+- Kodi Community Forum (https://forum.kodi.tv)
+-- Forum: Discussions (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=222)
+--- Forum: Hardware (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=112)
+--- Thread: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 (/showthread.php?tid=376035)
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - himey - 2025-02-06
@hdmkv Did you recently get your Homatics box, and did you get it from AliExpress?
I am asking because I want to know what Android version it came with, and the pros/cons of the version you settled on? Did you update it, or something different?
Which version of CoreElec are you using? Have you run into any issues? How many versions have you tested? Thanks!
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - hdmkv - 2025-02-06
Yes, bought from AliExpress & it came with ATV12 if I recall correctly. If the box did update during setup, it did so to 12 (not 14). If you want 14, pretty sure you can only get it one of two ways:
- Request via Homatics Telegram site with your unit's device info., or
- Manually update yourself using the ATV14 firmware available in the wild (inadvisable from what I'm reading)
. If you don't care about 3D, maybe install 21.2 official/stable.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - himey - 2025-02-06
(2025-02-06, 03:20)hdmkv Wrote: Yes, bought from AliExpress & it came with ATV12 if I recall correctly. If the box did update during setup, it did so to 12 (not 14). If you want 14, pretty sure you can only get it one of two ways:With CE, I'm using the latest 20250205 CE-NG nightly, mainly because it fixes 3D playback. No issues so far
- Request via Homatics Telegram site with your unit's device info., or
- Manually update yourself using the ATV14 firmware available in the wild (inadvisable from what I'm reading)
I am just looking for the best MKV playback for Dolby Vision and lossless audio passthrough. Everything else I have covered and I've come to realize that there is no one box that does everything perfect. My TV is a 65 inch LG B4. Thanks.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - hdmkv - 2025-02-06
That would be the Ugoos AM6B+ with CE running off internal flash, HS400 enabled, and CPM build installed. Links in post #1.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - foxy6800 - 2025-02-06
@ hdmkv
sorry for my stupid question
What are the benefits of CPM builds? can they be installed on any device?
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - Roby77 - 2025-02-06
So no news about new boxes ? i'm using daily homatics with atv 14 and no big problem (for my use) but a faster box would be appreciate
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - signde - 2025-02-06
(2025-02-06, 19:09)Roby77 Wrote: So no news about new boxes ? i'm using daily homatics with atv 14 and no big problem (for my use) but a faster box would be appreciate
There are some new boxes based on a new Realtek 1325 chip that are kind of promising. The Rocktek GX1 being one of those. It supports full passthrough of all HD audio in Android TV. Having said that, it appears to have an issue with adaptive HDR though where you get always on DV with no auto fallback to HDR10. We'll have to wait and see if Rocktek / Skyworth provide any firmware updates to fix this or if someone can figure out a combo of settings that fixes the issue like on the Chromecast with Google TV.
I think the next devices most of us are waiting on are the S905X5 of which the lower budget M variants are coming first. Last I read is it will be Q3/Q4 before we see any consumer versions of those boxes available for purchase.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - hdmkv - 2025-02-06
No DV with Realtek 1325 however (only HDR, HDR10+ & HLG). Another possibility I've read about is this potential Sonos replacement to nVidia Shield TV Pro. But at $200-400 range & a new OS (albeit Android-based), unsure. Potential horsepower, gigabit ethernet & Wi-Fi7 sound good.
@foxy6800, CPM builds are for any S905X4-J/K (Homatics & variants) or S922X-J (AM6B+) boxes. It leverages the Dolby VS10 engine in these boxes to allow potentially better upscaling & on-the-fly conversion of SDR/HDR/10+ to DV (really what's called LLDV, low-level DV). Or from those to HDR if you want. Here's a post in the Zidoo forum that shows the difference with & w/o VS10.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - MediaPi - 2025-02-07
@Roby77 you can't ask what to buy next without asking what are your requirements. Do you need DV FEL? then the only option you have (and will ever have) for a faster box is the AM6B+, though it's not a massive difference.
Do you care for android then their is nothing better than homatics, Do you not need FEL and android then you can get the Ugoos SK1 with the S928X, or the cheaper X96 X10 (8GB)
Are you happy with just HDR10 with no 3D playback and no DV or HDR10+ , then look into a mini pc with N100. That will be a real improvement.
so what are your needs?
@hdmkv, I didn't know people bought realtek for kodi, who supports it? libreelec?
For a box that does everything except 8k and VC1, the best you'll ever get it the AM6B+
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - hdmkv - 2025-02-07
To date, don't think any Realtek-based player has been a good fit for Kodi. Just as a front-end for posters & metadata, yes, but not actual playback.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - clarkss12 - 2025-02-07
(2025-02-06, 23:50)signde Wrote:This was posted on my YouTube video. "@BabacarAlagmy(2025-02-06, 19:09)Roby77 Wrote: So no news about new boxes ? i'm using daily homatics with atv 14 and no big problem (for my use) but a faster box would be appreciate
There are some new boxes based on a new Realtek 1325 chip that are kind of promising. The Rocktek GX1 being one of those. It supports full passthrough of all HD audio in Android TV. Having said that, it appears to have an issue with adaptive HDR though where you get always on DV with no auto fallback to HDR10. We'll have to wait and see if Rocktek / Skyworth provide any firmware updates to fix this or if someone can figure out a combo of settings that fixes the issue like on the Chromecast with Google TV.
I think the next devices most of us are waiting on are the S905X5 of which the lower budget M variants are coming first. Last I read is it will be Q3/Q4 before we see any consumer versions of those boxes available for purchase.
1 day ago (edited)
From May there will be a new update, I say a14 is coming then the problem with the HDR DV will go away"
This is the question that I asked and his answer
"That will be awesome!!! Where did you get your information??
Reply@BabacarAlagmy
6 hours ago
@clarkss12 skyworth"
Checked his profile on the YouTube website, and he is new. Question in my mind, does he have connections to Rocktek??
IF they "fix" the Adaptive HDR issue, that will make this media a game changer.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - signde - 2025-02-07
(2025-02-06, 23:56)hdmkv Wrote: No DV with Realtek 1325 however (only HDR, HDR10+ & HLG).The GX1 is Realtek 1325 based, has DV, and HDR10/HDR10+.
Our fearless purchaser of all devices @clarkss12 has the review on his youtube.
Again the current downside is if you turn on DV you get DV all the time, even when playing HDR10 content.
Sounds like maybe an firmware fix is coming though. Maybe we will see what Skyworth is made of.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - hdmkv - 2025-02-07
Good to know... was looking at a CNX-software article on another box/dongle w/this SoC & DV isn't mentioned. Too bad Realtek seems to also have dropped 3D MVC support starting w/this chip
.
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - MediaPi - 2025-02-07
3dphobic mf's
RE: Best Kodi Media Player Options 2025 - MediaPi - 2025-02-07
**deleted message**