I've just read through this thread after many years of trying to find a suitable client myself.
My main "advanced" criteria are 24p and hd audio from uncompressed mkv h264 blu rays. A nice, fast GUI would be a plus and using an ipad to start play back is a must as navigating a large collection with a remote is no fun. But most of all it must be stable. You have no idea how much grief I get when putting ice age on for the boys doesn't work.
It seems the only option is an htpc, but I've been through 3 hardware iterations of one, as well as frieds with them, and have no end of issues with windows screen resolution, and random windows based issues screwing things up. The closest I got was shelling it with xbmc and plexbmc but that didn't last before windows decided to drop a b*llock. Plexbmc is random too, with inconsistent shared library menus and failure to connect on occasion.
I use the roku LT as 2nd room players and as a backup in the lounge to give the wife a 2nd chance (and 3rd and 4th with ps3 and tv dlna). Other that the bland interface and hideous transcoding artefacts they have mostly been reliable, until the one in the lounge decided to screw up when relied upon in that backup situation.
It feels like there is far to much work happening on the server/software side of all the media solutions out there and the client end is being completely neglected. All these new features are well and good but without a client to use them there is little point.
I understand however we/I am probably in the minority when it comes to high bitrate and hd audio. *most* users will be playing 4-5gb 720p files i imagine.
This is what I've used so far:
Windows Htpc x3
Linux htpc x2 (xbmc/plexbmc openelec etc)
Roku
Android boxes (nano plus with native xbmc rom)
Various dlna boxes
Rpi with all xbmc based roms
Airplay works but isn't a realistic solution for me short of YouTube.
Atv2 jailbroken
Atv3 plex connect
I am in the same situation. I am using some cheap NowTV (Roku LT) boxes in the bedroom but want full quality blu ray playback with hd audio in the lounge. At the moment I am using Raspbmc which does everything apart from HD audio.
The only thing I can think of would be to use a Mac Mini or wait for the official PHT for linux and build a custom HTPC around that.
I've worked out that MakeMKV can convert HD audio formats to multi-channel FLAC which plays perfectly on the Pi. I have also installed the Amber Skin and PlexBMC and this setup pretty much does everything I need it to.
So fare in my testing i would say the following about clients
Roku 3 (works great SIMPLE, not so pretty interface but stable & easy to use also direct plays most content transcodes if needed)
Chomecast (works with most video formats h264, but lacks audio support only support AAC and MP3)
raspberry pi 256 (XBMC with plexbmc plugin works ok)
raspberry pi 512 (Rasplex w/ flirc is getting there works for playing content but slow interface still still)
Windows7 PHT (Plays pretty much anything, not as simple and easy to work)
For what you are wanting simple and easy i would go with Roku3 (if you want a remote) or Chromecast (if you are fine using your phone or tablet asa remote)
I am not seeing anyone mentioned about Amazon Fire TV. How's that stack up with the rest? I too like to find a stable and great interface experience Plex Client as well.
Airplay, Chromecast etc. works great for simplicity but not the same experience and not full audio support.
I am not seeing anyone mentioned about Amazon Fire TV. How's that stack up with the rest? I too like to find a stable and great interface experience Plex Client as well.
Airplay, Chromecast etc. works great for simplicity but not the same experience and not full audio support.
The Fire TV (currently) only supports 2.0 audio in Plex. Other than that, it's the same interface as the Google TV (not Android TV).
I think the CUBOX-I is going to be the best all around client once Rasplex makes the port. The cubox should dramatically improve the performance issue that the pi lacks.
Chromebox....? $140. Can it be configured as a Plex client?
Chromebox runs ChromeOS, which is just a specialized Linux dialect with the Chrome Browser as its only and dedicated application. ChromeOS and the Chrome browser also have an app system, but all the apps are essentially web browser script applications. I've read that the ambition is to make ChromeOS able to run all Android apps too, but I'll believe that when I see it. I've only seen confirmations on that score for a grand total of 4 apps...
So that OS is really just a dedicated web browser platform, meaning that it can run the Plex/Web client. But so can any other device capable of running a web browser.
And $140 seems a bit steep for just that one ability. Especially considering the limitations of the Plex/Web client... (Unable to scale anamorphic videos correctly.)
Chromebox....?
$140. Can it be configured as a Plex client?
I'd agree with dlanor on this. You could use a Chromebox, but with limitations. There is a client for the Chromebox/Chrome, but that's really just the web client appified. If you already want a Chromebox for other reasons, it can certainly also be a client for Plex - but for a dedicated box it's far from the best option.
If that's your budget you can get a full fledged Windows PC for around the same price. Keep in mind PHT runs very well on ultra low powered PC's.
There’s an update due soon to fix some issues, but it works well for me… BUT NOT using the official Plex app for Android. This transcodes everything despite the Minix supporting all codecs etc… And will then screw up subtitle sync never mind cpu usage on servers etc.
Instead the ‘Serenity’ plex client works great - it does what the official client should but apparently can’t.
Use the MX player installed on the Minix as your external player from Serenity, add the DTS pack for mx player and it will play all my formats and handles srt subtitles and mkv and internal subtitles fine - and no transcoding.( using mx player will still update the plex server on your watch status and so on)
( i tried the XMBC app on the Minix with a plexbmx add-on but it kept failing so gave that up as a bad job. Keep my WD TV Live handy just in case since it plays absolutely everything but using network sharing so no plex goodies…)
