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Author Topic: Q10 Pro or Shield  (Read 7085 times)

JohnnyBoyIsMe

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Q10 Pro or Shield
« on: July 18, 2018, 06:50:29 AM »
Hi,

I have had a Q10 Pro for about 3months and really like it. I have found out that i have a problem with the unit and have been offered either a replacement unit or refund.

It looks like the shield his highly recommended but is it worth the extra $$

My main uses are 4k, HDR, 4k-iso, BD-iso playback. 3D is of a lesser concern (i have 3D films, but haven't watched one in over 3 years)

Maybe i'm over thinking it and should just get the replacement Q10 pro, but as the option is there i thought i would ask the question.

Cheers

Phil181

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Re: Q10 Pro or Shield
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2018, 03:01:15 PM »
This is probably the wrong forum to ask about comparison to a media player not sold by Futeko.....
It really depends on what you want it to do and if you are happy with the high quality video output from your Q10?

Summary of Shield issues thanks to the Kodi forum:
NVIDIA Shield (Nougat OS):
No OS/Apps - auto colorspace switching/conversion for correct color outputs for seamless SDR / 4K HDR usage.
Relatively poor 1080p > 4K hardware upscaled picture quality vs the competition and what a 4K TV can output using it's superior upscaling hardware.
Alpha (meaning a bit buggy) Kodi Leia 18.x (& soon MrMC) can work around this poor upscaling with auto 4K <<-->>1080p resolution switching, however then....
Colorspace 4K HDR >> SDR will still be a problem and what about picture upscaling for other non Kodi Apps ?
Broken unreliable/deinterlacing for Kodi Krypton PVR Addons. Use Alpha versions of Kodi Leia 18.x instead.
For Apps usage - only Kodi, MrMC, Plex and Emby can auto refresh switch for smooth video playback.
Issues with 4K HDR & HD Audio passthrough if using Ethernet, click HERE for details.
Be aware the Shield has no Dolby Audio licence, so Apos that stream 5.1 DD+ Audio like Netflix and Amazon Video needs a HDMI connected DD+ audio receiver. Otherwise expect 2.0 audio only from such Apps.
No 4K HDR YouTube. 4K SDR only.
Android TV Oreo OS - Shield Colorspace testing conducted over HERE (click) by @wesk05
HDR to SDR or BT.2020 to BT.709 conversions not yet checked.
Oreo - Colorspace issues still being reported when used with a variety of 4K HDR displays, see HERE (click) for details.

stl

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Re: Q10 Pro or Shield
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2018, 03:16:11 PM »
I've never had a Shield but thought a lot in buying one before. For me the hardware wouldn't work, lack of internal hard disk, TOSLINK, analog outputs etc, it's always good to have options.
From what I've read the software for the Shield  is better developed but also more limited in some aspects because it's running Android TV.
There are no perfect Android boxes, read reviews and watch some videos. What's best for me isn't necessarily what's best for you.

JohnnyBoyIsMe

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Re: Q10 Pro or Shield
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2018, 03:05:43 AM »
This is probably the wrong forum to ask about comparison to a media player not sold by Futeko.....
It really depends on what you want it to do and if you are happy with the high quality video output from your Q10?

Summary of Shield issues thanks to the Kodi forum:
NVIDIA Shield (Nougat OS):
No OS/Apps - auto colorspace switching/conversion for correct color outputs for seamless SDR / 4K HDR usage.
Relatively poor 1080p > 4K hardware upscaled picture quality vs the competition and what a 4K TV can output using it's superior upscaling hardware.
Alpha (meaning a bit buggy) Kodi Leia 18.x (& soon MrMC) can work around this poor upscaling with auto 4K <<-->>1080p resolution switching, however then....
Colorspace 4K HDR >> SDR will still be a problem and what about picture upscaling for other non Kodi Apps ?
Broken unreliable/deinterlacing for Kodi Krypton PVR Addons. Use Alpha versions of Kodi Leia 18.x instead.
For Apps usage - only Kodi, MrMC, Plex and Emby can auto refresh switch for smooth video playback.
Issues with 4K HDR & HD Audio passthrough if using Ethernet, click HERE for details.
Be aware the Shield has no Dolby Audio licence, so Apos that stream 5.1 DD+ Audio like Netflix and Amazon Video needs a HDMI connected DD+ audio receiver. Otherwise expect 2.0 audio only from such Apps.
No 4K HDR YouTube. 4K SDR only.
Android TV Oreo OS - Shield Colorspace testing conducted over HERE (click) by @wesk05
HDR to SDR or BT.2020 to BT.709 conversions not yet checked.
Oreo - Colorspace issues still being reported when used with a variety of 4K HDR displays, see HERE (click) for details.
Thanks for the in depth reply.

