Nvidia Shield or Chromecast TV - will one of them work for what I want?

[teuchter]

For the past few years I have tolerated a setup which is basically Kodi running on an old mac mini, connected to a monitor and also to some speakers via a digital amp.

This (in theory) allows me to:
1. Watch streaming services like youtube, Netflix, etc etc
2. Listen to any internet radio station (including those which aren't included in any app, in other words all I need is a URL for the stream)
3. Play audio (FLAC files) and video that I've got on a USB connected external hard disk
4. Control any audio stuff from my phone (in other words I can stop/start/change internet radio stations, or play music on the hard drive, using an app on my phone rather than having to use a physical remote and on-screen interface)
5. Easily send audio to my amp and speakers (not to speakers built in to a monitor or TV)

In reality, the mac is getting increasingly slow, Kodi is completely user-unfriendly, frequently crashes, and few Kodi addons actually seem to be reliable. So, I end up having to quit Kodi and fire up Netflix on a web browser, using an awkward smartphone remote app. And I can just about remember how everything works but the whole setup is no good for anyone else, who just wants to press a button and watch something on iPlayer.

So, time to give in and buy some sort of commercial thing. The main options I have come up with are the Nvidia Shield and the newer "Chromecast with TV".

Each time I've looked into this in the past I've got bogged down in a miasma of options.

Can anyone tell me whether either of those two products will satisfy my list of 5 requirements above?

 

[Winot]

No expertise or suggestions but solidarity for the “complex home media set-up that flummoxes your other half”.

 

[Saul Goodman]

In reality, the mac is getting increasingly slow, Kodi is completely user-unfriendly, frequently crashes, and few Kodi addons actually seem to be reliable. So, I end up having to quit Kodi and fire up Netflix on a web browser, using an awkward smartphone remote app. And I can just about remember how everything works but the whole setup is no good for anyone else, who just wants to press a button and watch something on iPlayer.

So, time to give in and buy some sort of commercial thing. The main options I have come up with are the Nvidia Shield and the newer "Chromecast with TV".

Each time I've looked into this in the past I've got bogged down in a miasma of options.

Can anyone tell me whether either of those two products will satisfy my list of 5 requirements above?

Not my experience at all. Obviously user error.

 

[Crispy]

You cannot have everything you want on that list in one device without compromising on the user experience. I would put the "watching TV" functions onto a Roku stick and keep whatever ramshackle setup you want for your music.

Personally, I gave up trying to maintain anything like this kind of system. I just shrugged my shoulders and went all in on Google. So now I speak into the air to play music and it just works. And when it doesn't, I can use my phone to choose stuff (ie. mixes and other MP3s I've uploaded to my Youtube Music account). My TV has built in apps for everything else.

 

[teuchter]

You cannot have everything you want on that list in one device without compromising on the user experience.

Which bits specifically?

I'd settle for certain things (frequently used, not just by me) having an easy user experience while other things (mainly used by me and less frequently) have a janky user experience but still work somehow.

For example, I'd like to be able to switch between radio stations from my phone, and listen to music stored on a disk, even if doing so is a little fiddly.

But it's fine if "the public" use a physical remote and on-screen interface to switch between internet radio stations, and use the same interface to watch something on iplayer or netflix, and that's all they need to do.

 

[teuchter]

No expertise or suggestions but solidarity for the “complex home media set-up that flummoxes your other half”.

I'm actually quite reassured when I go to other people's houses and see that they have similarly impenetrable arrangements.

They usually have about 5 different physical remotes sitting around, while I don't have any, so on some measures I even don't do as bad.

 

[Crispy]

Which bits specifically?

Oh it'll vary depending on which bits you want to include with which bits. Sorry I've got no specific advice; as I said I have surrendered the fight. My system has to be operable by a 7 year old, so there's no hope really.

 

[skyscraper101]

You'll probably find you can tinker about more easily with an Nvidia shield pro out of the two (and link a USB HD more easily) or get an older 2017 model which is what I have and still runs quick as anything. Both will have Chromecast, so you should be able to cast stuff from the phone including non app based internet stations. I think you can attach a USB HD on the Chromecast but you'll need a USB C adapter.

 

[maomao]

Which Nvidia shield is this? The tablets were shit.

 

[teuchter]

You'll probably find you can tinker about more easily with an Nvidia shield pro out of the two (and link a USB HD more easily) or get an older 2017 model which is what I have and still runs quick as anything. Both will have Chromecast, so you should be able to cast stuff from the phone including non app based internet stations. I think you can attach a USB HD on the Chromecast but you'll need a USB C adapter.

Thanks. I think I would be able to run Kodi on the Shield too, is that right? So anything I can currently do from inside Kodi I could still do?

Also do you know if I can connect a Shield directly to my digital amp (it has its own DAC and currently is connected to my mac by USB) or would I need some kind of passthrough adapter thing?

 

[skyscraper101]

Thanks. I think I would be able to run Kodi on the Shield too, is that right? So anything I can currently do from inside Kodi I could still do?

Also do you know if I can connect a Shield directly to my digital amp (it has its own DAC and currently is connected to my mac by USB) or would I need some kind of passthrough adapter thing?

Yes you can run Kodi. You can achieve audio out via the USB or HDMI ports, there are guides on youtube etc.

 

[teuchter]

Yes you can run Kodi. You can achieve audio out via the USB or HDMI ports, there are guides on youtube etc.

Thanks

Your quick answer saves me having to sit through several tedious youtube videos which ramble on about latency on their gaming setup before answering the thing I want to know.

 

[skyscraper101]

Which Nvidia shield is this? The tablets were shit.

NVIDIA SHIELD TV PRO, best streaming media device today

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This would be the most futureproof one.

 

[Winot]

I'm actually quite reassured when I go to other people's houses and see that they have similarly impenetrable arrangements.

They usually have about 5 different physical remotes sitting around, while I don't have any, so on some measures I even don't do as bad.

Most of mine works via iPhone but the kitchen stereo does need two additional remotes (one for the radio and one to turn on active speakers). I could get rid of these remotes but it would involve buying slightly larger speakers which would take up valuable space which could otherwise be full of house plants.

I do have some sympathy with the confusion surrounding audio in the study, which involves choosing the correct output both on the Mac and on a DAC. I have drawn a flowchart to help but it doesn’t seem to be consulted.