Question - What media player to replace Mede8er MED600X3D? (2024)

I have been using a Mede8er MED600X3D for 7 years and it's used most days, nothing wrong with it I just wanted to see if there was a new model available, on checking the web site I see that they never updated it and they are no longer for sale.

I use it with a USB hard drive for viewing TV shows and films in various formats, mp4, avi, mkv etc,. I like that I can just browse to a folder and select the next episode to view as it identifies which ones have been watched already, also that I can watch part of a show, return to it later and it remembers where I got to even if it has been powered off, so those features are essential. I like the fact that there is a button on the remote to turn off subtitles as well. I don't do any streaming on it so that's not important.

So what media players should I consider?

Andy, I think the nearest current match to your spec might be the Dune HD RealBox 4K which is available from Futeko in the UK:

The user interface is going to be different of course but the remote is very comprehensive. The only shortcoming as far as I can see is that it only appears to have USB 2 and not USB 3 sockets which would stop me from buying one.

JB

Hi JB

Thanks for the reply I will have a look at the Dune. I have seen a few mentions of the Vero 4K and wondered if this would be any good and how it compares.

Regards

Yes, the Vero is a very good box which again would probably do all you require but I didn't mention it in my first reply because it has a very basic remote and you mentioned your appreciation of a comprehensive remote. It also only has USB 2.0 sockets, not USB 3.0 so I wouldn't want one. In case you wonder, I currently use an Nvidia Shield Pro but also have an Android TV box running CoreELEC. There are a lot of Android TV boxes available and many of them would also do what you require using Kodi as the media playing application. Kodi runs on most computers and operating systems so it's easy to try it out and see if you're happy with it's user interface and facilities eg I also have it installed on my Windows PC just for trying things out. I personally don't like the Estuary skin Kodi now has as it's default so always change it to the Confluence skin as soon as I've installed it but Kodi is what I've always used on my media players for the playback of all locally stored music and videos which I currently have stored on a USB 3.0 SSD. Once I've got Kodi configured with the Confluence skin I then switch to the Transparency skin which has some nice facilities for custom backgrounds and menus but I would always advise getting the hang of Kodi with the Confluence skin first.

JB

Thanks for the follow up. I have been looking at the Dune HD Realbox and it does look suitable although I have seen owners mention that the display is very bright and can't be dimmed or tuned off which would annoy me. Whilst looking on the Futeko website I saw the Zidoo Z9X which looks interesting so will have a look at some details on that one.

Regards

I also have a Shield and Vero4K both excellent.

Perhaps have a look at the Zappitti models?

dion 6 said:

I'd give another vote for the Vero4K + excellent media player plays anything you through at it I've had the original vero 4k for 3 years now and its never failed

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Does it mark which shows have been watched and also remember the location of part watched shows? Also, as JB mentioned, it only has a basic remote, does that cause any issues?

You might want to watch some of these type of videos

andyfr said:

Does it mark which shows have been watched and also remember the location of part watched shows?

Click to expand...

Yes, it does. It will even automatically go to the next episode of a show you're watching so you don't have to scroll through seasons.

It uses Kodi as a Media jukebox and player, I'd say try it on your PC/Mac as it's basically the same across all platforms, and having a play with it would help you both decide if it's for you and help you with setting it up if you choose to buy one.
You don't really use folders with Kodi, although you can, the GUI is so configurable though I doubt you'd bother.

The default skin for it IMO is fugly however, the first thing I do when setting up a Kodi box is change the skin, my preference, for simplicity, is Amber, for more options, Aeon Nox.

The remote is fine and does everything you need it to. Something that really bugs me is a lot of Kodi boxes don't have a stop button (seriously) but the Vero4K does.

andyfr said:

Does it mark which shows have been watched and also remember the location of part watched shows? Also, as JB mentioned, it only has a basic remote, does that cause any issues?

Click to expand...

It uses kodi media player and yes it does if you stop watching a show switch it off and go back later you will get continue watching or play from start and and marks watched shows here's the latest review

Hi guys

Thank you for all the replies, I really appreciate it. I will have a look at the Kodi skins and the review videos.

Thanks all. Had a look at the videos and the Vero review, the Dune looks pretty good. When I was reading the Vero review it said that It doesn't produce enough current to supply a USB-powered hard drive. With the Mede8er I just plug in a portable USB hard drive and it works, has this issue been addressed in the Vero and is it the same with the Dune?

