanman]

I love my appletv, we all know that, but the pq is subpar. So I decided to get a TVIX 6500 to keep me occupied until a new version of appletv comes out (which I hope it does).

.mkvs, and blueray rips look fantastic. One thing that is totally weird though is that I transferred from of my .m4v files from my itunes libary to the tvix and the picture quality is also fantastic.. almost 10-20% sharper then on the appletv itself with no re-encoding. Must be the processing chip or something?

Weird?

Mo

 

[Tilpots]

Is this the TVIX that is also a DVR? If so, could you give a review? Thanks.

 

[mohanman]

Yeah its TVIX model #6500A. I bought it from Newegg.com, I think they have open boxes right now.

Anyway, you want a review, I can definately do that. I also bought a popcorn hour A-110 for comparison. I am a big appletv fan, for its simplicity of use, excellent interface (my mom could use it), and I love Itunes.. I love apple period. Why am I disappointed? Because picture quality on appletv needs to be improved big time. So first I got the A-110, it took forever to ship I thought I would get the TVIX in the mean time.

1) Tvix-
Pros: Pretty decent interface. Played almost any file I have thrown at it. Easy to manipulate icons and backgrounds. Password for folders you don't want viewed by others (e.g. adult). Comes well packaged.
Cons: $400!!!!, firmware sucks they released a new update and it made everything worse. Too many confusing ways to ffw/rw and skip through movie files. Hard to setup via NFS shares etc. A little bit noisy, but not too bad. I don't like the way the unit powers on/off (but does take about the same time as appletv). I do think my mom would have a problem watching movies on this because of the confusing ffw/rew chapter skipping stuff. It doesn't exist for most files. Have to manually update firmware by uploading to hard drive.

2) PCH
Pros: Played most files, quiet, easy to add hard drive. Firmware update via interface. Large support group (though most of them are buttheads), relatively cheap. Ffw/rew/ skipping much better and functional then TVIX.
Cons: Impossible to get setup as easily as TVIX. Its a pain. No folder password protection. YAMJ and other visual menu systems too hard to set up, total waste of time to do it.

So what am I left with? Hopes, yes hopes! THat Apple release new appletv! Please!!!!

Mo

 

[Tilpots]

Thanks for the review. Does your Tivx function as a DVR for OTA ATSC signals?

I'm hoping for an AppleTV update, too. Hoping for both a DVR and Blu-Ray playing device. Likely? Who knows. It's not for lack of technology or price. Apple's supposed to be a leader of technology and they're not scared to offer hardware for a premium. If a new release came out with either DVR or Blu-Ray, I'd probably buy it, but both is the hope...

 

[mohanman]

Thanks for the review. Does your Tivx function as a DVR for OTA ATSC signals?

I'm hoping for an AppleTV update, too. Hoping for both a DVR and Blu-Ray playing device. Likely? Who knows. It's not for lack of technology or price. Apple's supposed to be a leader of technology and they're not scared to offer hardware for a premium. If a new release came out with either DVR or Blu-Ray, I'd probably buy it, but both is the hope...

It does function as a DVR, but I don't have the card. I have spent many years and wasted energy on HTPCs (including media center, sagetv and stuff like that). Nothing beats the easy setup and use as a dedicated cable box, so I use Tivo now for my TV only. Combo Appletv and TVIX for the vidoes/music/podcasts/youtube etc. I don't use any dvd or blueray discs.

You may want to look at a mac mini for dvd playback, and dvr

Mo

 

[xti]

Almost sparked my interest until I read this review. It's nice to see this market taking off. It will only be a matter of time until the next great thing comes out which will make the ATV obsolete. But for now I will keep my ATV. And if I decided to get anything else, it would most likely be a mini at this point in time.

"Pros: Nice looking device. Was shipped fast (though I had to pay 2.99 for Newegg to get off their but), played every file I threw at it.
Cons: Not easy to use, however I am a previous Appletv user, and nothing beats that interface. Took me a few hours to figure out how to get networking to go, not for the novice user. 15 second skip, but thats it, then you have to use goto function or ffw through the whole movie, not very intuitive. Features don't work like password save and whats really funny, is that you can put a safety lock so that kids and other people don't get into your system settings, but it tells you what the passkey is!!?? Why the heck would it do that??
Other Thoughts: Overall, for 400.00, no way jose. I'm returning it. This item should be more like 150.00 period.

Yes, my appletv doesn't play 1080p files, and no it doesn't play mkvs (unless converted), but it works and quality is something that is lacking."

 

[mohanman]

Almost sparked my interest until I read this review. It's nice to see this market taking off. It will only be a matter of time until the next great thing comes out which will make the ATV obsolete. But for now I will keep my ATV. And if I decided to get anything else, it would most likely be a mini at this point in time.

"Pros: Nice looking device. Was shipped fast (though I had to pay 2.99 for Newegg to get off their but), played every file I threw at it.
Cons: Not easy to use, however I am a previous Appletv user, and nothing beats that interface. Took me a few hours to figure out how to get networking to go, not for the novice user. 15 second skip, but thats it, then you have to use goto function or ffw through the whole movie, not very intuitive. Features don't work like password save and whats really funny, is that you can put a safety lock so that kids and other people don't get into your system settings, but it tells you what the passkey is!!?? Why the heck would it do that??
Other Thoughts: Overall, for 400.00, no way jose. I'm returning it. This item should be more like 150.00 period.

Yes, my appletv doesn't play 1080p files, and no it doesn't play mkvs (unless converted), but it works and quality is something that is lacking."

Haha.. thats my newegg.com review

Thanks
Mo

 

[lenni1969]

Dvico 6500a v Apple TV

Hi guys, I just finished reading your discussion about Apple TV and the Dvico 6500. Can someone confirm a couple things though. Firstly, if I download movies via itunes, can I play them on the 6500a? Secondly, as I own a Mac, can I wirelessly connect the 6500a to my Mac via wifi and there access files I have on my external HHDs? Thanks, lenni

 

[mohanman]

Hi guys, I just finished reading your discussion about Apple TV and the Dvico 6500. Can someone confirm a couple things though. Firstly, if I download movies via itunes, can I play them on the 6500a? Secondly, as I own a Mac, can I wirelessly connect the 6500a to my Mac via wifi and there access files I have on my external HHDs? Thanks, lenni

1) You can't play videos from Itunes, I haven't tried music (because of DRM)
2) You have to get a wifi adapter.. see DVICO website as only a few work with it. Setting up NFS is not fun..

Mo