Trio DX-628 mini-review.

[slider17]

anyone know how to get rid of the OSD when playing .avi files?
i know someone posted the details earlier but i cant find it.
can someone post the details here.

thanks
slider17

[ChickenMan]

Well I just bought my DX-628 yesterday and I dont get any timer when playing AVI's.

I can also confirm it doesn not play DivX with DivXAudio, vidio only no sound. It also plays miniDVD's (dvd file structure on a CD) but doesnt like MP2 audio, no probs with AC3 audio tracks.

CM

[rookie]

...my first post on an eyo board since purchasing an Omni 3100S a couple of years ago :) According to the little window on the top right-hand corner stressed my last login was 26/4/02 - almost a yr ago!!...now the mpeg4 bug has bit ;)

Some questions...
Can anyone confirm if the engineers of the XMS888 and the Trio DX-268 are DivX certified???

A mate and I went to SCR today with a stack of discs' to try and they both appeared okay, 'cept the Trio had some issues with certain avi files....& I forgot to check if the boxes carried the DivX logos :)...do they???

Dunno 'bout the Trio it looks ugly and I feel that the blue 'persplex' looking disc tray is too frail...yeah the XMS doesn't come out all the way, but at least it won't break using the door for support!

We were able to remove the timer on DVD disc by pressing the OSD button twice but this didn't work for DivX/XviD files. Is it possible to hide the timer??

Noted SCR are more intent on pushing the Trio than the XMS...I can only assume the reason is 'cause each store I've been to there is only one XMS player left, that and the fact that the Trio's more expensive ;)

How can you tell which firmware is loaded? And when will a new batch of XMS' be arriving down under?

Cheers :)

[andw]

...my first post on an eyo board since purchasing an Omni 3100S a couple of years ago :) According to the little window on the top right-hand corner stressed my last login was 26/4/02 - almost a yr ago!!...now the mpeg4 bug has bit ;)

Some questions...
Can anyone confirm if the engineers of the XMS888 and the Trio DX-268 are DivX certified???

A mate and I went to SCR today with a stack of discs' to try and they both appeared okay, 'cept the Trio had some issues with certain avi files....& I forgot to check if the boxes carried the DivX logos :)...do they???

Dunno 'bout the Trio it looks ugly and I feel that the blue 'persplex' looking disc tray is too frail...yeah the XMS doesn't come out all the way, but at least it won't break using the door for support!

We were able to remove the timer on DVD disc by pressing the OSD button twice but this didn't work for DivX/XviD files. Is it possible to hide the timer??

Noted SCR are more intent on pushing the Trio than the XMS...I can only assume the reason is 'cause each store I've been to there is only one XMS player left, that and the fact that the Trio's more expensive ;)

How can you tell which firmware is loaded? And when will a new batch of XMS' be arriving down under?

Cheers :)
Phew, questions questions questions
Anyway, to check the version on the XMS-888 see http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~wweb/xms888/multireg.htm the top option in the 'hidden' menu tells you the version number.
Prior to version 1.2, it just said 'ver' for the version number.
If it's the 888 that you are trying to turn off the OSD on, you will need to update to a new firmware to be able to turn it off. (see www.xms888.tk)
No, I don't believe either are 'divx certified' the 888 has a ESS Vibatto II chip inside, ESS have got the Vibratto II MX chip certified, not sure there is much difference, but that is what is officially certified, so players with that chip should be able to display the logo.
The DX-628 has the MediaTek MTK1389 chip, not sure about certification on that (I don't think it is, googleing it might tell you).
I had problems reading some DVD discs (non-originals) on the 628, but I believe that Princo discs are supposed to be ok.
(I don't much like the blue perspex tray either, just looks like it's begging to snap - although it probably won't)

[Scaramouche]

I dunno... the blue seems to be much stronger than it looks!!

Regarding Divx certification, this is the way it works : (Quote from the Divx Forum)


Well, let me assure you: the DivX Certified program is very real, and we take it very seriously. It is not "just a way to rip manufactureres [sic] from their money." In fact, in the course of being tested for DivX Certified status, each product is individually tested by one of our senior hardware engineers, and it is put through a long series of tests divided into 12 different categories. Several dozen test files are used, including many files that were downloaded directly off of the Internet. (i.e., "Real world" files.) The files are chosen to make sure that players can playback all types of DivX video, including versions 3, 4, and 5, common bitrates, maximum peak bitrates, audio/video sync, good visual quality, fast forward and rewind (multiple speeds), and the list goes on and on. In fact, we even demand that hardware players support certain key DivX media features like subtitles and multiple audio tracks that we haven't even formally announced publicly.

Trust me, there is no one on earth who has a better understanding of the technical abilities (and inabilities) of each of these players than our hardware testing engineers. And those guys bounce off the wall every time they read about a problem someone is having with a "DivX Certified" player, because as far as they are concerned, a "DivX Certified" player should be perfect. We are twisting the arms of the manufacturers to make sure they deliver a high quality experience so that you don't have to. We want you to have a great DivX video experience. That's what the DivX Certified program is all about.

