UGoos AM6B+ - End-Game 4K Media Streamer (for me anyway, and anyone who cares about Dolby Vision playback)

[pat bateman]

I value it for multiroom, metadata, many endpoint support and remote access. I paid the fixed cost as it is very important to me for all my ripped CDs and music downloads stored on my Synology NAS. You can also connect Qobuz and Tidal streaming.

Tidal just announced on Monday, it’s terminating its integration with Plex. The cofounder of Plex implied it was Tidal’s decision, and employees have flat out said it was Tidals decision. It’s an odd decision considering Tidal could use all the subscribers it can get. Plex monthly is half the cost of Roon, and lifetime is 1/8 the cost, so hopefully the premium price for Roon will ensure Tidal integration stays.

 

[HomerJAU]

I'd quite like to know the answer to same question for the Ugoos AM6B+?

If using Kodi then SACD/DSF etc is converted to PCM.

I had it on my list to look at allowing passthrough in Kodi but since I don’t play SACD ISO, DFF, DSF etc I doubt I’ll do anything, as my SACDs have been converted to FLAC.

 

[SeeMoreDigital]

If using Kodi then SACD/DSF etc is converted to PCM.

I had it on my list to look at allowing passthrough in Kodi but since I don’t play SACD ISO, DFF, DSF etc I doubt I’ll do anything, as my SACDs have been converted to FLAC.

I'm sure I can provide you some multi-channel dsd64 samples if you need them

 

[dabl]

Seconded on the interest in Kodi dsd passthrough and providing sample files HomerJAU.

That would be heroic feat indeed and celebrated around the world by the remaining freaks still clinging to the 'magic' of dsd

As I understand it, I the hurdle may be the HDMI interface on the AVR requiring some kind of officially supported secret handshake, ie from a device like a licensed blu-ray player. Due to that I believe the focus for such a way to do this on the pc side for example back in the day was some kind of driver to supplement or replace the one being used. No small feat to be sure. But I may be totally wrong or behind on this these days. Maybe the secret handshake is out there somewhere.

 

[steelydave]

It appears that the CoreElec team has now managed to get full Dolby Vision playback working on a number of other Amlogic chipsets: s905x2, s922x, s905x4:

(More information on their official forum post here.)

Homatics Box R Plus 352 / Dune HD R Plus 352 / Rocktek G2 53 / Nokia 8010 (s905x4-k)
Dune HD Premier 4K Pro (s905x4-k)
Ugoos X4Q Extra (s905x4-j)
Dune HD Pro Vision 4K (s905x4-j)
Tencent Aurora 4 Pro (s905x4-j)
Kinhank G1 (s905x4-j)
Amazon FireTV Cube 2nd gen (s922z)
Minix U22X-J (s922x-j)

I can't vouch for any of these boxes beyond saying I'm still thrilled with how CoreElec works on my AM6b+, but if you have one of these you might want to investigate installing or dual-booting CoreElec - it looks like some of them are cheaper than the AM6b+ too if you're thinking about dipping your toe into this water and money is an issue.

 

[bobtimms]

I have an AM6B+ also and its excellent - also the VS10 unofficial is great (for me anyway). I also ordered the Homatics Box as it has Android TV and is Netflix-Amazon-Apple certified and hopefully can replace my Shield. The AM6B+ has replaced my Zidoo - better picture for me anyway. Maybe because its true Display Led.

 

[paligap]

With my limited knowledge, at first glance, this unit looks similar to my Vero 4K+, which I use mostly to listen to music, but occasionally, I'll watch a concert. I'm sure there are differences, but I'll keep this unit in mind if I ever need a replacement.

 

[gorman]

Happy owner of three of these boxes. Two in use, one in storage.

Would definitely recommend.

 

[minimumtumbleweed]

Bought one today for $135... Let's hope it's worth it!

 

[ted_b]

Yes us AM6B+ w/ CoreElec ( CPM’s A10 in my case) users are quite active on the AVSforum thread

Thanks @steelydave for starting this thread here.

 

[HomerJAU]

You only need the CPM build to convert to/from DolbyVision. (For example I use it to play HDR10+ movies as DolbyVision as my TV does not play HDR+). Only about 50% of DolbyVision releases have FEL and sometimes that layer carries no significant data.

