By using the compact media player, you can save space, expand the functionality of your TV and play multimedia content on it from your computer, network storage (home server) or from the Internet. I will immediately note a couple of models for those who want to buy the best multimedia devices in their class: ASUS O! Play Air HDP-R3 and WD TV Live.

Network media players can be used to store and play home multimedia content paired with a TV (monitor) and speaker system. The media player is capable of transferring movies, music and images from a PC in optimal quality to the TV screen, while the computer can be used for work at this time. Moreover, network player can be equipped with a built-in hard drive or connect to external storage. In this case, you do not even need to turn on your PC to view it, especially since many players allow you to browse the web.

1.5 years earlier network media players equipped with a built-in TV tuner, and also had the ability to install hard drives and an optical drive, but now, choosing a media player for yourself, such slots to expand the capabilities of the device are rare. But in the models that are now on the market, the Wi-Fi module is installed by default, which cannot be said about their predecessors. True, for playing Full HD video by wireless network need a modern wifi router so you won't be disappointed by the clipping paths when viewing. Network media player it will be especially useful for users with old LCD TVs, as they can act as an alternative to models of panels with. New models of media players support a large number of Russian-language Internet services and allow you to view streaming video from the Internet.

Of course, all the functionality multimedia player and even more, it is able to replace an inexpensive, or laptop, but the media player has a more compact size, low price and ease of use.

How to choose a multimedia player? Criteria for choosing a network media player

The criteria to pay attention to first of all: comfortable control, easy navigation through the menu and support for Internet services. Media player Western Digital TV Live perfect as the optimal choice for the above characteristics: miniature body, full Russification of the menu, correct display of Russian file names and tags. And the equipment of this player is not lame. For those who are often going to enter information on the TV screen, a model with a full QWERTY keyboard (for example, ScreenPlay TV Link DX) is suitable.

Internet services of modern media players

Users who are attracted to Smart TV should take a closer look at the media player LG ST600 supporting this service. Plus, you'll get an LG Apps store in addition to which you can download required programs+ on board LG browser with Flash support. Other media devices rarely boast of having one at all. The device is controlled from a remote control or a regular mouse from a PC via a USB port. And the "Smart Share" function makes it possible to transfer content from tablets and smartphones directly to the TV screen.

I think that a particularly important criterion when choosing a media player is the set of interfaces and ports it supports. Mandatory HDMI and USB, it's always a good idea to add something else (optical, card reader), for the reason that it will be possible to use media player in conjunction with various devices. It is better to think about the interfaces that you will need in advance; it is difficult to take into account all the subtleties during the purchase. There are fewer and fewer models with a built-in hard drive, but the USB port for connecting external HDD Is the standard. Some users will need composite and component video outputs to connect the player to a TV; be careful, check their availability in technical characteristics devices.

An important parameter is the "omnivorous" media player. This is very important for those who store and play various media files, neglecting Internet services. I will recommend a media player to such users. Not experienced users they even often rate devices against a list of supported media containers and codecs. Not to be misled: a media container is the format of an audio or video file, and a codec is the format of an audio or video stream in it. Let me explain that support for the mkv container does not mean that all files with the * mkv extension will be played on the device (for example, the audio track may not be supported). Don't forget about new firmware releases for multimedia devices.

Who needs the full operation of the device with Blu-Ray media, then take a closer look at Netgear NeoTV 550 with excellent performance (on board a high-performance processor Sigma Designs SMP8642). Opponents will love the device's support for Blu-ray Disc ISOs (you can add and). It is also possible to select the required M2TS file manually, for those who get rid of unnecessary materials after downloading the image. Dear Blu-ray Disc Fans, Pay Attention To The Processor ...

Compact media players for home theater

Now let's consider compact media players Apple TV, Raspberry Pi and iconBit Toucan Nano SX... You can purchase them at a price of 4000 to 5000 rubles. These multimedia devices will help solve the problem of the main media player in your home theater.

In order not to use your SMART TVs only for watching TV channels, you can expand their multimedia capabilities using a functional media player that will allow you to play familiar multimedia files on a large TV screen without problems, like Allshare, Home Media Server, etc.

