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+--- Thread: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 (/showthread.php?tid=376035)
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - izprtxqkft - 2024-04-19
still running on the Zidoo Z9X Pro
still haven't had to "fix" anything, post initial setup it just works (but only with it's provided media center software)
only posting to correct myself though
in a previous post i indicated updates were coming frequently for this device but that has not been the case since then
when first purchasing it within a few days i had 2 updates which seemed to me they were actively pushing updates
since Jan 09 2024 there has not been an update for this device
on the good side, the device does operate "as intended" without the need for these
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - hdmkv - 2024-04-19
They are overdue on a f/w update, but judging by this alpha, it appears they're close.
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - maxcovergold - 2024-04-20
Got my Fire Cube yesterday. Has anyone experienced where the display occasionally flickers off and back on again? It comes up with the Dolby vision thing on my TV each time it does this, regardless of what app or menu is on the cube at the time.
Possibly coincidentally, but shortly before, with Kodi playback I enabled match frame rate at 'start and stop'. Tried setting that back to off but still happening and didn't happen before. Though also didn't happen before I install the Luna app or paired my Stadia pad!
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - snyft - 2024-04-20
(2024-04-15, 15:31)clarkss12 Wrote:Do you use Corelec on a usb memory or how do you dualboot? I didn't get the option when i tried to install it to eMMC, just that its unsupported.(2024-04-15, 12:34)goddevil Wrote:(2024-04-14, 17:51)clarkss12 Wrote: What issues did you have?? Almost all of the versions work except the "NO" versions. Give the 20.5 Nexus stable version a try.
Edit: That is one of my favorite boxes. Stays cool and plays everything under CE. Great purchase for you.
I just ordered Tox3 box. What are the differences in using Kodi on default Android in the box vs installing CE and then using Kodi?
That is a very good question. Been awhile since I used the "stock" firmware, so I can't remember what items it is missing using Kodi. I instead use the Slimbox ATV firmware and dual boot into CoreELEC.
With the Slimbox ATV firmware (Android), it plays all of the audio and video codecs (except the VC-1 video codec), and it supports automatic framerate and resolution switching, using Kodi. https://slimboxtv.ru/tox3/
Dual boot into CoreELEC and it is purely a media player, that plays EVERYTHING.
This is a video showing the Slimbox ATV version running on my TOX3. Hope this helps answer your questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rZH38mq-aA
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - clarkss12 - 2024-04-20
(2024-04-20, 07:36)snyft Wrote:(2024-04-15, 15:31)clarkss12 Wrote:Do you use Corelec on a usb memory or how do you dualboot? I didn't get the option when i tried to install it to eMMC, just that its unsupported.(2024-04-15, 12:34)goddevil Wrote: I just ordered Tox3 box. What are the differences in using Kodi on default Android in the box vs installing CE and then using Kodi?
That is a very good question. Been awhile since I used the "stock" firmware, so I can't remember what items it is missing using Kodi. I instead use the Slimbox ATV firmware and dual boot into CoreELEC.
With the Slimbox ATV firmware (Android), it plays all of the audio and video codecs (except the VC-1 video codec), and it supports automatic framerate and resolution switching, using Kodi. https://slimboxtv.ru/tox3/
Dual boot into CoreELEC and it is purely a media player, that plays EVERYTHING.
This is a video showing the Slimbox ATV version running on my TOX3. Hope this helps answer your questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rZH38mq-aA
I guess I did not clarify about dual boot. You are correct, you have to use a microSD card for the CoreELEC OS, in order to dual boot.
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - ashlar - 2024-04-23
On CoreELEC 21's release page I read the following:
Dolby Vision will be supported on Amlogic-ne and Amlogic-ng with Kodi Omega on certain Amlogic devices like Homatics/Dune R 4K Plus, RockTek G2 or Nokia 8010. Other devices on Amlogic-ng like Ugoos AM6+ or Minix NEO U22-XJ (Max) equiped with S922X-J will support Dolby Vision with profile 7 FEL as well.
What is the better option? I would be interpreting it as Ugoos AM6+ and Minix Neo U22-XJ (Max) being the best option, with the Dune R 4K Plus, RockTek G2 and Nokia 8010 being uncapable of playing back Profile 7 FEL correctly.
Do I have it right?
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - Sholander - 2024-04-23
Yes.
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - hdmkv - 2024-04-23
Yes, and Ugoos AM6B+ is the only DV TV-led FEL P7 option as Minix was discontinued & is near impossible to find.
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - ashlar - 2024-04-23
(2024-04-23, 14:46)hdmkv Wrote: Yes, and Ugoos AM6B+ is the only DV TV-led FEL P7 option as Minix was discontinued & is near impossible to find.
Ok, thanks for clarifying. How is its performance compared to Fire TV Cube 3?
Also, slightly offtopic: I gather that it's possible to have mkv files with P7 FEL. But Blurays have two tracks for main and FEL, correct? Are these merged in MKV or is there any loss of information involved?
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - hdmkv - 2024-04-23
Feels almost as snappy as Cube 3. Using Arctic: Zephyr - Reloaded skin on both, and neither have issues navigating my fairly large library of movies (2,600+) & shows (120+). Actually ordered a second AM6B+ from AliExpress for my family room TV.
