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Hi
I have been looking into android stick pc's so i can stream movies , xbmc etc . There are 2 that i am interested in but not sure if there are any other good ones out there. The two are:
1.CX-919 Android mini PC
2. minix neo x5
Really like both of these . CX has quad core which is good but i just wanted to ask maybe there is another one that is better. I mainly want good, reliable wifi and something that will stream hd for long periods of time
Funny, I was about to post the same question and I hadn't considered those two devices at all. My main concerns are WiFi performance and ability to play HD video without overheating.
// Galaxy SIII SPH-L710 // MOAR 4.0 MD4 4.2.1 JB // KT747 ktoonservative-BFQ 384-1809Mhz + rescaling // Crossbreeder entropy + DNS + blocking // LagFix fsTRIM // Nova Prime // sent from xda premium
Well a guy has a Minix X5 locally and I'm too impatient to wait an overseas order out so I'll probably grab it tonight and report back. Originally I wanted an mk808 but can't find one around here. Fry's was laughably bad, no one even knew what this kind of device was, I went twice and asked about 4 people who all said we don't have anything like that but it sounds cool. Today I discovered they had 2 such devices on a back shelf, although they were single core boxes for $100 so I said screw that.
how about imito qx1?
Very happy with X5 so far.
// Galaxy SIII SPH-L710 // MOAR 4.0 MD4 4.2.1 JB // KT747 ktoonservative-BFQ 384-1890Mhz + rescaling // Crossbreeder entropy + DNS + blocking // LagFix fsTRIM // Nova Prime // sent from xda premium
experience with CX-919
I bought the CX-919 and I love it. Great Wifi performance which is what I wanted. No lag using Netflix, Hulu plus, Vudu, or playing 720p from my NAS. The video players I've found that work best are MX Player and Archos video player. Both offer hardware acceleration. There are root instructions over at geekbuying. I'm using Mizuu instead of XMBC.
danmccune said:
I bought the CX-919 and I love it. Great Wifi performance which is what I wanted. No lag using Netflix, Hulu plus, Vudu, or playing 720p from my NAS. The video players I've found that work best are MX Player and Archos video player. Both offer hardware acceleration. There are root instructions over at geekbuying. I'm using Mizuu instead of XMBC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you give me more information about the WIFI?
How far is the router from the CX-919?
can you please make a test and tell me what is the maximum distance, you can play hd youtube videos over wifi without any lags.
You will really help me if you make this test, because I really care about wifi since my router is really far from my TV(13meters away, and 3 cement walls between them) so my smart tv gets almost no signal.
danmccune said:
I bought the CX-919 and I love it. Great Wifi performance which is what I wanted. No lag using Netflix, Hulu plus, Vudu, or playing 720p from my NAS. The video players I've found that work best are MX Player and Archos video player. Both offer hardware acceleration. There are root instructions over at geekbuying. I'm using Mizuu instead of XMBC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it have 2gb ram?
c0nvict said:
Does it have 2gb ram?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it does...just search google.
sasiskas said:
yes it does...just search google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you but it from and how much did it cost? Can you do a video review plz?
Pantech Flex
Can you please add att Pantech Flex ?
c0nvict said:
Where did you but it from and how much did it cost? Can you do a video review plz?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't own a CX-919...I just know that it has 2gb of ram...
I want to buy one though...I'm among CX-919, mk908 and imito qx1 ( I will buy the one with the best wifi reception)
If u want I can message you a good place to buy it.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...Imx6Q-Cortex-A9-1GB-RAM/803232_667672191.html
this one has 1 gb ram
http://www.ipmart.com/main/product/...uetooth,Mini,PC,TV,Box,362831.php?prod=362831
This one too
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/EU-P...d-Core-1-6Ghz-2G-8G-BT-HDMI-Black-314978.html
http://image1.geekbuying.com/content_pic/201304/1 (17)(5).jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAvBenhxgXQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
sasiskas said:
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/EU-P...d-Core-1-6Ghz-2G-8G-BT-HDMI-Black-314978.html
http://image1.geekbuying.com/content_pic/201304/1 (17)(5).jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out the video description
c0nvict said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAvBenhxgXQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Check out the video description
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well...I don't know what is going on... maybe there are 2 versions...one with 1GB and one with 2GB
danmccune said:
I bought the CX-919 and I love it. Great Wifi performance which is what I wanted. No lag using Netflix, Hulu plus, Vudu, or playing 720p from my NAS. The video players I've found that work best are MX Player and Archos video player. Both offer hardware acceleration. There are root instructions over at geekbuying. I'm using Mizuu instead of XMBC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own a CX-919 as well. However I have to admit the WIFI performance is not so ideal since 1080P video files couldn't be smoothly played via my NAS. I have absolutely good wireless solutions, 802.11ac router, 10M Lan Internet access. The overheat situation, could be another problem too...
---------- Post added at 05:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:01 AM ----------
danmccune said:
I bought the CX-919 and I love it. Great Wifi performance which is what I wanted. No lag using Netflix, Hulu plus, Vudu, or playing 720p from my NAS. The video players I've found that work best are MX Player and Archos video player. Both offer hardware acceleration. There are root instructions over at geekbuying. I'm using Mizuu instead of XMBC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google play says Mizuu doesn't support Rockchip 919. How could you install it?
Does anyone know how to root it? I get stuck in the part where you plug in the device and it shows up on your device. Mine doesn't. It comes in flash mode though. And my dc port ismt working. Only my USB otg. So I connect the adapter to that port
Any ideas or solutions?
Sent from the Android Monster
OUYA Console by Ouya
Permalink: http://amzn.com/B0050SZD18
VS
G-Box Midnight MX2 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Dual Core XBMC Streaming Mini HTPC TV Box Player by Matricom
Permalink: http://amzn.com/B00CH643A8
Which one should I go for guys, especially in terms of hardware. Tegra 3 vs A9+Mali400, apparently both have no issues with XBMC or 1080P playback. I do not plan to use either for games, mostly media and music and dowload box. If it doesn't matter, I might go for the MX2 as there are more connectivity options there.
