Hdi Dune Prime 3.0 Blu-ray Media Player, Comming to Australia on early January! Options

[basque]

Exciting news that I would like to share with you guys,

HDcity is introducing the popular, multi-awarded HDi DUNE PRIME 3.0 Hybrid Blu-ray media player to Australia.

As some of you might know HDI dune is a very popular in Europe. It was the pioneer in the hybrid market.
The new HDi Dune PRIME 3.0 dune boasts the latest sigma 8642 chip, it has received the editors choice award and best hybrid of 2009 by MPCCLUB. And It is deemed to be the most mature hybrid on the market.

http://hdcity.com.au/blu-ray/hdi-dune-prim...4th-of-jan.html

MPCCLUB REVIEW:
www.hdcity.com.au/reviews/review_hdi_bd_prime30.pdf

HDI PRIME 3.0 AWARDS:


MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:

Processor: Sigma Designs 8642
Playback of retail Blu-ray and DVD discs
MULTI-REGION (by using a patch)
Full BD iso support
100/1000MB ethernet
Support for modern video file formats (MKV, H.264, VC1, etc) with very high bitrate (up to 50 Mbit/s and higher)
Pass-through and decoding of HD audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio
7 AND 2 CHANNEL ANALOGUE



SPECS/DESCRIPTION
Dune BD Prime 3.0 is the most comprehensive solution for Full HD (1080p) video playback based on Sigma Designs 8642 platform with a built-in Blu-ray drive and support for retail Blu-ray discs.
Includes: three USB 2.0 ports (one front, two back), eSATA port, Ethernet 100/1000(*) Mbit/s, HDMI 1.3, S/PDIF (optical and coaxial), 7.1 analog audio, 2.0 analog audio, component video, composite video.

Main features:
• Playback of retail Blu-ray and DVD discs
• Playback of full Blu-ray structures from HDD and network (with Blu-ray menu, BD-J, BonusView, BD-Live)
• Playback of video, music, photos from any media source (HDD, PC, NAS, etc)
• Optical disc formats: data discs (CD/DVD/BD) (MP3, JPEG, etc), Audio CD (PCM/DTS), DVD-Video (retail and user-authored discs), Blu-ray (retail and user-authored discs)
• Support for modern video file formats (MKV, H.264, VC1, etc) with very high bitrate (up to 50 Mbit/s and higher)
• Dune Network Playback Accelerator: special optimizations ensuring best-in-class network playback performance for the Sigma Designs 864x platform and enabling smooth playback of any supported kind of media content via any network protocol (including NFS and SMB) in both 100 Mbit/s and 1000 Mbit/s networks.
• Dimensions: 420 mm (width) x 262 mm (depth) x 50 mm (height)

Specification:
• Processor: Sigma Designs 8642
• Memory: RAM 512 MB, system Flash: 128 MB, expandable with a HDD partition or USB flash drive (2GB recommended)
• Media sources: built-in Blu-ray drive, external HDD (eSATA, USB), external optical drive (eSATA, USB), USB devices (USB flash drive, USB card reader, etc), PC and NAS in local network (SMB, NFS, UPnP, HTTP), internal 2.5" SATA HDD (option)
• Video codecs: MPEG2, MPEG4, XVID, WMV9, VC1, H.264
• Video file formats: MKV, MPEG-TS, MPEG-PS, M2TS, VOB, AVI, MOV, MP4, QT, ASF, WMV, Blu-Ray-ISO, BDMV, DVD-ISO, VIDEO_TS
• Video output modes: wide range of supported modes and resolutions, including 23.976p, 24p, PAL, NTSC
• Audio codecs: AC3 (Dolby Digital), DTS, MPEG, AAC, LPCM, WMA, WMAPro, EAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), Dolby True HD, DTS HD High Resolution Audio, DTS HD Master Audio, FLAC, multichannel FLAC
• Audio file formats: MP3, MPA, M4A, WMA, FLAC, WAV, DTS-WAV, DTS, AC3, AAC
• Pass-through and decoding of HD audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio
• Picture file formats: JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF
• Subtitle formats: SRT, SUB, text/SSA/ASS (MKV), VobSub (MP4), PGS (full Blu-ray mode)
• Playlist file formats: M3U, PLS
• Filesystems: FAT16/FAT32 (read-write), EXT2/EXT3 (read-write), NTFS (readonly)

