I’m old school and still use discs. But I am very curious on the whole process. Ie: buying the movie, ripping it, how that’s all done and then adding it into a nas setup. So a video even if it’s lengthy would be good to see the whole entire process from start to finish 🙌🏻
@@thebrowncinema Therein lies the problem. You can buy a nas box already set up, rip your movies with a pc, and then store them on the nas. Then you'd need something to stream them. Again, you can buy devices that are essentially plug and play but they're pricey. Or You can build it all yourself and manually set everything up. This route is probably 1/3 the cost but requires a lot of knowledge and a substantial amount of time to get up and running. It all depends really.
@@mephInc I have a nvidia shield pro. I’ve seen guys use them. I guess I would need to experience it before I dropped a bunch of money on going digital
Excellent video Tony! Because of this comparison I am considering the Zidoo. I still like my physical media, but it would be handy to have them on a drive so that I can search through them without having to look through my actual disc collection. I wish they had a version that you could put the disc in, and it would rip it directly to the device.
Definitely interested in the ripping process. I have a shield so I don't think I'm interested in something like this just yet although I do like the idea of having the menus.
Shield can/will play back your movies, but what I was getting at - or at least trying to - was to show the difference in experience you get. One works out of the box and has all the eye candy, the other takes a little work, and some things don't work (like menus) - for some, like me, both of those things are important.
If you're just dipping your toes in and don't want too complicated, take his advice. If you don't mind pulling your hair out, digging through forums for weeks and.....eventually getting everything set up, you can do a kodi device. Not for the faint at heart but fun if you really like to tinker.
I stick to my Nvidia Sheild Tv Pro,AppleTv 4k,Sony 4k player(region free).No intention to buy media player,16TB hard drive or sata SSD and a new 4k movie,ripping them store in storage.The more disc you buy,you need more storage after ripping them.Spend more money on new hard drive once the existing one is full.Never stop
Hey Tony. Always enjoy your content. I'm very intrigued by this product. I own over 2000 movies and would love to have them stored on a media player. The Kaleidescape is out of my price range but something like this might be right up my alley. So you show us how to connect, rip, and tell us how much equipment and total investment would be would be great. Look forward to seeing that video. Thanks 👊
I've been using Kodi for many, many years so I'm used to its silly quirks, but I DO appreciate the ease of use with the Zidoo. Thanks for the comparison! Show us your ripping process next
That's pretty much all this was - showing the difference between a dedicated player and a streamer which needs a bit of TLC to get it to work and also compare the user experience.
@@BuildMontage Emby can do this easily also, which is why we don't use Plex anymore. Emby is preferred for its customization, posters, collections, user settings. Good stuff!
Auyup Tony Yes please on a ripping movies how to, I’m just more interested in what drive/software you’re actually using. Thanks for the content you’ve been putting out, really interesting.
Z9x seems like it would be good solution for main media TV given its price tag. Interface looks beautiful similar to and perhaps better than Kodi. Would have been nice to see how it handled Blue-ray menus from ISO files. Important to keep in mind that ISO files will commonly have a lot of wasted disk space from fluff like audio and subtitles for multiple languages, trailers from other movies, ads, etc. I’m really curious how it scrapes the movies or can you use a separate program like Ember Media Manager to do it? Does it have a screen saver of your content? What about TV Shows? Perhaps like Kodi it supports nfo files? I agree it seems silly not to default to main library view. Other streaming devices such as Shield, Roku, FireTV are cheap and provide a means to have access to other media than your own content such as UA-cam, Netflix, etc. Plex or Emby apps provide access to your own content. I have a HTPC running both Kodi and Plex connected to main TV. Kodi is used there and the other streaming devices around the house use Plex. Plex offers portability to watch your content anywhere in the world via a browser or streaming device such as Roku. I have a Roku stick in a small travel case I use in hotels and friends houses when traveling. It has Plex and any other streaming service preset up for easy access.
I would be very grateful if you could share the process for ripping. I went on this journey first by ripping my DVD collection several years ago - 500 discs - what a job. I got inconsistent results, issues with movie length, sound options and subtitles and only a VOB file. I decided to do my blu-ray collection (500 +) and got halfway and was really frustrated again. I bought a license from DVDFAB and found I had issues with the software on various versions of MacOS. I ripped 3D files but couldn't get them to play. I have a Synology NAS and was using either Plex of VLC to play. So I recently upgraded from Plasma to 4K and the thought of doing the ripping again is quite daunting. But If I got a 100% reliable result, I would do it. I fear UHD players will eventually become obsolete. I would love to use this device but the ripping process is beyond me. I cant find software that will do it reliably and without paying for expensive licenses and also dealing with the DRM Copy protection issues. I only want to rip movies I own. So looking forward to a guide. I live in the Hills district of Sydney BTW. Thanks for a good video. Now subscribed.
@@BuildMontage In Australia the copyright laws allow you to make a backup of a disc, so I would not be concerned. As long as you have a legal right to own the disc (like its in your collection and you bought it) making a backup copy is technically legal. It is only when you share it that you create a problem. I am no pirate and stand firmly against the act. So please just show us what software you use to make the iso and we can worry about the rest :-).
I would like to see a video on how you did your collection. I did all my DVD’s into MKV files which I play through PLEX. I don’t have a 4K or Bluray player in a computer yet so I can’t do those discs. I’d like to see what equipment you use to do this as well. Great video.
So, in your opinion, the shield+kodi had picture and audio quality equivalent to the z9x? It sounds like your preferences were mostly centered around ease of use and style of the interface. If I'm happy with shield+kodi interface, is there any reason to get a zidoo? Thank you so much for making this video!
Plex user here. I think you've convinced me. My movies are mkv so Plex works fine for that and has a bit better interface than Kodi but a lot of the same nagging issues plague me, especially getting the native audio formats playing. Sign me up for a video about your ripping setup and process, Tony!
@@chebrubin to me the mkv cuts the red tape. Just give me the movie. But for you iso is the way to go and that is great. But yes plex does have a purpose. Zidoo might be optional in a dedicated space but. Plex is on every TV in the house and on the go.
Can this player be set so that the TV does not always perceive it as an HDR signal, but has 4K upscaling? Because my Thomson THA100 player is always detected by the samsung TV as an HDR signal, even when I play SDR content.
