Media player: what is it, how to choose the best one

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.

Small sizes. Even hard drive models are smaller than older CD players.
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.
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.
A high-quality media player expands the number of connectors - this is often relevant.
Storing videos on a hard drive is more convenient and reliable than storing videos on multiple DVDs.
If you compare a media player with a PC, it is easier to connect (no need to pull wires) and is quieter.
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.

What is a media player and what is it for?

More recently, everyone used first VCRs and then DVD players. But technological progress does not stand still, and multimedia centers have replaced outdated set-top boxes. They still play and record files just like their predecessors. However, they have many more functions. These include:

Ability to play video and audio files of almost all existing formats.
Read images of any format.
Playback information from various media: USB, external hard drives, smartphones and tablets and other devices.
The ability to access the Internet, which provides access to all available information and various entertainment portals. This feature is implemented using the built-in browser.
Supports various functions: 3D, Wi-fi, game services.
Ability to save existing information.

REFERENCE! Each model of multimedia set-top box has its own set of capabilities, which is described in detail in the accompanying instructions.

Externally, they look like a small box; some models can be equipped with a liquid crystal display. Connecting to a TV set-top box can be done in three ways: using a Wi-fi wireless network, via an HDMI cable or via a component output.

REFERENCE! Some models of media players are suitable for older CRT TVs. However, due to the design limitations of the TV receiver itself, not all functions will be available. For example, viewing video files in Full HD or 3D format will not be available.

Types of media players

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

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.
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.
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.
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.

Is it worth buying a media player?

It would seem that if you have a computer or laptop, a multimedia console becomes an unnecessary waste of money. After all, they have the same functions for transferring files. However, not all computers or laptops are capable of transmitting high quality video and audio. And connecting a laptop or computer is not always convenient, and sometimes various problems arise with synchronizing devices, which requires additional setup and takes a lot of time. Also, the multimedia console has a number of undeniable advantages. These include:

Almost silent operation. Cooling of a personal computer and laptop is provided by coolers that cannot operate completely silently.
The console takes up very little space.
Boots much faster than a computer or laptop.
A small number of wires are needed to connect to the TV.
They are very convenient and easy to use, which allows pensioners or children to use them without any problems. And watching movies and other content is much more familiar and comfortable on a large TV screen while sitting in a chair.
All control is carried out from one remote control.
Freezes on the multimedia console are extremely rare.

Thanks to the existing advantages, the answer to the purchase question is “Yes”.

There are several types of media players:

The simplest and most inexpensive options without the ability to connect to a wireless network and without a hard drive.
Without internet connection, but with built-in hard drive.
Media players connecting via local network to a computer or laptop. This allows you to play files on your computer using your home network.
The most expensive models with a built-in hard drive, connection to a local network and Internet access. These are modern models that have the largest range of functions compared to simpler players.

ATTENTION! Some users think that multimedia devices and satellite receivers are the same thing. However, a significant difference between media set-top boxes and receivers is that players allow you to view the necessary files, IPTV and access the Internet. While receivers broadcast satellite television channels and record.

How to choose a media center

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

Formats – this determines how versatile the player will be.
Availability of hard drive and its capacity.
Connectors for connecting TV. Ideally, there should be HDMI, but if this is an old HD TV, then you can stick to AV.
Internet access and connection method. It’s more convenient if the device has Wi-Fi.
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.
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.
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.

Rating of the best media player models

The 2021 rating does not include top sellers, but models with the optimal combination of cost/quality/efficiency. This way you can get the best media player at an adequate price, with a wide range of features and reliable high-quality performance.

The TOP includes both well-known brands and those that are popular among a narrow circle of buyers, as they meet certain requirements. After studying the technical features, you can make your choice.

Apple TV 4K 32gb

The Apple TV 4K (32gb) media player provides the ability to watch movies in 4K HDR quality. In addition, everyone can activate interactive games and get the most out of Red Bull, Netflix, etc. apps. Large memory capacity allows you to store movies and photos.

Brief technical specifications:

Dimensions: width and length 98 mm, height – 35 mm;
Weight – 425 grams;
The kit includes: instructions, power cable, remote control, Lightning/USB cable;
Processor – A10X Fusion;
Connection; IR receiver, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, HDMI 2.0a;
Photo formats: TIFF, HEIF, GIF and JPEG;
The remote control has a three-axis gyroscope and accelerometer. The battery lasts for several months without recharging.

The average cost is around 13,500 rubles. The media set-top box is rightfully considered one of the best and fully justifies its cost.

Nvidia Shield TV

Streaming media player model with HDR and 4K support. The cost does not differ from the previous model, but there are some technical features:

Installed applications: PLEX, NVIDIA Games, Google Play store with music, movies and TV, Netflix, YouTube;
Dimensions and weight – length and width 150 by 98 mm. Height is 25.93 mm, and weight is 250 grams;
Video capabilities: 4K with HDR, resolution up to 1080p;
Processor: NVIDIA Tegra X1 with 3 GB of memory;
DTS-X surround sound and multi-channel Dolby Atmos;
The hard drive has a capacity of 16 GB, but in fact you can use 11 GB;
OS – Android 7.0;
Connectivity: Captive Portal, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1/BLE;
Additional devices: IR blaster for control, microphone, remote control.

Attention! Software updates come directly from SHIELD (NVIDIA).

Google Chromecast

A fairly popular media set-top box that allows you to view not only any sites on the TV screen, but also online movies and YouTube channels. You just need to connect the set-top box to the HDMI of your TV and set up control via your tablet or smartphone. A remote control is not included in the package. There is support for Netflix, Google Play and the Chrome browser.

