[Avds]

Is the amazon firetv you refer to the stick or box as in amazon fire tv 2?

[nickr]

Odroid c2

[phreedumb]

Is the amazon firetv you refer to the stick or box as in amazon fire tv 2?

it's the original stick (gen 1)

[wrxtasy]

Hi guys, fantastic discussion in the thread!

I've been lurking for months (probably over a year now, actually almost 2 years http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=220581) to replace my aging Fire TV Stick (gen1). It is connected over 2.4Ghz Wifi to my Asus RT-AC87R router (5Ghz compatible) in the next room (so good signal strength), running 16.1 Kodi and SMB shares from USB2 hdd shared from Asus router). My tv is a 55" LG OLED 4K HDR (HDMI2 compatible).

I waited until CES for the new nVidia Shield however was disappointed in the lack on new hardware. Likewise, the Amazon Fire TV 2 is over a year old and I was waiting for some new tech/hardware.

My current issues;
720p and 1080p x264 files are buffering and locking up Kodi (reboot, or stop start file fixes it)
unable to play x265 HEVC files
I see micro-stuttering (not sure if dropping frames related to network, or performance)
Kodi is hacked to run (pressing HOME drops back to Amazon GUI)

My new requirements;
smooth playback
4k playback (TV is HDR compatible so HDR would be good to have)
'point anywhere' remote support
Kodi/LibreELEC/equivalent (wife friendly)

Nice to have;
emulation gaming (Mario Kart 64 for example)

I've narrowed it down to (note, I'm a tech/bleeding edge nerd-burger, but also a tight-arse )
Xiaomi Mi Box - $69 (next week)
nVidia Shield - $199 (preorder, god knows when)
Amazon Fire TV 2 - $89 (available Feb-1, other models are available earlier)

then, buying a bluetooth game controller, and upgrading my USB2 hdd to USB3 (not sure if necessary, but running out of free space).

I think I'll buy the Mi Box but need someone to validate my purchase/decision

OR...

Buy a new i3/i5 NUC (running all front and "backend" services on it)

So you have a HDR TV that you would like to take advantage of ?
Have you read the following ?

Q. I need HDR10 and 4K video playback support ?
Have you got all your HDR10 hardware ducks in a row ?
Cut through the Marketing B.S. and read what is required and where to get properly encoded HDR content in this post.

If you have you would realise that only the nVIDIA Shield will give you the Netflix and Amazon HDR content that you want. Its only now that the Android Nougat Software on it is finally catching up with the top spec Hardware in it.

New Shields are already being dispatched and delivered.

The Mi Box will get nice smooth video playback once Kodi (auto) dynamic refresh switching is working. We need new Firmware for that. You get 3:2 pulldown judder at the moment for 23.976fps video output at 60Hz. You can manually switch to 1080/2160p 24Hz for smooth video but thats a PITA.

The Shield and the Mi Box are the only two Android devices that meet the new Google IEC Audio standard that is required for passthrough audio from Kodi Krypton onwards. This thread has details on that.
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=...pid2500473

I cannot recommend any Amazon devices for those that need full passthrough Audio support when using Kodi Krypton.

[phreedumb]

So you have a HDR TV that you would like to take advantage of ?
Have you read the following ?

Q. I need HDR10 and 4K video playback support ?
Have you got all your HDR10 hardware ducks in a row ?
Cut through the Marketing B.S. and read what is required and where to get properly encoded HDR content in this post.

If you have you would realise that only the nVIDIA Shield will give you the Netflix and Amazon HDR content that you want. Its only now that the Android Nougat Software on it is finally catching up with the top spec Hardware in it.

New Shields are already being dispatched and delivered.

The Mi Box will get nice smooth video playback once Kodi (auto) dynamic refresh switching is working. We need new Firmware for that. You get 3:2 pulldown judder at the moment for 23.976fps video output at 60Hz. You can manually switch to 1080/2160p 24Hz for smooth video but thats a PITA.

The Shield and the Mi Box are the only two Android devices that meet the new Google IEC Audio standard that is required for passthrough audio from Kodi Krypton onwards. This thread has details on that.
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=...pid2500473

I cannot recommend any Amazon devices for those that need full passthrough Audio support when using Kodi Krypton.

I missed reading that, bad student - I just have the TV and whatever I plug into it (no receiver, nor external sound system/soundbar). I don't use the streaming services/apps, and play all files locally (I'm guessing that takes usable HDR off the table?).

[phreedumb]

Odroid c2

Only IR (not bluetooth) and no WiFi (though probably could add both via USB? Also, USB is only USB2.