Other features:
• Upscaling: high-quality upscaling and deinterlacing of DVD and other SD content to HD resolution (up to 1080p)
• Access to network: browser of network shares (SMB, UPnP), user-defined shortcuts to network shares (SMB, NFS), links to HTTP media streams
• NAS function: SMB and FTP access from network to the player's attached storage devices
• IPTV: direct playback and recording of multicast IPTV streams (raw-UDP and RTP-over-UDP, SD and HD)
• Internet radio: HTTP/MP3
• Powerful file manager (copy, move, delete, rename, etc), built-in FTP and SMB file server (NAS function)
• Photo viewer: slide-show function, picture transition eff ects, picture rotation
• Playlists: music/photos/video, user-defined and automatically generated playlists, repeat and shuffle
• FullHD-quality, fast, convenient, customizable interface (with covert-art and icon browsing support)
• Future (free f/w upgrade): Flash Lite 3 support
• Future (free f/w upgrade): Netflix support (for the USA market)


PRICE: pre-order and promotional special price 499.9
AVAILABILITY: 4TH of January
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DTV FORUM MEMBERS: RE-STOCKING FEES WAVED AT LEAST FOR A MONTH
WARRANTY: 1 YEAR WARRANTY RETURN TO PERTH WA

http://hdcity.com.au/blu-ray/hdi-dune-prim...4th-of-jan.html

This post has been edited by basque: Dec 24 2009, 04:05 PM

[prk]

Exciting news that I would like to share with you guys,

HDcity is introducing the popular, multi-awarded HDi DUNE PRIME 3.0 Hybrid Blu-ray media player to Australia.

Anyone have any experience / recommendations regarding this unit?

From what I've read, its main competitor at the moment is the Popcorn Hour C-200, with the Dune targeted at the "I just want something which does it all and works out of the box" crowd, and the C-200 targeted at the "Wow, I can make it dance widdershins if I tweak these settings while sacrificing a goat under a full moon" geek crowd.

Whilst I'm normally quite happily in the latter group, I'm running low on goats (and there are only a limited number of full moons per year), so I'm leaning towards the HDI Dune for simplicity. I just don't want to find out it's missing some key feature or functionality which will make me wish I'd bought something else.

Also, anyone know how reliable HDCity is? There's rather limited information on them, and the broken "About Us" link on their web site leaves me a little wary.

prk.

[murrayt]

Anyone have any experience / recommendations regarding this unit?

From what I've read, its main competitor at the moment is the Popcorn Hour C-200, with the Dune targeted at the "I just want something which does it all and works out of the box" crowd, and the C-200 targeted at the "Wow, I can make it dance widdershins if I tweak these settings while sacrificing a goat under a full moon" geek crowd.

Whilst I'm normally quite happily in the latter group, I'm running low on goats (and there are only a limited number of full moons per year), so I'm leaning towards the HDI Dune for simplicity. I just don't want to find out it's missing some key feature or functionality which will make me wish I'd bought something else.

Also, anyone know how reliable HDCity is? There's rather limited information on them, and the broken "About Us" link on their web site leaves me a little wary.

prk.

There is a quite useful review at MPC Club at: http://www.mpcclub.com/forum/links/reviews-2009-9/

It doesn't suggest such a wide divide between the Dune and the PCH as you have painted above, although the flavour is there. It points out some dissapointing deficiencies in the Dune (which may be rectified in time) and comments a little more favourably about Syabas' strong support for it's product relative to that which the Dune has demonstrated to date. It is a nice unit. But my preference is still for the PCH C-200 at this time (and we don't "make it dance widdershins if I tweak these settings while sacrificing a goat under a full moon"") Just turn it on select a file from the file list and let it play.

[prk]

There is a quite useful review at MPC Club at: http://www.mpcclub.com/forum/links/reviews-2009-9/

Cheers.

But my preference is still for the PCH C-200 at this time (and we don't "make it dance widdershins if I tweak these settings while sacrificing a goat under a full moon"") Just turn it on select a file from the file list and let it play.

I'm after the unit as much for the Blu-Ray player as the media tank aspect, wanting an all in one to save an audio input on my AV Receiver and HDMI input on my TV.

Given I'd have to buy the Blu-Ray drive and install it, not to mention buying an IR remote module (or RF adapter for my Harmony remote), it starts to push the cost up well past the Dune Prime 3.

Being able to put a 3.5" drive in the C-200 is nice though, they're much better bang for buck than the 2.5" ones.

Decisions, decisions!

prk.

[basque]

I am frankly impressed. This is the first time that I have come across a media player that feels and acts as a mainstream standalone device.
The user interface is simple, easy to navigate yet there are plenty of advanced options for the geekier user.

I have tested plenty of videos and test files. Tested SD, DVD iso, DVD discs , Full HD tests consisting og high bitrate mkv, m2ts files including videos with True HD & DTS HD and everything played perfectly. Some of the sd movies that can't be played on my Xtreamer and M34A (probably badly encoded) are played smoothly. One of my wow moments came when I could play the famous 42mbit "bird" test video on a media player but this moment was quickly overshadowed when the Dune was able to play the 90mbit m2ts version of the bird video. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)
Will do further testing in the coming days.