Admit it, even an expensive TV with Smart TV functionality cannot have all the necessary functionality: someone will not be satisfied with the browser, someone with a remote control, and someone has limited memory when watching online videos. What can I say, often the built-in multimedia player in the TV does not support any format, not to mention the fact that application stores may not offer an insufficient set of services to fully use your TV. Choice of compact media players solves the problem of lack of functionality.

AppleTV Media Player

Immediately it is worth warning if you are not a user of devices from the company Apple TV, but more stick to using a PC, then bypass Apple TV. But if you own an iPad or iPhone, then Apple TV is your device. The latest generation Apple TV has received support for the Full HD standard and a new user interface... We examined this dainty little box carefully.

Apple's device, as always, demonstrates approximate ease of use:

• we connect Apple TV to the mains
• we connect the HDMI connectors on the TV and on the set-top box
• and enter your Apple ID

When it comes to connecting the media player to your home network, the media player supports a LAN or Wi-Fi connection. As for the operating system, the fans of Steve Jobs' hardware will be familiar. The media player is controlled by a small remote control, or free application Remote App for iPad, iPhone or iPod touch which you can download at App Store.

Apple TV can rent a huge number of movies in HD and SD quality from the iTunes Store. If you have a fast internet connection, you can watch movies immediately after purchase. A bit frustrating is the fact that in the HD section there is no choice between 1080p and 720p. Speaking of rental prices, the average value for watching a movie in HD quality is 299 rubles, for rental - 99 rubles, but not everyone can afford buying movies.
The media library stored on your iPad or iPhone can be streamed to the media player wirelessly using AirPlay - all devices with iOS version above 4.3. For those who are going to play movies from their network storage (NAS), it is worth considering that Apple TV does not support all codecs and video container formats, but the content downloaded from iTunes will play without overlays.

As online services, you can use the "cloud" iCloud, which synchronizes files stored on Apple devices... Applications from the AppStore will expand the functionality of the device: YouTube, Vimeo, or Stream HD. By the way, the USB port on the AppleTV case is used for service purposes, connect USB to it HDD will not work.

For those who like to delve into the technique and configure everything manually, I would recommend an inexpensive Raspberry Pi, which is a small but full-fledged computer for 5000 rubles. Add a case, power supply, and a 2GB SD card to it, and when combined with Raspmbc or OpenELEC Rasberry Pi software, you have a great multimedia player.

I can say with confidence that this is a full-fledged media center for 5000 rubles. It is enough to use a multimedia shell as software.
The Raspberry Pi is a small motherboard with the necessary interfaces and components. For full use, you need a microSD card, a micro-USB power supply and a compact body. The above amount includes all the necessary components. To connect to a wireless network, an additional USB module for WLAN is purchased, which solves this problem. Assembling the portable is pretty simple: you just need to install the board in the finished case. This is a device for enthusiasts, as its capabilities directly depend on your desire to "tinker". This is why I believe Raspberry Pi such an interesting solution as a media player.

First, install one of the XBMC-based programs - Raspbmc or OpenELEC (I posted links to them above). The media player is controlled using a familiar keyboard and mouse. Alternatively, you can use the dedicated Raspberry Pi Remote Control app for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. The performance of the device is very decent, it starts to slow down only when playing video content with a resolution of 1080p and a high bitrate (for those who do not understand, small DVDRip and BDRip will work without problems). The media player allows you to play files both over the network (through shared folders or UPnP AV server) and from USB devices (flash drives and hard drives).

For XBMC and its modified variants used in the Raspberry Pi, there are all kinds of extensions - addons. By the way, the Raspberry Pi case costs from 700 rubles.

For those who are interested in RaspberryPi, it will be interesting and mini computer BeagleBone Black with a single-core TI Sitara AM335x processor (1 GHz), built on the basis of the ARM Cortex-A8 microarchitecture. The BeagleBone Black also accepts an XBMC based skin.

Iconbit Toucan Nano XS - media player for Android OS

I also want to draw the attention of applicants for multimedia players to iconBit Toucan Nano SX running on Android OS 4.0.4. This compact multimedia center will cost you less than 4000 rubles, which is not limited to playing movies, music and photos. Owners Android devices know that any device running on this OS will help turn the Google Play online store into an almost full-fledged PC.