For Music and normal video use (including DolbyVision with FEL) just use latest CoreElec 21 NG version. This version plays HDR10+ using the core HDR10 layer).

 

[minimumtumbleweed]

Well, setting this device up is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. I'm a very tech-savvy person and love mucking around with settings and command lines as much as the next guy, but I can see how this would not be for everyone. My goal with this box was to create an ecosystem for ripped movies and music that everyone in my family can easily use. I think I have finally achieved that (mostly). The way that worked best for me was installing CoreElec on ceEMC as dual-boot, adding the plex4kodimod app, having the device boot directly into Plex, and then using my SHIELD as the server for Plex (I don't have a NAS, so this ended up being a cheap workaround, since I already have the SHIELD for all my other streaming). Configuring remotes was probably the biggest pain, but finally managed to get my universal remote to work with it so we'll see how many complaints I get from the family now.

 

[timothyemerson]

Well, setting this device up is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. I'm a very tech-savvy person and love mucking around with settings and command lines as much as the next guy, but I can see how this would not be for everyone. My goal with this box was to create an ecosystem for ripped movies and music that everyone in my family can easily use. I think I have finally achieved that (mostly). The way that worked best for me was installing CoreElec on ceEMC as dual-boot, adding the plex4kodimod app, having the device boot directly into Plex, and then using my SHIELD as the server for Plex (I don't have a NAS, so this ended up being a cheap workaround, since I already have the SHIELD for all my other streaming). Configuring remotes was probably the biggest pain, but finally managed to get my universal remote to work with it so we'll see how many complaints I get from the family now.

Good to hear more feedback on this machine. I'm still on the fence about purchasing another media player but this player and the BlueTooth remote are in my aliexpress cart awaiting a few more clicks. CoreElec install procedure kinda puts me off - the older I get, I just can't be bothered messing around with yet another device!

 

[timothyemerson]

Ali Express are selling this with the Bluetooth remote cheap at the mo ($300 NZD including shipping) so I've made the purchase.

 

[timothyemerson]

Internet says mine's in the back of the courier's van now so should hopefully arrive in the next few days.
CoreElec image on a USB drive ready to go.
Batteries for the IR and BT remotes charged.
Instructions for CoreElec install read about 10 times in preparation.
Kinda looking forward to a new device even though Zidoo Z9X has been relatively stable enough over the past few years.

 

[HomerJAU]

Welcome to the Kodi world!

I can make an image from my setup (Kodi completely set up, except you need to tell it where your media is located).

 

[timothyemerson]

Welcome to the Kodi world!

I can make an image from my setup (Kodi completely set up, except you need to tell i where your media is located).

Thanks Garry. Kodi's totally new to me so I'll have a crack at everything once I've got the machine all up and running (and PM you if I get stuck - ha!).

 

[timothyemerson]

Hey gang. The machine arrived and I managed to get CoreElec installed but have hit a few brick walls that I'm hoping y'all might be able to assist with. I've checked the troubleshooting section in the CoreElec wiki but haven't managed to fix what's below. Here's what I'm experiencing with CoreElec:

1. I had remote control woes so had to do the remote config thing for the UR02 Bluetooth remote. This has allowed the UR02 Bluetooth remote to work when I boot the device in CoreElec mode but it only works in IR mode. It won't pair with the Bluetooth functionality of the UR02 remote when in CoreElec mode. Bluetooth works when I boot the device the non-CoreElec/standard way though.

2. I've also noticed it dropping the remote control functionality completely too although this is intermittent and I can't always replicate it. I've had to resort to plugging a PC mouse into one of the USB ports which allows control when the remote functionality stops, but I've also had it drop the mouse functionality too and there's nothing left to do but power off the machine.

3. It seems to play a 1080 MKV OK although can't seem to handle the PCM 5.1 audio track that I have in one of my "problem" rips (There Will Be Blood - it's only a problem as I haven't found a device that can handle PCM 5.1 audio from a MKV). There's a 5.1 Dolby Digital stream in this MKV too but I can't for the life of me figure out how to select it using the UR02 Bluetooth remote.