I'm getting "BenQ V7050" and "Platin Monaco 5.1 with WiSA SoundSend". Apparently, the projector outputs only 2 channel audio through HDMI_ARC or from SPDIF. My only option to have surround sound experience is to play video from Zidoo Z9X to projector, and audio through SPDIF to Zidoo. Am I correct thinking that?
Hmm.. I'm not familiar with that system. If you don't have a reciever you will need to work out the best way to connect everything up whether it's through optical or HDMI pass through.
@@BuildMontage I moved to another house and don't want to run wires for speakers hence the reason for wireless speakers. Instead of having huge receiver it would also be cool to only have small transmitter.
@@estusflask982 Obviously...! But the speaker wire is so... much... longer... Eventually I got myself 5.1.4Atmos setup, and ran 300' of wiring. Couple of hours of work and no compromise in sound quality.
Hi, Quick question. In terms of picture quality between the Zidoo Z9X and Nvidia Shield ( which one looks better on screen and do they have the same audio quality? ) Regards.
The user experience looks very nice! Very informative! Thanks for sharing! I'm still looking for a single device that can handle everything from local to online streaming, with support for all the formats, a nice user friendly interface and up to date hardware and software. Not even the high-end models from Zidoo have all that. We are basically stuck with multiple devices and services at the tinkering land for now.
Yes the Zidoo is a dedicated media player. It’s made just for that. The shield is probably the best multi purpose single device but I love the Zidoo interface and the simplicity.
I would definitely like a video is getting this process completed. Physical library is growing and I love it but would love to convert them to digital.
Love the videos and subscribed. I bought the Z9X after seeing one of your videos but returned it. Having 4 shields in my house and 1 HTPC with 40tb of space attached they all read directly from the HTPC over the LAN with Plex and works great. Everything you mentioned the Z9X can do the Shield can do other than menus which I don’t care about. Clicking a few toggles on the shield to open up all the options isn’t exactly hard. Thanks for covering theses though 👍🏼😊.
@@estusflask982 Actually it does. Not sure when it was updated but Nvidia clearly states it plays HDR10 or Dolby Vision if that is what your talking about. Now I just need a Dolby Vision tv!
Hi Tony. Thanks for reviews you do. I'm using shield pro but it has really big issue that I can't solve. Dolby vision and sdr Playback is really good but issue with HDR 10 is disturbing. I can't get 24p playback with HDR 10 in 10 bit. It Drops to 8 bit and chroma switches from 4:2:0 to 4:2:2. The only way to get 10 bit 4:2:0 is leaving refresh rate at 60 hz. Is any way to solve this problem? And how's it with zidoo does it play videos without quality drop like Blu-ray player? Or is it better to stick with my Panasonic Blu-ray player? Im using Sony oled a95l and Denon 6700
That's an interesting issue. I haven't experienced anything like that before so I can't really help but having a refresh rate determine the chroma subsampling is very odd. Zidoo works great, has the HDR to SDR conversion process as well.
Can you set the Zidoo up the isos from Tv-shows so it can reconize the episodes on each iso like Kodi can ? I know you wrote for movies but i see Tv-shows just as an importen element for my next player.
Have we gotten a video explaining the ripping and NAS setup? I’m close to starting a new how build and am thinking this along with a Zidoo is the way to go! Only other question is how does the Z9X compare to the middle brother of the lineup?
The video is coming. IM waiting on some drives from the states to arrive before I can make it. Z9x is great. Similar performance just not internal drives or upgraded analogue audio components.
@@BuildMontage just watched your part 3 of the rack rebuild and heard about the drives! Thanks for the reply and also for all of your content! You're my go-to when it comes to learning about home theaters!
Great video, I do streaming and disc. No media player yet. I like watching Ultra HD DVDs if I have them on my Panasonic UB820 the best but streaming is pretty convenient. I guess the media player would be the best of both.
Been there, done that back in the day when X-treamer made dedicated media players. I've also tried Qnap NAS, but found that too cumbersome to maintain. Also tried WD NAS which I still have and use. Ultimately, I've found that nothing beats a PC. A PC can do all of that and so much more, and I don't have to switch between devices depending on what I wanna do. But if given that scenario, I'd choose the SHIELD and install MX Player. You can play games and attach external drives and stream. It just does so much more.
I have the Shield pro but I much prefer the Zidoo as a dedicated player for movies. I use my Shield or Apple TV for streaming, I think it comes down to personal taste.
Been a Shield man for a few years. Every now and then I have to fight with the shield due to a microstutter here or there / re-install plex and/or kodi. All of my media files are on my Windows 11 PC connected to my network via ethernet. Would this Zidoo player be better suited to be the perfect playback experience that I seek? Growing tired of troubleshooting the random stutter / having to find different Kodi builds that work fine for 5 months, and then an update or some other odd thing happens and my movie has a random stutter halfway into it due to some odd problem. I have over 400 of my discs backed up already in MKV format. Thanks in advance, and cheers.
Would it be fine to share my media using SMB Shares in Win 11 (that way i can keep my HDDs inside my PC, or is it preferred to directly connect to the Zidoo itself? I'd like to keep the drives in my Windows PC as the directories automatically get backed up using backblaze.@@BuildMontage
my problem is how many times will you watch any given movie more than once.. most of them are good enough to watch once maybe twice. I've have a couple dozen movies that i watch more than that. streaming allows me access to more movies than i own and that's is what i need because i don't know what i want to watch on any given day
I don't have it on mine, and don't intent to install it either as it's not technically licensed to have that on there. I think you could possibly google "side load netflix" to get some help
@@BuildMontage I usually do MKV which works better in InFuse. I use that method for stuff I want and can’t get in the K store right now. PCM decodes up to effective 7.1 lossless 1:1 in Infuse, so the only thing missing is Atmos or DTS:X native.
@@Techthusiasm yes, exactly, and I always have neural-x for that, but, it's why I was on the hunt for something that just works out of the box. K-scape always fascinated me, but I've heard some horror stories when it comes to support - and it's not available in Australia any more anyway.
@@Techthusiasm If you have a PC with HDMI port you can use the Microsoft Movies & TV app to play Dolby Atmos movies. Enable HDR in Settings and it'll play HDR10 as well.
During the Nvidia Shield section you mentioned if you had ripped your disks as MKV's you would have been able to use Plex but instead you ripped to ISO files so you use Kodi. Besides missing the Menu and bonus features in the MKV version is there any other reason you choose to rip ISO?