I think that, in terms of brute force, Tegra 3 overhelms A9+Mali400. OUYA bears the last Tegra3 revision and, theoretically, NVIDIA works with OUYA Team to boost it up.
If you buy OUYA, you gain a Bluetooth controller for the same prize which can be used as remote.
At, the end, nobody knows if OUYA nor G-Box thing will have support from the scene, which, for me, is a key value.
I'd say if you're not interested in gaming, I'd go with the G-box. The ouya is marketed as a game console, and while they may add support for some media features in the future, for right now we're busting our tails trying to get better compatibility with the play store apps. the G-box is designed as a media player, and it already supports XBMC with some great reviews. It also includes the play store, so you can easily download the latest versions of netflix, hulu, etc.
Cool, I think that settles it for me, I wasn't aware that the regular playstore apps wouldn't work on the ouya. I will get an MX2 and post a review soon. Also it helps that I can connect a few spare portable hard drives and use this as a streaming box to other TVs in the house.
Didn't mean to mislead, because some play store apps will work. However, a lot don't, or are glitchy or crash occasionally, and they all have to be sideloaded because there is no play store access at all yet...
The gbox is pretty good. I have had it for a few days now and use my Logitech keyboard that also has a touch pad. It works great. Honestly, I would probably hate it if I didn't have the keyboard. The play store works perfectly. I haven't had a problem installing any apps. It is fully rooted. There has been a few times when it has restarted but it is android, it isn't perfect. Especially for 100 bucks. External hard drive works great but sometimes loses power. I don't think the gbox puts off enough juice. A powered hub would fix this issue. I wish there was development for the gbox but metronix or however you spell it won't release source.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
ouya vs mx2
plasmafire said:
OUYA Console by Ouya
Permalink: http://amzn.com/B0050SZD18
VS
G-Box Midnight MX2 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Dual Core XBMC Streaming Mini HTPC TV Box Player by Matricom
Permalink: http://amzn.com/B00CH643A8
Which one should I go for guys, especially in terms of hardware. Tegra 3 vs A9+Mali400, apparently both have no issues with XBMC or 1080P playback. I do not plan to use either for games, mostly media and music and dowload box. If it doesn't matter, I might go for the MX2 as there are more connectivity options there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well i have the G-Box MX2 i love it but it died on me. Wont boot up, stuck on the Matricom Screen. I love all the usb it has, was even able to use my Logitech Revue K700 Kb and add a 2TB WD Passport to it with an SDcard. But i think it needs a Quadcore to be a lil more fluid for video. I will return it to get the ouya. Dont like the fact that the Ouya has only one USB port but you cant have everything i guess. i hope the Ouya gets the same XBMC support as the G-box. Only had it for 17 days died on day 14 . Tried the reset option but that didnt work. Maybe it was my box. But when it worked it was awsome.
I'm actually going to be doing a review on the MX2 today and uploading it tonight, I'll be comparing it's gaming features to the Ouya and stuff.
Spoiler alert, the Ouya is way ****ing better.
EDIT: Vid's up, see the Ouya destroy the MX2 for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miTst6QE-34
Interesting topic. I was also looking at the Gbox before I pre-ordered the Ouya. I think the Tegra 3 on the Ouya would do a better job on graphics than the dual core Gbox Midnight. It's not just processor speed and number of cores, but also graphics processor. Plus, the bluetooth on the Ouya means one less USB dongle to plug in.
I went with the Ouya, hoping the hard working people on XDA will get a pure Android ROM for the Ouya soon. If I'm stuck with the Ouya's Android skin, it'd probably be an even split which way I'd go.
I saw the "XIOS DS Media Play" and considered it against the Ouya. I think these box with out of the box rooted + Play Store compatibility is better for the majority, especially non-geeks who don't want to fiddle flashing/etc. Not having PlayStore is still a big flaw for the Ouya in term of satisfying a wider audience imo.
For me the Ouya is the clear choice, it have a dedicated XDA forum section for a reason, it will get more community development and for sure the Ouya will likely get CyanogenMod and other roms, while its less likely with these other Android boxes.
For hardware performance the Tegra3 will be faster than these dual core 1.5GHz A9 with Mali-400 gpu.
If you are looking for a lot of gaming then the Ouya is the way to go, otherwise get one of these Cortex A9 boxes if you only need video playback. There will be some of these boxes that will exceed the Ouya in term of performance in no time, but the Ouya have XDA community that's the key for me. This is the case for all Android devices that I buy.
Went for the gbox for now as a no hassle xbmc box. What you mentioned is absolutely right that the ouya will overtake all these boxes as soon as a rom gets out. I will just wait for that to happen and maybe a tegra 4 device will happen too by then.
Thanks for all the insight guys.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Axelben said:
Well i have the G-Box MX2 i love it but it died on me. Wont boot up, stuck on the Matricom Screen. I love all the usb it has, was even able to use my Logitech Revue K700 Kb and add a 2TB WD Passport to it with an SDcard. But i think it needs a Quadcore to be a lil more fluid for video. I will return it to get the ouya. Dont like the fact that the Ouya has only one USB port but you cant have everything i guess. i hope the Ouya gets the same XBMC support as the G-box. Only had it for 17 days died on day 14 . Tried the reset option but that didnt work. Maybe it was my box. But when it worked it was awsome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just ordered the Gbox MX 2 and have a Logitech Revue KB - how do I get the two to talk?
plasmafire said:
Went for the gbox for now as a no hassle xbmc box. What you mentioned is absolutely right that the ouya will overtake all these boxes as soon as a rom gets out. I will just wait for that to happen and maybe a tegra 4 device will happen too by then.
