X-Fi HomeTeater HD is out - ehh....

[prerich]

X-fi has missed a grand opprotunity to gain maximum ground in the HTPC market. They have released their long awaited X-Fi Home Theater HD sound card for bitstreaming, but it cost as much as a Xonar HDAV 1.3 Deluxe ($249.00 (you could add $50 bucks and get a PS3 slim for that price - I can't believe I'm saying that).

Asus, however has released the Slim for sometime and it cost $100 less than the X-fi and the only thing missing is 7.1 analog outs (and you've got that on your PC already - depending on your motherboard). If you want to bitstream, to me there is only one flavor and that's the Slim - not because I own it, but it only makes good sense. Chime in - especially if you are using one of the above products - regardless of which one.

[DrasticPlastic]

I want to bitstream, but not so much that I'm willing to spend hundreds extra to do it... I'll just wait for video cards that pass audio to be able to do this without the aid of another expensive audio card. Not to mention, I want a card that works with any piece of software, not just PowerDVD or TMT 3.

[tlmaclennan]

I'm thinking about switching to a Network Media Tank (NMT) like the new Popcorn Hour C-200. I can still bitstream, it's completely discless though I can install a Blu-ray drive and use it as a standalone player. Plus it's relatively cheap and easy...only $300.

I love my HTPC but at that price point it's hard to beat.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by tlmaclennan

I'm thinking about switching to a Network Media Tank (NMT) like the new Popcorn Hour C-200. I can still bitstream, it's completely discless though I can install a Blu-ray drive and use it as a standalone player. Plus it's relatively cheap and easy...only $300.

I love my HTPC but at that price point it's hard to beat.

That Media Tank is a hot product!!! I just found this one http://www.sundialmicro.com/dragon-t...2089_1491.html and it does everything!!!!

[Blacklac]

Originally Posted by tlmaclennan

I'm thinking about switching to a Network Media Tank (NMT) like the new Popcorn Hour C-200. I can still bitstream, it's completely discless though I can install a Blu-ray drive and use it as a standalone player. Plus it's relatively cheap and easy...only $300.

I love my HTPC but at that price point it's hard to beat.

I don't know if Popcorn Hour has more than one model now, but when I was looking at getting one about a year ago, I remember that the video chip was nothing special at all. I notice your sig says "high end PC". You may take a dip on video performance.

[doctorD]

Originally Posted by prerich

X-fi has missed a grand opprotunity to gain maximum ground in the HTPC market. They have released their long awaited X-Fi Home Theater HD sound card for bitstreaming, but it cost as much as a Xonar HDAV 1.3 Deluxe ($249.00 (you could add $50 bucks and get a PS3 slim for that price - I can't believe I'm saying that).

Asus, however has released the Slim for sometime and it cost $100 less than the X-fi and the only thing missing is 7.1 analog outs (and you've got that on your PC already - depending on your motherboard). If you want to bitstream, to me there is only one flavor and that's the Slim - not because I own it, but it only makes good sense. Chime in - especially if you are using one of the above products - regardless of which one.

Do you have a link for this? I didn't see it on their website.

[doctorD]

Nevermind...found it: http://www.auzentech.com/site/produc...theater_hd.php

[tlmaclennan]

Originally Posted by Blacklac

I don't know if Popcorn Hour has more than one model now, but when I was looking at getting one about a year ago, I remember that the video chip was nothing special at all. I notice your sig says "high end PC". You may take a dip on video performance.

I don't know I don't really think you can compare HTPC hardware to a standalone player. I actually think the Popcorn Hour will be an upgrade in both video and audio. This will be the first time I can bitstream and it has support for Deep Color, which my current HTPC video card doesn't do.

If it's not a huge upgrade in quality then it's definitely a plus that it is cheaper and simple. I was looking at having a dedicated HTPC that looks like a standalone player. It quickly got more expensive than I wanted, and even then I felt like I was making compromises.

I have no knowledge on the video chip quality in the PCH, but I do know that many use it as their main Blu-ray platform. I've seen people with high end HT equipment use the PCH. If it's good enough for them it's more than enough for me.

[prerich]

I also have other new news, Motherboards with bitstreaming capability will make their apperance in 2010!!!