Roku Streaming Stick vs Roku 3
Comments
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good lookin' out!
is that the same warranty as new? weren't we saying that earlier? 90 days only?
Yeah, it's only 90 days when new also. I have two of them and sold a third one when I upgraded to the 3, and never had an issue with any of them. My wife did just about wear out the enter button on her remote however plaing Angry Birds. -
just checking back in, fellas.
I ended up going with the Roku3 for my second streaming media device need.
it's pretty nice, newer layout/interface than my existing Roku2 XD, and is a bit faster.
funny enough, after setup, I noticed that the YouTube application was dropped onto my old Roku2 XD. I swear YouTube was unavailable before. I tried to add it a few weeks ago when we first started talking about this, so unless they've suddenly made it available to older devices, I now have it due to it being bound to my Roku account through another device, and it does work.
Okay, mostly all good with the exception of the fact that I'm noticing is that the Roku3 doesn't give me 5.1 in Netflix. it was the weirdest thing when I noticed it. I just wasn't getting any audio at all, until I switched the program to 2ch instead of 5.1. I don't recall this happening before, but it could be that I had the old Roku set up for 2ch, globally instead of 5.1. I'm using two different sets of equipment at this point, so it could either be that my old tv is downsampling the PCM stream, or that my second controller can handle DD+ (not sure, and wasn't able to figure it out with some quick reading; unlikely; Parasound Model 7100).
I use an older surround controller (Parasound Halo C2) that doesn't support HDMI or, apparently, Dolby Digital Plus (which is what Netflix apparently uses for 5.1), and I use optical out from the tv to the processor. this works well enough for my tv/film viewing needs (ignorant bliss?) and I'm not really fully set up yet for real theater, so I'll stick with this for a great while longer at least.
I did some reading over the weekend, and this whole conflict with Dolby Digital Plus thing seems to be a common complaint with Netflix, with some lack of clarity as to whether it's on Netflix's end or on Roku's for not handling the downsampling to regular Dolby Digital 5.1, which is what works with the older equipment. It's funny reading all the people saying "just upgrade your receiver" without any consideration as to why some people are choosing to stick with older equipment
It seems to work properly for other channels that broadcast Dolby Digital 5.1 - films from Amazon and HBO GO all send my processor into Direct mode, using 5.1. Same with regular cable TV.
There's a way "around" this, and by that, I mean simply to say, there's a way to make it output sound, but it means setting Netflix programs to 2ch instead of 5.1, and then let the processor emulate the Dolby Digital modes. I can't remember from my reading a while back whether the processors can do a good job at this, taking in a 2ch PCM input. On the channels that work properly, I've tried listening to it both in 5.1 direct and 2ch using emulation, and the surround response sounds similar - I can't be sure whether it's exactly the same. I do notice that in Direct, it's a bit louder at the same volume.
Is it true that SPDIF/Optical only transmits 2ch PCM and the processor simulates surround with this information?
Apple TV and the Amazon Fire TV both offer optical outputs, while the Roku3 does not. That may not matter though if it's only sending 2ch audio over PCM; I can change a couple of settings on my tv to make it send everything as 2ch. << I'm just realizing that I may have answered my own question above. If my processor goes into Direct 5.1, doesn't that mean it's getting 5.1 from the optical coming out of my tv?
I do wonder at this point whether ATV and AFTV will downsample the DD+ stream to standard DD and pass that over the optical. If it does, then one of those devices may have been a better fit for my needs.
the remote is a little different too. mostly the same, but, for instance, the OK button on the Roku3 is below the crosspad, whereas on the Roku2 XD, it's in the center of the crosspad, which I actually preferred for ease of use. now I just use two hands to get around menus faster.
anyway, just wanted to drop back by with a little report. hopefully this will help some other people out, too.I disabled signatures. -
Optical does carry 5.1 (shoulda read ahead before asking earlier)
Apparently ATV and AFTV both were/are also having trouble with Netflix and 5.1. this may have been resolved for these guys with firmware updates, at least on the ATV side. AFTV may still be having trouble.Is it true that SPDIF/Optical only transmits 2ch PCM and the processor simulates surround with this information?
Apple TV and the Amazon Fire TV both offer optical outputs, while the Roku3 does not. That may not matter though if it's only sending 2ch audio over PCM; I can change a couple of settings on my tv to make it send everything as 2ch. << I'm just realizing that I may have answered my own question above. If my processor goes into Direct 5.1, doesn't that mean it's getting 5.1 from the optical coming out of my tv?
I do wonder at this point whether ATV and AFTV will downsample the DD+ stream to standard DD and pass that over the optical. If it does, then one of those devices may have been a better fit for my needs.I disabled signatures.