Thanks for all the insight guys.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is an interesting direct comparison between Ouya and the G-box Midnight MX2.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R35SEI3ONB5SCK/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R35SEI3ONB5SCK
It didn't make the Midnight look very good. The Ouya emulator games seem to work really well in the video. The Midnight had issues with games and 1080P videos, and the emulator games on the Midnight ran slow. The reviewer also couldn't get bluetooth adapters to work, so could use a PS2 wireless controller. Granted, this is just one person's attempt to use the Midnight box, maybe other people have overcome these issues with some setting changes.
Yep the guy is playing games and using plex..both of which the mx2 doesn't do well. I am just going to have it boot into xbmc launcher. Run utorrent with rss feeds from showrss in the background. And maybe run droidnas on it. I have seen logitech mini keyboards work so that is what I'll get.
coachclass said:
This is an interesting direct comparison between Ouya and the G-box Midnight MX2.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R35SEI3ONB5SCK/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R35SEI3ONB5SCK
It didn't make the Midnight look very good. The Ouya emulator games seem to work really well in the video. The Midnight had issues with games and 1080P videos, and the emulator games on the Midnight ran slow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I keep getting torn one way or the other every day when I see a review that is posted.
My primary use for either device will not be for games at all. 100% streaming media playback from either my local nas or sites like youtube, amazon vod, etc...
I also won't be using Plex and instead be going with XBMC.
As for Plex... the above video review showed some really bad stuttering while playing 1080p video. On Android, is Plex using its own decoder for playback or does it offload it to MX Player? I ask because when streaming any of my local 1080i content (wirelessly) to my Xoom tablet, it plays back in MX Player flawlessly.
So is the MX2 video stuttering in the video review a fault of the hardware or Plex software?
SamsungBlue said:
Just ordered the Gbox MX 2 and have a Logitech Revue KB - how do I get the two to talk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can use the Revue KB. Just buy the Unity USB. You will be able to use it anywhere.
mkhopper said:
Yea, I keep getting torn one way or the other every day when I see a review that is posted.
My primary use for either device will not be for games at all. 100% streaming media playback from either my local nas or sites like youtube, amazon vod, etc...
I also won't be using Plex and instead be going with XBMC.
As for Plex... the above video review showed some really bad stuttering while playing 1080p video. On Android, is Plex using its own decoder for playback or does it offload it to MX Player? I ask because when streaming any of my local 1080i content (wirelessly) to my Xoom tablet, it plays back in MX Player flawlessly.
So is the MX2 video stuttering in the video review a fault of the hardware or Plex software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was my video. The settings I was using in Plex on both devices was to use the hardware to decode and playback the videos. The MX2's hardware just simply isnt nearly good enough to rely on for high resolution video playback, and on top of that there's some really annoying kinks with it like no bluetooth support at all and a very fussy keyboard input system that really sucks compared to stock android and what the Ouya uses.There's also a higher res version of the review on youtube, I linked to it on the first page of this thread towards the bottom.
Just got my MX2 today. I was quite apprehensive after reading some of the comments, but I must say that after using it for a while.. it is exactly what I needed. I am not saying it is better than ouya, but I have XBMC setup with all my local media and video plugins. It works like a charm. I will not play any games on it so I don't really care about the gaming performance.
All programs installed from Play store work
Full 1080p videos play no issues on xbmc.
Torrents are download via showrss to my xbmc monitored directory.
USB hard drive 1TB western digital is powered via the usb ports and shared via droid nas
Quick video 1080p: http://youtu.be/vQ6FvGtKbEw
mkhopper said:
Yea, I keep getting torn one way or the other every day when I see a review that is posted.
My primary use for either device will not be for games at all. 100% streaming media playback from either my local nas or sites like youtube, amazon vod, etc...
I also won't be using Plex and instead be going with XBMC.
As for Plex... the above video review showed some really bad stuttering while playing 1080p video. On Android, is Plex using its own decoder for playback or does it offload it to MX Player? I ask because when streaming any of my local 1080i content (wirelessly) to my Xoom tablet, it plays back in MX Player flawlessly.
So is the MX2 video stuttering in the video review a fault of the hardware or Plex software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not sure if plex has the issue xbmc for ouya has at the moment but after the new firmware update last week most of my videos have stuttering seems like a framerate issue I reported it to ouya and they got back to me saying they are aware of the issue and are working on it. Before that update my videos were playing smooth.
plasmafire said:
Yes you can use the Revue KB. Just buy the Unity USB. You will be able to use it anywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. There seems to be quite a few "Unity" USB recovers from Logitech. I couldn't find one that listed the Revue KB as a compatible device. Would any of those Unity receivers that work with other Logitech KBs or mice work? Seems like there are several in the $10-15 range. I appreciate your help.
Hi,
I'm interested in getting one of these newer quadcore Android TV boxes for media center. Mostly for use as XBMC and Netflix watching. This model looks good, but I can't get a straight answer from the web about whether it supports XBMC well enough for smooth video playback (avi's, mkv's, xvids...nothing big, about 5GB files).
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/HKPo...RAM-8G-ROM-Android-4-2-2-Quad/1064048320.html
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/T-R4...a-with-IR-Remote-Controller-Black-317424.html
I've heard that some people are using external players with XBMC because there's no support for hardware acceleration with these rockchip devices.
How is Netflix for these?
Thanks for any info.
coachclass said:
Hi,
I'm interested in getting one of these newer quadcore Android TV boxes for media center. Mostly for use as XBMC and Netflix watching. This model looks good, but I can't get a straight answer from the web about whether it supports XBMC well enough for smooth video playback (avi's, mkv's, xvids...nothing big, about 5GB files).
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/HKPo...RAM-8G-ROM-Android-4-2-2-Quad/1064048320.html
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/T-R4...a-with-IR-Remote-Controller-Black-317424.html
I've heard that some people are using external players with XBMC because there's no support for hardware acceleration with these rockchip devices.
How is Netflix for these?
Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any updates if this works now?