As with all Android devices, the first time you connect and configure, you only need to select a language and bind the device to your Google account... The compact media player connects to the home network via a LAN or built-in wi-fi module, and the image and sound are transmitted to the TV via an HDMI cable. The Toucan Nano XS itself is not a full-fledged media player, but the Google Play Store will fix this issue. It is enough to download a software media player, I would recommend XBMC for Android, or MX Player (the required codec is downloaded from the Internet during installation).

Using the remote control takes some getting used to. When using the XBMC or VLC media player, you can use special applications to control the iconBit Toucan Nano SX. Alternatively, you can purchase a wireless multimedia keyboard with an integrated mouse function to make it easier to navigate the Internet. Excellent performance, even 1080p movies in MKV container do not slow down. Let me remind you that on Google Play you can rent and buy HD and SD videos at prices similar to those in the iTunes Store from Apple.

I think I will constantly update and supplement the article so that you can always get up-to-date information when choosing a device. I will be happy to answer any questions when choosing a media player.

Instead of an introduction, we would like to draw the attention of buyers to the reduction in price and progress of Smart TV systems over the past year. The ability to connect storage devices and wide support for all kinds of formats are available today even in the most inexpensive TVs. This is great, but the functionality of the boxes threatens entry-level media players. Up to complete disappearance.

Players are different

Several classes of devices are now capable of injecting multimedia functions into televisions: the successors of DVD players, computers and tablets have paved their way to television screens.

The most time consuming type of media players are nettop models. These avant-garde mini-computers impress with their compactness and stability, and the quality of the components, the performance of ultra-low-voltage processors and the capabilities of desktop operating systems are not comparable to the potential of other media players. All the power of computer browsers, content playback programs and file-sharing networks today can be obtained within the framework of a quiet and compact "box".

Nettops: media players outside - computers inside

The problem is that the home use of these essentially desktops is hard to cope with the tasks of a set-top box. Choosing and buying a remote control, searching for a suitable media envelope and setting up a DVB tuner will require serious patience, and therefore will turn the project into a "long-term construction". We leave this method to experienced and determined fans of the PC platform, and we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the world of nettops in numerous news and reviews on the site.

The next subtype of media players are devices based on Android OS. Attempts to endow TVs with the functionality of smartphones and tablets have become a trend in recent years: familiar and ready-to-use applications, adaptation of the OS to high-resolution displays and inexpensive processors have positively affected the distribution of such devices. The disadvantage, as in the case of nettops, is the mediocre adaptation of the system to new controls: manufacturers have to "reinvent" the Android interface, taking into account the lack of touch input, and users - to get used to the specifics of using the Air Mouse "lazy".

Mini-computers of the Android Stick format stand apart from such media players. These miniature (the size of a large flash drive) devices are deprived of a digital tuner and have only an HDMI connector. But they can boast of an affordable price and a powerful operating system.

HDMI Stick - compact media players based on Android OS

The main role in the media player market is played by devices powered by Sigma Designs and Realtek platforms - direct descendants of hardware DVD and Blu-ray players. The loss of an optical disc drive is compensated by the introduction of streaming services, "omnivorous" and, sometimes, a standard connector for the HDD in the case of the media player. Rather than a computer appliance, this class of devices is rarely suitable for installation. third party applications and services. The efforts of the developers lie in the plane of ease of management and quality of the picture.

Classic IPTV set-top boxes are still relevant today

Our guide will focus on the last two categories of devices.

In the dark forest of characteristics

There are many different ways of thinking about buying a media player. Nothing prevents you from being guided only by the budget for the purchase of the device. And this approach does not necessarily lead to disappointment, since the functionality of even the most budget models today meets the needs of an undemanding user. We will try to outline the priorities for those who want to get the most out of the media player with a minimum investment.

Interfaces

The variety of interfaces is dwindling in the digital broadcasting age, so a TV equipped with HDMI input and support for resolutions from HD Ready and higher is an ideal candidate for connecting a media player. The digital jack will provide maximum video quality and greatly simplify the multi-channel audio output to your home theater. The HDMI specification allows digital sound to be transmitted to acoustics unchanged (bitstream technology), which makes it possible to use the full potential of a high-quality audio system on media players powered by Sigma and Realtek platforms. The situation is worse with consoles based on ARM Cortex chipsets. In their case, the sound potential is most often limited to the transmission of a stereo stream (LPCM) already processed on the set-top box to the TV.

