HDI Dune, the company behind the Dune series of media players that have been reviewed here (see my Dune Smart D1 and Dune BD Prime reviews), has just announced their next generation player called the Dune HD Pro. The Pro revolves around the Sigma SMP8910, which is the highly anticipated next gen Sigma processor. With this process comes HDMI 1.4a, 3D Blu-ray, gigE, and VXP Video Processing to name a few. I have been anxiously awaiting for SMP8910 players to be announced as I feel this could be the next big leap in the media player market. To be honest as well, I feel for the past 2-3 years we have seen the same hardware recycled amongst media players, so it has gotten a bit boring :-). Now keep in mind as you look over the specs of the HD Pro, this is meant to be the high end model (read expensive). Although I haven’t see any pricing I have seen rumors of EUR 2-3k. However, I do expect that HDI will also continue with their Smart series of players to be upgraded with the SMP8910 as well. No word yet on availability but I would expect we should start seeing SMP8910 players hit the market in Q1-Q2 2012.
Dune HD Pro is the ultimate HD Entertainment Center. Designed for those who are discerning and expect the very best, the Dune HD Pro features a true audiophile-grade power supply and the highest quality internal components for superior video and audio performance. This flagship model comes standard with a Blu-ray disc drive, two internal 3.5” SATA HDD racks, HDMI 1.4, VXP advanced video processing, full 3D support and Ethernet and WiFi networking capabilities.
Hi-End Features
- Built-in touch screen display: Built-in color 7″ touch screen allows the user a new level of control interactivity.
- VXP Video processor: Integrated VXP video processing improves video quality of SD, HD, and Internet content, eliminating the need for a separate video post-processing / scaling solution
- THX Media Director: A unique technology that transforms movies, music and other digital media into smart content that enables Media Director enabled A/V components to auto-select the most appropriate audio and video playback settings, preserving the content creator’s artistic intent.
- Hi-End power supply: High-performance large toroidal power transformer ensures a low level of interference in the power supply section and prevents possible signal distortion in the analog audio output, making the sound more clear and transparent, music images articulated, precise and focused, and video that much more vivid and intense.
- Hi-End audio outputs: Balanced XLR stereo outputs as well as analog 7.1 multi-channel RCA outputs, served by a high performance stereo DAC from Burr-Brown (supports bit depths from 16 to 32 bits and sampling rates up to 192 kHz).
- High-quality music playback: Play back of very high-quality (up to 192 Khz / 24-bit) music files in various formats (FLAC, Monkey’s Audio APE, WAV/PCM, DTS, etc) fully supported in the Dune HD Pro.
- Solid mass cabinet: The Hi-End cabinet design ensures an ultra low vibration level of all components including the optical disc drive and internal HDDs, minimizing environmental noise allowing discs to be read with the highest degree of accuracy.
- DIRECT button on the front panel: Listen to your music pure by disabling video electronics for even better audio quality.
- DIMMER button on the front panel: Control the brightness of the built-in display or turn it off completely.
Media Player Features
- Sigma Designs 8910 media processor: Enjoy the absolute best in audio and video playback performance from Sigma Designs newest flagship media processor.
- Blu-ray (3D) and DVD player: Play Blu-ray and DVD discs (plus Audio CD and data discs with video, music and photo files).
- Integrated VXP Video processor: VXP video processing improves video quality of SD, HD, and Internet content, eliminating the need for a separate video post-processing or scaling solution.
- HDD player: Connect an HDD to the Dune HD Pro and play content directly from the HDD.
- Network player: Connect Dune HD Pro to a local network and play content directly from PC or NAS (UPnP, SMB, NFS).
- MKV player: Play HD and SD video in popular MKV formats and other modern video file formats, including top quality HD video with very high bit-rates > 50Mbp/s.
- 3D Video format support: Dune HD Pro decodes a wide variety of 3D Video formats, including Blu-ray 3D and RealD 3D.
- HD audio: Enjoy top-quality audio tracks such as Dolby True HD, DTS HD Master Audio, LPCM, FLAC.
- 3 USB ports: Conveniently connect HDDs, USB flash drives, USB card readers and other USB storage devices without needing a USB hub.
- 2 HDD racks with hot swap function: Easily and quickly insert and exchange internal 3.5’’ SATA HDDs for nearly unlimited storage capacity.
- HDMI 1.4: Ensures the broadest compatibility to the very latest 3D TV’s, displays and projectors.
- Rich set of A/V connectors: S/PDIF optical audio, Stereo audio, Component video, Composite video outputs to easily connect any A/V equipment.
- Extended support for Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio: Output bit-stream (up to 7.1 channels) or decode (up to 7.1 channels) for maximum flexibility when connecting audio equipment, and for extended support of advanced playback features (such as Picture-in-Picture).
- High-quality music playback: Play very high-quality (up to 192 Khz / 24-bit) music files in various formats (FLAC, Monkey’s Audio APE, WAV/PCM, DTS, etc).
- Playlists: Build play lists from folders, use your own play lists, repeat and shuffle functions.
- Video output flexibility: Output video in any resolution and format (from SD to 1080p, 24p/PAL/NTSC).
- Up-scaling: High quality up-scaling of DVD and any other SD video content to Full HD (1080p) or other HD resolutions.
- File browser: Convenient file browser with powerful file management (copy, move, delete, rename, organize, sort).
- Front pannel available in two colors: black and silver.
