Media players: why are they needed and how to use them?

What is a media player

Almost from the beginning of mass distribution, TVs have been able to work with an additional device, for example, a VHS, DVD, Blue ray player. Today a media player can also be included in this group. Its main function is to play content. This is a less bulky device with convenient controls and great capabilities.

Important! Unlike older video players, it works with files recorded on internal or external memory. Depending on the functionality, it can play them from other devices or via the Internet.

A media player for a TV is needed if the built-in player does not support a large number of formats. With its help you can organize your own media library. For this, an external or internal drive is used; among the functions there is the ability to connect to a local network or the Internet. The latter will not only allow you to view content from online resources, for example, YouTube, but will also make it possible to set up IPTV broadcasting and download what you are interested in directly to your device or the HDD connected to it.

Let's list the main advantages of using a media center for your TV.

1. Small sizes. Even hard drive models are smaller than older CD players.
2. Omnivorous. A good media player reads any audio, video and photo formats. You no longer have to worry about finding your favorite movie in a format suitable for TV.
3. Ease of management. Sitting in front of a large panel with a remote control is much more convenient than, armed with a mouse and keyboard, controlling it through a connected PC.
4. A high-quality media player expands the number of connectors - this is often relevant.
5. Storing videos on a hard drive is more convenient and reliable than storing videos on multiple DVDs.
6. If you compare a media player with a PC, it is easier to connect (no need to pull wires) and is quieter.
7. Android models turn a regular TV into a smart one, and a high-quality set-top box is an excellent alternative to a cheap Smart TV, which rarely leaves a satisfied user.

Types of media players

All media stations for TV can be divided into 4 groups.

1. The simplest devices without a hard drive. Their main task is to play any formats from external media. They are the most affordable and are simply players without additional functions. Often very compact.
2. Models with hard drive. The functionality of such devices is not much higher, but the difference is that by connecting it to a PC, you can transfer all the necessary files to it and not think about flash drives. Often the interface allows you to manage files - create new directories, delete, move, copy information.
3. Network media player for TV without Internet access. This is a slightly expanded version of the previous model, which differs in that it can connect via a local network to other gadgets and reproduce information from them. They can also download movies from the Internet via a computer or laptop. May have a remote control function.
4. Multimedia player with operating system. These are the most expensive models, but with the largest number of functions: from simple playback of files from memory to full network operation with the ability to download and install applications.

Connecting a media player to your TV is easy. For this, in most cases the HDMI connector is used, but some devices are equipped with only AV (tulips). The case has outputs/inputs for connecting peripheral devices - USB and audio outputs. Depending on the device, RJ-45 may be present; more advanced media boxes use a Wi-Fi connection.

Media players: why are they needed and how to use them?

A media player is a player that plays videos, photo albums and music. With it, you can play files that contain recorded music, videos and photos. Of course, the better your player, the more file formats it can support.

Why was a media player invented? It was invented because it is much more convenient than anything that came before it. Why is it so convenient? Here are some reasons:

— you can very easily and quickly replenish your media collection of films, music, photographs;

- Finding the right work will now not be difficult. You don't have to look through the archive of disks for a long time; you just need to find and run the required file. It's so simple and convenient;

— storing information in the form of files is more reliable than storing it on disks;

- when compared with the same launch of a file on a computer, the media player is much more convenient. It is also much quieter and more compact; turns on quickly and is easy to operate; does not require as many wires as a computer; freezes less often, etc.

There are several classes of media players:

— Players with a USB port, without a hard drive and not connected to a local network. This is the class of the most inexpensive and simple models. But this does not mean that they work poorly. The player must be connected to the TV, then the media files will be written to a USB flash drive, which will be inserted into the USB port on the player. After that, you need to take the player’s remote control and find the necessary files and launch it.

— The second type is players with the ability to build in a hard drive, but without connecting to a local network. These players are a little more expensive. Their convenience lies in the fact that they can store and record information on the hard drives built into them. To record all the information you need, you just need to connect your player to your computer and rewrite everything. Then you can connect the player to your TV and watch movies, photos and listen to music. Such players have a USB port. Some models have a function where you can watch photos with music.

