Kodi TV Box Recommendation

leyton01 on 28/01/2019 - 16:50

I'm replacing a Kodi setup for the in-laws that was running on an eeepc box B202 (Atom n270) as it can't cope with 1080p .mkv playback.

I'm looking for the cheapest solution that will give them the Kodi experience and cope with h264 1080p content stored on a NAS over ethernet (only displaying at 1024x768 on their SD TV).

Not sure if something like the Vodafone box can support this?
I am also exploring something like a USFF PC second hand running LibreELEC. (the atom isn't supported as it is 32-bit only)

Computing Kodi Box Media Player

Comments

  • andmcg on 28/01/2019 - 17:05
    +1

    Vodafone TV is incredible value (considering all of its features) and allows installing Kodi. Raspberry Pi is another option, but personally I'd choose Vodafone TV as the Pi can struggle at times and doesn't end up much cheaper.

  • teros on 28/01/2019 - 17:43
    +3

    Hey agree the vodafone tv or the xiaomi mi box are best value for money…

  • leyton01 on 28/01/2019 - 18:08

    I just wasn't sure if the vodafone TV can support the .mkvs over ethernet. Someone asked the exact same question here and didn't really get an answer:
    https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=330760

    "Does anyone here have this box, and run Kodi, and are able to watch 720p h264 media files in MKV containers, located on a NAS, using ethernet, and it not look & sound terrible?"

    I'm actually wanting to run 1080p (but then downsized) but sound doesn't matter at all (just 2 speaker out of the TV)

    • leyton01 on 28/01/2019 - 18:09

      Also is the vodafone TV easy enough to navigate to get to Kodi? Trying to keep it as similar as possible to current set up where PC boots to Kodi.

      in-laws not computer literate.

      • Diji1 on 28/01/2019 - 18:49
        +1

        I know it fails the cheapest test but the Nvidia Shield on the front page atm really is a nice media player.

    • samcro on 28/01/2019 - 20:38

      I have a Vodafone TV with Plex installed. It will play anything I throw at it.

  • outlander on 28/01/2019 - 18:22

    I have a vodafone TV, accessing a NAS over ethernet. What size mkv do you want to test?

    • leyton01 on 28/01/2019 - 20:18

      I have a "Linux iso" entitled
      Handmaids Tale which is 1080p mkv at 6GB.

      • outlander on 28/01/2019 - 21:05

        I'll try my Watchmen version of linux.iso. Its 18GB at 1920x800, see how it handles that.

        • leyton01 on 28/01/2019 - 21:11

          Thanks. I haven't got that distro yet. I'll have to find myself a copy too.

          • outlander on 28/01/2019 - 21:30

            @leyton01: Its a bloody good distro. Got a fast paced action (install) sequence at the beginning of the distro. Always used to make my laptop slow down a bit. The Vodafone TV seems to handle it fine no frame dropping at all.

            However I was using VLC to play it as I was having trouble setting up the permissions to access the remote share. Video was fine, but audio was 2ch by default, and there was a problem with the subtitles, where it would pause after every subtitle display period. Disabling the subtitles fixed it.

          • outlander on 28/01/2019 - 23:08

            @leyton01: Okay got it running alright after some drama with the network shares. Apparently kodi requires a password now to access them.
            Runs fine, A okay. No issues with subtitles unlike vlc

            My only real complaint with the vodafonetv is the lack of controller buttons (for things like settings), and more annoyingly, the way it makes you format your harddrive to a secure storage if you want to record to it. It means you can't just plug any old harddrive in and start recording. Other than those two, its pretty much perfect.

  • Amaris on 28/01/2019 - 20:36

    Consider an Amazon FireTV. It can run Kodi via the APK. If your NAS is a Synology it can run DS video which does the same thing as Kodi for this particular use.

    • leyton01 on 28/01/2019 - 21:15

      It is a Synology (just a small 2 Disk thing). I'll keep this in mind but trying to keep it familiar as possible.

      Does the fireTV have enough grunt? I haven't really looked into it as I thought it was more like a Chromecast.

  • spackbace on 28/01/2019 - 21:14

    Why kodi and not plex? Plex can easily be installed on most things, even a chromecast

    • leyton01 on 28/01/2019 - 22:19

      It's just what they are used to. Seems to work well by auto downloading info on shows and keeping track of what is watched.

