The Dune HD Real/Pro/Max Vision 4K detailed review

[Nice Monkey]

The review got a first quick read/comment by Dune.
Everybody is invited to do the same. Also grammar corrections are more than welcome.

A relative small number of changes for typo's and corrections are included now.

Now waiting for a Beta update which should come in a few days enabling me to finish the job.
Maybe some pictures will be added too? 

[OlivierQC]

Hello,

A person inquires about zidoo and Dune HD devices.

About audio, he is an audiophile.

About the video, he uses iso/bdmv.

He wonders what is the difference between the Dune HD Ultra Vision 4K and the Dune HD Max Vision 4k, is it only the DAC or is there something else ?

If someone can help us?

See you soon

[Nice Monkey]

Dune MAX <=> Ultra and Zidoo UHD3000 <=> Neo X
UHD3000 is clearly above MAX but if Neo X is also above Ultra? Both designs actually follow the same design principles and use similar components. Would love to try it myself.

It is all about sound and obvious a far bigger front display.

Topnotch sound calls for top quality components and good design all around. That is where the differences are:
The DAC chip itself being the PRO version, all components top quality including two femto precise oscillators, the analog balanced outputs and the Dual Linear PSU's. No they both offer nothing different but everything just a bit better.

On a very good stereo setup with quality audio source material it is easy to perceive.
On average installations using typically a sound bar or equivalent I would not spend my additional good money on it. The law of the weakest link for sure applies here. An old rule of thumb says spend at least 1/3 of your speakers investment amount on your AMP (including an internal/external DAC).
When comparing these media players inclusive DAC with similar audiophile brands/products then they offer really excellent value for money.

Having either one I might be tempted to use it as a dedicated Stereo Music Player relying entirely on the front display plus Smart Phone APP for its control. A dedicated 2.5 inch Music HDD for no audible drive/fan noise disturbance would complete it. It would be attached Analog only to my AMP running in Stereo mode exclusively.
For MCH Music I would use then my Movie/Video media player HDMI attached via the same AMP to my TV.

For the video part there will be hardly a difference if perceivable at all. The better PSU for sure does not harm but if it is the weakest link?

[OlivierQC]

Thanks Nice monkey 

-----------------

About me, I will buy a Dune HD in the next few months, (maybe buy with .) Zidoo not making progress with some of the features they put forward on their website and that are important to me, it seems to me that the Dune HD becomes the box that will suit me best.

I hope you will keep this thread updated as I will rely on your opinion and experience with the Dune HD

See you soon

[Nice Monkey]

About me, I will buy a Dune HD in the next few months, (maybe buy with .) Zidoo not making progress with some of the features they put forward on their website and that are important to me, it seems to me that the Dune HD becomes the box that will suit me best.
I have a bit of a doubt that you are a typical Dune customer?

I hope you will keep this thread updated as I will rely on your opinion and experience with the Dune HD
For sure will.
See you soon
Don't doubt it for a minute

Got Google Services working reliable now but on hold again running into new show stoppers running alternative Music Players.

I hope these will be fixed as quick as the previous. I expect a FW to be released this week.

[Ter0]

Here's on review in french

Use google translate

https://cod-box.net/dune-hd-real-vision-4k-test/

[OlivierQC]

About me, I will buy a Dune HD in the next few months, (maybe buy with .) Zidoo not making progress with some of the features they put forward on their website and that are important to me, it seems to me that the Dune HD becomes the box that will suit me best.
I have a bit of a doubt that you are a typical Dune customer?

You think I might not be satisfied with a Dune HD ?

I hope you will keep this thread updated as I will rely on your opinion and experience with the Dune HD
For sure will.
See you soon
Don't doubt it for a minute

Got Google Services working reliable now but on hold again running into new show stoppers running alternative Music Players.

I hope these will be fixed as quick as the previous. I expect a FW to be released this week.

[OlivierQC]

Here's on review in french

Use google translate

https://cod-box.net/dune-hd-real-vision-4k-test/

Thank you Ter0

A nice review and a comparison with its direct competitor the zidoo Z9X, what he says about the zidoo Z9X seems correct and he made the choice to keep the Dune HD

[Nice Monkey]

Here's on review in french

Use google translate

https://cod-box.net/dune-hd-real-vision-4k-test/

Nice review too. It is very much complimentary to my own which is a lot more technical and detailed.
Do this on purpose. Fortunately their and my conclusion are matching. 
To state it differently if you are basically a KODI fan go Zidoo if you are more of an OPPO fan go Dune. 

Added your link to my own review. Above all for those liking a lot of nice pictures.

[Nice Monkey]

Added use of the info button and the colored remote keys playing BD with Full menu.

Made several other updates and small additions.

[leonkoum]

......... 
Playing without menus (Lite Menu) offers several more features including external subtitles with also a realtime download option for the default language.
Bad enough and qualified as a real shortcoming by me is the fact that external subtitles are not found when playing BD Folders and that neither pointing via the filebrowser to a custom subtitle file with any name is supported.
For sure it does not include many blows and whistles as included by some other brands. I would conclude saying about it "the essential set of features is available" with exception of mentioned external subtitle handling.
........
   

I think that with the latest alpha fw (http://files4.dune-hd.com/tmp/dune_firmware_tv175u_210625_1453_r17.dff) there is some progress!!
Seems Dune is working on it.
Please check and confirm!

[Nice Monkey]

I was running that FW and in fact the last review update is based on it. Added this to the review.

The remark in red is still valid. Menu Full is without external subtitles but Menu Lite supports them just fine if named according the common media player subtitle naming convention correctly.

Now running an RC Dune Internal version to validate 2 more bug fixes reported. That also includes the new GUI. Fixes will be included with the next FW update.

[Nice Monkey]

Thusfar I do like the new GUI and Poster Wall. I am not a real good tester as my requirements are relative low. Use it for movies only and scraping my folders was still fast and accurate enough.

Still need to test some fixes made available to me.

[leonkoum]

Next dig think to do is to add flags (atmos, Dv, dts, 4K ..) in poster wall…
There’s more work to do…

[Nice Monkey]

Next big thing to do is to add flags (atmos, Dv, dts, 4K ..) in poster wall…
There’s more work to do…

There is always more work to do for Poster Walls. 
Everybody wants different things for individual use. 
A big step was made though.

The 2 mentioned problems on my individual list were confirmed by me as solved. 

Updated the review matching the last Alpha available.
The gap between the factory default FW and this Alpha FW has become quite big. Personally I qualify it as a quality Beta to be honest.
 
The big still missing piece is about using external APP's for Streaming services and Music Players.