Android TV Box Frustration

LCBXX

LCBXX

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I bought a Ugoos UT TV box to supplement my Tronsmart MK808 TV stick I bought ages ago. The main purpose was to have something more beefy in the living room that I can use to download Movies/Series via Usenet/Torrents as well as streaming services (Netflix, etc).

It works brilliantly, other than the fact that it cannot output/passthough Dolby Digital/DTS via either the SPDIF port or HDMI. This I found is an issue with the Rockchip SOC that it runs. It is basically a dealbreaker for me since there is no point in getting a HD MHV file with DTS if it only pumps out 2 channels.

That said, I am seriously considering getting rid of the Ugoos UT1 because of this - I am starting this thread to get ideas about what to replace it with that can actually can output minimum 5.1 surround sound.

Requirements for suggestions:
Must have Optical/SPIF Audio out
Must have Ethernet connectivity
Must have External Storage support via USB
Nice to have: Smart-device capability (Eg. running Android)
 
lcbxx said:
I bought a Ugoos UT TV box to supplement my Tronsmart MK808 TV stick I bought ages ago. The main purpose was to have something more beefy in the living room that I can use to download Movies/Series via Usenet/Torrents as well as streaming services (Netflix, etc).

It works brilliantly, other than the fact that it cannot output/passthough Dolby Digital/DTS via either the SPDIF port or HDMI. This I found is an issue with the Rockchip SOC that it runs. It is basically a dealbreaker for me since there is no point in getting a HD MHV file with DTS if it only pumps out 2 channels.

That said, I am seriously considering getting rid of the Ugoos UT1 because of this - I am starting this thread to get ideas about what to replace it with that can actually can output minimum 5.1 surround sound.

Requirements for suggestions:
Must have Optical/SPIF Audio out
Must have Ethernet connectivity
Must have External Storage support via USB
Nice to have: Smart-device capability (Eg. running Android)
Click to expand...

Ahhhh.... Got just the thing you need!
Hot off the press in HongKong : Tonsmart vega S89, Aka Beelink M8, aka 4K (no name brand). They all have the same internals - just different branding. Even same ROM.
Very stable, android, full XBMC (A Must!).
I shipped 4 from china - just got them last week. I want to sell one if you interested.
I have the Beelink 16GB version - slightly more expensive +$5 or so than the 4K nobrand - but exactly the same.
There is lot of excitement in the community about this device - full XBMC support out of the box.

Have a look here :
http://www.tronsmart.eu/tronsmart-vega-elite-s89-amlogic-s802-android-tv-box/#more-169
http://www.freaktab.com/forumdisplay.php?188-Tronsmart-AML-Devices
 
lcbxx said:
I bought a Ugoos UT TV box to supplement my Tronsmart MK808 TV stick I bought ages ago. The main purpose was to have something more beefy in the living room that I can use to download Movies/Series via Usenet/Torrents as well as streaming services (Netflix, etc).

It works brilliantly, other than the fact that it cannot output/passthough Dolby Digital/DTS via either the SPDIF port or HDMI. This I found is an issue with the Rockchip SOC that it runs. It is basically a dealbreaker for me since there is no point in getting a HD MHV file with DTS if it only pumps out 2 channels.

That said, I am seriously considering getting rid of the Ugoos UT1 because of this - I am starting this thread to get ideas about what to replace it with that can actually can output minimum 5.1 surround sound.

Requirements for suggestions:
Must have Optical/SPIF Audio out
Must have Ethernet connectivity
Must have External Storage support via USB
Nice to have: Smart-device capability (Eg. running Android)
Click to expand...

Send me a link to the firmware you have installed. I'll patch it for you and give you instructions how to output DTS via HDMI or SPDIF Optical
 
Geez I should have updated my thread..
Subsequent to this rant I went onto Freaktab and found a modified ROM for the Ugoos UT1 which had the options to enable HDMI/SPDIF passthough, as well as offer true 1080p kernels. XBMC and MX Player both now work with DD5.1/DTS streams. I also bought a Minix Neo X7 from eBay and flashed that with The Nitro TeaM's QuickShot 2.0 ROM. The Tronsmart MK808 also got a custom ROM before I gave it to my brother.

In a nutshell, I managed to resolve all my issues noted in the OP, bar getting DD5.1 and 720p on Netflix, but that is an App limitation on Android.
 
Last edited:
lcbxx said:
Geez I should have updated my thread..
Subsequent to this rant I went onto Freaktab and found a modified ROM for the Ugoos UT1 which had the options to enable HDMI/SPDIF passthough, as well as offer true 1080p kernels. XBMC and MX Player both now work with DD5.1/DTS streams. I also bought a Minix Neo X7 from eBay and flashed that with The Nitro TeaM's QuickShot 2.0 ROM. The Tronsmart MK808 also got a custom ROM before I gave it to my brother.

In a nutshell, I managed to resolve all my issues noted in the OP, bar getting DD5.1 and 720p on Netflix, but that is an App limitation on Android.
Click to expand...

Glad you came right

Thanks for letting me know
 
MandM said:
Are you happy with the Minix Neo X7? My Minix Neo X7mini is in the post from China.
Click to expand...
Very. It has a huge enthusiast following on forums like Freaktab. The reason I did not go for the X7mini was largely because the X7 has twice the NAND Flash memory and the External Antenna for R150 more at the time.
 
Sorry for trolling but the new Minix Neo X8 is on route. Looking forward to it.
 
dburger said:
Ahhhh.... Got just the thing you need!
Hot off the press in HongKong : Tonsmart vega S89, Aka Beelink M8, aka 4K (no name brand). They all have the same internals - just different branding. Even same ROM.
Very stable, android, full XBMC (A Must!).
I shipped 4 from china - just got them last week. I want to sell one if you interested.
I have the Beelink 16GB version - slightly more expensive +$5 or so than the 4K nobrand - but exactly the same.
There is lot of excitement in the community about this device - full XBMC support out of the box.

Have a look here :
http://www.tronsmart.eu/tronsmart-vega-elite-s89-amlogic-s802-android-tv-box/#more-169
http://www.freaktab.com/forumdisplay.php?188-Tronsmart-AML-Devices
Click to expand...

Do you still wish to sell one of your M8 boxes?
 
I still have one beelink m8 (16GB nand with 2.4/5GHz wifi) to sell.
Brand new & tested myself. I rooted it and loaded latest 101k4 firmware & XMBC gotham final on it. Ready to go.

This is confirmed exactly the same device as the tronsmart vega s89 (standard) so firmware also works fine on this device. (same PCB from NetXeon manufacturer). There is lots of community support (see links in second mail).
Got one myself and have been having lots of fun tinkering with it - really the best in its class at the moment!

See info about box here:
http://www.bee-link.com/en/goods.php?id=55

Call/Email me @ 082 928 0660, [email protected]
 
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