Extra Functions
- NAS function: Access files on storage devices (HDD, optical drive, etc) attached to the player from the local network (using SMB or FTP).
- Customizable user interface: Work with media collections using cover art and icon browsing (supports Full HD graphics).
- Flash applications: Extend player functionality with FlashLite applications.
- Internet radio: Playback and record various Internet radio stations.
- IPTV: Playback and record IPTV streams (multicast UDP/RTP) from your Internet provider (check availability of multicast UDP/RTP streams with your Internet provider).
- Digital TV option: Playback and record Digital TV channels using an optional Digital TV USB dongle (Digital TV USB dongle is not included; this option may be purchased separately).
- Internet browsing: View Internet Web sites on your TV using the built-in Web browser.
Article by Damian
Hi, my name is Damian, and I'm tech gadget addict! Although I always had some interest in technology, it wasn't until I got my EX470 and more importantly found Mediasmartserver.net, that my interest became an addiction. My goal, aside from world domination and to see the Mets/Broncos win another championship, is to set up the perfect digital home where all my media is available at the click of a button. When I am not writing for Mediasmartserver.net you can find me over at my blog at http://www.adigitalhomeblog.com or follow me on twitter
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God that is one Sexy machine .. As a First day owner of the PCH A-100 and C-300 .. i wish this is the way Popcorn Hour was Heading not the PopboxV8 .. that is a kids toy and i already have countless items that can stream web apps but this is a Beast good for HDi…The Price on this is a little high for a First day purchase but damn i want it
LOL, I hear ya Jon. I hope that PCH is willing to branch out a little with a Premium Player. I personally think the whole online streaming thing is way overrated in its current form. Give me my full HD Video collection with flawless video and HD Audio playback. Every house should have one “premium” player
Finally! I pray oh how I pray it’s not riddled with a thousand issues that take years to fix. I just have to wait for a slightly reduced, smaller SMART version and I’m on board!
Yeah, hard to say knowing Sigma’s track record. Tough call, either release a player sooner then later but increase the chance of more bugs, or wait to release until it is stable, but dealing with impatient customers. I wouldn’t expect to see a SMP8910 player until closer to Q2 tbh
The Digital TV option has me wondering what this thing will actually be able to do. Are any of the other models able to record live TV? Does this include a guide? Will this be a future HTPC replacement?
I think the digital tv is more focused on the European markets (the current dunes are supposed to have that functionality as well). I imagine if any sort of recording (pvr) activity is added it will be very closely scrutinized (i.e. due to DRM concerns for both tv and media playback recordings)
To bad you couldn’t stick a Ceton Infintv 4 in it for non Euro Markets : ) .. Love my Ceton in the PC but another one in the Player and offloads recording to WHS would be sweet
Well, unfortunately though WMC is the only HTPC solution that has the proper DRM support. It would be nice if you could get something like a QAM tuner to work though. I have an HDHome Run QAM tuner which picks up all the basic HD channels and is supported on a variety of front ends. I also have the HDHR Prime Cable Card, but to get the premium channels (i.e. not the copy freely) it only works with WMC
I guess they could go one step further and actually make it a HTPC by adding Win 7 for WMC or Win 8 when it drops and Duel Booting whatever GUI they chose .. But that’s crazy talk
LOL, yeah, crazy talk. Eventually W8 should be able to run on an ARM, so there is potential down the road.
If they could just license the Mediacenter Extender Software from Microsoft for some of the lower models, I would imagine they would be able to sell quite a few more of them.
i want to know about the GUI! Will this have the embedded XBMC or MyMovies?
And UPGRADE HARDWARE for DUNE HD LINE, When will be possible this one for Sigma SMP8910 (What’s date for this ONE)?
The SMP8910 most likely won’t be released until mid 2012. I don’t think the intention was ever t o have an upgrade path for the SMP8910 (it was or I think the SMP8646 but from a cost to performance perspective it would make zero sense to do)
Yes my friend, the most upgrade for all users DUNE HD SMART, MAX and DUO is a CHIPSET SMP8910, But I wonder when this will occur?
The 8910 will not be out until middle of 2012 at the earliest. For t his you will need to buy a new Dune, it will not be an upgrade option from what I have heard
Google the new jukebox…Dune Flash Interface. Looks promising but there are still a few kinks with respect to flash launching ISO files. I was also over on MPC club and a sigma representative said that XBMC is ready to go for the 8647 and 8910. It’s just up to HDI if they want to implement it and that there is an API.
Hopefully 1st quarter 2012 will bring a belated Christmas gift!!
The question with XBMC really is how well will it integrate. For example, there is no HD Audio bitstream support or full blu ray menu support with XBMC. Is that something that can be worked around via Sigma
The top picture from the Hungarian Dune Distributor web site.
http://dunehd.hu/?oldal=hirek&id=26
Hi reading up on the HDI Dune HD Pro which sound good so far….though could hurt the pocket a little….I have used the Popcorn hour and i have the Oppo BDP 93 which can play my Blu-ray Region 4 and Region 1′s that i buy…
Now will the HD Pro Dune be Region Free for Blu-ray and DVD?????
I’d assume for the money it would want to be.
Cheers Tony
Good question. I have a feeling it won’t be region free (although I believe there is a work around with the current Dunes). Still not convinced this player will ever see the light of day though.
The price is very high and nothing suport fot SACD ISO and DVA ISO?
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