Definitely think that we have a winner in our hands: a simple powerful media player with an integrated multi-region blu-ray player. These hybrids are worth the money for the media player capabilities alone.

Just as a reminder, we are waving restocking fees for DTVFORUM members. So guys you can buy with confidence and give it a go.

[basque]

Cheers.



I'm after the unit as much for the Blu-Ray player as the media tank aspect, wanting an all in one to save an audio input on my AV Receiver and HDMI input on my TV.

Given I'd have to buy the Blu-Ray drive and install it, not to mention buying an IR remote module (or RF adapter for my Harmony remote), it starts to push the cost up well past the Dune Prime 3.

Being able to put a 3.5" drive in the C-200 is nice though, they're much better bang for buck than the 2.5" ones.

Decisions, decisions!

prk.

I believe the HDI Dune PRIME would fulfil your needs. We are offering a 100% refund (except shipping) on it as well for piece of mind.

Regarding the 3.5" drive. No hybrid player on the market officially supports 3.5" internal drives with a BD drive installed.
There are few options you might want to consider besides the 2.5" internal HDD. You might look at is using the external eSata drive on the back of the Dune to hook up a drive, using a USB external drive, a cheap NAS (such as the etrayz)...



This post has been edited by basque: Dec 31 2009, 06:13 PM

[JimmyB]

Looking forward to hearing some end user experiences of this HDI device with retail BD disks. i have heard good things thus far. selling it with a qualified bd loader/drive on board is a smart move, as the c200 approach of "just drop in any bd drive" has proven to be a disaster.

I have already palmed off my c200 to my dad - it is majorly underbaked, don't buy it if you have any serious interest in playing blu-rays. what is more galling is that features that worked great in the a110 (i.e. HD audio in ts/m2ts) do not work on the c200. I'm sure it will get there eventually though.

[miata]

we are waving restocking fees for DTVFORUM members.

Wouldn't it be better if you waived them altogether? Just waving them might alarm some people! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Widescream]

If this had a DTV tuner (even better if it could record) I would probably get it in a heartbeat assuming it doesn't have the problems the C-200 etc has.

Apart from that it would be interesting to see how it stacked up in PQ and AQ against the Oppo BDP83.

[basque]

Wouldn't it be better if you waived them altogether? Just waving them might alarm some people! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Spelling FAIL.
Waiving restocking fees to all customers for newly introduced products is something I am pondering on.


HDi has just released a Beta firmware update:

http://dune-hd.com/firmware/bdprime3/

Discussion:

http://www.mpcclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22463

[prk]

I believe the HDI Dune PRIME would fulfil your needs. We are offering a 100% refund (except shipping) on it as well for piece of mind.

How large a piece, and of whose mind?

*grin*

Guess I'll give it a try!

prk.

[prk]

It arrived on Thursday, and I plugged it in this morning.

I've set it up with HDMI video & coax audio.

Video works fine for the display - can see the menu, choose icons, etc. But the minute I try and play anything, I get "Mode not supported" on the new Samsung TV (LA46B750).

Have tried with a DVD (Dollhouse Season 1, Disc 1), a couple of 1080p trailers (Tron Legacy, Ironman 2 [1920x800x23fps]) and some SD .avi files (640x352x23fps & 624x352x25fps).

Sound works fine - so the files are playing, just not displaying.

Tried different HDMI cables & HDMI inputs on the TV with no joy, although the TV is happily showing Foxtel via HDMI at 1080i (IQ2).

Thus far, not very impressed with the Dune - even my old xbox with xbmc played the two SD avi files.

I'm wondering if there's some setting on the Dune or on the TV I need to get it to use supported modes.

Anyone come across something similar?

prk.

[dr_rod]

Updated to latest firmware? I'm waiting to receive my unit early next week I hope.

[prk]

Updated to latest firmware? I'm waiting to receive my unit early next week I hope.

It's running the latest stock firmware already.

I've been reading through the comments on the MPC forums regarding the latest beta firmware, and it seems pretty hit & miss as well.

Also trying to see if there's anything I can do on the TV side.

prk.

[basque]

It arrived on Thursday, and I plugged it in this morning.

I've set it up with HDMI video & coax audio.

Video works fine for the display - can see the menu, choose icons, etc. But the minute I try and play anything, I get "Mode not supported" on the new Samsung TV (LA46B750).

Have tried with a DVD (Dollhouse Season 1, Disc 1), a couple of 1080p trailers (Tron Legacy, Ironman 2 [1920x800x23fps]) and some SD .avi files (640x352x23fps & 624x352x25fps).