[StormyKnight]

Copied this post from http://www.gooddvdstuff.com/kissdvd/viewforum.php?f=7&start=0
topic MediaTek MT1389 chipset officialy DivX certified - dated Mon Dec 22, 2003
Well here it is :

http://www.mtk.com.tw/press_room/20031212_en_Divx.pdf

And here is the copy for all lazy people :

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For DivXNetworks:
Tom Huntington
Corporate Communications Manager
858-909-5358
thuntington@divxnetworks.com
For MediaTek, Inc.:
PR
886-3-567-0766
pr@mtk.com.tw
MediaTek and DivXNetworks Announce Partnership and
DivX Certified™ MT1389 Chip Solutions
DVD Player Chipset Passes Rigorous Testing Process
To Qualify For DivX Certified™ Status
December 11, 2003—San Diego, CA and Hsinchu, Taiwan—DivXNetworks, Inc., the
company that created the revolutionary, patent-pending DivX® video compression
technology, and MediaTek, Inc. (TSE: 2454), one of the world’s top 5 integrated circuit
(IC) fabless companies, today announced a partnership and that several versions of
MediaTek’s MT1389 chip solution—the MT1389DE, MT1389EE, MT1389FE, and
MT1389SE models—are now official DivX Certified™ hardware components. The
MT1389 chip has passed the requirements needed to qualify for the DivX Certified™
Home Theater Profile designation.
Recognized as the world’s leading company in the optical storage industry, MediaTek
offers comprehensive IC solutions for CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-R/RW, DVDRewritable
drives and DVD Players. MediaTek’s chipsets, including the MT1389, are
used in over 45% of the world’s DVD players. The DivX Certified™ designation of the
MT1389 means that it has passed DivXNetworks’s rigorous testing process to confirm
that it fully supports videos encoded in the DivX® video format, and videos protected
with the DivX® VOD digital rights management system. The popular DivX® video
technology, which offers DVD-quality at 7-10 times greater compression than MPEG-2,
is often called the “MP3 of video” and has over 100 million worldwide users. MediaTek
will offer the DivX Certified™ MT1389 chipset to DVD player manufacturers around the
world.
“We are committed to providing our customers with most full-featured and advanced
DVD chipset solutions on the market. We are pleased to now have an official DivX
Certified™ chipset solution that will help us maintain our advantage as a leading provider
of video technology IC solutions,” said Vincent Huang, vice president and general
manager of Digital Consumer Product B.U. at MediaTek Inc., “DivX video has proven
to be enormously popular with consumers all over the world, and we have seen
significant demand for next-generation devices that support high-quality DivX video
playback.”
“MediaTek is one of the world’s leading suppliers of IC solutions for the DVD players
market. They are a forward-looking company and an influential force in the global
consumer electronics market.” said R. Jordan Greenhall, Co-founder, chairman, and chief
executive officer at DivXNetworks, Inc. (www.divxnetworks.com). “We are proud to
work with MediaTek to help meet the significant worldwide demand for DivX Certified
hardware devices. The inclusion of DivX® video playback and DivX® VOD digital
rights management in MediaTek’s chips will enable millions of DVD players to play
DivX® videos.”
The DivX Certified Program includes a full DivX software development kit, rigorous
certification testing, and marketing and sales support focused on helping third party
development and OEM partners create DivX Certified consumer electronics solutions
such as DVD and portable players, set top boxes, PVR, and digital video and still
cameras. The DivX Certified Program enables these companies to meet the global
demand for high-quality DivX video-enabled convergence devices. For more information
on the DivX Certified Program, including a full list of the program members, visit
www.divx.com/certified.
About DivXNetworks
DivXNetworks is a consumer-focused video technology company positioned at the center
of multimedia convergence. The company’s core offering is the DivX ® video codec, the
popular video compression technology with over 100 million users worldwide. Often
called “the MP3 of video,” the patent-pending DivX video technology offers DVDquality
at 10 times greater compression than MPEG-2 files, enabling full length films to
easily fit on a CD or be delivered over broadband connections. DivX video technology
powers a range of applications that span the convergence value chain, from a secure IPbased
video-on-demand solution to next-generation consumer electronics products and
video software applications. DivXNetworks is headquartered in San Diego, California,
with satellite offices in Los Angeles and San Jose, CA, Taipei, Taiwan, and Dortmund,
Germany. For more information, visit http://www.divxnetworks.com.
About MediaTek, Inc.
MediaTek Inc. is a leading provider of total solution for optical storage and digital
consumer semiconductor. Founded in 1997 and headquartered at Hsin-Chu Science Park,
Taiwan, MediaTek is now one of the world’s top 5 IC fabless companies and the world’s
largest chipset suppliers of CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW, Combi and DVD players.
The Company’s common stock is traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the code
“2454”. For more information, please visit the Company’s web site at www.mtk.com.tw.

[Scaramouche]

I wonder what MT1389 variant the 628 uses? iam too lazy to open mine & see :)


Copied from the Divx Forum

All,

There has been quite a bit of confusion about this recently, so we wanted to make an official statement.

