Popcorn hour

Posted by: jcs_smith on 21 February 2009

I'm toying with the idea of getting a Popcorn Hour media tank server.Just wondered if anyone had any experience of integrating one into a 2channel system? I'm not thinking of using it for music. I was thinkingof using it to run HDm, JPG or AV content from my Nas box to a TV andwondered if it was possible to connect the sound output through a DACinto my pre-amp. I've checked the specs on the internet but the onesI've seen don't indicate whether it's possible, although I have seen thesuggestion that it will output surround sound.

Posted on: 21 February 2009 by pcstockton

Perhaps you should post this in the AV section of the forum.

Posted on: 27 February 2009 by Mr Perceptive

I have an HDX1000 (effectively a Popcorn Hour in a better box)

I have output 2 channel Wav files through the digital output to my DAC/Processor. There sound pretty good, not done a direct comparison with a Squeezebox doing the same. The datastream is at 44.1kHz, unlike some older computers which resample to 48kHz.

The menus though are very slow and from this point of view using it for Audio files is more of a novelty.

I bought mine for outputting ripping DVDs (that I own) and other AV content, when the program you're going to watch is an hour long, the speed of the menus isn't so critical. Again in this sceanrio I take the sound out digitally to by DAC/Processor, and it passes DD(AC3) and DTS quite happily.

Overall I'm very pleased with the unit, and the HDX1000 is significantly nicer than the relatively flimsy (and gets very hot) Popcorn Hour

Mr Perceptive

Posted on: 28 February 2009 by jcs_smith

Thanks. That's really useful. i want to use one to play YOUTUBE, ripped DVDS and as a wireless picture frame. I'll take a look at the HDX1000. There's not much info or experience of tank servers around so that's really helpful