rbalagopalan
Well-Known Member
Popcornhour A410 has been launched on this January 2nd.
I have been using Popcporn hour (PCH) since A100 model. To just give a brief write up: (I start from C200 as A100 is too outdated)
At the out set in my experience with media players I found PCH to be more reliable and with very good menu structure.
C200
I had this player almost for a year. I got it upgraded with Blueray drive. It has got a hotswapable 3.5" HDD tray. So you need to buy an internal drive only.(direct cost saving). This model supports up to 2TB comfortably, the booting time is less than 45secs for the internal drive. The NTFS or FAT 32 formats are not accepted it does its own linux EXT formatting for the internal drives External no issues. So copying files to its internal add-on HDD can be done either by connecting the content external drive to the PCH200 and with copy paste tool (the inherent file transfer speed is 7 to 10 mbps) or else the add-on HDD to be mounted on a Obuntu OS PC or a Linux base PC and normal copy paste function can be done. As windows / MAC cannot directly detect this format.(some third party softwares are available though for windows platform)
The wireless connectivity (with optional Wifi dongle or pci card wired option is also there) is smooth. Mapping the drive and integration with PCs is excellent. Streaming of audio is smooth. Movie streaming is smooth only upto 4GB file sizes above that stuttering takes place. The best part of net connectivity is the Network Media Jukebox. every detail is automatically downloaded about the files like cover-art, movie synopsis, casts and director including IMDB rating. All you have to ensure is the correct movie / song titles.
The picture quality was above average and for a media player without Video processor it was great. With the final firmware support it becomes a great 3D player with out the need of HDMI 1.4.
I have not tried the audio directly from its audio out whereas I had connected it to a DAC with optical and the sound quality was not bad. The convenience of direct decoding of FLAC, WAV audio formats comes handy eliminating the PC and the great convenience of Remote, that too RF remote.
The attached Blueray drive sucks. Reading time is high and it is not region free. Of course you can decode it by numeric in remote but subject to a maximum of five per title. So would suggest not to go for Blueray combo at extra cost.
The blue back ground LED is of no big use. Support of torrent down loads are great for direct down loads.
C300
I don't want to go in to the technical details, specs and features as these are available in the company web site.
Just to start, All features are similar to the C200 except the following.
The built in hot swap supports upto 4TB astounding with a lightning booting time. Externals I have tested up to 8TB RAID, boots like a breeze and no hanging whatsoever.
The added colour display is handy when you want to play Audio files as you don't have to ON your TV / Projector.
The booting has still improved further. Menu has become more user friendly and simple. The live whether display on the home screen is handy and gives a high end feel. The implementation of E-Sata port is good for reading speed during copy paste process, any how it is not of great use for movie watching. USB-3 would have been a good addition.
If you have an Apple / Android device the free NMJ navigator app is the killer, my god it is gorgeous and you don't need PCH remote. More over if your device is of 10" size its awesome to see the files in your tab and do whatever you want. It is worth dedicating a low end 10" Android device for this purpose, of course obviously PCH and the TAB should be in same wifi network.
Though the blueray drive functionality has improved still it is only an option. I am yet find a way to ff / skip track in BD drive.
This has full scale support for BD ISO files that means it is affected by CINAVIA virus
. So some of my 25GB+ ISO files are not playing in this. But for this it is an amazing MM player. (The day is not far off for antibiotics for this Cinavia Virus)
The addition of built in IR sensor is good for having a common remote.
This doubles as a NAS also and it is fantastic but still limited to streaming only upto 4GB movie files,like any other media player. If you are not a big file size movie collector this is a great NAS too.
The Apps market is great and still growing. One interesting and important app is Audio CD Ripper, you can directly rip the audio files lossless from CD and store / save it in the HDD in CDDA extension with out the use of PC & Third party software. I did try this and is super. play back of audio files is also improved with regard to quality comparing C200. I am yet to come across a single AV file that is not supported by this MM player.
Any other point comes in my mind about this I will add down the line.
A400
All the benefits of C300 are carried forward here with following implementations.
PCH has done away with player form factor and gone in favour of solid block form factor. This they could achieve by the great design from silverstone and the whole Aluminium body is acting like a heat sink also, because of this the Display is gone. The whole unit is built like a tank and to work for ever. With in this small form factor provision for the HDD tray is great. Like C 300 this also supports HDD upto 4TB on the hot swap tray.
The great inclusion is the USB 3 Slave and SIGMA VXP video processor chip. A chip which is used in 4000 to 9000$ Anthem HT processors.
The upgraded dual core CPU made the booting and files browsing still better than C300. The video quality is unsurpassed and blacks are true black even on 120 projection. Since no BD and BD menu support is not implemented in the firmware facilitating No-Entry for CINAVIA. So all the blueray ISOs are handled with out a hitch but we have to sacrifice the BD menu, and chapter selection only by Nos and not by the included screen shot in BD menu. So once you hit the movie file it starts the movie directly without going in to the Menu structure (where ever included) the hidden advantage is no boring movie trailers at startup. All this are applicable for 25GB ISO files and if you are not in the club just dont worry.
All together this is a great MM player with great design, performance and portability almost like a powered external HDD. Yes you can carry it with your family outings and hook it up and enjoy your collection of files.
A410
I have already placed order for 3Nos. of this player including one for me. I think it will be like its predecessor A400 with better speed and 2 Channel audio. Two great up gradation has been done, first one being increased RAM to 1024 MB and SABER 9023 built in DAC with the support for DSD files too (SACD files).
I will write a detailed review once I experience it for couple of weeks.
So if you are not worried about BD menu and most of your files are not of ISO you can count on PCH A400 / 410.
Note: I have used Exteremer HD pro, Asus, WD live, OPPO 105 as MM player. Though I have not used I have come across Dune, Bivix and himedia.