The MediaTek MT1389GE and ESS ES6168 chipsets are not DivX Certified chipsets, and they have not passed all of our certification tests.

Devices that are built using these chips, therefore, are themselves not DivX Certified devices. Because of this, these devices may not accurately play back all versions of DivX video.

Some recent postings at Doom9 have incorrectly given the impression that these chips are DivX Certified. That is not the case.

Thanks.
:bez

[onya]

i just picked a trio dx-628 from strathfield car radios at north parramatta for $199.

no haggling, that's the price they told me in the store. apparently it's a mothers day catalog special or something. when i rang up a few hours beforehand, they told me it was $249.

can't wait to get it home and try it out!

[Scaramouche]

make sure to tell us what firmware it has

- Splash screen Toprid - Old
- Splash screen Trio - new

Please let us know if you expereince any stuttering video

[ChickenMan]

I got this reply from Trio a couple of days ago when I asked about a new firmware for the Trio:-

Dear ****,
We will be releasing the firmware upgrade shortly. We will send you an email once it has been released. The firmware will be released on our website located at http://www.triocorp.com.au

Kind Regards,
Trio Support Team

TRIO Corporation Pty Ltd
Tel: (02) 9748 3607
Fax: (02) 9748 3617
http://www.triocorp.com.au

[onya]

the splash screen is toprid. i've noticed a few glitches when playing vbr mp3's (lame aps). haven't had any problems with dvd's or divs so far.

[artem_ku]

I did not quite understand. Does this player support DVD subtitles? Or people were talking about subtitles over avi's ?

[andw]

The issue is with subtitles on avi files.

[niels]

I wonder what MT1389 variant the 628 uses? iam too lazy to open mine & see :)


It's the MT1389FE. I was curious too, so I opened my unit up. Took a few
photos, and put them up at http://sam.weaklogic.com/trio/

My DX-628 was of the "newer" variety (ie. has the TRIO background)

[speed X]

Ive had mine and iam not satisfied. These are some of the bad points i have noticed.

- No support for Matroska
Matroska is a Awesome container, allowing subtitles, chapters, multiple soundtracks, multiple video streams etc in 1 single file. It also has less overhead than AVI, better seeking & better error recovery. Unfortunetly manufacturers will probably never implement it, & stick to AVI which is a shocking format

- Poor media error handling.
Ive got AVI's on some sh*t CD's, which show up yellow sectors in nero Scandisk (Damaged sectors). The Trio-628 simply halts playback & freezes when it hits some of them. Its so bad on some discs you cannot even fast forward past this point.

Now this could be due to the limitations of the AVI container or

- Unable to deal with high Resolution / High bitrate spikes
On a super high quality Xvid encode of Star Trek Nemesis the video often freezes while sound keeps on going.

Overall, i regret buying it (that extends to ANY standalone player). Iam going to sell it and build a HTPC (Home Theatre PC), which can resolve all the short-comings of the Trio-628 and of any standalone.

Only problem with HTPC - WAF Wife Acceptance Factor!!!!

Hi Scaramouche and all!

Look at this case:http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-119-024&depa=0

This one is a beauty: http://usa.asus.com/products/desktop/digimatrix/overview.htm#

Maybe you can find some of these models near your neck of the woods.

I've heard the CoolerMaster is very good and easy to build. You can use any ATX power supply and it has very good ventilation. Looks good too! :)

[andw]

I like the look of the Asus one, looks like it would fit in very well.

[speed X]

Yes andw, my mouth waters when I look at it! :dD

I think it comes with a number of features made for a media PC. Sure would be good to know how it works with Windows XP Media Center Edition and if it would use the "instant on" feature they talk about; it sure would make it work as a standalone player.

Take a look at this media/game console from Apex Digital: http://www.apexdigitalinc.com/proddetail.asp?category=ApeXtreme&subcat=&linenumber=76&c=4

I think in the next year many dedicated media center PC's are going to be available with styling that will make them an attractive addition to any home AV center.

[calinvas]

Dear Mr. Niels,

Can you send me by email the detailed pictures you put on the web site :
http://sam.weaklogic.com/trio/ with Main PCB decoder board ?

Thank's and Best regards,
Calin Vasile
Romania :)

[niels]

Lucky I found it :)

http://sam.weaklogic.com/trio/100_0860.jpg

[jokiin]

Dear Mr. Niels,

Can you send me by email the detailed pictures you put on the web site :
http://sam.weaklogic.com/trio/ with Main PCB decoder board ?

Thank's and Best regards,
Calin Vasile
Romania :)

If you are trying to identify your player be aware that many players use common components but there may be differences in the firmware to suit different drives, remotes etc and could lead to you having a dead machine. The Trio comes out of one of the largest DVD suppliers in China, they don't do much export though, most of their business is with the local market. The MediaTek based machines are fairly bulletproof and are able to be recovered from a bad flash, Andw can point you in the right direction with this, if you are planning on using different firmware you should consider making a backup of your current firmware first so that you can actually recover if need be. Again Andw is the best one to ask for advice on this, he has done it a number of times. There is also a Mediatek user group on Yahoo that you should chack out also.