When it comes to connecting a media player to an outdated TV, the situation is complicated many times over. In the absence of an HDMI connector, you will have to choose from the following analog interfaces:

• Composite output. Indicated on devices as AV Out or RCA. Has been using tulips, which have been familiar for the past two decades, to output video and stereo sound. The sound and video quality with this connection method leaves much to be desired, and whenever possible we recommend using alternative connectors.

Composite interface

• Component output. Indicated on devices as YUV Out or YPbPr. It is based on all the same "tulips", but the video signal transmission comes through several cables at once, and the resulting picture quality is the best among all available analog interfaces.

Component interface

• SCART. In fact, it is not an interface, but a "container" for transmitting RGB images with low image quality by modern standards. Rarely found in the number of connectors of media players and, as a rule, is supplied in the form of an adapter from a composite connector or S-Video interface.

SCART connector

• S-Video. Least common interface in media players and TVs. Structurally, S-Video is a slightly better alternative to the composite connector. This development did not gain much popularity among TV manufacturers, and today it often catches the eye among the connectors of outdated computer video accelerators.

S-Video connector

Media players with an analogue tuner on board have practically disappeared from retail, and are replaced by support for the DVB-T2 digital television broadcasting standard. The digital television network in Russia is rapidly expanding, but it is still far from the widespread distribution of broadcasting in this standard. The presence of a digital signal in a particular locality should be checked in advance on the website of the operator of the all-Russian digital TV broadcasting or from local providers.

Form factor and network communications

The trick familiar from VCRs with identifying the flagship "by eye" is no longer relevant. In the segment of media players, the most bulky model is not always the most productive. The dimensions of the new players are dictated only by the number of connectors for connecting to a TV, as well as by the presence of a bay for a hard drive.

You shouldn't unconditionally give preference to media players with an HDD slot either: in the absence of a "home video library", this function will soon cease to be in demand. Connecting a media player to a PC, constantly removing a drive to write new files or painstaking work with the web interface of a torrent client is tiring. But play files from local network will be faster and more efficient. In the case of mini-PCs based on Android, an additional argument for such use is the characteristic shortage of ports for connecting drives: the only USB connector is occupied by a wireless keyboard, and a weak current in the device does not allow connecting a USB Hub without power from the network.

Capacious storage on board will shelter any collection of media files

Fortunately, media players without support for data exchange over the network are rare today. Even budget models are able to offer an Ethernet connector or Wi-Fi support for receiving content via DLNA or Samba server. If possible, you should use the RJ-45 connector - wireless playback of Full HD video will require Wi-Fi 802.11n support and a productive router in line-of-sight conditions.

The definite advantage of Android-based media players is the support social functions: clients of Facebook, VKontakte, Skype and other messengers work quickly and are always updated to current versions... Some media players are equipped with support for webcams via USB-OTG, and the second half of 2014 was marked by the release of the Android Stick with a video camera and a microphone in the body of the device. Alas, the Wi-Fi transmitter power of the mini PC is poor, and to play 1080p video over the network, you will most often need a USB to Ethernet adapter.

Playback formats

With some reservations, we can say that the "omnivorousness" of modern media players has reached almost peak levels. Over the past few years, there have been no models left on the market that would not be able to play video files in Divx / Xvid, H.264 and MPEG 1/2 formats. Concerning sound files, it is worth paying attention to the presence of high-quality audio support in the DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD formats. Some media players lack support for sound in this format (due to the lack of a license for the codec or design features of the chipset), so it is better to avoid the unpleasant surprise in the form of a “silent movie” in advance.

As for containers, the popular AVI, MP4 and MKV are easily played even in budget models, which means that any modern model is suitable for watching movies in DVDRip, BDRip, BDRip-AVC and BDRemux standards.