— Players that can connect to a local network without access to the Internet. They can do everything the same as the two models listed above, but plus they connect to a local network and play files from all possible network sources. The player is connected via a network cable to the router, and video-audio outputs are connected to your TV. Then go to the player settings, to the network settings item and set the parameters that correspond to your local network. There are often factory settings that allow the player to immediately connect to the network when turned on. Afterwards, all folders, drives located on the computer, as well as network drives that contain the media files you need, need to be assigned to shared network access. This is necessary so that they are “visible” from any network device.

— Players with the ability to connect to a local network, with Internet access, and also with the ability to remotely control. This is the most progressive category of media players. They have a wide variety of options for use, depending on the desires of the user, as well as on the equipment available to the user. Such players can play files of almost all formats; download the necessary files from the Internet; carry out various operations with files; they make it possible to install new software; make it possible to play the content of popular Web media resources and much more.

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How to choose a media center

You can choose the right media player for your TV by assessing its basic parameters.

1. Formats – this determines how versatile the player will be.
2. Availability of hard drive and its capacity.
3. Connectors for connecting TV. Ideally, there should be HDMI, but if this is an old HD TV, then you can stick to AV.
4. Internet access and connection method. It’s more convenient if the device has Wi-Fi.
5. Interface. If you have the opportunity to turn on the device before purchasing, you should evaluate how convenient its menu is and whether it has Russian language.
6. For Android devices, you should look at parameters such as processor and RAM. It is often difficult to figure out whether a chipset is good or not, but when comparing several models, you should choose the one with a higher clock speed and number of cores. The situation is similar with RAM: the more, the better.
7. Availability of additional connectors. A media player for a TV can be a way to connect other devices, for example, a speaker system or accessories - a mouse and keyboard. Therefore, it is worth looking at how many additional connectors are installed, and what they are.

Advice! If possible, you should clarify what kind of cooling is used. Often this information is not indicated by manufacturers, but it can be passive or active. The second option is obviously better, but the noise level is also higher.

Best models

Here is a 2021 rating that will tell you about the five best media players selected based on user reviews.

Google Chromecast Ultra

The model from the giant software developer and creator of the Android OS is a compact device with an HDMI connection, the cable comes straight out of the case, so the player can be hidden behind the TV. The device is capable of transmitting UHD, has the most necessary codecs, and can be controlled from iOS or Android. The connection to the network is via Wi-Fi ac. Additionally there is a USB 2.0 connector. The model has support for Miracast and AirPlay.

The power supply is external, it contains RJ-45 - you can connect to the wired Internet. The device is not equipped with an operating system, but has a number of pre-installed popular services. In terms of functionality, the model is quite limited, but it has three Wi-Fi antennas, which gives a high connection range. Google's set-top box does an excellent job with its main purpose - to make the TV able to work online. Price: 4,500 rubles.

Advantages:

• low price;
• reliable Wi-Fi reception even at long distances;
• minimum dimensions of the device - sometimes this is very critical;
• UHD video transmission.

Flaws:

• modest functionality;
• a small number of interfaces.

HARPER ABX-332

The model from Harper with Internet access has a number of pleasant parameters, which are even more pleasing considering the price tag. The device runs on the Amlogic S912 chipset and has 3/32 GB of memory, which is an excellent indicator. The media player runs on Android 7.1, it has full support for all formats of audio, video, and graphic objects. The device is equipped with a display, external power supply, and passive cooling. Video resolution is 4K, reads from a flash drive formatted in FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS. Among other things, the device has a decent set of connectors: audio 3.5, audio coaxial, audio optical, HDMI 2.0, 2 USB 2.0, RJ-45, MicroSD. Wireless interfaces – Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.2. Price: 6,700 rubles.

Advantages:

• low cost;
• support for a large number of codecs and formats;
• good memory reserve;
• a large number of exits.

Flaws:

• USB0 is not the highest data transfer speed;
• no Wi-Fi ac support;
• The remote control is not very convenient.

Apple TV 4K

There are many who do not like the Android operating system. They should not despair: as an alternative, you can purchase a set-top box from Apple, which has a fairly reasonable price for its contents. The device runs on its own OS - tvOS , which may cause some difficulties for new users. The interface is specific, but will not be surprising for owners of other Apple equipment.

