2012-01-17, 17:02
Hi there,
Very new to the concept of a HTPC and looking for some advice.
Current setup:
1. Synology DS1511+ w/music in .flac and videos in .mkv.
2. Samsung 46" LCD capable of 1080P playback.
3. B&W Panorama Soundbar.
4. Oppo BDP-93.
5. Harmony 650 remote.
The problems:
1. Living overseas in Denmark, where cable TV in English is not cheap and lacking choice.
2. Media interface for Oppo is poor.
3. Using Oppo to play music requires using TV to find content.
Objective:
1. Use XBMC as interface for playback of recorded TV shows, music, movies, home vidoes, pictures (70% of use).
2. Watch TV, live sports via web (20% of use).
3. Surf Internet (10% of use).
My possible solution:
1. Move Oppo into another room, replacing it with HTPC (was originally thinking AsRock Vision 3D, but this is likely overkill for my needs? Maybe:
Zotac ZBOX AMD E-350 (1.6GHz Dual Core) Barebone Mini PC (ZBOX-AD02-U) + 4 or 8 GB of RAM
+ 64GB SSD or 500 GB regular hard drive
+ Windows 7 (Home Premium? Ultimate?)
2. Move Harmony 650 with Oppo, replacing it with Ipod Touch with hipporemote? XBMC remote?
Questions:
1. Is this a reasonable solution? What changes would you make?
2. Could I just add a cheap nettop with XBMC installed to direct content to to play through my Oppo?
3. Is the Ipod Touch the best solution for not having to use my TV to listen to music?
Thank you in advance...I apologize for my ignorance on this stuff, but I am very new to this and not very technosavy.
Cheers.
Very new to the concept of a HTPC and looking for some advice.
Current setup:
1. Synology DS1511+ w/music in .flac and videos in .mkv.
2. Samsung 46" LCD capable of 1080P playback.
3. B&W Panorama Soundbar.
4. Oppo BDP-93.
5. Harmony 650 remote.
The problems:
1. Living overseas in Denmark, where cable TV in English is not cheap and lacking choice.
2. Media interface for Oppo is poor.
3. Using Oppo to play music requires using TV to find content.
Objective:
1. Use XBMC as interface for playback of recorded TV shows, music, movies, home vidoes, pictures (70% of use).
2. Watch TV, live sports via web (20% of use).
3. Surf Internet (10% of use).
My possible solution:
1. Move Oppo into another room, replacing it with HTPC (was originally thinking AsRock Vision 3D, but this is likely overkill for my needs? Maybe:
Zotac ZBOX AMD E-350 (1.6GHz Dual Core) Barebone Mini PC (ZBOX-AD02-U) + 4 or 8 GB of RAM
+ 64GB SSD or 500 GB regular hard drive
+ Windows 7 (Home Premium? Ultimate?)
2. Move Harmony 650 with Oppo, replacing it with Ipod Touch with hipporemote? XBMC remote?
Questions:
1. Is this a reasonable solution? What changes would you make?
2. Could I just add a cheap nettop with XBMC installed to direct content to to play through my Oppo?
3. Is the Ipod Touch the best solution for not having to use my TV to listen to music?
Thank you in advance...I apologize for my ignorance on this stuff, but I am very new to this and not very technosavy.
Cheers.