Problems with the selection of a media player haunt only fans of "full-format" Blu-ray and volumetric video. 3D movies are often distributed as ISO images or as file folders. A truly convenient playback of such a video can only be provided by media players supporting the ISO BD3D standard, but with the proviso that navigation through the movie will be carried out through the simplified BD Lite menu. Support for 3D HD-video in other media players will be limited to "heuristic" launch of the M2TS file from the folder structure or the complete lack of support for the standard. Unfortunately, support for the full specification of Blu-ray has sunk into oblivion along with optical discs. An aggressive lobbying for copy protection called Cinavia played a part in this.

Devices developed in close cooperation with content providers stand apart - in the pursuit of copyright compliance and stimulating purchases in online cinemas, media players receive a limited list of compatible codecs and / or streaming services that are relevant only to foreign audiences.

Governing bodies

The interface of the Sigma SDK and Realtek SDK operating systems was developed taking into account the capabilities of a standard remote control: therefore, controlling such media players does not require additional skills from users of a TV or game console. Support for computer keyboards and mice is present on many models, but practical use does not represent - multi-stage menus are easier and faster to master using the same remote control than using the mouse cursor.

TV comfort versus computer functionality

For media players under Android it is accompanied by another extreme: only multifunctional remote controls with QWERTY-keyboard and Air Mouse mode, which are not distinguished by special ergonomics, can compensate for the lack of touch input in these products. Eventually, all Android Stick users switch to a full-size PC keyboard and mouse set - controlling the media player from the couch will never be easy.

Performance and hardware platform

The confrontation between Sigma and Realtek chipsets painfully resembles the picture in the PC processor market. Sigma Designs' platform typically comes with a finer workflow and superior synthetic performance. The stability and speed of the SMP series chipsets are overshadowed by the high cost of the platform for manufacturers - media players of equal price based on Realtek and Sigma will differ in functionality not in favor of the latter.

Realtek multimedia processors are much more flexible. Thanks to a loyal pricing policy, they have become much more widespread. As is often the case in budget products, a number of annoying shortcomings have long haunted the RTD series platforms - experienced users of media players will nod in the direction of a known flaw, when video playback at a frequency of 23.976 frames / s was accompanied by constant jerks. The next negative moment occurred due to the fault of careless manufacturers of TV-boxes: ventilation problems in models equipped with a slot for an HDD led to overheating and unstable operation of a whole family of media players. Today, all these problems have been eliminated, and the competition between the two chipset manufacturers is taking place on an equal footing.

Comparison of the performance of these platforms can be done "the old fashioned way", guided only by the operating frequencies of the processor, but the lion's share of the load in the SoC of media players falls on hardware decoders. The performance of content playback for these devices is beyond the purview of benchmarks.

Nevertheless, the performance measurement in "synthetics" remains the only one possible way SoC classification. Specialized multimedia processors and competing chips based on the ARM Cortex architecture can be divided into five classes (in descending order of performance).

For buyers who are not ready to analyze the market in search of the perfect media player, we have prepared a list actual systems Smart TV for any wallet and needs. These products will not necessarily include market leaders, but the price-performance ratio allows us to recommend these models with confidence.

Upvel UM-521TV

The UM-521TV media player is the most fortunate candidate to liven up the TV screen social media, online entertainment and other applications for the Google platform. Quad-core processor, 2 GB random access memory and stock Android Jelly Bean will appeal to customers for whom timely access to news feed and videos means much more than painstaking selection of content for long-term viewing.

TVZor TVZ100ZT

The ideology of the TVZor media player runs counter to fashion - the model belongs to a still small class of devices developed in cooperation with content providers. In the Russian market, the limited selection of streaming services is rarely successful with buyers, but the TVZ100ZT has every chance to turn the tide. For only 3000 rubles, the buyer gets a media player with a rich package, a programmable remote control with a QWERTY keyboard, a DVB-T2 tuner, an online media library and a set of connectors for connecting to a CRT or LCD TV.

Unfortunately, there is no trace of the functionality of the Android system, and access to files on the local network is closed. On the other hand, 20 stable working IPTV channels are supplemented with a pack of free TV series in the online store, and support for formats for digital carriers is in no way inferior to "full-fledged" and more expensive competitors. More details with TVZor TVZ100ZT

IconBit Movie3D IPTV

IconBit Movie3D IPTV

"Functionality over performance" - the Movie3D IPTV model is based on the outdated Allwinner A20 chipset, and the proprietary shell adjacent to Android leads to extremely leisurely navigation through the device menu. In contrast to these shortcomings, the player has a rich set of functions and a reasonable price. Working with custom IPTV playlists, support for stereo pairs of the BD3D ISO standard, numerous streaming services and access to the Google Play app store cannot fail to please budget buyers. Beginners will also love the abundance free content and advanced Android users will appreciate root access and the ability to install third-party apps. You can learn more about IconBit Movie3D IPTV in our review.