The device transmits video in UHD with DolbyVision and HDR10, has, although not a complete, but sufficient set of codecs, as well as a number of pre-installed popular services - iTunes, Apple Music, Netflix, HBO and others. There is a voice assistant Siri here. The device works with the proprietary Apple A10X Fusion chipset and has 3/64 GB of memory. The connection is made via HDMI 2.0, there is support for Wi-Fi ac with DLNA and AirPlay, Bluetooth 5.0, IPTV. Price: 13,200 rubles.

Advantages:

• stable work;
• large memory reserve;
• excellent integration with Apple technology;
• excellent video playback quality.

Flaws:

• the interface may seem inconvenient to many;
• few connectors.

Important! This is not the best option for fans of pirated content, since Apple is a well-known copyright fighter. Movies, music, etc. will have to be purchased or downloaded from open but official sources.

Xiaomi Mi Box S

It’s no surprise that a device from Xiaomi was included in the best media players of 2021. This is a well-known manufacturer, famous for its good quality and affordable price. The model with a quad-core Amlogic S905X chipset and 2 GB RAM is equipped with the latest version of Android 8.1 Oreo. The device supports installation of applications from PlayMarket - 8 GB internal storage.

The Xiaomi TV set-top box supports content transmission in UHD, reads any file extensions, and uses HDMI 2.0, designed for 4K, to connect to TV. Additional connectors include USB and audio output. The built-in Wi-Fi module supports 5 GHz networks, as well as AirPlay, Miracast and DLNA, IPTV standards. In addition, the device is equipped with Bluetooth, built-in Internet radio, a download manager and can work in a smart home system. The included remote control supports voice control, making it easier to work online. To work correctly, connected external media must be formatted in exFAT or NTFS, which is more convenient. Price: from 4,000 rubles.

Important! Due to the fact that the power supply is external, the device does not overheat during prolonged operation, even taking into account passive cooling.

Advantages:

• modern OS;
• excellent functionality;
• stable video transmission in UHD;
• reading all formats;
• does not heat up;
• voice control.

Flaws:

• many lack built-in memory;
• there are no programmable buttons on the remote control;
• no RJ-45 connector;
• one USB output and that one is 2.0.

Recommendations for selection with an overview of some models

Before purchasing a media player, it is recommended to identify in advance which of the additional functions are most likely to be in demand. If you properly structure all your wishes, the cost of the purchase can be significantly reduced.

Stationary models

From Zidoo you can take a closer look at the Z10 device.

Of all the additional options, it only lacks an optical drive; everything else is “installed on board.”

Please note that among the ports there is a “tulip”, which will allow you to connect vintage TVs. The player function launches demo mode to familiarize yourself with the features.

There are 4 USB ports and an internal HDD bay with a capacity of up to 10 TB.

Since the device operates in two modes (media player and network archive), it runs two operating systems simultaneously: Android 7.1 + OpenWRT (manages the NAS archive).

Processor 1.4 GHz; RAM – 2 GB; internal memory – 16 GB.

The price of Zidoo Z10 is about 18 thousand rubles.

Portable devices

The Selenga A4 media player has excellent equipment:

• Processor – 1 GHz;
• RAM – 2 GB;
• Internal memory – 16 GB (increase via microSD up to 64 GB);
• 3 USB 2.0 ports;

It runs Android 7.1.2 OS model, allows you to connect external HDDs and SSDs, but does not work in NAS mode.

The only drawback is the lack of 3D support mode.

Selenga A4 price is only 3.5 thousand rubles.

Miniature media player

The Smart Stick 4K model from Rombica weighs only 40 grams (!), but it has all the functions of its larger brothers. Runs Android 6.0, the following are installed in the case:

• Processor – 1.2 GHz;
• RAM – 1 GB;
• Internal memory – 8 GB.

There is a USB port (slave) with OTG support. But the LAN port did not fit on the case. Therefore, connecting to the Internet is only possible via Wi-Fi.

The price of Smart Stick 4K is only 3 thousand rubles.

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