Netflix streaming, is 11.5 mbps enough?


also: what device is best for good quality pic and sound?

Thinking of buying a streaming device, maybe with a hard drive that could surf the net for videos?

That is the direction I am thinking of but maybe the technology is still too new, I do not know.

any info/suggestions appreciated

thanks

Phil
128x128philjolet
If I use the RCA on the Roku I am stuck with the yellow RCA plug for pic because the player only supports one output at a time, if I use the HDMI to TV and then TV RCA out it will degrade the sound (by how much I do not know) but is a better option.

My NAD 326 does not support Toslink

thanks Inernetmin you are very helpful
Internetmin,

Did you compare the pic and sound between the Roku and Apple?

Are they close? Is it about DVD quality on the pic?

I may just buy one or the other and forget about using my stereo so I can have cheap streaming.

thanks again,

Phil
Philojet,

The Apple implementation of the Netflix streaming supports 5.1 audio and their video implementation is among the best that's out there. There was a podcast last year on one of the TWIT networks with Leo Laporte's This Week in Tech that I believe covered them and the consensus was that the AppleTV was at the top or slightly behind VUDU in streaming. That was prior to the 1080p implementation of the AppleTV. I have a choice between the two devices and I always prefer the AppleTV. Is it DVD quality? Yes, it better than DVD or equal to DVD. If it's an HD stream, which most now tend to be, then the picture is even better.

In my simple opinion, if you don't care about doing full blown surround sound, then just grab the HDMI off your TV. I think that the NAD is a simple stereo receiver, so I would opt to just go directly to the TV with HDMI.

There is indeed another option and that is to get an HDMI switch that will decode audio into RCA stereo. That may be your best bet. You can pickup this Monoprice HDMI switch and it will do the trick perfectly for you. You can then feed the analog audio directly to your NAD.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=7112&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

Good luck.

Theo
thank you very much Theo,

I finally conceded that I will just plug the HDMI into the TV and use it's sound. If I want I can get the HDMI switch.

I remember Leo from ZDTV (now G4) I hope he cut his ponytail off! ;)

I am sold on the Apple and am off the buy one now.

Will give my two cents at a later date.

all the best,

Phil