      I have nothing against Plex but just never used it. I was thinking the most important thing was to get hardware with enough processing power.

      • spackbace on 28/01/2019 - 23:55

        No worries :) I've just always liked plex's interface and integration with everything

  • DingoBilly on 28/01/2019 - 23:31
    +2

    I use a Xiaomi Mi Box 3 which works great for Kodi (might be the Xiaomi Mi Box S now?). Looks to be similarly priced to the Vodafone TV, often goes on special for about $80 or so.

    I don't use a NAS, just stream from my main PC wirelessly and it can easily handle 1080p content (10GB+ MKV files). Also handles 4k content although can occasionally have timeout issues if it's overly large.

    Been really happy/impressed with it.

    • leyton01 on 29/01/2019 - 02:14

      I saw the a few Mi Box threads and everyone said they were great until the last update which broke a lot of stuff. The Vodafone box has local warranty and power supply for the same price which pushed me in that direction.

  • jsb on 29/01/2019 - 08:02
    +3

    Personally, I would buy mibox rather than Vodafone TV box. Mibox has chromecast built in. So, if you have google home setup, it works well. But keep in mind, you might have to buy usb ethernet adapter. Don't know if Vodafone box has ethernet or not but chromecast is not built in for the same price.

    • drmarshall on 29/01/2019 - 09:15
      +3

      Vodafone has chromecast built in and Ethernet

  • batrarobin on 29/01/2019 - 13:41

    Another vote for Vodafone box (or MiBox)

  • SlartiBartFozz on 29/01/2019 - 14:02

    For bang for buck, you will need far less overhead by NOT running Kodi and just using separate android apps via a standard launcher (though ppreferences for launchers is a whole other discussion); I realise the OP's in-laws are used to the Kodi interface, but I've have too many stability / update issues with it in the past, so gave it up after a few years of use — there is very little advantage other than giving you a single interface for live/streaming/stored media.

    • leyton01 on 29/01/2019 - 20:15

      Happy to run something that is lighter and more reliable. Anything native that shows tv shows as series, downloads poster art and descriptions and has a watched counter?

  • RockmanRock on 29/01/2019 - 14:15
    +1

    A pi is probably the cheapest. I switched to a Vero 4K+ after running Kodi on mini PCs and NUCs for over 10 years, and I will say for the price and its ability to handle h265 & 4K too at a speed I find no different to running on intel, it is a very good future proof unit at a bit higher price than pi, dongles etc.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2019 - 17:20
      +1

      I too swapped from NUCs to a Vero4k+. The change has been plug-n-play, and pretty darn perfect. 4K, HDR, HEVC, no problem. Nothing else can touch it in simplicity and capability. So so so much <3.

      • Wystri Warrick on 29/01/2019 - 18:39
        +1

        I've got a China Android box the mini 2 think?
        Currently playing the Linux ISO "Braveheart" 22.35GB 4K HDR 10bit 7.1 channel surround sound and not a single hiccup stutter and it only costed me $53!

        • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2019 - 19:08
          +1

          Sure, you can do that. Difference is, the Vero won't crash or unexpectedly close on occasion, it supports numerous PVR front-ends and even some back-ends. Plus technical support, if it's ever needed. Oh, and gigabit ethernet, IR receiver, 3D support, intelligent resolution switching for FHD or 4K. There's probably more. Plus Linux. The hardware and software is designed by one team, for one purpose.

          At the end of the day, I didn't want to gamble. I've gambled before with cheap android boxes and lost. They never quite did everything, or did what I wanted well. Never again. A quality and supported device I can plug in and forget, yes please!

  • RonaldR on 29/01/2019 - 17:02

    Had not heard of the Vodafone box before I have 3 different ones a DXtreme with built-in Harddrive and a DXtreme an android unit and xiaomi that was reviewed to be the best in the android units but the reviewers were wrong. When watching YouTube the xiaomi remote control is a pain in the arse the Vodafone remote is similar to the one with my DXtreme Android and most probably can be replaced with 3rd Party remote that has the addition of a keypad on the back or under a hinged cover. Plus Vodafone a good company to deal with (a lot better than Telstra and Optus who are too big to give a "F" about their customers.

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