The best 4k streamer in market today

[Jdiesel 1431]

I have mine hooked up to a soundbar right now and it shows Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS. In the disabled formats, which my soundbar doesn't support, I see DTS:X, DTS-MA, Dolby TrueHD, and Atmos. I will need to try plugging it into my pre-amp to see if those get enabled.

 

So far pretty impressed with the responsiveness of the Streamer over the CWGTV 4k it replaced. Most of which likely amounts to being hardwired over being on wifi. I run Projectivity Launcher on all my devices so the UI changes don't really matter to me. The new remote is much better. The Home Hub feature, the main reason I got it, works great.

 

I'm making a solid attempt to run only the Emby for Android Beta on it rather then the Emby for Android TV app i prefer. I told the family that the Emby app updating was part of the overall hardware update to soften the blow but they aren't loving the change to the new Emby app so far.

If you are in the market for a new device and are already in the Google ecosystem I would recommend it. As an upgrade from an existing CWGTV, its a bit of a wash but I'd still probably recommend it for software and updates alone.

Edited September 25, 2024 by Jdiesel

[justinrh 259]

10 hours ago, Jdiesel said:

I'm making a solid attempt to run only the Emby for Android Beta on it rather then the Emby for Android TV app i prefer.

Why is this?

[Jdiesel 1431]

58 minutes ago, justinrh said:

Why is this?

I'm hoping to provide feedback while I still can before it goes stable and I'm forced to us it

[Jdiesel 1431]

Well it lasted 3 whole day before I had to abandon the replacement Emby for Android app. It is riddled with app breaking bugs, one of which that requires you to force quit the app has been reported over a year ago. The app is unusable on a TV device at this moment. Back to Emby for Android TV for me.

Edited September 29, 2024 by Jdiesel

[MasterCard 3]

I have a bunch of streaming devices but I still like using a mini computer whether it be a ryzen 7 5800h or a ryzen 9 7940h either of them paired with a fire stick remote with the windows emby app runs fastest. I just put them behind the tv's and you don't even see them.

[MasterCard 3]

If emby would make a computer install that once installed only booted up the emby client on a pc that would be a really nice thing for me. Personally I'm dont with buying more streaming devices I just don't really have use for them, my mini computers I like way better and with 32gigs of ram even the nvidia shield collecting dust in the closet don't come even close.

[rbjtech 5282]

7 hours ago, MasterCard said:

If emby would make a computer install that once installed only booted up the emby client on a pc that would be a really nice thing for me. Personally I'm dont with buying more streaming devices I just don't really have use for them, my mini computers I like way better and with 32gigs of ram even the nvidia shield collecting dust in the closet don't come even close.

Each to their own.   I prefer a device that is a fraction of the price, uses very low power, doesn't need any hacking or drivers to get it to work, plays HDR and DV and HD Audio out the box.

Media PC's had their day - 10 years ago, things have moved on imo where you can get 95% video and audio capabilities of the source media from a decent streaming box with a simple plug and play setup.

[supermood 71]

i very much recommend ugoos amb6+ with coreelec.

Fast as hell, best picture quality I've ever seen. only one with dv fel playback to my knowledge. now with arctic zephire reloaded I even love the GUI with all widgets. player is near to perfect and beautiful, another league then the emby player... screensaver complete black after 1min for the oled, whole new level with srt management. and with key mapper and a harmony you have a ton of direct access per key things like sub delay +- or sub position +- 

I'm getting nearly daily updates on one box while I'm running a special version on the other one with dolby vs10 processing to have a dv picture out of sdr or hdr10 if you want... 

not one crash and the emby server sync addon works also perfect. 

2 shields in the atic, as I have the few apps for streaming directly on the tv. price also very reasonable.. I'm very happy that I found that box and that I was able to set it up as a non it guy 

[skank 85]

Is this a shield replacer?

https://www.bol.com/be/nl/p/homatics-box-r-4k-plus-tv-streaming-box-4gb-ram-dolby-vision-en-atmos/9300000131874025/?Referrer=ADVNLGOO002013-S--9300000131874025-PMAX-C-22290424070&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22290461189&gbraid=0AAAAAD5OnmMzxAFcEW9C9BpmZD-U5JXjl&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8vvABhCcARIsAOCfwwqES5bHYTf6cJR8Pw-zJWy5Gtu21g5ss_P5LPwI_SfVTXgYwLm_8IUaAszlEALw_wcB

[Apotropaic 41]

2 hours ago, skank said:

Is this a shield replacer?

https://www.bol.com/be/nl/p/homatics-box-r-4k-plus-tv-streaming-box-4gb-ram-dolby-vision-en-atmos/9300000131874025/?Referrer=ADVNLGOO002013-S--9300000131874025-PMAX-C-22290424070&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22290461189&gbraid=0AAAAAD5OnmMzxAFcEW9C9BpmZD-U5JXjl&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8vvABhCcARIsAOCfwwqES5bHYTf6cJR8Pw-zJWy5Gtu21g5ss_P5LPwI_SfVTXgYwLm_8IUaAszlEALw_wcB

I have the Homatics Box R 4k, I never had the shield so I can't provide a direct comparison with it but if you have any questions about it just let me know.

