Popcornhour A500 in test

As a pioneer in the field of network players, Popcornhour now has more than ten years of experience and has perfected the various Poppys from the A100 to the brand new A500. On the other hand, the very active user forum, on the other hand the exemplary implementation of the suggestions in short successive firmware updates. This explains the perfection in format diversity and functions, a circumstance that does not offer Android devices so, but hardware and software come from a house. For the Poppy, this results in a disadvantage, because the variety of the Android apps are only 55 apps for the A500.


Top for Videoton & Audio


The easy commissioning and the sensibly designed menus are reduced to the essentials. Also for the use of the large format diversity the user does not have to worry about any add-ons etc., restrictions are only available in the top video formats. Thus, 4K runs with up to 30 hertz, is specified for 10 bits, but not for HDR. However, the A500 HDR10 videos off and reckons this in very good picture quality. HD video formats run super, especially ISO files up to 3D / MVC. The output is unfortunately only possible in HDMI 1.4, for the network there is Gigabit LAN.


Conclusion


The poppy holds the poppy in the audio area. Problem-free running videos with HiRes sound in multichannel, but also pure audio files in multichannel formats like FLAC, WAV and DTS. Audiophiles are (almost) fully satisfied, as the only one of the test candidates is the A500 DSD and multi-channel DST. Yes even ISOs of DVD-Audio and SACD, except that the SACD multi-channel discs only play the stereo areas. Shortly before editing, an update even provided the possibility to adjust the level when converting DSD to FLAC.


As a processor the Sigma Designs SMP8758 works with 2x1.3 gigahertz, which means a performance doubling compared to VTEN (video 3/2015). With the new chip, Android would also be possible, but that is future music. Because of the frequent firmware updates of Popcornhour is to be expected even more. HDR, SACD-ISO in multichannel would be nice, and an even faster response to inputs - despite improvement.


With the A500 Popcornhour brings a noble, mature network player, which does not support 60p and HDR, but the latter, but in very good quality offsets. Comprehensive are the other video formats and the super audio part, which satisfies even Audiophile. This is a perfect photo show, a multimedial pleasure.