Sound works fine - so the files are playing, just not displaying.

Tried different HDMI cables & HDMI inputs on the TV with no joy, although the TV is happily showing Foxtel via HDMI at 1080i (IQ2).

Thus far, not very impressed with the Dune - even my old xbox with xbmc played the two SD avi files.

I'm wondering if there's some setting on the Dune or on the TV I need to get it to use supported modes.

Anyone come across something similar?

prk.

It looks like the Dune and your TV are having some problems communicating with each other over HDMI. The video files you are mentioning should be playing fine.

What is your current video setup on the HDI? Try different configurations to isolate the issue: ie: try auto-edid mode, different 1080p refresh rate modes, 1080i etc. Also try to see if it works with HDMI audio on.

Recommend you to post the issue over MPCCLUB as it works as a large unofficial HDI forum, many HDI reps go there. Describe the problem with the maximum level of details and steps you have taken to solve the issue.

Probably the best thread to post is here: http://www.mpcclub.com/forum/showthread.ph...984&page=28

You might also want to create a debug dump and send it directly to HDI:

Steps here:

http://dune-hd.com/firmware/feedback/

I will be monitoring your problem and report the issue directly the issue to HDI directly if necessary.

[basque]

More info.
Definetely seems that you need to change the video mode on the HDI.

A search on google quickly gives a great number of posts/people getting the same error on the Samsungs with different electronic devices.

To change the mode go to setup---> video

http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&source...926d529b7b46833

[pjc]

Hi basque,

are you going to stock Dune Base 3.0? I am not after the optical drive of the Prime and the 3.5" HDD is of more practical use for my needs. I am getting pretty sick of the Xtreamer failures to deliver promises and their incredibly arrogant forum.

Thanks

[prk]

Tried the firmware upgrade to latest beta - no joy, same issue.

Disabled HDMI-CEC (Anynet) on my TV as recommended by MPCClub - no joy.

In the video options, I've manually set the output to 1080p at 23.976Hz, 24Hz, 25Hz, 29.97Hz & 30Hz, all of which display (the menu) fine. When I set it to 50Hz, 59.94Hz or 60Hz, the menu screen starts to break up & flicker.

Next I grabbed the Face.Off.1997.Blu-ray.1080p.DTS.x264.dxva-EuReKA-sample.mkv from http://www.general-search.com/download/1080p-sample and tried to play it through the Dune. Got the same problem - sound, but no video with "Mode not supported" displayed on the TV.

Then, I put the same file on a USB stick, plugged it directly into the TV (The Samsung LA46B750 lets me play certain file types, including mkv) and played it - I got picture!

So this confirms that the TV is able to display the picture from that 1080p mkv file fine, yet attempting to play it from the Dune results in "Mode not supported".

Given I've tried two different HDMI cables, and three different HDMI ports on the TV, I'm really beginning to wonder about the Dune.

Any way of getting more debugging information out of it, to see what it's doing? Hitting "Information" on a file doesn't give me anything useful about what resolution it's going to try and play at.

Alternatively, any way of forcing the Dune to output at a specific rate - eg 1080p@30Hz or 1080p@20Hz ?

prk.

[prk]

Definetely seems that you need to change the video mode on the HDI.

A search on google quickly gives a great number of posts/people getting the same error on the Samsungs with different electronic devices.

To change the mode go to setup---> video

I've been playing with that all day, trying different video modes.

The video mode that I change it to is for the menu display only.

Whenever I start to play a file, it then changes to a different mode (I don't know what it's doing) which results in Mode Not Supported by the TV.

prk.

[prk]

It looks like the Dune and your TV are having some problems communicating with each other over HDMI. The video files you are mentioning should be playing fine.

What is your current video setup on the HDI? Try different configurations to isolate the issue: ie: try auto-edid mode, different 1080p refresh rate modes, 1080i etc. Also try to see if it works with HDMI audio on.

I've tried many different modes with the video setting on the HDI. That appears to only be for the HDI menu interface though - as soon as I start to play a file, it switches to a different mode (and I don't know how to find out what mode it's trying).

How do I disable "auto-edid" on the HDI? It's not available as an option in Setup / Video, and there's no mention of it in the user manual on the HDI site.

Just tried it with HDMI audio on - and it works!

WTF?

Why would enabling HDMI audio (when audio is coax to AV receiver, and volume is off on TV) work?

Recommend you to post the issue over MPCCLUB as it works as a large unofficial HDI forum, many HDI reps go there. Describe the problem with the maximum level of details and steps you have taken to solve the issue.

Will post it as a bug, see if anyone else has it.

Thanks for your help.

prk.