Idea: own Emby Media Player Hardware

[ALLSTAR1986 15]

As I have not yet found a decent multimedia player that plays everything from 4K HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, DTS: X, etc.

So I was wondering if the emby team would like to team up with a manufacturer of such media boxes to put together an emby multimedia player?

I would be willing to pay for it if the emby experience is fully fulfilled. Maybe start something like this via Kickstarter? I think I speak for many here, such a multimedia player would be a dream for many.

[One2Go 120]

Just my take, but it would be easier for the Emby team to develop the apps for different platforms as that is what they are really good at. Get a Shield Pro and an Ugoos device and choose between the two what media you want to play using which box. You will find that the majority will be via the Shield and if you need DV use the Ugoo. Easy to switch the inputs on the AV Amp or display device. No hassle with hardware upkeep or the worry that the device manufacturer goes belly up. But stay with what you are best at, developing and improving features in a play back software for your media collection.

[ALLSTAR1986 15]

@One2Go

Nvidia Shield No HDR10+
The Homatics players (including the Dune) are apparently not very good in terms of software.
The Zidoos only work with the external player.
Ugoos apparently has a box that can do everything, but it's a bit of a hassle because you have to install coreELEC, which gives you Kodi, which I don't want.
My HTPC can't do HDR10+ either, only normal HDR10.
My Samsung TV has the Emby app but no DTS because Samsung doesn't support it.
You can forget about my Xbox Series X too.

I haven't found a box where AFR (Automatic Frame Rate) works with the Emby app and then also plays everything natively, i.e., 4K HDR, HD audio formats, etc.

That's why a box that is 100% designed for Emby would be perfect.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[One2Go 120]

You would be one of the few that would buy into this concept. Others would be fine without the fringe formats and just play what is available and works best 99.9% of the time on one device. People will be fine with streaming quality otherwise the networks would not pour mega money into streaming. No business will enter into the Swiss army knife solution of one device does all.

[vincen 71]

19 hours ago, One2Go said:

develop the apps for different platforms as that is what they are really good at

Good at ?? really ???? months or nearly year now we are waiting for a Linux player that is working, sorry to say but they are not good at that, clearly ! So far the only client that works more or less ok is the Android one  (not tested the Windows or Mac ones as I don't use these closed platforms).

[RanmaCanada 494]

Yeah, no, NEVER going to happen. Just use a PC with the new windows 112H2 update. As for HDR10+, so few TV's even support it (and the only content that does is pirated content that has faked metadata) that it's just not worth the hassle. It's a Samsung cash grab, nothing more. I see you own a Samsung TV..pity as they are the creators of HDR10+ because they refused to pay Dolby and created their own "standard". Replace your TV and get a real one.

[ALLSTAR1986 15]

@RanmaCanada

I would estimate that 99.9% of users here integrate their holiday and family videos into emby. And the claim that only Samsung supports HDR10+ is inaccurate, as 

the following manufacturers also support HDR10+

Samsung

Panasonic

Philips

Hisense

TCL

Amazon (Fire TV Edition)

Xiaomi

Grundig

JVC

Metz

Toshiba

 

These are the streaming providers that offer HDR10+. These providers definitely do not offer films and series with manipulated metadata!

Amazon Prime Video

Netflix

Disney+

Apple TV+

Rakuten TV

 

UHD 4K Blu-ray manufacturers offering HDR10+:

20th Century Fox / 20th Century Studios

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Universal Pictures

And by the way, it's nice of you to tell me what I should use, and so you think the hardware I use isn't good? I think the heat isn't doing you any good, is it? I have a library with a lot of HDR10+ content and a TV that only supports HDR10+, so I'm looking for something that can handle HDR10+! No more, no less!

My Samsung S95C has a QD-OLED panel, and that's the decisive factor. The panel delivers perfect black levels, infinite contrast, and very high brightness. All of these are the perfect conditions for displaying HDR content properly in the first place.

A cheaper TV, which may have Dolby Vision, can process the signal, but it simply does not have the technical capabilities to display the image as brilliantly as the S95C. Even if Dolby Vision technically has a higher color depth, it is of no use if the TV cannot reproduce this performance.

In addition, as a co-founder of HDR10+, Samsung naturally optimizes its own TVs perfectly for this format. The image processing is programmed to get the absolute maximum out of every HDR10+ signal.

In short, the combination of the superior QD-OLED panel and Samsung's specific optimization for HDR10+ means that the picture on the S95C simply looks better, even compared to Dolby Vision on a technically weaker TV.

And now back to the topic please.

[redacted]

Edited August 15, 2025 by GrimReaper

[RanmaCanada 494]

At no point did I say that only Samsung supports it. Please read my comment again, and use your brain. It doesn't matter if the TV's support it if the content does not exist. So few movies and TV shows are released in HDR10+ that it might as well not exist. This is like the old Beta vs VHS or Bluray vs HDDVD. Porn will once again surely pick the winner. /s

You're beating a dead horse while trying to get it to pull your wagon, and your arrogance is nothing but ignorance. Emby will never make a device as then they would be held accountable for all the copyright infringement their users do as the media cartels will absolutely be up in arms about it. 

