Android HiMedia Q5/Q10 Pro (2016) with Kodi (4K / HDR / 3D / HD Audio) - Printable Version +- Kodi Community Forum (https://forum.kodi.tv) +-- Forum: Discussions (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=222) +--- Forum: Hardware (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=112) +--- Thread: Android HiMedia Q5/Q10 Pro (2016) with Kodi (4K / HDR / 3D / HD Audio) (/showthread.php?tid=265888) Pages:
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HiMedia Q5/Q10 Pro (2016) with Kodi (4K / HDR / 3D / HD Audio) - hdmkv - 2016-03-25 Latest snapshot, as of February 22, 2017
Review last updated October 19, 2016 (will no longer be updated as I no longer have HiMedia) Overall verdict: B+ Based on firmware version HMD-1.0.8 2016-10-12.193826 (for Q10 Pro) and HMD-1.0.8 2016-10-17.104357 (for Q5 Pro) HiMedia Q5/Q10 Pro media players continue to improve w/firmware updates. Despite a couple of key outstanding issues, they're still among the best 4K + 3D + HD audio combo boxes on the market for local/NAS playback for A/V enthusiasts! Challenging HiMedia now however is Zidoo w/X9S and upcoming X8. And, Zidoo is providing better support as of now.
Photo Gallery: Background & Overview: I've been testing Q10 Pro since February with two fellow Kodi and 3D enthusiasts. Initially pre-production samples, then the production (public release) units. My thanks to HiMedia for reaching out quite some time ago, letting me invite a couple of Kodi members (now A/V buddies ), sending us samples, and involving us in the beta-testing process with their engineers. It isn't an ideal relationship as communication could be better, and some things less secretive (even within closed beta testing). But, this relationship has already delivered in several ways, as the production (public release) box you all are getting has several of our pre-release requested fixes implemented! Also, @pcristi's involvement via Futeko forum has really helped with framerate switching and diagnostics. For the bulk of my tests, I relied on Epson 5025UB 1080p 3D projector (w/a Dalite 133" High Power screen). For 4K, I relied on my 65" Vizio D65u-D2. It supports HDMI @ 60fps, but sadly lacks 10-bit and HDR (only supports 8-bit). I do have a 11.2 audio set-up for HD audio, including Dolby ATMOS nor DTS:X. Please see my signature below if you want full details and/or pics of my home theater set-up. Additional Reviews & Impressions of Q10 Pro:
Performance: HiMedia Q10 Pro relies on HiSilicon's latest Hi3798C V200 SoC (system-on-chip), successor to Hi3798C V100 as found in previous-gen Q5/Q10 4K3D boxes. For PQ, we now get Imprex Engine 2.0, with HDR-10 4K support. Dolby Vision was initially claimed, but no longer is (they do play though). Imprex 1.0 was already the best part of Q5/Q10 4K3D, and with the new SoC/Imprex in Pro, PQ is just as good (and maybe marginally better), and shining most with 4K content. Also, Q5/Q10 Pro use Android OS 5.1.1 (w/next firmware expected to use Android N). My Q10 Pro boots up in just under 20 seconds (vs. 44 seconds for Q5/Q10 4K3D). Q10 Pro is significantly faster, snappier all around: responsiveness, navigating around, launching Kodi and browsing large movie/TV libraries. Local streaming is also much improved as you'll see below from bitrate tests. After the initial opening of Kodi, and closing it, I applied the new HiMediaWrapper APK. It works similarly as in previous Q5/Q10 4K3D. Here's a photo of the wrapper app. The remote is the same one HiMedia seems fond of as they've used it in multiple players already. It lacks a 'Stop' function (but, here's a workaround)). Also, if you own other HiMedia players, each controls others. Framerate Switching with Kodi and Native Player: Please read @looun's explanation and replies here. A/V Tests:
Other Playback Issues & Bugs: These two are the key remaining issues:
