2017-08-21, 11:07
There are now quite a number of cheap Android Kodi media players on the market coming out with Android Nougat 7.x Firmware that are pretty capable Kodi 10bit hardware decode capable devices - like the AMLogic S905x Xiaomi Mi Box and MECOOL M8S Pro Plus.
Users of such boxes usually only have 2.x Audio too, so care little for AC3 / DTS Audio passthrough. Nor care little for 4K video.
Usually what is broken in Android Firmware when using Android Kodi Krypton on these cheap devices is Kodi dynamic refresh switching. That enable's Kodi to switch a TV's refresh rate to match that of the source video's Framerate (fps) resulting in nice smooth video playback without the usual 3:2 pulldown video panning judder.
Well there is a solution that will satisfy 95% of video playback cases with such Android devices, it's Kodi's - Sync Playback to Display setting.
The Setup (using Kodi 17.3 – SPMC 16.7.x is similar):
1) Android Settings > Display > Screen Resolution > 1080p50hz (this is essential before starting Kodi)
2) Kodi Settings > Player Settings > Videos > Adjust display refresh rate > OFF
3) Sync Playback to display > ON
4) Kodi Settings > System > Audio > Resample Quality > High or Medium
So what's happening ?
"Sync Playback to Display" alters the video playback speed so that it matches the display's refresh rate.
(ie. Android Settings > Screen resolution)
You may notice an Audio Pitch change right at the very start of video playback as audio is resampled and synced.
Eg. 23.976fps video (most movies & US TV series) are sped up to be approx. 4% faster to sync with 25/50 fps.
Upside:
--> TV Settings Motion Interpolation can now be turned down to minimal or OFF - reducing the picture "Soap Opera" Effect
--> Much quicker video playback startup and sync.
--> 25 / 50fps video content from the UK, Europe, Aus & NZ etc now has silky smooth video playback.
Downside:
--> 59.94 / 60Hz video playback is now worse. I have very little of this video content with that framerate anyway.
--> Because Audio is being resampled you loose all Audio Passthrough capabilities.
--> Tested this method with 4K video and playback was not smooth.
--> Netflix and Youtube & other Android Apps may require 1080p60Hz to be reset in Android settings again, for decent video playback Sync.
W.
Users of such boxes usually only have 2.x Audio too, so care little for AC3 / DTS Audio passthrough. Nor care little for 4K video.
Usually what is broken in Android Firmware when using Android Kodi Krypton on these cheap devices is Kodi dynamic refresh switching. That enable's Kodi to switch a TV's refresh rate to match that of the source video's Framerate (fps) resulting in nice smooth video playback without the usual 3:2 pulldown video panning judder.
Well there is a solution that will satisfy 95% of video playback cases with such Android devices, it's Kodi's - Sync Playback to Display setting.
The Setup (using Kodi 17.3 – SPMC 16.7.x is similar):
1) Android Settings > Display > Screen Resolution > 1080p50hz (this is essential before starting Kodi)
2) Kodi Settings > Player Settings > Videos > Adjust display refresh rate > OFF
3) Sync Playback to display > ON
4) Kodi Settings > System > Audio > Resample Quality > High or Medium
So what's happening ?
"Sync Playback to Display" alters the video playback speed so that it matches the display's refresh rate.
(ie. Android Settings > Screen resolution)
You may notice an Audio Pitch change right at the very start of video playback as audio is resampled and synced.
Eg. 23.976fps video (most movies & US TV series) are sped up to be approx. 4% faster to sync with 25/50 fps.
Upside:
--> TV Settings Motion Interpolation can now be turned down to minimal or OFF - reducing the picture "Soap Opera" Effect
--> Much quicker video playback startup and sync.
--> 25 / 50fps video content from the UK, Europe, Aus & NZ etc now has silky smooth video playback.
Downside:
--> 59.94 / 60Hz video playback is now worse. I have very little of this video content with that framerate anyway.
--> Because Audio is being resampled you loose all Audio Passthrough capabilities.
--> Tested this method with 4K video and playback was not smooth.
--> Netflix and Youtube & other Android Apps may require 1080p60Hz to be reset in Android settings again, for decent video playback Sync.
W.
