The best 4k streamer in market today

[rbjtech 5282]

2 minutes ago, CAPRICORNX10X said:

so 13th version no. But version 12 will definitely give!!
4K UI support
Avoid motion judder during playback using refresh rate switching

I'm still on Android 9 on my Shield pro - I have zero motion judder - just make sure you ask emby to match the correct framerate - 23.976 etc 

[CAPRICORNX10X 68]

2 minutes ago, ebr said:

I know of no TV box that uses a UI resolution over 1080p.  Is the Dune claiming that?

nvidia sheild tv pro dosent?

[ebr 16168]

1 minute ago, CAPRICORNX10X said:

nvidia sheild tv pro dosent?

Every TV box I know of has a 1080 UI resolution that is then scaled up to 4K if that is the ultimate resolution.

[CAPRICORNX10X 68]

ok

[Chyron 256]

On 2/28/2023 at 6:56 AM, CAPRICORNX10X said:

Shield has not updated the product since 2019. 

What?! This is just wrong.

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/503663/shield-experience-upgrade-911-released-11122/

The most recent update to the Shield was November 01, 2022. Here's a list of updates to the Shield, by version:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/shield/software-update/

 

I came here looking to see what the best current streaming box might be that I can travel with, and find you saying this? I have a Shield TV Pro (2019) at my house and it has seen several updates.

 

One thing I like a lot about the Shield is that, it being Android, I can (and have) installed a third party launcher/homescreen on it. The vanilla homescreen has this huge banner ad on the top for shows I don't watch, and the layout isn't really to my liking. So I installed ATV Launcher on it.

Edited December 12, 2023 by Chyron

[RanmaCanada 494]

8 hours ago, Chyron said:

What?! This is just wrong.

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/503663/shield-experience-upgrade-911-released-11122/

The most recent update to the Shield was November 01, 2022. Here's a list of updates to the Shield, by version:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/shield/software-update/

 

I came here looking to see what the best current streaming box might be that I can travel with, and find you saying this? I have a Shield TV Pro (2019) at my house and it has seen several updates.

 

One thing I like a lot about the Shield is that, it being Android, I can (and have) installed a third party launcher/homescreen on it. The vanilla homescreen has this huge banner ad on the top for shows I don't watch, and the layout isn't really to my liking. So I installed ATV Launcher on it.

The Shield is using decade old hardware, Maxwell that was released in 2014.  It's ancient.  Software updates mean nothing when your hardware is so old it has cobwebs.  If Nvidia had released something with more modern chipsets, it would be great, but it's so old it's honeslty no longer worth purchasing if you want the latest codec support like AV1.

[skank 85]

Looking for a new box too

I'm on vero 4k and have severam google tv's.

On the vero i miss dolby vision, thatswhy i have google tv.

I love google tv, but i miss audio passthrough there.

 

Whats the best option to have both? I guess shield... but i'd rather have a newer box

I heared google is coming with new one too...

[RanmaCanada 494]

We have to wait for a new Shield at this point.  Even the new Amazon Firecube v3 can't handle soft sub Karaoke well.  It is so frustrating that this box does everything, but struggles as soon a lot of text is on the screen.

[manutdsoc20 2]

Are people still using the Shield in 2024?

 

I'm using Vero 4K+/V's but becoming tired of the Kodi solution.

 

Anyone using Dune and able to use a Emby client with Coverart?

 

cheers

 

 

[rbjtech 5282]

8 hours ago, manutdsoc20 said:

Are people still using the Shield in 2024?

 

I'm using Vero 4K+/V's but becoming tired of the Kodi solution.

 

Anyone using Dune and able to use a Emby client with Coverart?

 

cheers

 

 

Yes, as it's still the best device by far for hevc, DV and HD Audio setups with passthrough to AVR's.

[manutdsoc20 2]

How is Emby app on the Shield?

 

Does everything function well?

 

cheers

[RanmaCanada 494]

8 hours ago, manutdsoc20 said:

How is Emby app on the Shield?

 

Does everything function well?

 

cheers

Yes everything functions as intended as long as your setup is done properly.

[rbjtech 5282]

14 hours ago, manutdsoc20 said:

How is Emby app on the Shield?

 

Does everything function well?

 

cheers

The Emby AndroidTV App (the one in the Android store) is the most TV focused and mature App out there.   Being honest, it looks a little dated now - but functionally, everything 'just works' with all playback controls very easily accessed.   Some are 'hidden' such as pressing up or down for chapters for example (while playing).

