WeTek Core (24p HD Netflix / HD Audio / Lollipop / OpenELEC / 4K / HEVC)
Updated January 20, 2016

Here's my review of the WeTek Core... Still haven't gotten to 4K testing on Core (does 4K@30) as yet, and compare vs. nVidia Shield TV (does 4K@60).

Grades:
  • A- (under Android)
  • B+ (under OpenELEC)
Re-tested with WeTek OS v1.0.1 firmware for Android OS w/private HD audio-to-PCM audio test patch (will be made public shortly, via WeTek's next OTA update). Testing for OpenELEC was with build 7.0.0 (Kodi v16.0 beta5).



// Evaluation under Android w/PCM Test Patch //

Highlights:
  • Proper 23.976 playback
  • Excellent PQ
  • HD audio now supported! See details here. Booyah! Big Grin
  • Well built & packaged
  • Simple/clean UI & functions (Android 5.x Lollipop)
    → Google's official Android TV UI now made available as option (works great; get @ WeTek's forum)
  • Netflix for Android TV in HD (modified build; see wrxtasy's post #1)
  • YouTube up to 4K
  • Excellent support!
  • Quite reliable now (only minor issues left really)
  • Reasonably priced
Areas for Improvements:
  • With PCM patch, DD+ 7.1 is output as PCM 5.1. DD+ 7.1 isn't common, so not a big deal IMHO (except EU maybe, where oddly a few ATMOS discs are now getting DD+ 7.1 as secondary/core)
  • Koying's MVC hack for AMLogic Sxxx to provide 3D ISO and MVC MKV support is in the works! It's almost working properly via wrxtasy's MVC OpenELEC test build #3 here

Background:

I've wanted a WeTek Core ever since wrxtasy's review was first posted, so I asked (no, make that almost begged WeTek Wink) for a review unit. They kindly sent me one quickly. Just sounded like a terrific little box, and guess what?! It is (for the most part)! It's the best AMLogic S812-based media player to date, jumping ahead of all other AML boxes to date! Read on... I'll try not to cover what wrxtasy already did, but expand upon his excellent review.

My Home Theater (and Review) Set-Up: Please see here.

Physical Player & Remote:

Core is professionally put together, packaged. It has a nice build quality, and is quite lightweight without that cheap feeling many Chinese Android TV boxes have. It's really competitively priced for what you get. The player has a beautifully simple form factor. The remote is equally nice, very comfortable to hold, and with all the necessary buttons, except Play/Pause and Stop. However, 'Stop' function can be mapped to the 'Back' key; see wrxtasy's post #1. The remote works via Bluetooth so no line of sight necessary; works really well, and is responsive.

Additionally, the remote has air-mouse capability, which works fairly well (pointer seems a bit fast, but you get used to it). Really hoping WeTek adds Core to Logitech's database so I can program my Harmony One Ultimate to control the Core.

Few Photos:

watch gallery


User Interface (Android Launcher) & Navigation:

With Android 5.x underneath, Core shares a UI similar to nVidia's Shield TV, but it's more simplistic. Perhaps a bit too minimalistic. I wished for captions/labels below icons and such as some weren't quite intuitive. Apparently this is by design, thanks to WeTek developer ChristianTroy's zen-like approach Wink; it takes a little getting used to. Thankfully, WeTek has made Google's official Android TV launcher (same as in nVidia Shield & Nexus Player) available for those who want it. The Core is quite snappy to navigate around, use, thanks to the AMLogic S812 chip inside. In any case, Core is easily the best 'TV' implementation of S812 (or any AMLogic chip) so far.

Kodi 15.2 with fixed, proper 23.976 playback is preinstalled after latest OTA update. YouTube and Aptoide are also preinstalled, but not Netflix. See wrxtasy's post #1 to download the proper Android TV version of Netflix w/HD & 24p output.

Audio/Video Test Results:
  • 23.976 videos play in 23.976 (yay!); my Epson 5025UB shows "23.97". Kodi needs to be set to 'adjust refresh rate' and 24Hz should not be forced via refresh rate switcher app (only needed for Netflix, YouTube or any other video app that can't do 23.976 on its own). I've now watched several 23.976 movies (BD rips in MKV) all the way, and get perfect playback! No skips, speed ups, judders or other annoying artifacts.
  • Excellent picture quality!
  • Full 3D MVC MKV's and 3D ISO's play in 2D mode. WeTek and developers are working to apply uber Android/Kodi developer Koying's MVC hack for AML Sxxx to Core, which will allow full 3D MVC decoding and with half-resolution output (similar to Tronsmart S95 with renegade VidOn's XBMC app, which is a step ahead of others here).
  • HD audio is now supported, with the PCM patch (not yet available publically). See my test results here; be excited! Big Grin It isn't bitstreaming/passthrough, but almost as good decoding & lossless PCM multichannel output!
  • VC-1 23.976 rip plays perfectly (tested with 'Constantine' & '3:10 to Yuma' BD rips).
  • With VC-1 1080i 29.970, as wrxtasy noted in his review with my test clip here, it plays, but with issues. Slight stutters and strobing are noticeable, but thankfully no lip synch issues. It's almost there, and I hope WeTek can fix this, especially as it plays almost perfectly under OpenELEC (see below).
  • Bitrate test clips... very impressive!
    - Birds clip up to 90Mbps played perfectly (and I don't have any higher bitrates).
    - Jellyfish up to 200Mbps played perfectly (whoa!; plenty bandwidth for upcoming 4K Blu-rays); even 255Mbps (highest I have) almost played, but Core strugged with it (not surprising).
  • Android/OpenELEC toggle is awesome! Pop-in a microSD card with WeTek's OpenELEC and you're in that OS. Remove card, and you're back in Android OS. Like having 2x boxes in one.
  • OTA updates are a snap to do.