[redacted]

Edited August 15, 2025 by GrimReaper
Be civl

[ALLSTAR1986 15]

@RanmaCanada

Alright, hold on a second. You're saying HDR10+ is as good as dead? I have to strongly disagree with you there. The reports of its death are greatly exaggerated, and in this case, the claim is flat-out wrong. Amazon Prime Video, one of the largest streaming providers in the world, relies heavily on HDR10+. Samsung, the world's biggest TV manufacturer, is pushing the standard forward. That is the exact opposite of "dead."

But there's a more important point you seem to be overlooking: The "Dolby Vision" you get from almost all streaming services is often of inferior quality compared to a good HDR10+ playback.

Let me make this perfectly clear: You are defending a logo, not the better technology.

• You're not getting the real Dolby Vision: The superior Dolby Vision you're thinking of (Profile 7, with its potential for 12-bit color depth) exists exclusively on 4K UHD Blu-rays. What you see on Netflix, Disney+, and the like is Profile 8.1. Technically, that is nothing more than a standard HDR10 container on top of which Dolby layers its dynamic metadata. It's a bait-and-switch that lives off the reputation of the Blu-ray version.

• HDR10+ is the more honest technology (for streaming): HDR10+ was designed from the ground up for exactly this purpose: to dynamically enhance a clean HDR10 signal. It's not trying to be something it isn't. It is the logical, open-standard evolution of HDR10.

• The crucial point – Which one has better quality? Since both streaming Dolby Vision (Profile 8.1) and HDR10+ are built on an HDR10 foundation, the final picture quality is ultimately decided by the TV's processing. And I have seen countless comparisons where the HDR10+ playback was visibly better: details in dark areas were clearer, colors looked more natural, and the image wasn't as overblown and artificially sharpened, as is the case with some Dolby Vision implementations. Dolby Vision often forces its own "look" onto the TV, while HDR10+ often makes better use of the panel's native capabilities.

To sum it up: You are defending a format that, in its streaming version, sells you a stripped-down, compromised solution. It's technically almost identical to HDR10+, but due to its proprietary processing, it often leads to inferior results.

[redacted]

Edited August 15, 2025 by GrimReaper
Be civil

[ebr 16169]

1 hour ago, ALLSTAR1986 said:

The "Dolby Vision" you get from almost all streaming services is often of inferior quality compared to a good HDR10+ playback.

Unfortunately, that has never mattered in the world of consumer electronics.  Beta was far superior to VHS - still lost.  HDDVD was arguably superior to BD - lost.  Laser disc... etc.

The fight isn't over yet but, at this point, Dolby is clearly winning.  Like 170 to 30 when it comes to HD disc releases.  And, I think even most of those 30 are dual.

[ALLSTAR1986 15]

@ebr Yes, you're absolutely right, Dolby has won the format war in the mainstream, the market data is clear. However, your point about quality remains just as valid: Dolby's victory is not based on the often advertised 12-bit superiority, because the streaming-only user doesn't get that quality.
Dolby won because they had the better marketing and compatibility strategy, not because they deliver the technically best version of their format to the streaming customer. In a pure streaming comparison, the difference in quality compared to HDR10+ is therefore much smaller than the market dominance would suggest.

[RanmaCanada 494]

You use chatGPT for your arguments and obviously do not understand anything that is against your opinion. Emby will never make a device, period. At no point did I do anything that you claim I did [redacted].

As for learning the tech, I've been an active encoder for over 20 years, and I've dealt with every single media format out there, both digital and analog. I've forgotten more stuff than you've read. I also do not use chatGPT to make my arguments for me, like you have.

Again, [redacted] at least use your own words and not those of AI.

can mods just close this [redacted] topic? Nothing like advocating for the media cartels to come crashing down on the Emby team by creating a device that does nothing but endorse and condone piracy.

Edited August 15, 2025 by GrimReaper
Be civil

[Apotropaic 41]

On 13/08/2025 at 19:54, ALLSTAR1986 said:

@One2Go

Nvidia Shield No HDR10+
The Homatics players (including the Dune) are apparently not very good in terms of software.
The Zidoos only work with the external player.
Ugoos apparently has a box that can do everything, but it's a bit of a hassle because you have to install coreELEC, which gives you Kodi, which I don't want.
My HTPC can't do HDR10+ either, only normal HDR10.
My Samsung TV has the Emby app but no DTS because Samsung doesn't support it.
You can forget about my Xbox Series X too.

I haven't found a box where AFR (Automatic Frame Rate) works with the Emby app and then also plays everything natively, i.e., 4K HDR, HD audio formats, etc.

That's why a box that is 100% designed for Emby would be perfect.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

I would disagree with the homatics statement, lots of old information on the forums as most reviews were done on old android versions. Mine is running android 14 with the android emby app and it plays everything you have mentioned as far as I can tell. I don’t have a tv that supports HDR10+ or DV but other users have verified it. The main reason I bought this box was the Atmos support.

Getting android 14 on it isn’t straightforward but is no more difficult than maintaining an emby server.