Can't answer for the KR-42 boxes, but on my X7, the video works fine in xbmc (with an advancedsettings.xml) Hardware acceleration is built into all xbmc android after Sept 1 (actually earlier don't know the exact date)... but you still need xbmc to enforce it.. look on freaktab.com for more on specific mini pcs if you are interested.. the price is right for what you get, if you ask me.
coachclass said:
Hi,
I've heard that some people are using external players with XBMC because there's no support for hardware acceleration with these rockchip devices.
How is Netflix for these?
Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Netflix and 1080/720p are playing fine on T-R42. XBMC v13 gotham version 6 beta is working great with few bugs since it's a beta and it's hardware decoding, no external player required.:good:
fingers crossed for good luck
I ordered a T-R42 for $87 USD from Amazon and hope it's all good without annoying flaws. Geekbuying supports it on their blog, and Freaktab forums show a custom rom by "wasser". I'll update this thread once I get it. Cheers.
*EDIT* wasser custom rom newer thread here, his/her 1.2.4 release is there so far. Also found out that some devices now may have and in the future will have a low-end RK3188-T chip running at 1.4Ghz or slower. Here is a "black list" I found on freaktab forums, and it's forum thread here.
*EDIT* I received my T-R42 from Amazon, two days ago. The stock rom works fine with Ethernet, Wifi, Bluetooth playing videos, XBMC ( latest monthly or nightly from http://mirrors.xbmc.org ), MX Player and simple games. There was no root, so I had to install Moborobo phone tools to make adb work for rooting and followed a guide on Geekbuying blog. Wifi signal is good, just as strong and stable as a modern smartphone. (be sure to configure your wifi router to a channel between 1 and 11). I wanted to add some tweaks, so I got a "wasser" custom rom from freaktab. Some usb webcams work such as Creative VF0610 (tested myself) and Logitech C170 (not tested, but Geekbuying reports it works), but you need a good powered usb hub. Those webcams are maybe $10 USD on ebay or amazon. Wasser rom 1.2.4 did not work well. You're device may be better off. So I then tried 1.2.3, and I'm glad the this 1.2.3 rom works nicely with my T-R42. This rom appears to have a 720p kernel so 1920x1080 output is really 1280x672 (status/navigation bar at bottom takes 48 px). My circuit board is B351_V1.0 in this photo http://i.imgur.com/DavJg4P.jpg. I have read in freaktab forums there are at least three identifiable versions of the circuit board in the T-R42 device. One is V1.0, another V2.0 and the other V3.5. Howver, circuit boards with completely different markings or serial numbers are sometimes in these CS918/CS968/T-R42 box devices. Whatever board you may get in your box, I'm sure some someboy in freaktab forums can help or has already solved an issue. I recommend this device, only if like "tv boxes".
kadooosh said:
Any updates if this works now? (hardware acceleration)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes. H/W acceleration using GPU does work. Check this XBMC thread for support. and download a monthly or nightly XBMC build from http://mirrors.xbmc.org (be sure to choose the right cpu architecture, "arm"). The latest monthly snapshot should work well http://mirrors.xbmc.org/snapshots/android/arm/
*EDIT* I will return my t-r42 to Amazon soon. I prefer a portable battery powered device with HDMI such as JXD gaming tablets http://www.jxd.hk yay! ^_^
My JXD s7800B gaming tablet works nicely with different games. Here's a demo of Dead Trigger 1 (youtube).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc9oDNduzN4
Hello everyone,
I want to buy an android TV box and am planning to use it strictly for XBMC.
I have been reading quite a lot on these devices over the past weeks, but I would still like to get some advice.
The CS968 seems like a nice solution, but I think it does not support hardware acceleration at the moment (RK chipset).
Is it better to take a quad core without h/a to run xbmc or a dual core with supported h/a.
Which one would you recommend me? 720p streaming, maybe 1080 in the future and I just want a smooth XBMC experience and a good wifi signal offcourse.
This is the 1.000.000 USD question, which one to buy for media streaming and use of XBMC.
This is mostly due to 2 things, first is that these boxes are still not 1080p approved (you will need to experiment with several kernels that claim to have this output), and second is related to their power. They cannot play 1080p content, not even 720p content without the H/W acceleration.
What does this mean in practice? Well first is that even if you have a flawless version of Android (stable and 1080p content on it), you still need XBMC (in this case) to be able to H/W decode the content, or else you are unable to use it properly for any HD content.
The good news is that XBMC is about to release a stable version with the promised H/W acceleration, however its not out yet.
Now for the options: If you want good streaming, you need a reliable network connection, and unless your router is just next to the Android TV stick, you'll need a wired connection. This is not normally a problem, just be sure to get a true 100Mbit USB adapter (if it is not already built in), as some of them are only 10Mbit which is a bit slow for HD.
I myself bought a Tronsmart T428, as it has both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz wifi module. However the available ROM's are not that many and I still can't use it as a daily driver for my media needs.
Another thing that you might consider is how to control it. A good remote will make or break the deal, as it's not easy to navigate android without the touch input. I sometimes us a mouse and keyboard (and it works quite well), but for HTPC purposes it's not the best. I also have a Mele F10 which is not bad, but the new version is well worth the extra (Mele F10 pro).
Good luck with your quest. If I were you I would wait a little bit until the new XBMC stable version gets out (12.3) and then see what others are using.
Hope it was helpful.
Lewy20041 is doing great work on these relatively cheap devices.
Take a look at the link below and if you haven't already head over to the FreakTab forums.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2494284
rayill said:
Hello everyone,
I want to buy an android TV box and am planning to use it strictly for XBMC.
I have been reading quite a lot on these devices over the past weeks, but I would still like to get some advice.
The CS968 seems like a nice solution, but I think it does not support hardware acceleration at the moment (RK chipset).
Is it better to take a quad core without h/a to run xbmc or a dual core with supported h/a.
Which one would you recommend me? 720p streaming, maybe 1080 in the future and I just want a smooth XBMC experience and a good wifi signal offcourse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are talking about XBMC and let alone other things, the Matricom GBox MX2 is a fantastic Android TV Box, at least for me. It has HWA out of the box and I am able to play 1080p very smoothly.