There is a long running thread trying to align the 'new' Android App to AndroidTV 'TV/Remote Control' functionality  and progress has been made - maybe it's me being stubborn or set in my ways, but I've tried to use the new App as a replacement many times and it's just not as 'slick' as AndroidTV.   Worth trying both for sure to see what you prefer. (you'll need to sideload the new App) 

 

Edited January 22, 2024 by rbjtech

[skank 85]

Ok

The firestick 4k is out, i dunno if it can do audio passthrough... but

Theres also the new google tv streamer coming nexts month.

Is that the new winner? I'm not sure it will do audio passthrough....

[RanmaCanada 494]

On 22/09/2024 at 09:05, skank said:

Ok

The firestick 4k is out, i dunno if it can do audio passthrough... but

Theres also the new google tv streamer coming nexts month.

Is that the new winner? I'm not sure it will do audio passthrough....

Apparently it uses the same meditek chipset as the 4k MAX Firestick, which means it will be underpowered. Shield is still the best, sadly. Hopefully a Shield 2 will be released next year as Nvidia does have the contract for Switch 2 from Nintendo.

[ebr 16168]

1 hour ago, RanmaCanada said:

Apparently it uses the same meditek chipset as the 4k MAX Firestick, which means it will be underpowered. Shield is still the best, sadly. Hopefully a Shield 2 will be released next year as Nvidia does have the contract for Switch 2 from Nintendo.

Also, based on a log I've seen, it doesn't support much in the way of audio either - AC3, EAC3 and AC4.

[Jdiesel 1431]

36 minutes ago, ebr said:

Also, based on a log I've seen, it doesn't support much in the way of audio either - AC3, EAC3 and AC4.

Any word on audio support for the Google Streamer? I might grab one tomorrow when the are officially released. I saw one user posting about the refresh rate switching not working in the Emby for Android TV app but was there anything else you were able to gleam from the logs? To my knowledge this is the first Android 14 box.

[Luke 42077]

21 hours ago, Jdiesel said:

Any word on audio support for the Google Streamer? I might grab one tomorrow when the are officially released. I saw one user posting about the refresh rate switching not working in the Emby for Android TV app but was there anything else you were able to gleam from the logs? To my knowledge this is the first Android 14 box.

What do you mean by audio support?

[rbjtech 5282]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

What do you mean by audio support?

The official specs only mention Dolby AC3, EAC3 and AC4.   

Does this mean no support for Opus, AAC etc - I highly doubt it - if it did just support Dolby compressed - then it's a fail.

I can understand no support for any HD Audio Codec (Dolby THD, DTS-HD) - considering it's marketed as a streaming box and no mainstream service provides HD Audio.

From what I read - this device is a hard pass - it's hardware is comparable to a 2021 Fire TV Stick ..

Edited September 24, 2024 by rbjtech

[skank 85]

Dutch review out

https://tweakers.net/video/19604/bijna-een-perfecte-mediaspeler-google-tv-streamer-review.html

or

https://tweakers.net/reviews/12474/google-tv-streamer-bijna-een-perfecte-mediaspeler.html

 

Theres still hope it does bitstream though

Since the receiver shows dts-hd without speakers connected

 

Edited September 24, 2024 by skank

[skank 85]

Also the amazon fire tv 4k max gen  2 can do hires audio like dts-x and truehd and is half way cheaper.

Why not this google then?

[Jdiesel 1431]

I picked one up today. Curiosity got the best of me but I mainly wanted it because it integrates with my nest doorbells to prompt on screen when someone is at your door.

I don't need HD Audio on the tv it will be hooked up to but I will test it on my main theatre system just to see if it supports True HD and DTS-MA passthrough. 

[RanmaCanada 494]

5 hours ago, skank said:

Also the amazon fire tv 4k max gen  2 can do hires audio like dts-x and truehd and is half way cheaper.

Why not this google then?

Amazon Fire TV stick devices have issues with hybrid DV/HDR files. There is a hardware defect that has been ignored. The Firecube does not have this problem. It's well documented.

[skank 85]

11 hours ago, Jdiesel said:

I picked one up today. Curiosity got the best of me but I mainly wanted it because it integrates with my nest doorbells to prompt on screen when someone is at your door.

I don't need HD Audio on the tv it will be hooked up to but I will test it on my main theatre system just to see if it supports True HD and DTS-MA passthrough. 

Thx!

[ebr 16168]

20 hours ago, rbjtech said:

The official specs only mention Dolby AC3, EAC3 and AC4

And that's all I saw as supported in the user log that was submitted using one of these devices.