Remote Control: HiMedia has been using the same remote with all their media players for years. The biggest shortcoming, as already noted above, is lack of a dedicated 'Stop' button, but here's @looun's workaround (a god-send). Support: 'B' for manufacturer support; 'A' for forum support. HiMedia is considered part of the 'cream of the crop' when it comes to Chinese media player manufacturers, but our expectations are obviously higher. Not expecting Pi2/3-level support, but HiMedia can/should communicate better, be more forthcoming (as Zidoo has demonstrated). Thankfully we have this forum and Futeko forum, with Simon behind it. He's a dedicated and reputable reseller, and has been pushing HiMedia for improvements (to extent he can) as better quality/reliability impact his bottom line. Tips and Tricks:
Wrap-Up: HiMedia Q10 Pro mostly delivers on that next-gen experience, while retaining most of what was excellent about previous-gen. There remain a couple of key issues/bugs present, namely microstutters w/3D ISO's (as no 23.976 for 3D). HiMedia Q5/Q10 Pro remain solid all-in-one A/V enthusiast media players! But, with HiMedia waiting on HiSilicon for the 3D fix (via a new SDK), and Android N also needing to be supported alongside 5.1, it may be a long wait for fixes. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi Reviews & User Impressions - hdmkv - 2016-03-25 How is HiMedia Q5 Pro Different? Although I've done tests with Q5 Pro for above, I primarily rely on Q10 Pro. Playback performance between Q5 Pro and Q10 Pro is virtually identical, but where they vary are price and hardware design. So, HiMedia Q5 Pro...
RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi Reviews & User Impressions - hdmkv - 2016-03-25 Here's @looun's blog with excellent coverage of Imprex Engine 2.0, options and PQ impact. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi Reviews & User Impressions - movie78 - 2016-03-25 Very well detail Review!!! RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - wesk05 - 2016-03-25 As always, nice review! I have two questions and a comment. 1) Was the VP9 test for local playback? Have you checked whether you can get 4K 50/60fps streaming from YouTube? 2) Are you sure that the 255Mbps Jelly fish video played correctly? Have you timed the playback? It may play without artifacts, but the playback may actually be at a lower fps. 2) Since Kodi is probably a long way from supporting Dolby Vision/HDR10 or 10-bit output, an external player will be required for proper output from such content. I am just assuming that HiMedia player will actually output 10-bit and not just decode. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - hdmkv - 2016-03-25 Thanks @movie78 and @wesk05. 1. The VP9 clips I have are from YouTube... downloaded using this tool, then played locally. Re: streaming directly via YouTube, I think the YouTube app on Q10 Pro is the usual tablet version, and unsure if it can do 4K. 2. Yeah, can't answer this until I get a proper 4K display that's 10-bit and HDR-capable at some point. Hopefully, we'll see other reviewers test this w/the right equipment. Re: Kodi being a long way from supporting Dolby Vision/HDR10 or 10-bit output, you make a great point. I didn't know that. Maybe we could get external player w/Kodi videoplayer UI overlay on it... similar to HiMedia H8 Octa and Zidoo X6 Pro. I believe this is how it's working if I remember @Koying's comments accurately. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - wesk05 - 2016-03-25 (2016-03-25, 23:10)hdmkv Wrote: Thanks..I did see your pojector info display show 10-bit, so it is getting something RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - noggin - 2016-03-26 (2016-03-25, 19:59)hdmkv Wrote: A/V Tests: When it comes to discussing Dolby Atmos there are multiple Atmos formats in the wild now apparently, and already some issues have arisen. There appear to be both Dolby Digital + Atmos and Dolby True HD Atmos tracks being released. I assume your Atmos tests were with True HD, but the fact that DD+ appears to be an issue suggests that DD+ Atmos may also be an issue? I'd probably edit to reflect that you were testing "Dolby True HD Atmos" - as readers might think that all "Atmos=pass" means all Atmos tracks were likely to be OK, whereas I'm not sure DD+ Atmos stuff will be (if DD+ isn't properly output?) (Apparently the DD+ Atmos is used for foreign language 'dub' tracks on some releases that may have True HD Atmos for the main release track) RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - hdmkv - 2016-03-26 In the U.S., with the few BD's I've seen, it's ATMOS + TrueHD + core. In EU, it seems some have DD+, but in place of what? TrueHD? I'd expect if a user's AVR doesn't support ATMOS, it would output as TrueHD (as in my case), and then if no HD audio, as core DD5.1. Basically, I'd expect there to be backwards compatibility or fallbacks that work, but just guessing. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - noggin - 2016-03-26 (2016-03-26, 15:06)hdmkv Wrote: In the U.S., with the few BD's I've seen, it's ATMOS + TrueHD + core. In EU, it seems some have DD+, but in place of what? TrueHD? I'd expect if a user's AVR doesn't support ATMOS, it would output as TrueHD (as in my case), and then if no HD audio, as core DD5.1. Basically, I'd expect there to be backwards compatibility or fallbacks that work, but just guessing. European releases are often original sound track in Lossless, foreign dubs in high-quality lossy (though sometimes there is also a Lossless French or German track). I think the same is true for Atmos releases. OST in True HD with Atmos, additional language dubs in DD+ with Atmos. (There isn't the bandwith required for multiple True HD tracks) These DD+ with Atmos tracks are separate tracks with different audio and not related to True HD trakcs. The question is whether DD+ with Atmos tracks are output as : DD, DD+ or DD+ with Atmos. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - wesk05 - 2016-03-26 There are at least two titles released for the EU region that have been reported to have secondary audio tracks in Dolby Digital Plus Atmos (American Sniper, Everest). There could be many more titles out there. Dolby Atmos does work with the passthrough v16 build and also with SPMC. In Kodi v17.0 all Dolby Digital Plus tracks are decoded to PCM. So, there will be no Atmos from Dolby Digital Plus. The reason given by @fritsch was that FFmpeg cannot correctly identify 5.1 vs 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus and also some other reason that I can't remember now. As for the Q10 Pro, if it cannot passthrough Dolby Digital Plus from it's native video player, it is definitely something that needs to be fixed in firmware. You could try SPMC 16.1.2 and see whether it is any different. Here is a sample with Dolby Digital Plus Atmos (the third track) - Unbroken Dolby Digital Plus Sample All the tracks in Dolby Atmos demo discs have secondary Dolby Digital Plus Atmos. If the Dolby Atmos samples provided in the Wiki are direct copies from the disc, they will have Dolby Digital Plus Atmos. BTW, those dropbox links are dead. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - ArieS - 2016-03-26 As always, great detailed review hdmkv. So does this new player finally have a Stop button and it now supports chapters in mkv? Regarding DD+ Atmos, I believe some movies on Hulu on Demand have this kind of audio track. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - wesk05 - 2016-03-26 (2016-03-26, 21:55)ArieS Wrote: Regarding DD+ Atmos, I believe some movies on Hulu on Demand have this kind of audio track.Hulu? I don't think so. All Dolby Atmos movies on Vudu are with Dolby Digital Plus, but then that is available only on Roku. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - hdmkv - 2016-03-26 (2016-03-26, 21:55)ArieS Wrote: As always, great detailed review hdmkv.Thanks. No to 'stop' button as it's the same meh remote HiMedia seems to love, but yes to chapter support in MKV. (2016-03-26, 21:50)wesk05 Wrote: In Kodi v17.0 all Dolby Digital Plus tracks are decoded to PCM. I'm getting no audio at all with DD+ with @afedchin's MVC Kodi 17 builds. Guessing same would happen w/regular Windows builds. Let me try SPMC 16.1.2 on Q10 Pro, and see what happens w/DD+ 5.1 and 7.1. RE: HiMedia Q5 Pro / Q10 Pro with Kodi: Reviews & User Impressions - BORIStheBLADE - 2016-03-27 Awesome man!! Thanks for the review. |