The main reason I went with ISO is that is the original format used. Other than that, the mt2s file inside is left unchanged if the MKV is created without opting for any compression. No other reason really in my decision, but just the way I use DVDFab to do the rips, it just works and makes sense. I also use the Zidoo players to play back these 1:1 rips - my streamer boxes don't even connect to the NAS I have them stored on so its a non-issue.
Can you play your media on the Zidoo via voice control? I am currently using Home Assistant’s Plex Assistant integration, which is amazing. I would want to be able to do that with these media players.
No voice control. It’s all done using the remote but it does allow IP control so possibly you could if you had a smart home integration to do it that way. It has an Rs232 port for that.
I have the 9300 which is pretty much the same projector. What I did that greatly improved the HDR performance with the colour filter engaged (which is what I think you are implying about the loss of light output) is to buy a calibration sensor and do the greyscale calibration myself which brought a lot of detail back into the image. Also changing bulb at 1000 hours helps as well. I am just on 1100 hours with a new bulb on the way. They are only 150 bucks from catch of the day. So in answer to your question, love the way it applies the tone mapping. The LLDV VS10 implementation on all content looks great, although it can match so do HDR10 if it detects that or DV.
@@BuildMontage I had the 9300 before this one. My cinema filter stopped working just out of warranty and was lucky enough to to find someone that had the 9400 in stock mid last year. My brother pre ordered one in August and is still waiting. I was a bit scared that I was spending the money and there was only going to be minor improvement but boy was I wrong. The colour and picture sharpness is like night and day. The HDR is so much better but still not there yet. I have two calibrations, cinema filter on and off but both aren’t good enough for blu ray movies. Streaming HDR (depending on the service) looks good but is a bit hit and miss. Netflix is usually good but Disney is off (look at toy story 3 vs cars and you will know what I mean) I am still sticking with SDR for now but I hate how I can’t watch my Star Wars and marvel collection with Atmos as the soundtrack is only on the UHD version.
I use a nvida shield 4k this Runs Emby server. ALso use the Sheild to watch my collection of 4k rips with Dolby atmos. So would my experience be better with this as my Sheild also runs my iptv etc,
How does the Z9X compare to the Z1000 pro for picture quality and sound? Thanks. What is the advantage to the Z1000Pro oer the Z9X other than internal Drive bay?
Great question: main difference is the processor/ram, so it's every so slightly slower to move around the menus and load images but it's not a huge difference. Audio/video is identical. Ive done extensive testing with both.
@@BuildMontage thank you for the quick response. Very interesting. So if I buy the z9x I get the same audio and video quality. I might have to pick one up then. Thank you.
I was this 🤌 close to getting the Nvidia Shield and loading Kodi to replace my WDTV Live. my collection needs a player with a bit power these days and the Zidoo looks just the ticket. Did you make a video on how you rip and set your library up, I’m thinking of using smaller sized ISO’s. Thanks
I would love to see a video on how you rip a movies (Bluray?) to your NAS, then a quick tutorial on how you edit the artwork in Kodi. What are you using for a NAS? and how big? I have a 8TB NAS now but its not really designed for media streaming. I'm probably going to build something, any recommendations? Love the videos, thanks!
This is madness!! I remember when the Shield Pro came out and everyone was gung ho about getting it, so I did. WAAAAy before I had thought/been able to create a theater room. Now this?? I didn't even know something like this existed! So thanks! I originally was just looking for solid Blu-Ray player, but now I feel like FOMO. Maybe I'll just put the Shield on another TV then...
Hello , just curious , is there any difference in video/audio quality between Shield and Zidoo if I am just connecting my external HD to it for watching watching mkv etc file formats ?
Yes the z9x supports and plays back dolby vision if the display (tv usually!) can play it back. If it doesn’t u can force the vs10 engine to playback DV so you don’t get that weird magenta and green look to the image.
I have a shield pro and have Kodi and never have any issues with passing through native audio. You don't need to go to developer mode at all for that. Just set audio to passthrough, and have the shield connected directly to the AVR not through the tv using arc/eArc You can disable Arc/eArc on the AVR if the shield is hdmi directly in to it. As for Kodi , again set to passthrough and all audio codecs are passed through. Kodi is set to give you access to all audio codecs and now also Dolby vision. I think you need to change Kodi skins to get a better flow. Plex does have it's issues but set to direct play it's usually pretty stable on a home network as long as it's hardwired. I can play back full 100GB remux file on my shield pro using Kodi. I'm not in to having all the DVD menu tbh, I don't ever watch or use them. As for ripping your own physical media that's illegal in NZ and AU. So I wouldn't do a video on that one
To get the custom frame rate and resolution options you do need to unlock developer mode on Shield - there are also setting you need to enable for passthrough. Zidoo just works when u turn it on. Also Kodi absolutely does NOT have the pass through options enabled by default. Ripping is only illegal if you plan on selling. You are allowed to have a backup of your physical media. If it were illegal, Zappiti NAS with ripper wouldn't be able to be sold here.
@@BuildMontage for movies you don't need custom frame rate. Just switch to the option of 24hz HDR ready DV ready. To set passthrough on kodi it's one click. As for legality of owning and ripping. No it's not legal even just for your self.. It's legal in say Switzerland or Sweden one of the two but I think you'll find in Australia and New Zealand that is actually still illegal. As it's bypassing the copyright of the DVD . Maybe look it up before you make a video about ripping them just to be safe . Ask a copyright lawyer in Aussie if you can find one. And as for that other box, it's a fork of Kodi as it's open source and can be tweaked to do what you want it to do. Example the latest release of Kodi now has DV but some DV files won't work as it only has one or two of the 7 DV codecs. So the version of Kodi I have which has been altered has all the DV codecs.
Also just checked Kodi on standard setting , passthrough shows up to be enabled. You've only got to turn it on. Or when playing movies go to sound icon and enable it for that movie and then select for everything. As long as your shield is plugged directly in to the AVR and you have passthrough enabled on both shield and Kodi it'll pass everything to the AVR and give you the corresponding audio codec. Now if plugged in to say a tv using arc / eArc then to the avr you may run in to issues with that. That's why a tv or projector should really just become a monitor as such
@@briantidey2225 pass through in Kodi is one click. But, by default all the other options for Dolby Atmos are disabled and you can’t even see that unless you go into advanced. Also if it’s illegal to have a backup of your physical disk, how are Zappiti in business here? They sell a ripper and NAS which sole purpose is to copy your disk. Also the players only play back that sort of ripped content. I have done research and all of it pointed to being ok if you own it.
