|
|
Post by Priapulus on Oct 19, 2018 6:11:40 GMT -5
Recently I upgraded to the XMC-1 v.3 4k video card and bought a new Samsung 4k NU8000 smart TV.
I had intended to buy a new 4k Apple TV, Amazon Firestick and Chromecast, but nearly all the apps I use (Netflicks, utube, etc) are already available on the Samsung (as 4k, if available). So it seems the apple TV and Chromecast are redundant. Most of the apps on the Apple are pay/subscription anyways...
Plus I have my HTPC which provides more apps.
What do I miss w/o an Apple TV, etc?
Sincerely,
/b
|
|
bootman
Emo VIPs 
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
|
Post by bootman on Oct 19, 2018 7:02:55 GMT -5
What audio format do you get over ARC with that display?
That is the info that may determine the answer to your question.
|
|
|
|
Post by Priapulus on Oct 19, 2018 7:16:53 GMT -5
What audio format do you get over ARC with that display? That is the info that may determine the answer to your question. I haven't been able to get ARC to work yet. ARC is turned on in the XMC and I'm in the correct XMC HDMI socket. Turning the TV on doesn't turn on the XMC. but turning TV off, turns off the XMC. In the XMC/source/audio selections I expected to see "ARC" but there is nothing there. What am I missing? And I'm using certified Monoprice cables. For now, I'm using an optical cable, to return TV audio to the XMC. Sincerely /b |
|
|
|
Post by davidl81 on Oct 19, 2018 8:04:18 GMT -5
Recently I upgraded to the XMC-1 v.3 4k video card and bought a new Samsung 4k NU8000 smart TV. I had intended to buy a new 4k Apple TV, Amazon Firestick and Chromecast, but nearly all the apps I use (Netflicks, utube, etc) are already available on the Samsung (as 4k, if available). So it seems the apple TV and Chromecast are redundant. Most of the apps on the Apple are pay/subscription anyways... Plus I have my HTPC which provides more apps. What do I miss w/o an Apple TV, etc? Sincerely, /b I have the appletv even though my Sony in the living room is a smart TV. I find the AppleTV is much faster loading netflix, youtube, other apps etc. The biggest reason I have the appleTV though is I have over 200 movies in the apple "eco-system" so the AppleTV is a must for me. If you don't have a huge digital movie collection then really any of those boxes are kinda redundant even though I find them faster to use that my smart TV's built in UI. Also with ARC the best audio you will get is DD5.1 (should be what you are getting now with optical) |
|
|
|
Post by petew on Oct 19, 2018 8:17:46 GMT -5
Apple TV is great hardware. It's glitch free and has an excellent user interface. I have a bunch of iTunes content, plus I use it with Plex for all my ripped DVD's & BluRay discs. I also use the Plex DVR for off-air broadcast TV. My UMC-200 does not do 4k so I'm using optical from the TV to the preamp. I'm going to buy another Apple TV when I get my theater reconstruction finished (with one of the new crop of Emotiva processors).
|
|
bootman
Emo VIPs
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
|
Post by bootman on Oct 19, 2018 8:21:04 GMT -5
ARC or optical out should be the same output on your display. (verify with the exact model's specs)
So if you are happy with the selection of apps on your display vs a standalone box you should be OK.
Keep in mind that usually TV manufacturers do not update their apps on a regular basis vs a standalone box. (some only offers certain apps on their newest models)
Example: a 2016 model may have youtube but not youtube TV which is available in their 2018 model.
That may or may not be an important feature for you.
|
|
|
|
Post by ashsummer on Jul 28, 2019 14:07:26 GMT -5
5 months ago I bought Amazon FireStick, mostly so I could have more selection from Amazon's music library. Setup there was equally smooth. What I like more about the FireStick than the Roku is the UI and menus; it offers more IMO as far as related movies/shows, with most offering trailers (the Roku might also have this feature but if it does I haven't found it yet). Navigating through the Fire Stick is for me a more pleasurable, easier-on-the-eyes experience. No doubt Roku's got something brewing on their end to make them more up to date. Moreover, Roku is much more expensive. I have never used Chromecast, so cannot judge on it. I have just updated Kodi on my FireStick through www.firesticktricks.com/install-kodi-on-fire-stick.html. works even better. |
|
|
|
Post by AudioHTIT on Jul 28, 2019 14:34:18 GMT -5
I'm an Apple TV4K fan, but bootman's on to the key as to whether the TV apps will work for you. I find some shows I stream are in DD+ and sound better on a 7.x system than those in DD5.1, I don't believe TOSLink can pass that format. So if DD+ (or future Atmos) is important to you, and you're not going to get ARC working, then I'd get an external box. |
|
|
|
Post by ottaone on Jul 28, 2019 18:59:13 GMT -5
Probably not needed at the moment or ever if Samsung updates their apps to keep up with the latest and greatest from the other companies, e.g. Netflix. I bought a Sony 4K in November 2018 but I don't think I ever used the built-in apps as I got the ATV 4K in anticipation of the 4K TV. What I found in my other older Sony TV is that the built-in apps are of course slower from a UI interactivity perspective.
You may want to do a comparison with one or a couple of the products as you can normally return them within 30 days.
|
|
