Hi all,

I know there's thread regarding sigma vs realtek chipset but I open this thread for specifically for user experience comparison on Xtreamer Sidewinder compare to WDTV live in term of below:

- firmware update
- bugs
- Playing MKV files (smooth/problem on some file)
- Xtreamer Sidewinder have TrueHD (confuse as some said got some said nope)

I've experience with WDTV live but its started give me probs after a year of usage.
Problem experience:
- Not able to play some of 1080p MKV (stuck at loading movie screen)
- Play Kamen Rider Hibiki Series (forgot avi/mp4 - not smooth)


Before this all ok... smooth except not able to watch Kamen Rider Hibiki smoothly.

Please advice as I'm currently searching for replacement media player if possible between Xtreamer Sidewinder/WDTV live.

If you guys/gals have others player in range below RM500 which on par or better than WDTV live. Please suggest.

Between WDTVlive and Xtreamer Sidewinder...... Save your money...and stick to the WDTVlive

For those movie that stuck at the beginning...try to remux it.

http://haali.su/mkv/

ohh... ok... for Kamen Rider Hibiki i might need to remux it but i belive my unit spoilt already as not able to play most of MKV movie (which previously can). T.T

any suggested player below RM500 on par with WDTV live or better?

Have you tried updating to the latest firmware to fix that problem?

my wdtv before spoilt already with the latest firmware T.T

Which version did you update? The beta version from last month?

currently in my WDTV live Release 1.02.21 (3/30/10)

i think WDTVlive is a better option

If you still have problem with the official firmware
I suggest you try installing custom firmware instead before you fork out extra RM500 for a new one
there's lots of things you can explore with the custom one, so far plays everything fine

http://www.wdtvlive.net/showthread.php?275...tv_live-0.4.2.9

ok kewl... thanks for the guidance

Xtreamer Sidewinder is a better choice....all kinds of file support with DTSHDMA and Dolby True HD. RMVB 720p which WD TV LIve not support.

Ok,
I thought realtek based chip not support True HD?

Let me share my experience after using xtreamer sidewinder for 1 month+. I play movie from my UNIX NFS server, with Denon 2310 AVR and Optoma HD20.

Pros

DTSHD-MA and TrueHD bitstream
Price is cheap
Very nice jukebox
Able to play almost all format


Cons

Unable to play certain movies (300, transformers), while the movies can be played in my PC.
buggy fast forward or backward or jump to certain time, sometimes will stop playing
Sound intermittently lost after playing movie for while, need to backward 10 sec to get the sound back.
It is prone to hang.
If the internal hard disk is inserted into the xtreamer sidewinder case, play certain movies will get stutter result. unplug the internal hard disk, no more stutter

This post has been edited by Kiding: Oct 6 2010, 11:16 PM

Is it frequent?

For the certain movies that cannot be played in Media player and can be played on PC, it may due to codec problem.

sound lost : every 2 - 3 movies will get 1 movie lost sound after playing a while
xtreamer hang: so far it hung for at least 10 times after using for almost 1 month +


My movies are 95% m2ts ripped from anydvd. either H.264 or VC code.

I really suspect my unit is the faulty one.

and one more cons: playing BDISO mode mostly will stutter, if rip to m2ts format, it won't stutter. jia lak !!!

seems have to get another WDTV live... as all the while can play any movie MKV... just throw no need to remux...
but... now once it hang at loading screen for a movie, i have to plug out the power cable and reinsert back to play other movie. If not it won't play and stuck at loading only.

Is there any nearly as cheap as WDTV live for sigma based chip?

You can browse here and hunt for the items in Msia / forums.
IBOUM

Increase the Budget...Xtreamer PRO should be a better choice

If not mistaken its using same chip as xtreamer sidewinder rite?

Got similar issue like xtreamer sidewinder user facing?

---

Added on October 7, 2010, 12:38 amNotice in iboum... same sigma chipset as WDTV live but the price a bit high...

Egreat EG-S1A

I might want to consider this if got ppl sell it at the right price....

Anyone selling Egreat EG-S1A?

This post has been edited by exkaizen: Oct 7 2010, 12:40 AM

Xtreamer latest firmware now support compression header mkv means u dont have to remux your file.

XT Side and XT Pro is using different chip but from same family (Realtek), XT Side has lesser RAM then XT Pro. U need to ran thru some info before buying. or suggest u save up money and go straight to high end NMT like Dune Prime.

I'm not sure its different chip as I believe they using the same Realtek 1283x just that like u said its have lesser RAM...

NMT Dune Prime cost a bomb... can't afford that T.T...

i also got problem playing some mkv files....stuck and the beginning and have to switch off the wdtv live and wait few hours to play other file....

i already dload the haali media splitter software so which option shld i enabled/disabled ? tried 1 file yesterday leave with default option, can play the file for few seconds only before it stop and back to the selection screen

Try remuxing with mkvtoolnix v4.0, don't get the latest one starting from 4.1.1

already got mkvtoolnix v 4.o....so which option should i tick/untick ? if got no audio i know just change compression to none for every sound option

I'm not sure about this, I never really had problems with mkv stuck at beginning of movies
Can you pm me the list and mediainfo for those movies with problems?

ok will pm u when i reach home...thanks ya

how to get the mediainfo?

Try 'Uncheck' all the Subtitle and unwanted Audio...using Haali...the movie should work.
If the main cause is the Subtitle...use a Subtitle editor to do the corrections and remux it back in the movie...again using Haali.


This post has been edited by azbro: Oct 7 2010, 10:47 AM

Thanks for all suggestion, advice and ideas...

I've decided to move my PC near my LCD TV and run Media Center with updated codec through HDMI for sound I'll use onboard Gigabyte Dolby Home Theater and connect to my Bookshelf speaker Edifier R2000.

Thanks again thus closing this topic.

This post has been edited by exkaizen: Oct 7 2010, 09:36 PM