@@briantidey2225 incorrect. U still need to enable all of the other settings under advanced mode. You have them enabled now but when you install Kodi, they are disabled. I have video and photo evidence of this.
Found some answers here I asked you in another video. Once again. Great channel. You and I look for the exact same features. Like the same features. And have I'm guessing similar setups. Havent had to worry about any of this fir a while because my Zappiti took care of my needs. About to set up a Sheild. Have already returned one once. And looks like the Zidoo is a perfect replacement. As far as resolution and sound quality though. Besides it not being dedicated. Are these two comparable? I didn't even have Vision on my Zappiti. And I'm not a projector fan. I use Oleds. And I have a pretty decent 7.2.4 setup. Not the best in the world but a pretty great looking and sounding setup for my needs. With that? Would you highly recommend the Zidoo over the Shield? Or is it comparable enough to not worry. My wife would greatly enjoy everything encompassed into one player. A main reason I went for the Shield. Plus Im familiar with Kodu. Agree with you 100% on that. And then there's also a chance the Zappiti app will someday make that usable again. I'm really on a fence here if you happen to aee this or the other. Thanks again.
Thank you. I would choose Zidoo over the Shield if dedicated movies are what you're after. The shield is a great multipurpose device but doesn't have the same user experience as the Zidoo which has a more premium feel to it when you're browsing movies. I use the Apple TV as my streamer, and the Zidoo as my dedicated player and this combo works well for me.
You can do almost everything you mentioned and from 5:57 onward it does it all as well! Enabling a collection or making a movie collection bundle together is easy and is an option that you can activate on the Kodi menu, you can even make collections of movies like A fist full of dollars, for a few dollars more, The good the bad and the ugly! Audio wise is the same as it is a passthrough bitstream. For a person that is savy on this affairs it should be quite explanatory, and a bit of exploring on youtube facilitates this a lot! What Shiled lacks is the ability to play 3D movies! Zidoo doesn't suffer from this "fault".
Hello whats the goal of using an external Media Player? I Just dont get it, cant you just plug a external harddrive in the TV with a movie on it and watch it?
Sure you can do that. The purpose of my video (and my channel) is about home theater and pushing for the best possible quality you can. The Zidoo will produce exceptional video quality, and a lot better than just the TV can reproduce. Also, my focus is generally on projectors with a multi channel speaker setup, so the players can send the data via bitstream to the AV Procesor for decoding and allowing it to do the heavy lifting for high fidelity audio and video.
@@BuildMontage the thing is im planing to buy a new TV and a Dolby Atmos Sound System and i heared that the quality of streams Like Netflix 4k are not enough so thought about puting movies on a external HDD and Plug that into the TV, do you think it will work or should i buy a external movie Player for that? Thanks you very much :)
You could certainly do that but I wouldn’t recommend the TV as being able to reproduce what the Zidoo can especially if you’re playing 1:1 rips, also you are pushing the audio from the TV backwards to your audio system which is sorta backwards and may not result in the best audio as well.
Hmm my nvidia shield starts to get old and nvidia have closed the production of new hardware so v4 wont come (version 2019 is the last thats gonna be produced). But i use plex for my content and it in mkv files. This product seems interesting. My nas is a synology ds1522+ with 2 dx517 addons and 15x 20 tb disks in synologys raid config. So a quite large plex server. But i paid for plex pass and if this one have the same system as plex it make plex useless. Question is it working automatically with posters and thumbnails or do i have to set it up all by my self. I dont really feel to have to fix over 2000+ movies and over 8000+ episodes of series. It will be a full time job for atleast half a year to set up. It took me years and years to build the server with content. Im extremely split what to do. Is it a good idea to get one?
I love my Zioo products - I have a review on the new flagship UHD8000 on my channel if you want to look it up. I ditched PLEX even though I have been a member since the 2000s
Hey Tony. Great info. Couple of questions. How does zidoo handle extras for movies. And what about tv shows/extras as well. Is this device IYO better in quality playback that shield/kodi. I sometimes see dragging on video when some scenes pan across screen on my shield pro using kodi. Thanks!
What do you mean by extras? I personally feel the Zidoo is better than Shield/Kodi for the reasons mentioned in the video - I also like how the Zidoo handles the meta data and shows additional stuff about the director and actors etc.
Great video clip . I have tried to rip movies but never turn out that's why I use Apple I buy my movie it go to my library I get all the info I need about the movie. Cheers
I ordered a zidoo z9x because I needed mkv FEL dolby vision profile 7 playback which the apple tv 4k cannot do it just falls back to HDR with infuse pro. With an almost full 18tb drive on my openmediavault server it would be too time consuming to remux them to DV profile 8. I will still use the ATV 4K for online streaming and just use the z9x for local network streaming.
Just very simple question, Can Zidoo 9X play 4K REMUX HDR movies directly from USB drive? NO NAS etc. Just directly plugged into device, Can Zidoo play them without any lag?
Great video. I just bought a Sony XR77A80J 77" OLED TV and use a Panasonic DP-UB9000PCK and Apple TV 4K. My concern is quality-I don’t want to loose any quality if I go this route. I have been using MakeMKV to rip older DVDs and TV series and playing them back using Emby. Please elaborate on how best to get my 4K/bluray movies ripped then using the Zidoo. BTW, can't find them in Canada? Also, what about the Z10Pro? That IS available on Amazon Canada.
Hey there. Quality will be as good as a disk in my opinion. It's the same source and using a dedicated player to play it back. I use DVDFab to do my rips to ISO format. And yes the Z10Pro is perfectly good - its similar to the z9x but allows you to put a drive bay in.
Although you have almost helped me through the ripping set up process i think it would be great to see a full video. No has really done it before. And it aint so simpleZ :) it would need a few setup processes - such as Synology and Zapitti Server on DSM 7.
Great Info, Many thanks. Can someone advice regarding ripped movies as MKV Maintaining original Quality Which one is better KODI/PLEX on nVidia Sheild or Apple TV "Doesn't support KODI" or Zidoo from Audio/Video Quality prospective?
I am looking to make a video, I'm just waiting to see the legal ramifications on doing so as you need to bypass DRM on the disk. Zidoo is nice, easy and looks awesome, and Shield running Kodi is equally as good in terms of quality of audio and video - although I think the way the Zidoo renders is slightly better as you can also modify the image output with sliders.