I've upgraded the firmware a few times, some of the Android TV 12 builds have a big issue with Multichannel PCM but there are Android 14 builds now available which have fixed it and so far everything I've tested works great.

 

[skank 85]

11 hours ago, jaspalgill said:

I have the Homatics Box R 4k, I never had the shield so I can't provide a direct comparison with it but if you have any questions about it just let me know.

I've upgraded the firmware a few times, some of the Android TV 12 builds have a big issue with Multichannel PCM but there are Android 14 builds now available which have fixed it and so far everything I've tested works great.

 

You have the plus version or the normal one?

So it plays everything? Even vc1?

DO you dual boot?

It passthroughs everything? DTSHD, truehd, dts x, atmos, dts ma, dts, ...

Edited May 11, 2025 by skank

[Apotropaic 41]

1 hour ago, skank said:

You have the plus version or the normal one?

So it plays everything? Even vc1?

DO you dual boot?

It passthroughs everything? DTSHD, truehd, dts x, atmos, dts ma, dts, ...

Yes I have the Plus version with the copper coloured top design.

If you have a particular VC1 demo in mind I can test it for you.

I did use dual boot early on with LibreElec, it worked but I wasn't happy with the performance so I went back to just android. I've not tested this again on Android 14. My main use case for the box is to use the Netflix, Prime, YouTube apps (which all work fine and support 4k and HDR formats etc. only downside is if you're in the UK then iPlayer isn't certified yet). I also have Kodi for ripped media such as dvd's, blurays, 4k encodes etc. - they all work fine.

As for audio, every audio format I've got has worked - I bought this box specifically for the Atmos TrueHD pass through capability, the DD+ Atmos works as well. DTS Master X works on the Android 14 builds.

 

[Kyrunner 86]

Best streaming player   Ugoosamb6+ with CoreElec and cpm A14.  Media playback  Kodi for Emby next gen.

 

[skank 85]

9 minutes ago, Kyrunner said:

Best streaming player   Ugoosamb6+ with CoreElec and cpm A14.  Media playback  Kodi for Emby next gen.

 

no netlifx on corelec i think?

[skank 85]

23 minutes ago, jaspalgill said:

Yes I have the Plus version with the copper coloured top design.

If you have a particular VC1 demo in mind I can test it for you.

I did use dual boot early on with LibreElec, it worked but I wasn't happy with the performance so I went back to just android. I've not tested this again on Android 14. My main use case for the box is to use the Netflix, Prime, YouTube apps (which all work fine and support 4k and HDR formats etc. only downside is if you're in the UK then iPlayer isn't certified yet). I also have Kodi for ripped media such as dvd's, blurays, 4k encodes etc. - they all work fine.

As for audio, every audio format I've got has worked - I bought this box specifically for the Atmos TrueHD pass through capability, the DD+ Atmos works as well. DTS Master X works on the Android 14 builds.

 

i dont need iplayer  im from belgium

i need netflix, prime and youtube, but also emby for ripped media, thatswhy i neet every audio passthrough format

 

[Kyrunner 86]

Just now, skank said:

no netlifx on corelec i think?

Correct. Just use your built in tv apps.

 

 

 

[skank 85]

1 minute ago, Kyrunner said:

Correct. Just use your built in tv apps.

 

 

 

thats a no go, netflix is must here

 

[Apotropaic 41]

13 minutes ago, skank said:

i dont need iplayer  im from belgium

i need netflix, prime and youtube, but also emby for ripped media, thatswhy i neet every audio passthrough format

 

You’re very lucky, lol

It supports all those apps fine, the Netflix app will also support 4k and Dolby Atmos. The Disney+ app also works but I’m no longer subscribed so can’t tell you what did or didn’t work.

In Prime both 4k and HDR work, not sure if Prime ever has Atmos.

I’ve not yet tested ripped media within Emby on this device, will do that later this evening and get back to you. Within Kodi it’s all fine.

 

 

[skank 85]

53 minutes ago, jaspalgill said:

You’re very lucky, lol

It supports all those apps fine, the Netflix app will also support 4k and Dolby Atmos. The Disney+ app also works but I’m no longer subscribed so can’t tell you what did or didn’t work.

