What box - video AND hi-res audio? - Printable Version +- Kodi Community Forum (https://forum.kodi.tv) +-- Forum: Discussions (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=222) +--- Forum: Hardware (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=112) +--- Thread: What box - video AND hi-res audio? (/showthread.php?tid=314727) |
What box - video AND hi-res audio? - ~Spyne~ - 2017-05-21 Hi all, Brand new here, so hope I'm not asking something that's been answered a millions time already (I did a quick search). My current set-up is all my media is stored on general use PC, which is connected via ethernet through the house to the living room which has the TV and hi-fi system. I've been using PLEX on my Samsung TV (D8000 plasma) for years to play video files from the PC with mostly trouble-free operation until recently I'm getting constant buffering. Nothing in the system or network has changed, speeds all report as OK. Music is streamed from the PC to a Logitech Squeezebox Touch, connected then to an external DAC > amplifier > speakers. With the recent issues with PLEX and the Squeezebox starting to show it's age, what I'd like to do is get a foolproof box that will easily stream media in the same way; as an intermediate between my PC and TV/hi-fi. Easy right, hundreds of solutions out there. The problem seems to be my need for a great music server. All android boxes limit output to 16bit/48kHz As a MINIMUM I need the ability to play raw 24bit/192kHz FLAC, via USB output would be ideal but would settle for coaxial. Even better would be the ability to play/stream DSD files! I was set on the Xiaomi Mi Box but then read it had a (very) locked bootloader, so no chance to run LibreELEC on it (or anything else; volumio, jriver, etc). Any obvious choices out there for what I want? HiMedia Q5 Pro (a wee bit pricey), something else? No need for 3D video playback, no immediate need for 4K playback although it will definitely come in handy in a year or two. Netflix is not a current requirement, but again, would come in handy soon enough. Vast majority of my video media is H264/mp4, but a few MKVs, too. Cheers all, hopefully someone has a solution for me. RE: What box - video AND hi-res audio? - wrxtasy - 2017-05-21 Did you even do ANY reading..... ?? ?? ?? In the obvious place ...... START HERE - Pick the Right Kodi Box (updated May 2017) an extract.....click the links.....read the Q10 Pro testing too... and then forget about Android if you are a really serious Audio guy. Q. I need full HD Audio passthrough support including Multichannel (>2.0) PCM output of 24bit/192kHz FLAC ? (NOTE: all devices using an Android OS have 16bit Multichannel (5.1) Audio output limitations) 24-bit 96 & 192kHz Stereo (2.0) Audio output (HDMI) is possible on the Shield running Nougat.
** The RPi guys should chime in here about USB Audio support too..... ** I believe LibreELEC or Linux Kodi, on any platform will support decoding of pure DSD Audio, either to stereo or 5.1 Multichannel PCM. EDIT Here you go a S905 LibreELEC Kodi & DSD64 - log extract (I only have a HDMI connected TV): https://pastebin.com/ZUs7F3SX RE: What box - video AND hi-res audio? - ~Spyne~ - 2017-05-22 Thanks for the reply. Yes I did do some reading, hence why I knew Android boxes were limited to 16/48 audio output. I did also read that 'START HERE...' post - as best I could follow (I may have misunderstood), all boxes that specified 24/192 audio output did so through HDMI only. No good for me as I don't have an A/V receiver. Audio would be going straight to external DAC, either via USB, optical or coaxial. I've read stories here and there of people playing hi-res audio through USB/coaxial on cheap boxes (eg MXQ), but as you state in the START HERE thread, these boxes can be very hit-and-miss regarding consistency from one unit to the next. The C2 I've read about a few times, but seems it could be a little too 'hands on' for me, in terms of getting it running 100%. The WeTek Play2 is definitely an option at this stage. RE: What box - video AND hi-res audio? - wrxtasy - 2017-05-22 Here is some further info regarding a compatible USB DAC with LibreELEC on a AMLogic S905 platform. All LibreELEC S905 are using the same Linux Kernel so will also support the same external hardware and have the same limitations. http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=255686&pid=2557213#pid2557213 I believe the MINIX guys are using external DAC's with the U9 - you would have to specifically ask over in their actual forums which ones are compatible. RE: What box - video AND hi-res audio? - nickr - 2017-05-22 Keep your squeeze setup for music. Believe me. RE: What box - video AND hi-res audio? - wrxtasy - 2017-05-22 Here is some detailed S/PDIF and USB DAC testing with AML S905(x) and LibreELEC Jarvis and Krypton with great results The test report of the audio output (stereo lossless files) on the latest Builds: 8.0.1 j (and 7.0.3.012 k) RE: What box - video AND hi-res audio? - ~Spyne~ - 2017-05-22 Thanks wrxtasy, looks promising |