Hi there, thanks for the vid, I am actually looking for a media player to play my movie files! For the Zidoo, is it possible that I connect to a USB external drive and just play the mkv/movie files from there directly? Thanks!
Will the zidoo output the native resolution of the content with no scaling? So if you play a 1080p file it outputs 1080p? If you play 4K it out puts 4K?
@@BuildMontage looks like it upscales any content under 1080p to 1080p. No big deal, but for those of us with lumagens, it’s not ideal. Not that there is much if any content under that now which is good. Also pretty harsh on kodi. Kodi on Nvidia shield is shit. Much much better on a standalone device like odroid N2. The tone mapping is interesting. It’s obviously static based on the HDR metadata.
@@MrAtoulmin I was answering a specific use case of streamer box vs dedicated player for out of the box playback of 1;1 rips. It does hdr10 and dv. For the price I think this little unit does ok. For streaming I use shield or atv. No video processor yet but Madvr is in my sights.
Is the Zidoo Z9X any better than the Zidoo Z1000 PRO 4K UHD Media Player - they both run the same CPU, GPU and RAM? The only difference I can see is the hard drive slot.
@@BuildMontage yes sorry 😆 I'm using my shield pro only for 4k hdr remuxes, will I get better picture with the zidoo?? 😳 Or do you have any other suggestions?
@@Darkoholic I don’t know about “better” but overall for me it is a better experience. I have both as well so it’s an objective opinion. I use Zidoo every day.
hello , i do like the ui or posters in plex, I=the way you can see ur personal content movies shows in the screen. is there is any way we can get that instead of plex apps like Kodi? because Kodi is reading my Dolby atmos and 4k movie better than plex
You have convinced me to give the Zidoo a shot. Had been looking at Zidoo and Zappiti for months. New Zappitis are ridiculously over priced. I’ve had an Apple TV/Plex set up for years but I’m tired of the 4K Dolby Vision limitations of this set up. Zidoo doesn’t look as snappy as an ATV but way faster than a disk. Keep up the good work!
With the shield being literally the only player capable of Dolby vision single layer dual track profile 7, which is the approved mkv spec as per dolby, and being the only player capable of actual truehd audio pass through while Kodi really really lacking in any hdr presentation at all, I can see people being frustrated with Kodi or Plex on devices besides the shield. But for large libraries, 1030 4K remuxes and many more 1080p Blu-ray’s, I don’t see how this device would be able to handle a database of that size as compared to a dedicated Plex server. If it allowed for Plex install I would be very interested in the device as it could potentially solve some red shift errors that are somewhat still present in some movies on the shield. Have you seen any performance degradation on very very large databases of movies?
Im not sure what you're asking here. The library for the Zidoo is stored on a NAS and pulled over NFS. I'm unaware of any issues with the image. The Zidoo has the LLDV VS10 engine built into it so playback is pretty nice in my opinion. Shield playback is pretty similar pulling the same ISO files from my NAS.
@@BuildMontage I’m assuming the ziddo stores the movie file location on the nas and the metadata it downloads from the internet for the movies in a local database. As more movies are added and more metadata is downloaded does the performance degrade…is more what I was asking
@@BuildMontage for instance with Plex all the metadata and movie file locations are stored server side on the Plex database on whatever server/nas you use. Hence using high performance nvme raid ssds makes the interface loaded and database access lightning quick. I’m worried the ziddo would perform horribly slowly with a very very large movie collection and it’s correspondingly large amounts of metadata.
Shield will pass through TrueHD (with Atmos meta data) in PLEX with MKV only as PLEX can't read ISOs - hence why I use the Zidoo, so yes you're correct :)
@@BuildMontage I believe java runtimes are needed to display blu rays menus which may explain why kodi on the shield can't run the menus. And the zidoo box probably has the required java runtimes.
I just got the Zidoo Z9X and its much smoother playback compared to the shield/kodi. (No judder or stuttering) I'm also not sure if the picture and audio are better, but they are stellar!
Check out the zappiti media player, a comparison on its features and player ( audio and video ) compared to the sheiks would be appreciated. The zappiti also allows you to add applications, so it’s an all in one.
Hello brother Just wanted to say that (almost) ALL the reasons you prefer the Zidoo are solved and are available by choosing a better Skin for Kodi I have the collections, all the info about movies, can explore movies based on director/actor/genre, etc Can see the trailer. Choose artwork, etc. It’s a very nice experience The only thing that I didn’t try is playing ISOs because I don’t use them Most people who use Kodi change the skin as a first step. The default skin is really there because there needs to be a default skin
What you say is mostly true however I have tried all the skins in Kodi and I don't like any of them. It doesn't have the same feel and user experience as a dedicated player that only does that one thing. Its just a choice, an option, as I said in the video, virtually no difference in playback performance from either player, I just prefer the experience from the Zidoo personally - and I own both devices remember :)
@@BuildMontage I understand brother. To each their own Just suggested it in case you hadn't tried that route I personally use Arctic Fuse as a skin and like it (even if a little bit a pain in the ass to configure at first) But to be honest, my main reason for using Kodi is streaming content rather than playing files i have backed up locally. If that was the case, i might have gone with the Zidoo instead Have a nice day
As me and you slightly discussed on an older video, kodi is amazing once you've figured it out but it takes time and effort. Little tip: leave the audio at 2.0 and turn on passthrough. This will make kodi not touch the audio and send it straight to the receiver.
I can imagine it would be great if you could fine tune everything. For me the Poster Wall app on Zidoo is hands down the nicest way to scroll your library. It's all subjective. I have yet to see a full Kodi implementation like it. None of the skins are very nice at all. Link me to some resources if you have a chance and I'll take a look at Kodi's potential.
@@BuildMontage I'm currently running the AEON Flux skin. It's highly customizable and has 3 varieties of a wall. I run the standard wall with the case option on (looks like physical media), and then "shift" for sets of movies. As far as audio, leave it at 2.0 and turn the passthrough on. This will bypass the media device and send the audio straight to your receiver to do the processing.
So using Plex on the shield is even easier and interface is as good if not better. Ripping 4k disks to an MKV file without any compression of video or audio is a breeze. I find this video ill informed.