I don't really want to have to have a powered USB hub under the TV as well as everything else.

Thank you all for your replies, very helpful.

After looking at the TV stand which has a VESA mount and a couple of shelves which has the AV amp, Freesat recorder, Blu-Ray player and the media player there isn't anywhere I could put a powered hub easily. I assume that all the current media players are the same and require a powered hub so I think for now I will just carry on using the Mede8er and think about replacing it sometime in the future.

Thanks once again.

Andy,
I mentioned above (post #4) that I wouldn't use certain media players because they only have USB 2 ports. I didn't explain the reason why. This is precisely the reason you mention here. USB 2 ports generally require external USB disk drives to be powered either directly or through a powered hub for them to be reliable. USB 3 ports, which are usually coloured blue so you can easily spot them, are usually capable of supplying at least 2x as much current as USB 2 (some can supply 3x as much). So any media player that has USB 3 ports should have no problem powering an external USB drive. As I mentioned above (post #4 again) this is precisely how I connect my media library which I currently have stored on a USB 3 solid state drive (SSD). This plugs into one of the USB 3 ports on my media player (currently an Nvidia Shield Pro but previously an A95X Max). This works perfectly with no need for a powered hub or a seperate power feed to the SSD.

Refering back to the players mentioned above the Dune only has USB 2 while the Zidoo and plenty of other media players has USB 3.

JB

JB

Thanks for the info regarding USB3, I didn't realise that they would power a hard drive. I will have a look at the Zidoo and other and make sure that the one I choose has USB3.

Thanks again for your help.

Speaking as a past owner of two Zidoo players (an X9S and later a Z9S both of which I found to have excellent hardware but frustrating software), I suggest you also consider the Nvidia Shield Pro which is similarly priced to the Zidoo Z9X. There are loads of video reviews of the Shield models plus you can read a full description plus recent purchasers reviews on Amazon UK to get an idea of it's capabilities and current price. I use ours to both playback local music and video files from my attached SSD and to stream Disney+ in 4K. It's one of the very few media players to officially include 4K playback, with Dolby Vision and ATMOS when appropriate, from all the main streaming services as well as from local media files of course. We currently only have a subscription to Disney+ which is why I mention that rather than Netflix or Amazon Prime etc. whose apps along with loads of others are also available on the Shield models.

JB

JBA6 said:

Andy,
I mentioned above (post #4) that I wouldn't use certain media players because they only have USB 2 ports. I didn't explain the reason why. This is precisely the reason you mention here. USB 2 ports generally require external USB disk drives to be powered either directly or through a powered hub for them to be reliable. USB 3 ports, which are usually coloured blue so you can easily spot them, are usually capable of supplying at least 2x as much current as USB 2 (some can supply 3x as much). So any media player that has USB 3 ports should have no problem powering an external USB drive. As I mentioned above (post #4 again) this is precisely how I connect my media library which I currently have stored on a USB 3 solid state drive (SSD). This plugs into one of the USB 3 ports on my media player (currently an Nvidia Shield Pro but previously an A95X Max). This works perfectly with no need for a powered hub or a seperate power feed to the SSD.

Refering back to the players mentioned above the Dune only has USB 2 while the Zidoo and plenty of other media players has USB 3.

JB

Click to expand...

I don't think that's true, not entirely anyway.
Mede8er MED600X3D had only two 2.0 USB ports and both of them were working perfectly fine with my Toshiba Canvio external drives. Powered USB drives are gone for at least 10 years and new, lighter external drives were sold even before USB 3.0 ports became common.
Anyway, just ordered Dune HD RealBox 4K as Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K doesn't support MVC, which sux as most of my 3d content are iso or 3d remux files.
edit: just realised Dune might not be able to play MVC or 3d iso, but will have to wait until it arrives and find out. if not then time to hunt for 2nd hand MED600X3D.

The RealBox 4K has just been replaced by the Dune HD Real Vision 4K. It is a bit more expensive at £169.99 but has Dolby Vision and a newer chipset.
Dune HD Real Vision 4K- High Performance Media Boxes - UK BASED - futeko.com
"Support for Dolby Vision direct, Dolby Vision LLDV and Dolby Vision VS10. Dolby's VS10 HDR processing engine improves dynamic range for all HDR material."

(My ancient Dune 303D can play any 3D iso fine, would be a surprise if the newest couldn't.)