I have read quite a bit on the topic and decided to go for the Q10 pro again. I know the product quite well now and its shortcomings.

I guess the main thing that was tempting me to the dark side was the 4k netflix, potential gaming and larger user base.

But in saying that, my TV has built in 4k netflix,  i dont think i have turned on my gaming console for 3years and this forum has been helpful.

Plus was $150 /$250 cheaper depending on the model you go for.


So now to send back the defective Q10 and wait for the new one to arrive.

Cheers

rebelltl2012

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Re: Q10 Pro or Shield
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2018, 03:04:17 AM »
This is probably the wrong forum to ask about comparison to a media player not sold by Futeko.....
It really depends on what you want it to do and if you are happy with the high quality video output from your Q10?
hi,

i hope this not too much but since a thread like this started, maybe i can ask a quick similar question, get some comments.

i have been using q10pro for 1.5 years now, firmware 2.0.8, totally satisfied with it.
used for playback of 1080p/2160p hdr BMDV mainly and live streaming.
i am looking for another unit for similar purposes and was tossing with the idea of getting a minix u9h.
after checking a bit, i am not at all sure if i should do that as i do want my BDMV's to play easily and smoothly.

1. Can u advise if that minix can handle BDMV nicely: 2160p HDR, autoframe switch, HD audio/atmos/dtsx, subtitles, etc like Q10pro?
2. Does it have a good native player or it relies on Kodi or MX for local playback?
3. Does this minix do samba wifi well with 50, 90, 100mbps bit rate files?

TQVM!

Mount81

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Re: Q10 Pro or Shield
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2018, 03:27:28 AM »
This is probably the wrong forum to ask about comparison to a media player not sold by Futeko.....
It really depends on what you want it to do and if you are happy with the high quality video output from your Q10?
hi,

i hope this not too much but since a thread like this started, maybe i can ask a quick similar question, get some comments.

i have been using q10pro for 1.5 years now, firmware 2.0.8, totally satisfied with it.
used for playback of 1080p/2160p hdr BMDV mainly and live streaming.
i am looking for another unit for similar purposes and was tossing with the idea of getting a minix u9h.
after checking a bit, i am not at all sure if i should do that as i do want my BDMV's to play easily and smoothly.

1. Can u advise if that minix can handle BDMV nicely: 2160p HDR, autoframe switch, HD audio/atmos/dtsx, subtitles, etc like Q10pro?
2. Does it have a good native player or it relies on Kodi or MX for local playback?
3. Does this minix do samba wifi well with 50, 90, 100mbps bit rate files?

TQVM!

Maybe there will be others to answer all the other questions from self experience, but this is what I could recall according:

Minix uses their own specialized KODI fork (XBMC) for playback (so no Wrapper and other stock player this time).
Minix has a quite good Wi-Fi, but there is always a gamble when wireless networking is concerned. Relies on many incalculable environmental things, that you can't state anything for sure in advance, without testing it within the concrete circumstances.

If the Box would fail on something regarding video playback on the stock Android system for you, you can try to install and use a free "media playback only" OS called Libre Elec (or it's successor the Core Elec) on this Minix Box, that has nothing else, than a single (but full-feature) and highly optimized KODI integrated, which considered as a well working 4K / HDR / HD audio playback solution and extends widely the possibilities of having a good media Box.  You can even keep the stock Android OS, as you can install and keep the LE or CE on an SD card and thus' even have a dual OS boot system.
« Last Edit: July 22, 2018, 03:33:48 AM by Mount81 »

HereIsTom

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Re: Q10 Pro or Shield
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2018, 11:56:29 AM »
HiMedia Q10 Pro | ATV 2.1.7 | Kodi 18.9 | Rii i8 Plus | Harmony Ultimate One | Pioneer VSX-934 | Sony 55A89 4K Android TV

rebelltl2012

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Re: Q10 Pro or Shield
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2018, 03:43:22 PM »

 

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