If u rip as an iso does the file name need to be renamed properly to get it to group within a collection or its just automatic? My new fav utube channel👌 I'm also very interested I'm a ripping video, I'm waiting on my drive to start
this is EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. anytime I try and look into video playback they all all about streaming. I have an extensive 4k library so I needed this. I do have an LG OLED C1 but still
@@BuildMontage I have two external HDs and one internal 14tb one hooked into a dock (which connects via USB). Would these work all setup and connected to the box?
I just wanna watch own content on a 4k OLED using a big ass storage which I want to acces via my pc to add and delete content of desired. I want all the goodies like vision / atmos etc. Just use a shield with storage the way? With plex or Kodi.
Found some points to be inaccurate regarding the Nvidia Shield. First, you don't need to access developer options to make the Shield work with various video formats. Most users won't miss Blu-ray menus, so if that's not a priority, you can simply rip your Blu-rays in a lossless format. These files play perfectly through Plex or Jellyfin without needing Kodi, which, as you noted, can be clunky. My setup is straightforward: I use the Nvidia Shield (2019 Pro model) connected to my NAS, streaming remuxed, lossless videos. It handles Dolby Vision, all HDR formats, and supports audio passthrough, including Atmos. The process is simple: (1) Get an Nvidia Shield 2019 Pro, (2) Rip your discs, and (3) Use Plex for playback with audio passthrough. That's all there is to it, without the complications your video suggests.
This could be true now, but a couple of years ago when I made the video, what you're talking about was not possible - I didn't just make stuff up - I spent quite a bit of time trying to get it to work before I made the video and the assistance I got showed me to do what I showed in the video. Since then, no doubt these things have likely been fixed and improved upon - hindsight is 20/20 :)
@@BuildMontage I stumbled across your video as I was debating what would be my main client for my ripped blue rays. Eventually bought a Nvidia shield second hand and found it to be pretty great minus blue ray menus . Maybe make a follow up video updating the current state of things . Keep up the good work
May i know comparison Nvidia Shield pro vs Zidoo z9x for picture video quality ? which the best video result, please let me know. prefer for bluray rip ultra HD 4K HDR. thx
@@mulyant0 nvidia shield if you’re not looking to run blue rays in their native menus and play blurray disk formats then nvidia shield is the far superior option
As much as I like my NVidia Shield Pro, I can't find a way to play my Blu-ray 3D files with it, so I picked up the Z9X. On the plus side, I do finally get to watch 3D files on my BenQ projector, but the picture quality seems somewhat washed out compared to my NVidia Shield Pro. Even the surround audio formats sound compressed compared to the Pro. Really wish it would have worked out but picture and sound quality are more important to me than a box that's capable of playing all formats. Will keep using my trusty Pro until I figure out this Blu-ray 3D files issue :(
That doesnt sound right. You may need to check your settings. Audio should be set to RAW so that it doesn't do any kind of manipulation to the stream and does a bitstream pass through, and also for video, make sure you have the SDR to HDR settings correctly mapped as well as the gamma setting. It should be as good/better than the shield.
I’m old school and still use discs. But I am very curious on the whole process. Ie: buying the movie, ripping it, how that’s all done and then adding it into a nas setup. So a video even if it’s lengthy would be good to see the whole entire process from start to finish 🙌🏻
Thanks for the comment - I am going to work on one very soon!
Once you go digital, you never go back. So much simpler
@@mephInc I’m worried to see how much the cost is. I’ve heard a lot about madvr also.
@@thebrowncinema
Therein lies the problem.
You can buy a nas box already set up, rip your movies with a pc, and then store them on the nas. Then you'd need something to stream them. Again, you can buy devices that are essentially plug and play but they're pricey.
Or
You can build it all yourself and manually set everything up. This route is probably 1/3 the cost but requires a lot of knowledge and a substantial amount of time to get up and running.
It all depends really.
@@mephInc I have a nvidia shield pro. I’ve seen guys use them. I guess I would need to experience it before I dropped a bunch of money on going digital
Yes definitely another video on the set up please. Agree this is the best way to watch your Blu Rays or 4K movies. Keep up the awesome work.
Excellent video Tony! Because of this comparison I am considering the Zidoo. I still like my physical media, but it would be handy to have them on a drive so that I can search through them without having to look through my actual disc collection. I wish they had a version that you could put the disc in, and it would rip it directly to the device.
Zappiti do, but there is a way to do this with your PC as well I can show you ;)
Even laptop?
Definitely interested in the ripping process. I have a shield so I don't think I'm interested in something like this just yet although I do like the idea of having the menus.
Shield can/will play back your movies, but what I was getting at - or at least trying to - was to show the difference in experience you get. One works out of the box and has all the eye candy, the other takes a little work, and some things don't work (like menus) - for some, like me, both of those things are important.
If you're just dipping your toes in and don't want too complicated, take his advice.
If you don't mind pulling your hair out, digging through forums for weeks and.....eventually getting everything set up, you can do a kodi device. Not for the faint at heart but fun if you really like to tinker.
Nvidia can play large movie file like 10gb or more.i think to buy.
@@SoftwareHelparihant Nvidia can Play 100GB UHD remuxed to mkv. no Problem. So Long you Network is fast. And you Hard Drive (NaS) is not to slow
I stick to my Nvidia Sheild Tv Pro,AppleTv 4k,Sony 4k player(region free).No intention to buy media player,16TB hard drive or sata SSD and a new 4k movie,ripping them store in storage.The more disc you buy,you need more storage after ripping them.Spend more money on new hard drive once the existing one is full.Never stop
Hey Tony. Always enjoy your content. I'm very intrigued by this product. I own over 2000 movies and would love to have them stored on a media player. The Kaleidescape is out of my price range but something like this might be right up my alley. So you show us how to connect, rip, and tell us how much equipment and total investment would be would be great. Look forward to seeing that video. Thanks 👊
I've been using Kodi for many, many years so I'm used to its silly quirks, but I DO appreciate the ease of use with the Zidoo. Thanks for the comparison! Show us your ripping process next
That's pretty much all this was - showing the difference between a dedicated player and a streamer which needs a bit of TLC to get it to work and also compare the user experience.
I love the presentation of the Zidoo and how you can group collections together! Nice touch with the SnyderVerse group BTW! : )
That's it for me. The user experience is super important and I love grouping up the collections - mostly the Zidoo will do it automatically!
