[clarkss12]

Is this a good deal for someone who only cares about Kodi and not streaming? How much more would I have to pay for a better device? Thanks.

I personally don't like Android boxes just for Kodi but I am likely in the minority here.  I believe Android boxes are too limiting than Liunux boxes and harder to support but for folks who want DV I believe they are about the only choice except the Vero V boxes, which I really like.  DV isn't a thing for me so I am able to have a larger set of choices.  I think it is important to understand what features you want and use that to help guide you.  Also, how much time you want to spend supporting it or just sit back and watch will matter, depending upon your box / OS choices..


Thanks,

Jeff

I agree about the Vero V media player, it is the best of the bunch for MY needs.

My dilemma is finding a media player that can play that nasty, gawd awful VC-1 video codec.  It seems that most of my Blue-Ray rips are encoded in that video codec, and very few media players will play that codec.  For years, it I never even noticed it, because I always used Emby under Android, and it would transcode that codec in the background.  NOW, that these players are getting more powerful and can play all of the audio AND video codecs, my need for transcoding is no longer necessary, EXCEPT for that darn VC-1.

In my viewing environment and equipment, I can't tell any difference in the video I am watching whether it is in Dolby Vision, HDR10, etc.  However. watching my videos with that evil VC-1 is impossible for the majority of my players, with a couple of exceptions.  The Vero V plays everything I have and I don't have to check to see what codec the video is encoded in.

So, for just kicking back and watching a "movie", the Vero V is MY goto media player.  It is NOT flashy or fancy, but  it get the job done and done very well!!

[hdmkv]

Hoping to retry Vero V. VC-1 is a decent codec, found in many Blu-rays & and most HDDVDs when both formats were duking it out around 2007-08. Problem is most SoC manufacturers stopped supporting it after H.264 took over.

Yes, Android can be limiting, but using them as CE boxes can be really good... the Ugoos AM6B+ is such a (probably the best) CE/Kodi local media playback box we've ever gotten. For all the reasons listed in post #1, much of this thread, @DMDreview's YT comparison above, at AVSForum, etc.

Do you know where to get the best price on the Ugoos? I should probably just spend the extra money on the Ugoos rather than the Homatics. I don't need any streaming features. The Ugoos is $190 on Amazon which makes the Homatics very tempting.

AliExpress. Look for coupons on RetailMeNot.com, and go through Rakuten to get another 2% off.

[himey]

evil VC-1

Doesn't Kodi on any PC handle VC-1 perfectly fine? It would be nice to have one device for everything but that simply isn't the case. How many titles do you have in VC-1? I don't have many.

[clarkss12]

evil VC-1

Doesn't Kodi on any PC handle VC-1 perfectly fine? It would be nice to have one device for everything but that simply isn't the case. How many titles do you have in VC-1? I don't have many.

I haven't used a PC for a media player in years, too cumbersome.

A LOT of my movies use that VC-1 codec.  I just upgraded a couple of my movies from DVD rip to Blue-Ray rip, both were in VC-1.   Kelly's Heroes / Where Eagles Dare Blu-ray NEW.  As, I am upgrading my other DVD rips, most are encoded in the VC-1 codec. I had to upgrade "Blazing Saddles" from Blue-Ray to UHD because of that VC-1.  A lot of my favorite movies use that VC-1, I am surprised you don't have that many, unless you have converted all of them to UHD.  Same for the "Back to the Future" trilogy, it was in VC-1 so I had to upgrade to UHD.
Just checked, "Pale Rider" is in the VC-1 and I just upgraded that video a week or two ago.
Liar Liar, VC-1, list goes on and on.

[himey]

"Blazing Saddles"

I still have my HD DVD and rip of that in VC-1. I should probably update that one.

too cumbersome

Harmony hub Bluetooth on a PC works like a dream with Kodi. PC just doesn't handle DV.

[himey]

 

Yes, Android can be limiting, but using them as CE boxes can be really good... the Ugoos AM6B+ is such a (probably the best) CE/Kodi local media playback box we've ever gotten. For all the reasons listed in post #1, much of this thread, @DMDreview's YT comparison above, at AVSForum, etc.

Do you know where to get the best price on the Ugoos? I should probably just spend the extra money on the Ugoos rather than the Homatics. I don't need any streaming features. The Ugoos is $190 on Amazon which makes the Homatics very tempting.