ASUS O! Play Mini Plus

ASUS O! Play Mini Plus

In the O! Play Mini Plus, ASUS engineers have chosen not to get involved in the pursuit of smartphone features. The lack of support for Blu-ray ISO images and flaws in the online component will be accompanied by fair complaints from users. However, this model is aimed at practitioners and its main goal is the convenient playback of content from local and network drives. Gigabit Ethernet, card reader and eSATA connector allow you to receive any video and music "fully armed". The level of implementation of these functions directly speaks about the quality of the media player. The presence of a composite output will allow you to play Full HD files even on old TVs. But among enthusiasts O! Play Mini Plus is not respected, since the media player is based on the notorious revision of Realtek MD chipsets, which means that the device is completely closed for flashing at home.

Google Nexus Player

Google Nexus Player

Google presented its vision on what should be a set-top box based on the Android operating system. A model called the Nexus Player, developed in collaboration with ASUS, is finally on sale. Base Android's interface and functionality has been adapted for comfortable TV viewing and content streaming. The media player supports Google Chromecast functions, allowing you to stream videos, music and photos from your computer, smartphone or tablet to your TV screen. A distinctive feature of the interface is the automatic ranking of applications and multimedia files in accordance with the user's preferences.

The basic kit includes a multifunctional remote control with an integrated microphone, and a game pad is available at an additional cost.

Nexus Player is built on the Intel Atom quad-core platform, clocked at 1.8 GHz. The graphics component is based on the Imagination PowerVR Series 6 video accelerator, and the memory subsystem has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB for internal storage... Wireless communications are Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1, and among the communication ports there is HDMI and Micro-USB. The cost of the novelty is $ 99.

For most users Personal Computer has long been performing the role of a universal device with which you can not only work, but also enjoy spending your free time. In both cases, you cannot do without such familiar music and video recordings. As a rule, we come across such media files every day and rarely think about how the technology of their playback works. In fact, to work with such files, you cannot do without special programs called media players. They provide playback of sound and music content thanks to a set of various media containers. There are a lot of such programs today. As usual, some of them are available for download after paying a certain amount. Others are categorized as free software. We will talk about them. Fortunately, there is plenty to choose from.
The developers have created a lot of media players that differ in both interface and functionality. But first, let's clarify - the fundamental difference between them lies in the ability to play only music files or both types of files - both music and video.
And now to the heart of the matter. Any media player is a special program designed to work with media files. In other words, you simply won't be able to open such a file without a player installed on your PC. Programs of this kind can be considered the most real "stars" of the virtual world. Few can compare with them in terms of the regularity of use. Typically, every operating system has a built-in media player by default. For example, on Windows it is Window Media Player, on Linux - Banshee and Totem. But many users rightly put higher demands on their players. I would like the interface to be convenient and appearance you could customize it to your liking, and build a playlist. And a holy place, as you know, is never empty. So a huge variety of media players appeared, among which everyone will find a program “to their taste and color”. How else can media players be different? This, of course, is a different set of codecs that allow you to read files of different media formats, these are advanced equalizer and sound settings, playing streaming audio and video, recording to discs, editing files. Of course, not all players have a complete set of such functions, but that's what the freedom of choice is for. Perhaps the most popular free media players are iTunes, VLC Media Player, KMPlayer, Kantaris, QuickTime Alternative, and Songbird and AIMP, which only work with sound.

Networked audio players have replaced CD players. They are not only on par with older disc players in sound quality, but they are often superior to them, as they can play music recorded in ultra-high resolution. While Audio CDs recorded audio at 44 kHz / 16 bit, the newer HD audio formats use higher bit rates: 96 kHz / 24 bit and 192 kHz / 24 bit.

Some models of network players can operate in USB-DAC mode (connected to a computer via USB) and in preamplifier mode.