There is a review online you can watch:
hxxp://liliputing.com/2013/05/g-box-midnight-mx2-tv-dual-core-tv-box-is-made-for-android-xbmc.html
Having said that, the GBox MX2 doesn't have the best specs in comparison with other Android TV Boxes out there but if you are looking for a smooth XBMC experience, this is the box for you (IMO). (Or... look for a MX2 clone).
dookie23 said:
If you are talking about XBMC and let alone other things, the Matricom GBox MX2 is a fantastic Android TV Box, at least for me. It has HWA out of the box and I am able to play 1080p very smoothly.
There is a review online you can watch:
hxxp://liliputing.com/2013/05/g-box-midnight-mx2-tv-dual-core-tv-box-is-made-for-android-xbmc.html
Having said that, the GBox MX2 doesn't have the best specs in comparison with other Android TV Boxes out there but if you are looking for a smooth XBMC experience, this is the box for you (IMO). (Or... look for a MX2 clone).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a couple of Android boxes. The ones based on rockchips are not the best in XBMC as there is no hardware decoding. There are some builds out there that that have been hacked to make a callout to play media in MX player. My rockchip box sit in the cupboard. I have a couple that have the Amlogic M3(single core ATV510b) that can run Android XBMC but there is also a linux-xbmc distro for it. Great for a pure XBMC experiance. It will run 1080p no prob. Ive also got a ATV520(M6 dual core) but only runs android. Both can do hardware decoding in XBMC and play 1080p. Both are great little boxs.
I would rather a dual or even a single that has h/a than a quad that cant do h/a. A friend got a quad rockchip and it cant play 1080p. he hates it. Cant play crap in XBMC. It needs hardware
the gBox uses the same chip as the ATV520. There is also the ATV1200 has the same hardware as the ATV520 but more connections and external aerial. imports if you going to wifi.
hope this helps.
cheers
rayill said:
Hello everyone, I want to buy an android TV box and am planning to use it strictly for XBMC.
I have been reading quite a lot on these devices over the past weeks, but I would still like to get some advice.
The CS968 seems like a nice solution, but I think it does not support hardware acceleration at the moment (RK chipset).
Is it better to take a quad core without h/a to run xbmc or a dual core with supported h/a.
Which one would you recommend me? 720p streaming, maybe 1080 in the future and I just want a smooth XBMC experience and a good wifi signal offcourse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at these, and possibly go for the device with the highest # cores, highest android version (4.2.2+), highest RAM (2GB+), and one or two external antennae. The devices with Android 4.2.x + can be setup for multiple users {see this post}. Analog video/audio out is a plus, especially for direct hookup to speakers or old television. Some have quad-core Rockchip, which xbmc should support as of version 13 (Gotham) as mentioned in xbmc wiki, but not necessarily. NOTE: Some do not have bluetooth whatsoever (and probably no support for USB bluetooth dongle) such as the Ugoos UT1 box :
Ugoos boxes and sticks:
UM2 stick and UM1 box look good.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2424451
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2373469
http://blog.geekbuying.com/?s=ugoos
http://www.apad.tv/apadforum/forumdisplay.php?64-Ugoos-Android-Mini-PC-and-TV-Box-Tech-Support
I think most Ugoos' are around $100 USD or less with stock parts/accessories on Amazon.com as of this writing.
MINIX boxes:
NEO X7 looks good. Quad core CPU and GPU!
http://www.minix.com.hk/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2440708
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2439433
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2494284
MINIX X7 should be $120 USD or more, but the other models might be okay too.
Satechi tv box seems good too.
on Amazon
Matricom Gbox .
Midnight MX2 looks good. These can do OTA update.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2002758
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1835588
http://matricom.net/
Mele boxes
Some can do OTA updates.
http://en.mele.cn/ (English)
http://mele.cn/products/3.htm (Chinese)
http://forum.mele.cn:81/viewforum.php?f=14
MyGica (Geniatech) boxes and sticks.
Their latest ATV1800 is awesome! All should do OTA update.
http://www.geniatech.com/pa/android-tv.asp
http://www.mygica.com/products.asp
... and the list goes on and on wow
- Measy
- Unuiga
- Jesurun
- ...
Also: native Linux on these boxes:
RK3188 based: link to thread
AML8726 based: link to thread
but you gotta do loads of research to make'em work!
I tested XBMC "gotham 13 alpha 10" monthly release {see post here} on my phone and it works quite well, even playing 1080p movies with 2 or 3 gigs file sizes.
*I say all that above, but honestly, I am just listing devices for others to see. Since you may want to connect a wired/wireless USB-based mouse and/or keyboard and want to play tons of 1080p videos and do many different things over time, then I think a small laptop or netbook with HDMI and hardware-acceleration running linux or windowz and XBMC desktop version will be much much better. Albeit the higher price, this kind of laptop can handle more and do more, thus more usable & valuable, especially under constant/heavy usage. Note that the $99 devices may be like $0.99 food = looks good, but tastes bad and is unhealthy for you.
rayill said:
Hello everyone,
I want to buy an android TV box and am planning to use it strictly for XBMC.
I have been reading quite a lot on these devices over the past weeks, but I would still like to get some advice.
The CS968 seems like a nice solution, but I think it does not support hardware acceleration at the moment (RK chipset).
Is it better to take a quad core without h/a to run xbmc or a dual core with supported h/a.
Which one would you recommend me? 720p streaming, maybe 1080 in the future and I just want a smooth XBMC experience and a good wifi signal offcourse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The team ATV xbmchub are recommending ouya
Everything I have read indicates a very capable device, if you want arm
It uses a modified version of xbmc (stock version still a bit iffy on android) that's apparently very good
I used a MyGica ATV120 and found that works nicely for XBMC and video was super smooth.
Sent from my CM11 Samsung Galaxy S4
Any boxes that have a linux build.