Technical features:

One HDMI and one USB 2.0;
There is Wi-Fi;
Supports video formats: MOV, MKV, WMV and AVI;
Sound: APE and FLAC;
Pictures: PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF;
Weight and dimensions: 39.7 grams, height 13.8 mm, width and length 51.9 mm.

Attention! The Micro-USB connector is not suitable for data transfer, but is intended only for charging the battery.

Dune SmartBox

Dune SmartBox is a compact media player for playing audio, pictures and high-definition video up to 60 frames per second.

Specifications:

Works on Android 6.0.1;
Wi-Fi 802.11b;
2 USB 2.0 ports;
Processor: Amlogic S905L/X;
CPU: ARM 4-core Cortex A53;
GPU: Mali-450 5-core;
RAM: 1 GB;
Flash: 8 GB;
Ethernet: 100Mbit;
Control from a tablet or smartphone;
IR remote control;
All the most popular audio formats: WAV, ALAC, AC3, OGG, MP3, FLAC, MPEG, AAC;
Video formats: VIDEO_TS, MKV, ISO, MP4, MOV, AVI, VOB, etc.;
Graphic formats: GIF, JPEG, BMP, PNG;
Subtitles: VobSub, SRT, SSA/ASS, SUB, text;
File system support;
Weight and dimensions: 485 grams, width and length 101 mm, height 26 mm.

Xiaomi Mi Box 4K

Xiaomi is actively developing its own line of media set-top boxes based on Android TV. This stationary media player has the following technical characteristics:

Processor – Cortex-A53 Quad-core 64bit;
8GB eMMC storage;
Android 8.1;
4K video support;
Availability of IPTV, 3D, torrent and browser;
Services supported: Netflix and Youtube;
Control panel via Bluetooth technology (can be controlled from a tablet or smartphone);
Wi-Fi 11a;
Contents: instructions, media player, power adapter, remote control;
Dimensions and weight: length and width are 95.25 mm, height is 16.7 mm, and weight is 147 grams.

Apple TV

An excellent gadget for viewing multimedia, unfairly neglected by Russian-speaking users. The technical features are quite strong in relation to their cost:

Memory: 40 GB;
Wi-Fi 802.11n and 10/100 Ethernet;
HDMI;
Format support: H.264, protected H.264 with a bitrate of up to 5 Mbit/s and a maximum resolution of up to 1280x720 pixels with a frequency of 24 frames per second, 960x540 pixels and 30 frames/sec, respectively. MPEG-4 with a bitrate of up to 3 Mbit/s and a maximum resolution of 720x432 pixels at 30 frames per second. Containers m4v, mp4 and mov;
Dimensions and weight: width and length each 197 mm, height 28 mm, weight – 1090 grams.

Rombica Smart Box

A popular media player with the ability to play video in 3D and 1080p Full HD. Other technical specifications:

Video – MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV, MPEG-TS;
Audio – WAV, LPCM, FLAC, APE, WMA, AAC;
Pictures – PNG, BMP, JPEG, GIF;
Subtitles – SUB, VOB, PGS, SRT;
Two USB ports;
Ethernet – up to 100 Mbit/s;
OS – Android 4.4;
Remote Control;
ARM Cortex A7 processor;
RAM – 1 GB;
Built-in memory – 8 GB;
Support SkyDrive, Google Drive, DropBox;
Dimensions: width 135 mm, length 85 mm, height 25 mm. Weight 130 grams.

IconBIT XDS94K

Inexpensive but high-quality video console with the following characteristics:

Processor – Cortex-A53, 64 bit, 2 GHz;
Operating system – Android 5.1.1;
Video output for HDMI 2.0, CVBS;
Support 4K, up to 60 frames per second;
Wi-Fi 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz (external antenna), Gigabit Ethernet (8P8C), Bluetooth 4.0;
RAM – 1 GB;
ROM – 8 GB;
Four USB 2.0;
Control panel with learning function;
Dimensions – height 25 mm, length and width 100 mm.

Amibox X96

The media player is quite popular due to its low cost and high technical characteristics. Supports UHD 4K format up to 60fps:

Android 7.1.2;
Four cores;
Processor: Amlogic S905W 64 bit Cortex-A53;
RAM – 2 GB;
Built-in memory – 16 GB;
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz;
Lan: 10/100;
Two USB 0$
Ports: IR port, HDMI, AV output, USB 2.0, RJ-45, Micro SD;
Contents: instructions, IR remote control, power supply, external IR receiver, HDMI cable.

HARPER ABX-332

The Harper ABX-332 media player has the following technical characteristics:

Ethernet;
Wi-Fi;
Operating system: Android 7.1;
Processor: Amlogic S912;
Flash memory size: 32768 MB;
Display;
Remote control;
Cooling: passive;
Supports formats MKV, AVI, WMV, ISO, IFO, VOB, MOV, ASF, TP, TS, TRP, M2T, M2TS, MP4, MPG, DAT, FLV, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, XviD, DivX, H.264, WMV9, VC-1, WMA, AVCHD, AAC, OGG, WAV, FLAC, APE, RM, RMVB, JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, PNG, HEVC (H.265), HEVC Main 10, VP9, VP9 10- bit;
HDMI 2.0 version;
Wi-Fi 11n standard;
Bluetooth, microSD;
Dimensions – width and length 106 mm, height 18 mm.

To summarize all of the above, it can be noted that no matter what media player is chosen, the main condition is strict compliance with all individual requirements and rules.