Using external DVD/BD players with media centers

[carlmart]

Just two weeks ago I got a WD TV Live Streaming media center.

It does seem to play quite well through streaming or hooking an HDD to the USB inputs.

But just today did I find out that it doesn't seem to accept an external DVD/BD player. Any reason for that behavior, except for a limitation set by the manufacturer?

I mean, I'm trying to play mkv files recorded on the disks.

Is that the case for all media centers or are there any specific brands or models that do accept external DVD/BD players?

I seem to remember there was a Dune media center that even brought a front hole to put a BD player into, but I don't remember the model.

[redwudz]

Not sure of the reason, but WD does state in their FAQs that an external BD, DVD or CD drive won't work. That appears to apply to all models, though I thought my older WD Live worked with external optical drives. But I'm probably wrong.

[carlmart]

Yes, they do state that. Just was having a first look at the Dune HD too, and they do not list DVD/HD external players as something you can use with theirs either.

Now I'm having a look at Android type TV boxes, as I believe they will accept optical disc players. My intention is to have something I can, now and in the future, play any kind of discs holding mkv files, both 2D and 3D.

Until now I thought newer BD player models, that now most handle streaming and any kind of files, might be the answer. But Cinavia might be a problem in the future if you update the firmware.