AliExpress. Look for coupons on RetailMeNot.com, and go through Rakuten to get another 2% off.

Thanks!
Homatics is $95 shipped.
Ugoos is $155 shipped.

Ugoos is probably worth the extra $60?

[clarkss12]

"Blazing Saddles"

I still have my HD DVD and rip of that in VC-1. I should probably update that one.

too cumbersome

Harmony hub Bluetooth on a PC works like a dream with Kodi. PC just doesn't handle DV.

I have a Ryzen MiniPC connected to my TV, but not used as a media player.

https://imgur.com/a/KL7exgB

[himey]

Does anyone use a Harmony Hub with Kodi CE, over Bluetooth?

[himey]

"Blazing Saddles"

I still have my HD DVD and rip of that in VC-1. I should probably update that one.

too cumbersome

Harmony hub Bluetooth on a PC works like a dream with Kodi. PC just doesn't handle DV.

I have a Ryzen MiniPC connected to my TV, but not used as a media player.

https://imgur.com/a/KL7exgB

I have 2 mini PCs. One is a server. Both connected to my LG OLED. 3 PCs total on my TV. 3 streamers. ATV 4K and a few others I switch between. I only have had the 65 OLED for a few weeks. Only now have I needed Dolby Vision. What I have seen so far makes DV worth the extra effort.

[clarkss12]

I still have my HD DVD and rip of that in VC-1. I should probably update that one.

Harmony hub Bluetooth on a PC works like a dream with Kodi. PC just doesn't handle DV.

I have a Ryzen MiniPC connected to my TV, but not used as a media player.

https://imgur.com/a/KL7exgB

I have 2 mini PCs. One is a server. Both connected to my LG OLED. 3 PCs total on my TV. 3 streamers. ATV 4K and a few others I switch between. I only have had the 65 OLED for a few weeks. Only now have I needed Dolby Vision. What I have seen so far makes DV worth the extra effort.

So, you prefer the PC for Kodi??  Does it load when you start your PC??  Is it a Windows PC??

[himey]

I have a Ryzen MiniPC connected to my TV, but not used as a media player.

https://imgur.com/a/KL7exgB

I have 2 mini PCs. One is a server. Both connected to my LG OLED. 3 PCs total on my TV. 3 streamers. ATV 4K and a few others I switch between. I only have had the 65 OLED for a few weeks. Only now have I needed Dolby Vision. What I have seen so far makes DV worth the extra effort.

So, you prefer the PC for Kodi??  Does it load when you start your PC??  Is it a Windows PC??

Before I got my OLED, definitely. One button on my Harmony hub Smart remote started Kodi. Yes, Windows 11 PC.

But now, the picture isn't as good as my OLED TV built-in media player when it comes to Dolby Vision especially. The limits of the LG TV is only an MP4 container works for DV, and no lossless audio for DV. That lead me here to seek out a player without those limitations for Dolby Vision.

[hdmkv]

For PC, you can use LibreELEC & avoid dealing with Windows.

For universal remote, I use SofaBaton X1S, which is the best Harmony replacement I’ve found. It can use BT to control CoreELEC & LibreELEC, similar to Harmony I expect.

AB6B+ is worth the extra cost over Homatics as it’s noticeably snappier. And you can forget the Android part as CE can be fully moved to the internal flash storage. Only downsides as a local media player are no AV1 playback & 3D being broken.

[himey]

For universal remote, I use SofaBaton X1S

Hopefully someone can chime in about using a Harmony hub over Bluetooth on CE.

no AV1 playback

That is too bad, but my LG plays them at least, unless the audio is lossless or Opus greater than 5.1. I think plex will play them too, but I haven't tested every type. Thanks.

[hdmkv]

Homatics or any S905X4 box will play AV1. May be worth taking a performance hit vs. getting a Ugoos. I’m trying to figure out how significant myself comparing CE performance on both… will report back after I move CE data to eMMC.

[himey]

Homatics or any S905X4 box will play AV1. May be worth taking a performance hit vs. getting a Ugoos. I’m trying to figure out how significant myself comparing CE performance on both… will report back after I move CE data to eMMC.

Great! I am still contemplating the two. Does the Dune Homatics version add anything significant to the equation compared to the standard version.?