4. Similar to switching audio streams, I can't see where to switch on/off subtitles using the UR02 Bluetooth remote.

5. When I try to play a 4K MKV, the audio plays but the screen is black - no image. I can't back out of it or do anything to stop the MKV from playing other than switching off the Ugoos. I've tried different resolution/frame rate combinations but nothing seems to work.

 

[HomerJAU]

Ok. Good to hear you have it running:

1, Bluetooth remote in Kodi needs to be paired with CoreElec in the CoreElec Settings screen, in Kodi Settings.

2. Should be solved with 1

3. In Kodi Settings set it to Expert by clicking on the text at very bottom left in the Kodi Settings screen. By default it’s in ‘Standard’ or similar name. Each click on that name changes to next level. You want Expert.

Now go the Sytem Stettings and set Audio to Passthrough and set the AVR setting to allow the advanced codecs, TrueHD, DTS HD etc if you have a modern AVR enable all those.

4. When the movie/video is playing, click enter/select remote button and an on screen menu pops up, one allows selection of sub, one audio streams, I always save my MKVs with the subs and audio I want set to default. Then no need to select in Kodi. In fact I usually mux them with foreign language audio and subs removed (smaller files). MMH Chapter editor tool allows default audio stream editing without a slow remux.

5. Set Kodi video settings to allow 4K and set the DolbyVision setting too.

I hope that’s enough for you to work it out.

Eventually you want to move your CoreElec to the Ugoos eMMC, it’s faster than usb. But get CoreElec working first.

Garry

 

[timothyemerson]

Ok. Good to hear you have it running:

1, Bluetooth remote in Kodi needs to be paired with CoreElec in the CoreElec Settings screen, in Kodi Settings.

2. Should be solved with 1

3. In Kodi Settings set it to Expert by clicking on the text at very bottom left in the Kodi Settings screen. By default it’s in ‘Standard’ or similar name. Each click on that name changes to next level. You want Expert.

Now go the Sytem Stettings and set Audio to Passthrough and set the AVR setting to allow the advanced codecs, TrueHD, DTS HD etc if you have a modern AVR enable all those.

4. When the movie/video is playing, click enter/select remote button and an on screen menu pops up, one allows selection of sub, one audio streams, I always save my MKVs with the subs and audio I want set to default. Then no need to select in Kodi. In fact I usually mux them with foreign language audio and subs removed (smaller files). MMH Chapter editor tool allows default audio stream editing without a slow remux.

5. Set Kodi video settings to allow 4K and set the DolbyVision setting too.

I hope that’s enough for you to work it out.

Eventually you want to move your CoreElec to the Ugoos eMMC, it’s faster than usb. But get CoreElec working first.

Garry

Thanks for this Garry. Here's how far I got last night based on your advice:

1. PCM 5.1 is now playing correctly from MKV.

2. I managed to get the UR02 Bluetooth remote paired by deleting the connection and then re-pairing it (with the aid of a USB mouse plugged into the back of the Ugoos - quite the rigmarole!). Everything worked well but it dropped the BT connection at some point leaving only the IR connection. I repeated the USB mouse/delete UR02 Bluetooth remote/re-pair and it didn't drop it again. Definitely something weird going on there but I'll leave it for now.

3. "5. Set Kodi video settings to allow 4K and set the DolbyVision setting too."

I couldn't find any specific Dolby Vision setting anywhere but ended up doing the following:
In Settings / System | Display and under Whitelist, I selected 3840x2160p 24.00Hz and this allowed the 4K MKV with DV to play and to actually display the video.

However, it was skipping frames every few seconds which is unwatchable so I tried other resolution/frame rate combinations in the Whitelist but they all resulted in a blank screen with audio playing when I tried to play the 4K MKV with DV.

When I add every resolution/frame rate combination to the Whitelist, this still results in a blank screen.

I switched on the 2 other options in the Whitelist section (Allow 3:2 pulldown refresh rates and Allow double refresh rates) to see if that worked but it didn't - still a blank screen.

Not sure what the problem could be here but in my Zidoo Z9X, I select Match frame rate only and that allows everything to play correctly without any frame skipping, so I'm guessing there's some frame rate weirdness happening in CoreElec.

Any further advice would be mucho appreciated!