@@BuildMontage Emby can do this easily also, which is why we don't use Plex anymore. Emby is preferred for its customization, posters, collections, user settings. Good stuff!
Plex has had collection grouping for a couple of years now.
@@abefroman. Plex does grouping also
Kodi does this as movie sets.
Definitely interested in the ripping process. Can't wait to see that video.
Auyup Tony
Yes please on a ripping movies how to, I’m just more interested in what drive/software you’re actually using.
Thanks for the content you’ve been putting out, really interesting.
Z9x seems like it would be good solution for main media TV given its price tag. Interface looks beautiful similar to and perhaps better than Kodi. Would have been nice to see how it handled Blue-ray menus from ISO files. Important to keep in mind that ISO files will commonly have a lot of wasted disk space from fluff like audio and subtitles for multiple languages, trailers from other movies, ads, etc. I’m really curious how it scrapes the movies or can you use a separate program like Ember Media Manager to do it? Does it have a screen saver of your content? What about TV Shows? Perhaps like Kodi it supports nfo files? I agree it seems silly not to default to main library view.
Other streaming devices such as Shield, Roku, FireTV are cheap and provide a means to have access to other media than your own content such as UA-cam, Netflix, etc. Plex or Emby apps provide access to your own content. I have a HTPC running both Kodi and Plex connected to main TV. Kodi is used there and the other streaming devices around the house use Plex.
Plex offers portability to watch your content anywhere in the world via a browser or streaming device such as Roku. I have a Roku stick in a small travel case I use in hotels and friends houses when traveling. It has Plex and any other streaming service preset up for easy access.
I got a synology nas connected to a nvidya sheild using plex! I love it. No issues playing back my ripped 4k and blurry movies.
Before using Nvidia shield, Have you ever problem playing bluray rip, please let me know sir
I would be very grateful if you could share the process for ripping. I went on this journey first by ripping my DVD collection several years ago - 500 discs - what a job. I got inconsistent results, issues with movie length, sound options and subtitles and only a VOB file. I decided to do my blu-ray collection (500 +) and got halfway and was really frustrated again. I bought a license from DVDFAB and found I had issues with the software on various versions of MacOS. I ripped 3D files but couldn't get them to play. I have a Synology NAS and was using either Plex of VLC to play. So I recently upgraded from Plasma to 4K and the thought of doing the ripping again is quite daunting. But If I got a 100% reliable result, I would do it. I fear UHD players will eventually become obsolete. I would love to use this device but the ripping process is beyond me. I cant find software that will do it reliably and without paying for expensive licenses and also dealing with the DRM Copy protection issues. I only want to rip movies I own. So looking forward to a guide. I live in the Hills district of Sydney BTW. Thanks for a good video. Now subscribed.
I'm looking into making a ripping video - just unsure of the legal ramifications to show how to bypass DRM.
@@BuildMontage In Australia the copyright laws allow you to make a backup of a disc, so I would not be concerned. As long as you have a legal right to own the disc (like its in your collection and you bought it) making a backup copy is technically legal. It is only when you share it that you create a problem. I am no pirate and stand firmly against the act. So please just show us what software you use to make the iso and we can worry about the rest :-).
@@TDRKB it’s actually very specific and breaking drm is illegal. I’ll paste the link to the legislation when I’m back at my PC.
I would like to see a video on how you did your collection. I did all my DVD’s into MKV files which I play through PLEX. I don’t have a 4K or Bluray player in a computer yet so I can’t do those discs. I’d like to see what equipment you use to do this as well. Great video.
Lots of people wanting this video, so I think I will need to make it.
@@BuildMontage also keep those of us that use the Mac in mind when you do the video ... thanks
So, in your opinion, the shield+kodi had picture and audio quality equivalent to the z9x? It sounds like your preferences were mostly centered around ease of use and style of the interface. If I'm happy with shield+kodi interface, is there any reason to get a zidoo? Thank you so much for making this video!
You got it :)
Sir, kindly suggest that, I may cast audio and video from my android phone through zidoo z9x controller app. Kindly suggest. Thank you
No its not designed for that. It's a media player so it doesnt stream. It plays rips of physical media.
Plex user here. I think you've convinced me. My movies are mkv so Plex works fine for that and has a bit better interface than Kodi but a lot of the same nagging issues plague me, especially getting the native audio formats playing.
Sign me up for a video about your ripping setup and process, Tony!
Plex has no purpose. Storage prices have plummeted. Limited capacity has a purpose 5 years ago. Tony is right rip the ISO.
@@chebrubin to me the mkv cuts the red tape. Just give me the movie. But for you iso is the way to go and that is great. But yes plex does have a purpose. Zidoo might be optional in a dedicated space but. Plex is on every TV in the house and on the go.
@@triplerinse no purpose
32 terabytes of storage is under $800
@@triplerinse plex does not support TrueHD or DTS:X
Plex, roku, Pelton all useless
@@triplerinse red tape??? Format the computer you use for plex server for Windows Server 2021 or TrueNAS and enjoy your media
Can this player be set so that the TV does not always perceive it as an HDR signal, but has 4K upscaling? Because my Thomson THA100 player is always detected by the samsung TV as an HDR signal, even when I play SDR content.
I'm getting "BenQ V7050" and "Platin Monaco 5.1 with WiSA SoundSend".
Apparently, the projector outputs only 2 channel audio through HDMI_ARC or from SPDIF. My only option to have surround sound experience is to play video from Zidoo Z9X to projector, and audio through SPDIF to Zidoo. Am I correct thinking that?
Hmm.. I'm not familiar with that system. If you don't have a reciever you will need to work out the best way to connect everything up whether it's through optical or HDMI pass through.
@@BuildMontage I moved to another house and don't want to run wires for speakers hence the reason for wireless speakers. Instead of having huge receiver it would also be cool to only have small transmitter.
@@vladvalentinov You still need to plug wireless speakers into power with a wire...with regular speakers the speaker wire is the power and sound
@@estusflask982 Obviously...! But the speaker wire is so... much... longer...
Eventually I got myself 5.1.4Atmos setup, and ran 300' of wiring. Couple of hours of work and no compromise in sound quality.
Hi, Quick question. In terms of picture quality between the Zidoo Z9X and Nvidia Shield ( which one looks better on screen and do they have the same audio quality? )
Regards.
For movie playback audio and video looks pretty similar. I can’t split it as the shield through Kodi does raw
The user experience looks very nice! Very informative! Thanks for sharing!