I have been using Popcporn hour (PCH) since A100 model. To just give a brief write up: (I start from C200 as A100 is too outdated)
At the out set in my experience with media players I found PCH to be more reliable and with very good menu structure.
C200
I had this player almost for a year. I got it upgraded with Blueray drive. It has got a hotswapable 3.5" HDD tray. So you need to buy an internal drive only.(direct cost saving). This model supports up to 2TB comfortably, the booting time is less than 45secs for the internal drive. The NTFS or FAT 32 formats are not accepted it does its own linux EXT formatting for the internal drives External no issues. So copying files to its internal add-on HDD can be done either by connecting the content external drive to the PCH200 and with copy paste tool (the inherent file transfer speed is 7 to 10 mbps) or else the add-on HDD to be mounted on a Obuntu OS PC or a Linux base PC and normal copy paste function can be done. As windows / MAC cannot directly detect this format.(some third party softwares are available though for windows platform)
The wireless connectivity (with optional Wifi dongle or pci card wired option is also there) is smooth. Mapping the drive and integration with PCs is excellent. Streaming of audio is smooth. Movie streaming is smooth only upto 4GB file sizes above that stuttering takes place. The best part of net connectivity is the Network Media Jukebox. every detail is automatically downloaded about the files like cover-art, movie synopsis, casts and director including IMDB rating. All you have to ensure is the correct movie / song titles.
The picture quality was above average and for a media player without Video processor it was great. With the final firmware support it becomes a great 3D player with out the need of HDMI 1.4.
I have not tried the audio directly from its audio out whereas I had connected it to a DAC with optical and the sound quality was not bad. The convenience of direct decoding of FLAC, WAV audio formats comes handy eliminating the PC and the great convenience of Remote, that too RF remote.
The attached Blueray drive sucks. Reading time is high and it is not region free. Of course you can decode it by numeric in remote but subject to a maximum of five per title. So would suggest not to go for Blueray combo at extra cost.
The blue back ground LED is of no big use. Support of torrent down loads are great for direct down loads.
C300
I don't want to go in to the technical details, specs and features as these are available in the company web site.
Just to start, All features are similar to the C200 except the following.
The built in hot swap supports upto 4TB astounding with a lightning booting time. Externals I have tested up to 8TB RAID, boots like a breeze and no hanging whatsoever.
The added colour display is handy when you want to play Audio files as you don't have to ON your TV / Projector.
The booting has still improved further. Menu has become more user friendly and simple. The live whether display on the home screen is handy and gives a high end feel. The implementation of E-Sata port is good for reading speed during copy paste process, any how it is not of great use for movie watching. USB-3 would have been a good addition.
If you have an Apple / Android device the free NMJ navigator app is the killer, my god it is gorgeous and you don't need PCH remote. More over if your device is of 10" size its awesome to see the files in your tab and do whatever you want. It is worth dedicating a low end 10" Android device for this purpose, of course obviously PCH and the TAB should be in same wifi network.
Though the blueray drive functionality has improved still it is only an option. I am yet find a way to ff / skip track in BD drive.
This has full scale support for BD ISO files that means it is affected by CINAVIA virus
. So some of my 25GB+ ISO files are not playing in this. But for this it is an amazing MM player. (The day is not far off for antibiotics for this Cinavia Virus)The addition of built in IR sensor is good for having a common remote.
This doubles as a NAS also and it is fantastic but still limited to streaming only upto 4GB movie files,like any other media player. If you are not a big file size movie collector this is a great NAS too.
The Apps market is great and still growing. One interesting and important app is Audio CD Ripper, you can directly rip the audio files lossless from CD and store / save it in the HDD in CDDA extension with out the use of PC & Third party software. I did try this and is super. play back of audio files is also improved with regard to quality comparing C200. I am yet to come across a single AV file that is not supported by this MM player.
Any other point comes in my mind about this I will add down the line.
A400
All the benefits of C300 are carried forward here with following implementations.
PCH has done away with player form factor and gone in favour of solid block form factor. This they could achieve by the great design from silverstone and the whole Aluminium body is acting like a heat sink also, because of this the Display is gone. The whole unit is built like a tank and to work for ever. With in this small form factor provision for the HDD tray is great. Like C 300 this also supports HDD upto 4TB on the hot swap tray.
The great inclusion is the USB 3 Slave and SIGMA VXP video processor chip. A chip which is used in 4000 to 9000$ Anthem HT processors.
The upgraded dual core CPU made the booting and files browsing still better than C300. The video quality is unsurpassed and blacks are true black even on 120 projection. Since no BD and BD menu support is not implemented in the firmware facilitating No-Entry for CINAVIA. So all the blueray ISOs are handled with out a hitch but we have to sacrifice the BD menu, and chapter selection only by Nos and not by the included screen shot in BD menu. So once you hit the movie file it starts the movie directly without going in to the Menu structure (where ever included) the hidden advantage is no boring movie trailers at startup. All this are applicable for 25GB ISO files and if you are not in the club just dont worry.
All together this is a great MM player with great design, performance and portability almost like a powered external HDD. Yes you can carry it with your family outings and hook it up and enjoy your collection of files.
A410
I have already placed order for 3Nos. of this player including one for me. I think it will be like its predecessor A400 with better speed and 2 Channel audio. Two great up gradation has been done, first one being increased RAM to 1024 MB and SABER 9023 built in DAC with the support for DSD files too (SACD files).
I will write a detailed review once I experience it for couple of weeks.
So if you are not worried about BD menu and most of your files are not of ISO you can count on PCH A400 / 410.
Note: I have used Exteremer HD pro, Asus, WD live, OPPO 105 as MM player. Though I have not used I have come across Dune, Bivix and himedia.