I use it as the main box in my setup, so it’s used several hours a day whether it’s YouTube, Netflix, Disney+ or Emby.

There is a newer android 14 build out but I’ve not upgraded to it yet, there’s talk of overheating but no idea how much of a real issue that is. That firmware has been pulled and I believe they are investigating the cause etc.

[ALLSTAR1986 15]

@Apotropaic

Did you receive the ATV14 update via OTA or USB Update? Are you using the native emby player and is AFR (Auto Frame Rate) supported, i.e. automatic 24p switch?

One major point that makes me doubt the purchase of the box is the apparently highly regulated firmware management. The procedure of only releasing updates after manual verification of the serial number by support deviates considerably from established industry standards. Such a system, which is based on the user's proactive request instead of an autonomous OTA (over-the-air) update mechanism, scales poorly and is prone to errors.

Even more worrying is the apparent link between the update strategy and the distribution channel. If the firmware supply actually depends on whether the device was purchased directly from the manufacturer (first party) or via a retailer (third party), this creates unnecessary complexity and dependency. The responsibility for device maintenance is shifted to the retailer, which can lead to inconsistent update availability. Such a model undermines trust in sustainable product maintenance and is a clear shortcoming for me.

I read this information from several Reddit forums.

Edited August 14, 2025 by ALLSTAR1986

[TMCsw 246]

7 hours ago, ALLSTAR1986 said:

I would estimate that 99.9% of users here integrate their holiday and family videos into emby.

Really ?

I can estimate #'s out of my butt too It's actually 6.9% that are interested in this. (I'm not one of them).

And I challenge you to find a reputable HW manufacture too commit to develop a device that handles every current codec/standard currently out there (and in the future) for Emby to be the sole software to run on it's small market.

Just let this thread sleep...

 

[GrimReaper 4739]

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Thanks

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[One2Go 120]

It becomes evident that in this entire discussion so far only a few have addressed the case of where is the money coming from, who will foot the research and development whether it is software or hardware.

The Emby Devs here as well as any hardware manufacturer are having to provide for their lively hoods, their families and business expenses. No one is in it to provide a charitable service for the Enthusiast among us, we need to pay for our hobbies AND this is a HOBBY. So unless you want to spend insane amounts of money you have to except what is available.

I have been around since Media Browser 2.0 and have nearly 50TB of media on two Unraid servers and use Emby to navigate those servers. I am using Chromcast, Roku devices and PCs to access them. It has been years now since I used my Home Theater NUC because time is more precious than futzing around with settings and setups to tweak them to get the top media playback quality only to be presented with shitty plot and story of the content.

The consumption of media has tilted heavily to what streaming provides and the masses can't tell the difference in the quality of the content but those of us who are enthusiasts want the best video and audio for our media consumption. However no company will stay in existence if that is their clientele. You need people that just want to watch what they have selected and they don't give a rats ass about Aspect Ratio's, Black levels and compression artifacts because they never see them nor hear them. I curse the day when I noticed the first compression artifact in a Star Trek episode decades ago.

Emby should stick with their expertise obtained over decades which is a media library managing software that will satisfy some people most of the time and you get the rest of this saying. 

Edited August 15, 2025 by One2Go

[One2Go 120]

14 hours ago, vincen said:

Good at ?? really ???? months or nearly year now we are waiting for a Linux player that is working, sorry to say but they are not good at that, clearly ! So far the only client that works more or less ok is the Android one  (not tested the Windows or Mac ones as I don't use these closed platforms).

You reap what you sow. You decided on an open platform like Linux and you have to put up with what is available for it. If you don't like it, you can always write your own no one prevents you from doing that. I have no problem using the Emby client on my Chromcast, Roku and my Intel NUC. I do run 3 QNAP NASs and two of them have the latest version of the Emby server on them my friends enjoy my libraries on the devices that I recommended for ease of use, with the best Wife Acceptance factor and they don't exist in the Unix world no matter how superior those OSs are.

Life is too short to drink bad wine, bad coffee or futz around with OSs . 

Edited August 15, 2025 by One2Go

[Apotropaic 41]

@ALLSTAR1986

I did the update using a USB drive.

I’m using the native android emby app downloaded though the play store. AFR switching (24p,50p etc.) is working fine, my box is plugged into my demon AV amp which feeds my projector.

The updates once released should all be OTA. The serial number process I believe is only in place because ATV14 is a beta testing build and they want to control who is beta testing. Once it’s a full release my understanding is it will be OTA (although I’ve not read up much about the current discussion around first party or 3rd party distribution).

I feel Homatics are now being punished for being too open and accommodating about beta builds and supporting device clones. But you could argue the masses wouldn’t be updating to these beta builds if they hadn’t introduced stupid but regressions in the official ATV12 builds. They fixed some things and broke others ;(

Just for info I bought mine off AliExpress and is the Homatics Box R Plus 4k, the rose gold one. The firmware I used are the well known ones leaked by other users.

[sh0rty 714]

To hop on the Homematics / Dune HD discussion. Up- and downgrading is dead easy since a few days. 

ATV firmware for Dune HD media players