Sumvision Cyclone Nano
Gbox MX2
pivos xios
generic MX G18REF based boxes - these can be found on ebay for under £50
These boxes are all... pretty much the same thing, the use AML8726 and the same gpu, and under their linux builds have hardware decoding.
The build I use on my generic MX box is MX Linux from croniccorey
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2418029
The ui closely matches the desktop experience and video does match it.
I've tested it with 55Mbps mkvs and it's played them fine.
Ofcourse the problem with linux builds is... bugs, the builds for all these mx devies, even from sumvision and pivos, have some bugs but they run XBMC much better than it will run under ever the most powerful android device
And all Geniatech ATV400/ATV520/ATV1200/ATV3200
wason92 said:
Any boxes that have a linux build.
Sumvision Cyclone Nano
Gbox MX2
pivos xios
generic MX G18REF based boxes - these can be found on ebay for under £50
These boxes are all... pretty much the same thing, the use AML8726 and the same gpu, and under their linux builds have hardware decoding.
The build I use on my generic MX box is MX Linux from croniccorey
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2418029
The ui closely matches the desktop experience and video does match it.
I've tested it with 55Mbps mkvs and it's played them fine.
Ofcourse the problem with linux builds is... bugs, the builds for all these mx devies, even from sumvision and pivos, have some bugs but they run XBMC much better than it will run under ever the most powerful android device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are all based on Aml8726-MX
Android and XBMX
Tried a lot out and found this OTT TV Box to work great with hardware decoding and XBMC. It comes rooted based on the Amlogic 8726 chip. Has integrated camera and mic for video chat. The XBMC version comes fully loaded so you just plug and play, even 2 skins are pre-set. Believe me I've spent nights with boxes and sticks and always something did not work. Audio and video out of sync and so on. I think everybody went through those issue. Give it a try it has great Wifi connectivity due to the external antenna and comes with a simple remote, looks pretty cool as well. I think it's fairly priced and the support is great. This is my personal experience.
wwwdotamazondotcom/gp/aw/d/B00IXQTFDQ
Ive just bought the Justop K10A and it is amazing. You can control it as well with a proprietry rockchip app using your android phone or tablet.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
How does those TV box go with the newest version XBMC 14.1 ?
Tronfy said:
How does those TV box go with the newest version XBMC 14.1 ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
14.2
Best Android Tv Box
Got this as a Christmas gift from my aunt. I can watch movies in Full HD now. This android TV box is awesome. This is fast and runs full hd without any issues. I am very happy to have it. A must need device if you love to watch movies.
What is the name of your android box?
Sam787 said:
Got this as a Christmas gift from my aunt. I can watch movies in Full HD now. This android TV box is awesome. This is fast and runs full hd without any issues. I am very happy to have it. A must need device if you love to watch movies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did not mention any name or brand for your android tv box??
Really satisfied from my new Android box TV
I recently bought My Matrix TV and if you are interested in anything ask me. I have been using it intensively for the last two months and I can answer any questions related to it. It is the first Android Box TV that I own and after I bought it it my only source of streaming media.
Hello everyone! Seems like this is the only place on the web to discuss the mojo.
I've been trying to build a flawless XBMC/Emulation machine for quite some time now. I had previously been using a very powerful windows pc running xbmc with advanced launcher. However I found that there were just too many things that could go wrong. Too many scripts to write to combat the misshaps and overall it wasn't the best solution.
So I ordered an ouya. Now I have my Ouya hooked up to the tv and it runs xbmc fairly well. It also runs most standalone emulators quite well, such as the broglia ones. But when compared to my Nvidia shield the video output doesn't look as good for some reason, retroarch doesn't work nearly as well, theres no play store, no sd card slot. Now I got it for 79.99 with free shipping so I'm not complaining, it does much more than I ever expected it would for that price. But I wanted an experience to rival my shield, but permanently connected to my tv. So I ordered a Mojo when they announced ouya app support and the price drop.
It hasn't arrived yet but I'm getting anxious.
Current plans are to run TvLauncher as the main launcher. Or create a custom setup using something like zooper widget and nova launcher.
The main screen will feature XBMC, the ouya app (whenever its available) Gamestream (whenever it is available also), as well as Nostalgia (an ouya app) or some other emulator front end.
Possibly I will add youtube and netflix (if an hd version becomes available) to the launcher.
I've order a 1tb WD Passport to connect to the USB 3.0 port. This will be a rom and save location mostly. As all media playback will be done from my home server.
Also going to be using retroarch with crt shaders as the main emulator.
Roms as well as game saves will be synced between my shield and mojo via dropsync, so that when I exit the game on my shield I can resume where I left off seemlessly on the mojo and vice versa.
I will likely be making some videos of how it all works if I can get it working the way I want.
My question is, does anybody see anything glaringly wrong with my approach? Is there anything I'm missing? Any app that might work better than the ones I plan to use. Or any tweaks or hacks that I'm going to have to do to the mojo to do this kind of thing. Anything specific I need to figure out regarding the 1tb hdd I plan to use? Any input or interest would be greatly appreciated.
Hi and welcome to the MOJO side :silly:
SeeThruHead said:
.. But when compared to my Nvidia shield the video output doesn't look as good for some reason ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:laugh::laugh: the shield is a Tegra 4 with 2GB ram like the MOJO, ouya is only Tegra3 and 1GB ram:laugh::laugh:
SeeThruHead said:
Current plans are to run TvLauncher as the main launcher. Or create a custom setup using something like zooper widget and nova launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You sound like a launcher fan, but it's really not essential, you might want to try MOJO without it just to see.
Experiment with the CTRLR in gamesmart mode (so you don't have to switch in/out of mouse mode).
the start button = mouse click
SeeThruHead said:
I've order a 1tb WD Passport to connect to the USB 3.0 port.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The USB 3.0 port is recommended for the BT4 dongle (which is need to use the CTRLR until kitkat comes out).
And MOJO has readonly access to NTFS and no access to exFat.