Can you run 'ancillary' services (Usenet clients, etc) in the background to running LibreELEC?

[wrxtasy]

The C2 has a AML S905 that does not support HDR. You need a AML S905X like there is in the Mi Box for HDR.
Realtek (see Hardkernel website) USB WiFi dongles can be added to C2. Any cheap CSR 4.0 BT dongle works as well.

Wireless remotes added to any Kodi box are superior to IR only remotes.

USB3 not needed unless transferring file to connected USB HDD over a home network. USB2 has more than enough bandwidth to hand High Bitrate 2160p (4K)

No Usenet clients either on the C2 with LE. You really should be using a Linux Box if wanting to run other non LibreELEC services.

If you want to experiment with HDR - running test clips on a repeat loop - till boredom sets in. On the cheap, with good AC WiFi and Bluetooth with an excellent remote, the Mi Box is good value. Once it gets Kodi dynamic refresh rate switching sorted out for ultra smooth video playback (AML are working on it), it will be a no brainer Android TV OS - budget device purchase for semi serious Kodi users.

There is a lot of good work now being done by AMLogic in consultation with Kodi developers to fix long standing bugs & meet required Android standards. As well, AML LibreELEC is the best I've ever seen AML Kodi Krypton run with the beta releases we are testing on the C2.

All these AML Android benefits coming down the pipe mean diddly squat if users continue to purchase crap AML Android devices from Ship and Forget Asian companies that provide no, or incompetant after sales Firmware support.

[phreedumb]

All these AML Android benefits coming down the pipe mean diddly squat if users continue to purchase crap AML Android devices from Ship and Forget Asian companies that provide no, or incompetant after sales Firmware support.

Agreed, I like getting software updates that continue to improve (or at least maintain) my investment. What about the new Celeron NUC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXYZ8V5/ref...DybV8SRGT9

I could deprecate my MacBook Pro which is a glorified webserver (usenet etc) and file shepherd-er to the shared USB on the router. All in one?

[Ruk12345]

With the new Nvidia shields coming. The 199.99 model says no IR support and the 299.99 has IR support.

My question is based any only users of the gen 1 Shield will a USB FLIRC dongle work on the 199.99 shield? As I have ZERO need for any feature the 299. Offers aside from the IR.

Thanks for input

[wrxtasy]

All these AML Android benefits coming down the pipe mean diddly squat if users continue to purchase crap AML Android devices from Ship and Forget Asian companies that provide no, or incompetent after sales Firmware support.

Agreed, I like getting software updates that continue to improve (or at least maintain) my investment. What about the new Celeron NUC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXYZ8V5/ref...DybV8SRGT9

I could deprecate my MacBook Pro which is a glorified webserver (usenet etc) and file shepherd-er to the shared USB on the router. All in one?

You will have to search in the Intel Apollo Lake thread for j3455 board users to see if 10 bit HEVC hardware decoding is working in Windows or LibreELEC and HDMI 2.0 is working properly.

[lama0900]

.......Once it gets Kodi dynamic refresh rate switching sorted out for ultra smooth video playback (AML are working on it)......

Wasn't that promised already in the release notes from Kodi when saying "to get EVERYTHING in order"?
For me everything does not only include passthrough audio? Especially when saying "they EVEN went as far as adding...".

Over the past months with the help of MINIX we have been working closely with the Amlogic to get everything in order and we can say Android Marshmallow and onward will have the best experience possible for devices containing these chipsets.

So AMLogic should be done with that already, not still working on that?

[Mackmiller974]

Hey I was looking into getting a android box for my kodi builds. I already have them on my phone and labtop. I'm not really looking to send much money in case I do not like them. But I would like a half decent one if I do ended up liking them

[_J@n_]

Hey I was looking into getting a android box for my kodi builds. I already have them on my phone and labtop. I'm not really looking to send much money in case I do not like them. But I would like a half decent one if I do ended up liking them

Get a C2. Runs KODI like a charm and doesn't cost too much. Plays almost everything you can throw at it.

[Cozmo85]

Currently using a chromebox. Is an nvidia shield as good as a chromebox at this point for kodi? Especially related to audio.

I send everything through a receiver so I need full audio support which was my problem with the mi box.

Only using 1080p. No plans for 4k in the near future.

I also want proper 24/25hz playback.

[phreedumb]

Ordered the new Shield on the basis that;
1) it's far more powerful (3-4x)
2) I got a $20 employee discount (Amazon), and Prime shipping
3) for $110 extra than the Mi Box (delivered), ~$40-50 of that would have been for a controller (which comes with the Shield anyway).

Thanks for the help thus far