Formats

Many modern TVs (Smart TVs) can play video files on their own. However, in terms of the number of supported formats, they are far from the best examples of stationary media players. For example, not every Smart TV can boast M2TS support and the ability to play Blu-Ray or DVD ISO images. Many media players support playback of lossless audio files (without loss of quality) - this is necessary if you plan to connect high-quality acoustics and an amplifier to the player.

Additional functions

To view 3D video content through a media player, it requires support for playing Blu-ray 3D images and an HDMI interface of version 4.0 or higher.

Some models of media players have the ability to work as a torrent client, when it can independently download and save files from torrent trackers to the hard disk.

A TV tuner with DVB-T2 support in a media player will help you switch to a new digital terrestrial television standard. DVB-T2 is defined as a standard for terrestrial digital terrestrial television in Russia, but it is not supported in older TV models.

An alternative to a TV tuner is IPTV - Internet TV. IPTV-enabled media players allow you to watch TV channels if your ISP provides such a service.

Not all television devices can be called “smart”. Smart TV technology is gaining popularity, but what about those who have old TV models? Fortunately, it is not necessary to spend money on a modern model - there are special attachments. With this article you will be able to choose best media player for TV. With such a set-top box, the possibilities of Smart TV no longer seem so distant.

NVIDIA SHIELD + Okko

• good speed
• powerful tv box
• the ability to play computer games
• regular updates

• pared down play market

The advantage of this device is the incredible level of detail when watching movies and TV shows. Sports matches are played to create a sense of presence. 4K support with HDR. The set includes a subscription for half a year, which gives access to the films of the OKKO cinema.

Dune HD Pro 4K Plus

• metal case
• support for all popular video formats
• smartphone control

• one pair of batteries included
• HDMI cable quality
• overpriced

Technical testing of Dune HD Neo 4K was successful. In general, this model has few flaws, but they can also be explained by the features of the Realtek platform and flaws in the firmware. Suitable for connoisseurs of the tandem "home server and normal content" as well as for "fans of the dune". At the moment, the Dune HD system is much more powerful than the competition. Because the price is quite high.

Selenga A4

• 3 USB port 2.0
• support for popular formats
• light attachment
• convenient remote control

• not identified

This smart box from Android 7.1.2 has 16 GB of internal memory and 2 GB of RAM. The superior Selenga Multimedia Center transforms TVs, monitors or projectors into full-fledged computers. It is possible to install applications, watch movies and TV online. Opens access to games and various widgets.

On other OS

Apple TV 4K 32GB

• the ability to install software from the App Store
• design
• quality
• comfort
• can be played with joystick

• defective remote control
• few applications

Apple TV 4K is presented as a mini PC. The powerful A10X Fusion processor and 32GB of memory are no joke. Movies and TV shows are streamed with the latest 4K HDR special effects. High Dynamic Range is a technology that provides the most realistic reproduction of color and fine details. You can use Apple TV 4K as a universal media player, with the ability to install applications from the App Store. Various devices iOS are able to "be friends" with the prefix. For example, with a slight flick of your fingers, the iPhone turns into a remote control.

MiraScreen G2 WiFi Display Dongle

• comfortable
• powerful

• sometimes the signal fails
• requires reboot

Individual interesting design MiraScreen G2 Dongle will distract from everyday life. Suitable for use at home or on the road. The features of the player are: high definition image, wide compatibility with various operating systems as well as easy connection. Toggle button changes Airplay modes to Miracast.

AnyCast M4 Plus

• easy connection

• video hangs
• maximum - 1080p

Miracast (Anycast) M4 is a wireless device that allows you to play content from your smartphone or tablet on your TV. Connects via HDMI connector, as well as via WiFi. Suitable only for broadcasting static images, the video hangs on it.

Inexpensive models (up to 3000 rubles)

Google Chromecast 2013

• quality
• speed
• ease of use

• there are outages
• small set of supported services

There were no comments on the design and hardware configuration of the player. The device reacts fairly quickly to user actions. The real picture quality is expressed by limiting the format to 720p. Therefore, on a monitor with a large diagonal, you cannot count on greater clarity. The sound is stereo only. Live streaming of content from a smartphone is not possible.