Please see details & pics here for both OpenELEC tests below...


// Evaluation under WeTek OpenELEC 7.0.0 (Kodi v16.0 beta5) //
  • Previous local network connection (SMB/NFS) issues have been fixed! Able to play videos from shares perfectly.
  • Standard Dolby Digital & DTS 5.1 passthrough fine.
  • Dolby TrueHD 5.1 & 7.1 pass as PCM 2.0.
  • DTS-HD MA 5.1 down-mixes to DTS5.1 fine, and MA7.1 down-mixes (matrixs) to 8-channel output well.
  • LPCM 7.1 & 5.1 is output as 2.0 (under Android, it was a little better as you get all channels except center & sub).
  • PQ is also excellent as under Android OS, and 23.976 is also supported.
  • Birds 90Mbps bitrate sample plays effortlessly; in fact, Jellyfish up to 200Mbps played without stutters (amazing!).
  • With VC-1 1080i 29.970, which played with minor issue under Android (see above), plays better here (wasn't expecting this). Very close to smooth playback (hopefully will be tweaked further here & for Android OS).

// Evaluation under wrxtasy's MVC OpenELEC Test Build #3 //
  • Link to build here.
  • 3D MVC MKV's & 3D ISO's are decoded in full MVC, but as expected rendered (with Koying's MVC hack & AML devices) in half-resolution top/bottom (but the two halves don't combine into a proper 3D picture, so the necessary trigger for the display is missing). Tronsmart's S95 with VidOn app works in similar fashion, but does output in proper 3D.
  • Remaining playback is similar to above OpenELEC with the exception of fixed SMB/NFS (which is missing in this build), so had to resort to sometimes using an attached USB drive for video tests.



Useful Tips & Tricks:
Very impressed with WeTek Core at this point. Core is basically a nVidia Shield for le$$, and it will likely play 3D MVC MKV's & 3D ISO's 3D at some point w/proper 3D output (even if rendered half-rez). This would give Core an edge over Shield, especially as HD audio is now working! Also throw in easy OpenELEC boot option, it's like having 2x Kodi experience options in one box! Pretty darn cool!
[H]i-[d]eft [M]edia [K]een [V]ideosaurus
My Family Room Theater
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Messages In This Thread
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wesk05 - 2015-09-15, 08:36
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by Skank - 2015-09-15, 09:59
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by droidelec - 2015-09-18, 18:11
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by movie78 - 2015-09-18, 18:18
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wesk05 - 2015-09-18, 19:02
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by looun - 2015-09-18, 22:58
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wesk05 - 2015-09-18, 23:39
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by BORIStheBLADE - 2015-09-19, 00:56
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by SilverBlade - 2015-09-19, 02:43
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by noggin - 2015-09-19, 11:13
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wesk05 - 2015-09-19, 20:13
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by movie78 - 2015-09-19, 23:21
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-05, 06:48
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by tomvs123 - 2015-10-09, 23:15
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-10, 02:55
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by tomvs123 - 2015-10-10, 04:19
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by noggin - 2015-10-10, 10:15
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-13, 11:27
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by couto27 - 2015-10-13, 12:40
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-13, 14:33
WeTek Core 4K - by tredman - 2015-10-13, 13:57
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by hdmkv - 2015-10-13, 14:02
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by tomvs123 - 2015-10-13, 14:04
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-13, 15:20
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by hdmkv - 2015-10-13, 15:54
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-13, 17:00
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by gredawarha - 2015-10-13, 15:06
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-13, 15:57
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by vineet381 - 2015-10-13, 15:23
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by tredman - 2015-10-13, 15:27
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by gredawarha - 2015-10-13, 15:29
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by vineet381 - 2015-10-13, 15:44
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by gredawarha - 2015-10-13, 16:53
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by Atinkler - 2015-10-13, 17:04
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-13, 17:38
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by hdmkv - 2015-10-13, 17:06
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by zag - 2015-10-13, 17:06
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by hdmkv - 2015-10-13, 17:10
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by Atinkler - 2015-10-13, 17:43
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-13, 17:56
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by Atinkler - 2015-10-13, 18:06
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by hdmkv - 2015-10-13, 17:44
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by droidelec - 2015-10-13, 17:50
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by wrxtasy - 2015-10-15, 05:56
RE: WeTek Core 4K - by mwake - 2015-11-25, 14:56
RE: WeTek Core (24p HD Netflix / Android Lollipop / OpenELEC / 4K HEVC) - by hdmkv - 2015-12-17, 03:52
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