On P7 FEL, yes, MKV rips have both tracks merged w/o loss of any info. Here's an example:
Code:
General
Unique ID : 116109710143756355325041185646044189215 (0x5759EAB0C882DF7D6A96BB8C4023121F)
Complete name : Z:\Movies4K\Example Movie Folder\Example Movie.4K.HDR.DV.ATMOS.mkv
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4
File size : 75.0 GiB
Duration : 2 h 49 min
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 63.4 Mb/s
Frame rate : 23.976 FPS
Movie name : Example Movie (2024)
Encoded date : 2024-03-27 19:28:30 UTC
Writing application : MakeMKV v1.17.6 win(x64-release)
Writing library : libmakemkv v1.17.6 (1.3.10/1.5.2) win(x64-release)
Video
ID : 1
ID in the original source medium : 4113 (0x1011)
Format : HEVC
Format/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile : Main [email protected]@High
HDR format : Dolby Vision, Version 1.0, Profile 7.6, dvhe.07.06, BL+EL+RPU, no metadata compression, Blu-ray compatible / SMPTE ST 2086, Version HDR10, HDR10 compatible
Codec ID : V_MPEGH/ISO/HEVC
Duration : 2 h 49 min
Bit rate : 57.9 Mb/s
Width : 3 840 pixels
Height : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 (Type 2)
Bit depth : 10 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.291
Stream size : 68.6 GiB (91%)
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.2020
Transfer characteristics : PQ
Matrix coefficients : BT.2020 non-constant
Mastering display color primaries : Display P3
Mastering display luminance : min: 0.0001 cd/m2, max: 1000 cd/m2
Original source medium : Blu-ray
Audio
ID : 2
ID in the original source medium : 4352 (0x1100)
Format : MLP FBA 16-ch
Format/Info : Meridian Lossless Packing FBA with 16-channel presentation
Commercial name : Dolby TrueHD with Dolby Atmos
Codec ID : A_TRUEHD
Duration : 2 h 49 min
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 5 467 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 7 932 kb/s
Channel(s) : 8 channels
Channel layout : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 1 200.000 FPS (40 SPF)
Bit depth : 24 bits
Compression mode : Lossless
Stream size : 6.47 GiB (9%)
Title : Dolby ATMOS
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No
Original source medium : Blu-ray
Number of dynamic objects : 11
Bed channel count : 1 channel
Bed channel configuration : LFE
mixlevel : 80 dB
ltrtcmixlev : 3.0 dB
ltrtsurmixlev : 3.0 dB
lorocmixlev : 3.0 dB
lorosurmixlev : 3.0 dB
Menu
00:00:00.000 : en:Chapter 01
00:04:30.103 : en:Chapter 02
00:13:46.992 : en:Chapter 03
00:18:56.677 : en:Chapter 04
00:26:53.361 : en:Chapter 05
00:36:11.711 : en:Chapter 06
00:45:47.327 : en:Chapter 07
00:57:39.247 : en:Chapter 08
01:05:26.339 : en:Chapter 09
01:13:45.754 : en:Chapter 10
01:17:42.074 : en:Chapter 11
01:24:05.081 : en:Chapter 12
01:35:29.724 : en:Chapter 13
01:46:43.188 : en:Chapter 14
01:59:35.543 : en:Chapter 15
02:07:25.596 : en:Chapter 16
02:17:11.598 : en:Chapter 17
02:26:54.180 : en:Chapter 18
02:32:42.611 : en:Chapter 19
02:42:38.582 : en:Chapter 20RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - HomerJau - 2024-04-24
I suspect the Ugoos AM6B+ with Kodi does not output 24bit audio after looking at some screen shots proving DoVi is working correctly over on CoreElec forum.
I’ve got one on order and will confirm as soon as I can.
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - ashlar - 2024-04-24
All clear, thanks a lot!
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - ashlar - 2024-04-24
(2024-04-24, 03:16)HomerJau Wrote: I suspect the Ugoos AM6B+ with Kodi does not output 24bit audio after looking at some screen shots proving DoVi is working correctly over on CoreElec forum.
I’ve got one on order and will confirm as soon as I can.
Unless you're talking about FLAC music, I don't see how it could not if it bistreams TrueHD and DTS-HD MA.
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - meridius - 2024-04-25
Hi there what about the Ugoos AM8 that looks like it supports Dolby vision all formats and av1 ? I have app with Kodi and looking to upgrade as I am going 4k but wanted a system that will play all hdr content so wonder if this is the box to get. And would it be worth it over the Am6B+
NEW!!! Amlogic 5928X 5-Core CPU 2.0 GHZ ARM MAli G57 MC2 GPU
4GB of LPDDR4 RAM/32GB internal storage
1x USB Type C / 3x USB 3.0
Android 11 operating system
Navigation bar status bar
Magisk Root switch
4K 2160p@60 Hz display
Auto framerate switching
Adaptive HDR/Dolby Vision feature
Dolby Vision for self-hosted videos
Screen rotation to portrait mode
HDR10+ HLG AV1 video playback
Dolby Atmos/DD+/Dolby Surr/DTS HD MA/DTS-X/Dolby True HD
Wi-Fi 6 AX Technology / 1000 Mbps LAN
YouTube in 4K HDR
Good 3D gaming performance w/Keymapping
High Benchmarks
Massive heatsink lowest temps @ CPU 2.0GHz
RE: State of Kodi Media Players: Best Options in 2024 - gpmc - 2024-04-25
currently there is no way - yet - to have Coreelec running on AM8 so, as stated in their forum, it's not recommended at the moment.