But rooting it and install (don't know the name) app fixes this, just go through the threads here, you'll find it (not many).
SeeThruHead said:
Roms as well as game saves will be synced between my shield and mojo via dropsync, so that when I exit the game on my shield I can resume where I left off seemlessly on the mojo and vice versa.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice! what a great idea!
The broglia emulators for ouya work fine, just need to remap the controls.
The official XBMC apk works well with CTRLR.
Ouya games don't map to the CTRLR very well.. some let you configure the controller, but most don't (find the thread).
So I wonder how ouya is going to fix that? I bet they wont and make the poor devs fix it :crying:
I recommend rooting it for full access to google play, and it's easy.
I can't see you having issues doing what you want, it'll work more or less like your shield only with a better controller and no setting up
Let us know how you go and looking forward to your videos :good:
gwaldo said:
Hi and welcome to the MOJO side :silly:
:laugh::laugh: the shield is a Tegra 4 with 2GB ram like the MOJO, ouya is only Tegra3 and 1GB ram:laugh::laugh:
The USB 3.0 port is recommended for the BT4 dongle (which is need to use the CTRLR until kitkat comes out).
And MOJO has readonly access to NTFS and no access to exFat.
But rooting it and install (don't know the name) app fixes this, just go through the threads here, you'll find it (not many).
Nice! what a great idea!
The broglia emulators for ouya work fine, just need to remap the controls.
The official XBMC apk works well with CTRLR.
Ouya games don't map to the CTRLR very well.. some let you configure the controller, but most dont (find thread).
So I wonder how ouya is going to fix that? I bet they wont and make the devs fix it :crying:
I recommend rooting it for sure, and it's easy.
I can't see you having issues doing what you want, it'll work more or less like your shield only with a better controller and no setting up
Let us know how you go and looking forward to your videos :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's an app to enable rw to ntfs or to exfat?
I'm hoping to run retroarch with custom borders and shaders (not graphically intensive ones, just crt style.) but retroarch has been giving me nothing but problems on my shield while i've been trying to get it working with dropsync. It was working fine just syncing the saves but now I'm having it sync roms as well and its causing all sorts of havoc.
As for ouya games, honesly i haven't played any but ittle dew. and that one i played for only 30 minutes. I've been using it entirely for .emu emulators and xbmc. Thats the kind of experience I'd like to bring across to the mojo but I will need a proper front end for the emulators. Is there anything resembling the ouya app "Nostalgia" currently available for the Mojo? The author of that app has mentioned a play store version but I fear it will be some time before that materializes.
EDIT:
Ok I think I've found it. The paragon app.
Will definitely pick that up when my mojo arrives.
So I've configured my shield with a folder called "dropsync" on the sd card. Everything in that folder is instantly synced to my dropbox and other android devices. I had retroarch synced but it's been giving me problems. The snes works fine but the core for GBC is a dog. So I decided to also sync all the saves from my other emulation apps. They're actually working better than retroarch so far. Going to load up dropsync onto the ouya tmrw to see how well save file syncing works between those two.
Drop sync is amazing. Also check out the thread here for folder mount. It is a great little app that will help with big games.
I too like gaming. Had the ouya and dunno what I'll end up using that for now since I have the mojo and like it more since it has play store access. Might just be a paperweight or travel companion tho honestly that's what I got the mojo for too.
I'm going to have to check out that launcher you mentioned too. Been looking for a cool launcher for the mojo to coincide with a console feel.
Also I use a moga controller with the mojo too. Works real well with games that support it better than the mojo controller.
Anyway I'm rambling lol
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
jbuggydroid said:
Drop sync is amazing. Also check out the thread here for folder mount. It is a great little app that will help with big games.
I too like gaming. Had the ouya and dunno what I'll end up using that for now since I have the mojo and like it more since it has play store access. Might just be a paperweight or travel companion tho honestly that's what I got the mojo for too.
I'm going to have to check out that launcher you mentioned too. Been looking for a cool launcher for the mojo to coincide with a console feel.
Also I use a moga controller with the mojo too. Works real well with games that support it better than the mojo controller.
Anyway I'm rambling lol
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I've tested the ouya is the premiere low cost xbmc device on the market. I've tried the pivos and its horrible compare to the ouya and has no extra features. The black box costs more than an ouya and has terrible reviews.
My ouya will likely go to my mothers hdtv for xbmc purposes. She currently has a boxee box which is absolute garbage compared to the ouya and cost my more than twice as much.
I guess I need to do some more reading and possibly some YouTube watching to fully understand that xbmc is all about. Maybe then I'll be like using that app all the time
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
jbuggydroid said:
I guess I need to do some more reading and possibly some YouTube watching to fully understand that xbmc is all about. Maybe then I'll be like using that app all the time
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You and me both. I've downloaded the app to my MOJO and use it sparingly to watch the limited content I'm able to get to (all available elsewhere btw) using it. Most of the add-ons I've tried don't work. I've found it easier to download specific apps and/or bookmark network websites (then create a desktop shortcut) for content I'm interested in. Perhaps you intend use xbmc to watch content you already have stored locally? Maybe I need to study up on it myself to fully understand its utility.
Domomojo said:
You and me both. I've downloaded the app to my MOJO and use it sparingly to watch the limited content I'm able to get to (all available elsewhere btw) using it. Most of the add-ons I've tried don't work. I've found it easier to download specific apps and/or bookmark network websites (then create a desktop shortcut) for content I'm interested in. Perhaps you intend use xbmc to watch content you already have stored locally? Maybe I need to study up on it myself to fully understand its utility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Watching content stored locally is the point of XBMC. I have a 14tb home server with sickbeard (automatic tv show downloader) and couchpotato (same thing for movies.) It organizes all my files with a wonderful interface with posters and cover art and episode synopsis. It's how I watch all my television content. I don't stream (terrible quality usually) and I don't pay for cable or satellite service.