In Prime both 4k and HDR work, not sure if Prime ever has Atmos.

I’ve not yet tested ripped media within Emby on this device, will do that later this evening and get back to you. Within Kodi it’s all fine.

 

 

Hi thx you will test ripped media with emby, thats my main concern...

check truehd, dts hd , dts ma, dts x, atmos, dts etc etc 

thx

 

[Apotropaic 41]

11 hours ago, skank said:

Hi thx you will test ripped media with emby, thats my main concern...

check truehd, dts hd , dts ma, dts x, atmos, dts etc etc 

thx

 

I ran through a few of my media files through the Emby Android app.

Dolby Digital 5.1 - Yes
Dolby Atmos TrueHD - Yes

Dolby Atmos DD +- Yes

DTS-HD MA - Yes

DTS:X - Yes (emby shows DTS-HD MA but AV receiver shows DTS:X)

AAC 5.1 - Yes

If I missed something off let me know.

[rbjtech 5282]

9 hours ago, jaspalgill said:

I ran through a few of my media files through the Emby Android app.

Dolby Digital 5.1 - Yes
Dolby Atmos TrueHD - Yes

Dolby Atmos DD +- Yes

DTS-HD MA - Yes

DTS:X - Yes (emby shows DTS-HD MA but AV receiver shows DTS:X)

AAC 5.1 - Yes

If I missed something off let me know.

Thanks.

What's the score with HDR formats ?

HDR10

HDR10 Plus (not available on the Shield Pro)

Dolby Vision Profile 5

Dolby Vision Profile 7.6 (Single Layer UHD Conversion)

Dolby Vision Profile 8.1

AV1 (Hardware Accelrated)

 

If it can play all the above then it may FINALLY beat the Shield Pro (relased 2019) on codec support alone.   

Pricewise - it's a good deal cheaper as well - £113 vs £180 (which for a 6 year old player shows how good it still is, but without AV1 support, it's going to be dropped quickly if and when AV1 becomes more mainstream - currently it's JUST clinging on - but I'm looking for a replacement - this box could be it ..

[skank 85]

8 hours ago, rbjtech said:

Thanks.

What's the score with HDR formats ?

HDR10

HDR10 Plus (not available on the Shield Pro)

Dolby Vision Profile 5

Dolby Vision Profile 7.6 (Single Layer UHD Conversion)

Dolby Vision Profile 8.1

AV1 (Hardware Accelrated)

 

If it can play all the above then it may FINALLY beat the Shield Pro (relased 2019) on codec support alone.   

Pricewise - it's a good deal cheaper as well - £113 vs £180 (which for a 6 year old player shows how good it still is, but without AV1 support, it's going to be dropped quickly if and when AV1 becomes more mainstream - currently it's JUST clinging on - but I'm looking for a replacement - this box could be it ..

According exel file here https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=376035

It does that ALL

[rbjtech 5282]

22 minutes ago, skank said:

According exel file here https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=376035

It does that ALL

You can't use Kodi as a comparison - as they use their own low level drivers and thus mask many of the officially fully supported / Android OS codec comparisons.

[skank 85]

oh ok

 

I think i will take the jump, you  too?

Will it be connected to your denon avr and acoustics speakers?

Edited May 12, 2025 by skank

[Apotropaic 41]

9 hours ago, rbjtech said:

Thanks.

What's the score with HDR formats ?

HDR10

HDR10 Plus (not available on the Shield Pro)

Dolby Vision Profile 5

Dolby Vision Profile 7.6 (Single Layer UHD Conversion)

Dolby Vision Profile 8.1

AV1 (Hardware Accelrated)

 

If it can play all the above then it may FINALLY beat the Shield Pro (relased 2019) on codec support alone.   

Pricewise - it's a good deal cheaper as well - £113 vs £180 (which for a 6 year old player shows how good it still is, but without AV1 support, it's going to be dropped quickly if and when AV1 becomes more mainstream - currently it's JUST clinging on - but I'm looking for a replacement - this box could be it ..

So HDR10 is totally fine, I don't have any HDR10 Plus content to test with within Emby. Same kinda goes for Dolby Vision, plus my projector doesn't support it. The forums are full of people who have been testing and playing back the different DV profiles but I don't remember anyone mentioning Emby as a playback device.

As for AV1, I downloaded the CityHall clip from Download video files encoded using Elecard products | Elecard: Video Compression Guru @4k & 18mpbs. It direct played fine, didn't look into how it was being decoded but in Kodi it was using hardware. If there's another clip you'd like me to test just let me know the link.

My main driver for buying this one was the Atmos TrueHD passthrough audio support with the HDR formats as a bonus if I ever upgraded.

Edited May 12, 2025 by jaspalgill