Topic: Popcorn Hour A-110 - networked media tank

[JasonSobel]

Has anyone used this?

http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/

it's reasonably priced ($250), supports FLAC (among many other audio/video file types), has internet connectivity (both wifi and ethernet cable), can play files off a local network, can act as a USB host and play files straight from external drives, etc, etc...

it also has optical out (and HDMI for video).  My question is, does it support 24/96 playback of FLAC files?

[MattD]

Are you following my browser history?

This one is stated to support 24-bit FLAC. (link) No word on sample rates.

[MattD]

http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=12066

AWESOME!

Edit to add video review - not because the review is particularly enlightening, but because they demonstrate the UI a little bit.

[Ed.]

I have this, I use it for x264 video mostly, but it works great.  I have it wired, so no idea on how the wireless works, but its played everything I've thrown at it.

The interface is kind of lacking, but you can skin it.  I think you need a hard drive attached to it if you want to skin/mod it.  I haven't bothered.  It kind of looks like a senior thesis project, but it does what its supposed to do.

I can try 24/96 for you, let me see if I have any handy.  I have it hooked up via hdmi.

[Ed.]

Just tried it...it played 24/48 stuff without a hitch over hdmi.  24/96 looked like it should be playing, but no sound over hdmi.

[JasonSobel]

Ed - thanks for trying out the 24 bit stuff.  so no sound with 24/96 over HDMI.  Can you hook up the optical out to something to test that?

[Ed.]

Yeah, I'll try that out tonight...if I can find my old optical cable.

[Ed.]

Well, it took me awhile, but trial and error works!

You can't have HDMI anywhere near it, and I couldn't even have hdmi registered on my receiver for that input, even when it wasn't being used.  I had to switch my TV Mode on Popcorn Hour to component 1080p 60hz and run components before the optical would even register.

However, when I got everything figured out, running component vid and optical audio I was able to play flac 24/96.  I only played one song, but it played without a hitch.