SeeThruHead said:
Watching content stored locally is the point of XBMC. I have a 14tb home server with sickbeard (automatic tv show downloader) and couchpotato (same thing for movies.) It organizes all my files with a wonderful interface with posters and cover art and episode synopsis. It's how I watch all my television content. I don't stream (terrible quality usually) and I don't pay for cable or satellite service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! A few years ago I used to do the same thing manually with Agent, but I have long since let my 3rd party Usenet server subscription lapse (ATT is my ISP now, I have no idea if they even provide access to Usenet anymore). It just became more trouble than it was worth. I don't have cable anymore either, and other than a few shows on AMC and Discovery Channel, I'm able to find everything I'm interested in watching. Hopefully I'll find a source for programming on those two networks.
I guess I'll have to check it out more tho don't really need to use it much since my pc is hooked up to my big screen anyway. Will Def use it when I am out of town for work tho. Thanks for the insight
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
jbuggydroid said:
I guess I'll have to check it out more tho don't really need to use it much since my pc is hooked up to my big screen anyway. Will Def use it when I am out of town for work tho. Thanks for the insight
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Up until I bought the MOJO, I've had a PC connected to my TV since around 2001. I far prefer the MOJO for a multitude of reasons including its small size, no noisy fan, no spinning hard drive, near instantaneous boot, no bloated OS requiring constant update, availability of a huge amount of no/low cost software and excellent graphics capability. The fact that it is also a powerful gaming console with a BT4 controller is just an added bonus. Worth every penny of the $249 I paid for mine.
Wow
SeeThruHead said:
Watching content stored locally is the point of XBMC. I have a 14tb home server with sickbeard (automatic tv show downloader) and couchpotato (same thing for movies.) It organizes all my files with a wonderful interface with posters and cover art and episode synopsis. It's how I watch all my television content. I don't stream (terrible quality usually) and I don't pay for cable or satellite service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude you sound a lot like me and if you are be prepared to be disappointed. XBMC works great on the OUYA but I wanted a smoother experience from my movie collection. I have a synology 1812+ with (6 3Tb and 2 2TB HHDs) with my entire movie collection with files ranging from 5GB+ for 720p to 10GB+ 1080p DTS files and the ouya did a good job, especially with hardware decoding on xbmc v13, even the ouya xbmc version did a great job but they lost DTS support so I had to use an older version for most of my movies to play audio. The biggest problem is that on the Mojo xbmc doesn’t hide the navigation soft keys so that means you watch those three buttons on the bottom of the screen the entire time you’re supposed to be enjoying a movie, the only way to remove it right now is by rooting your madcatz mojo but that requires a USB a to a cable that most people don’t just have laying around. You can also cross your fingers and hope that the mojo gets 4.4 kitkat soon since that adds immersive mode which xbmc just recently added that allows the application to take on the whole screen without the navigation soft keys appearing. The improvements that I thought I would see are just not there to justify paying twice the amount of an OUYA. Don’t get me wrong I think the Mojo is a great box but it’s not worth twice the price for performance that, at least to me is not noticeable.
P.S. the mojo is quite when compared to the Ouya (Loud Fan)
The thing will be rooted before I do anything else. I'm sure it will be easy enough to remove the navigation buttons. Also Xbmc Gotham nightlies should have support for dts (though I don't have many dts files). Xbmc runs flawlessly on my shield so km expecting it will perform similarly.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
SeeThruHead said:
The thing will be rooted before I do anything else. I'm sure it will be easy enough to remove the navigation buttons. Also Xbmc Gotham nightlies should have support for dts (though I don't have many dts files). Xbmc runs flawlessly on my shield so km expecting it will perform similarly.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find it sad that Mad Catz M.O.J.O. has no DTS working in XBMC, when that is working on other Android TV Boxes (MeLE, VidON, and MINIX) for many mounts now, and also do not have the navigation buttons on the bottom of the screen.
AmigaWolf said:
I find it sad that Mad Catz M.O.J.O. has no DTS working in XBMC, when that is working on other Android TV Boxes (MeLE, VidON, and MINIX) for many mounts now, and also do not have the navigation buttons on the bottom of the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XBMC v13 does have DTS support, what i meant was the latest version of ouya xbmc lost their dts license so i had to sideload xbmc v13 or use an easrlier version of ouay xbmc to have DTS support. i own an Ouya and a Mojo and both have DTS support with XBMC v13 BETA 2.
mejdam said:
XBMC v13 does have DTS support, what i meant was the latest version of ouya xbmc lost their dts license so i had to sideload xbmc v13 or use an easrlier version of ouay xbmc to have DTS support. i own an Ouya and a Mojo and both have DTS support with XBMC v13 BETA 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats likely the xbmc version I'll be using when I get my mojo. Anyone have an emulation front end for android? I like nostalgia for ouya but it's ouya only for now.
mejdam said:
XBMC v13 does have DTS support, what i meant was the latest version of ouya xbmc lost their dts license so i had to sideload xbmc v13 or use an easrlier version of ouay xbmc to have DTS support. i own an Ouya and a Mojo and both have DTS support with XBMC v13 BETA 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you have Dolby Digital and DTS and more (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master) with XBMC 13.0 Gotham – Beta 2 on the Mad Catz M.O.J.O?
Because that means it is now a real Android TV BOX, and that is great news.
AmigaWolf said:
So you have Dolby Digital and DTS and more (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master) with XBMC 13.0 Gotham – Beta 2 on the Mad Catz M.O.J.O?
Because that means it is now a real Android TV BOX, and that is great news.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what he was trying to say is that it has always had it. Not having it would be because you were using the wrong XBMC version. Though I think that only applies to the ouya and isn't even relevant when referring to the MOJO.
SeeThruHead said:
I think what he was trying to say is that it has always had it. Not having it would be because you were using the wrong XBMC version. Though I think that only applies to the ouya and isn't even relevant when referring to the MOJO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct, dtshd and truehd files play fine.
Do they pass through 5.1 surround properly?