I'm still looking for a single device that can handle everything from local to online streaming, with support for all the formats, a nice user friendly interface and up to date hardware and software.
Not even the high-end models from Zidoo have all that.
We are basically stuck with multiple devices and services at the tinkering land for now.
Yes the Zidoo is a dedicated media player. It’s made just for that. The shield is probably the best multi purpose single device but I love the Zidoo interface and the simplicity.
I would definitely like a video is getting this process completed. Physical library is growing and I love it but would love to convert them to digital.
Love the videos and subscribed. I bought the Z9X after seeing one of your videos but returned it. Having 4 shields in my house and 1 HTPC with 40tb of space attached they all read directly from the HTPC over the LAN with Plex and works great. Everything you mentioned the Z9X can do the Shield can do other than menus which I don’t care about. Clicking a few toggles on the shield to open up all the options isn’t exactly hard. Thanks for covering theses though 👍🏼😊.
Shield can't play 4K Blurays in Dolby Vision.
@@estusflask982 Actually it does. Not sure when it was updated but Nvidia clearly states it plays HDR10 or Dolby Vision if that is what your talking about. Now I just need a Dolby Vision tv!
@@damiengvideos4337 No, it can't play Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL, which is what Dolby Vision 4K Blurays use.
@@estusflask982 Ok I figured I was missing something
is it true Plex can't play iso and BDMV files?
Hi Tony.
Thanks for reviews you do.
I'm using shield pro but it has really big issue that I can't solve. Dolby vision and sdr Playback is really good but issue with HDR 10 is disturbing.
I can't get 24p playback with HDR 10 in 10 bit. It Drops to 8 bit and chroma switches from 4:2:0 to 4:2:2. The only way to get 10 bit 4:2:0 is leaving refresh rate at 60 hz.
Is any way to solve this problem?
And how's it with zidoo does it play videos without quality drop like Blu-ray player? Or is it better to stick with my Panasonic Blu-ray player?
Im using Sony oled a95l and Denon 6700
That's an interesting issue. I haven't experienced anything like that before so I can't really help but having a refresh rate determine the chroma subsampling is very odd. Zidoo works great, has the HDR to SDR conversion process as well.
Is there a new model of Z9x coming soon?
Not yet. It hasn’t been out for that long yet.
Can you set the Zidoo up the isos from Tv-shows so it can reconize the episodes on each iso like Kodi can ? I know you wrote for movies but i see Tv-shows just as an importen element for my next player.
Yes it treats shows with the same method and I watch tv shows on my Zidoo as well
Have we gotten a video explaining the ripping and NAS setup? I’m close to starting a new how build and am thinking this along with a Zidoo is the way to go! Only other question is how does the Z9X compare to the middle brother of the lineup?
The video is coming. IM waiting on some drives from the states to arrive before I can make it. Z9x is great. Similar performance just not internal drives or upgraded analogue audio components.
@@BuildMontage just watched your part 3 of the rack rebuild and heard about the drives!
Thanks for the reply and also for all of your content! You're my go-to when it comes to learning about home theaters!
@@LoganSwish thanks for watching :) new video is coming very very soon!
Great video, I do streaming and disc. No media player yet. I like watching Ultra HD DVDs if I have them on my Panasonic UB820 the best but streaming is pretty convenient. I guess the media player would be the best of both.
I’m very Interested in the ripping of UHD Blu Ray discs. I tried the demo version of DVDFab but no luck. Thanks
Been there, done that back in the day when X-treamer made dedicated media players. I've also tried Qnap NAS, but found that too cumbersome to maintain. Also tried WD NAS which I still have and use. Ultimately, I've found that nothing beats a PC. A PC can do all of that and so much more, and I don't have to switch between devices depending on what I wanna do. But if given that scenario, I'd choose the SHIELD and install MX Player. You can play games and attach external drives and stream. It just does so much more.
I have the Shield pro but I much prefer the Zidoo as a dedicated player for movies. I use my Shield or Apple TV for streaming, I think it comes down to personal taste.
Been a Shield man for a few years. Every now and then I have to fight with the shield due to a microstutter here or there / re-install plex and/or kodi. All of my media files are on my Windows 11 PC connected to my network via ethernet. Would this Zidoo player be better suited to be the perfect playback experience that I seek? Growing tired of troubleshooting the random stutter / having to find different Kodi builds that work fine for 5 months, and then an update or some other odd thing happens and my movie has a random stutter halfway into it due to some odd problem. I have over 400 of my discs backed up already in MKV format. Thanks in advance, and cheers.
100% it will be better. I have both, and I default to the Zidoo every time...
@@BuildMontage Thanks for the video. Definitely considering it!
Would it be fine to share my media using SMB Shares in Win 11 (that way i can keep my HDDs inside my PC, or is it preferred to directly connect to the Zidoo itself? I'd like to keep the drives in my Windows PC as the directories automatically get backed up using backblaze.@@BuildMontage
my problem is how many times will you watch any given movie more than once.. most of them are good enough to watch once maybe twice. I've have a couple dozen movies that i watch more than that. streaming allows me access to more movies than i own and that's is what i need because i don't know what i want to watch on any given day
Choice is a great thing :)
How do you install Netflix in the Z9X? It comes preinstalled in my unit but when I launch it I get an error
I don't have it on mine, and don't intent to install it either as it's not technically licensed to have that on there. I think you could possibly google "side load netflix" to get some help
Netflix only does 480p on the Zidoo because Zidoo doesn't have Netflix license for HD and 4K. But that may change
I use a combo of Infuse on my Apple TV and Kaleidescape. Infuse has its limitations, but the two box setup is excellent.
Yes Infuse is good to play ISO but it can't do more than PCM pass through, so you don't get the 1:1 audio. K-scape of course you get that and more.
@@BuildMontage I usually do MKV which works better in InFuse. I use that method for stuff I want and can’t get in the K store right now. PCM decodes up to effective 7.1 lossless 1:1 in Infuse, so the only thing missing is Atmos or DTS:X native.
@@Techthusiasm yes, exactly, and I always have neural-x for that, but, it's why I was on the hunt for something that just works out of the box. K-scape always fascinated me, but I've heard some horror stories when it comes to support - and it's not available in Australia any more anyway.
@@Techthusiasm If you have a PC with HDMI port you can use the Microsoft Movies & TV app to play Dolby Atmos movies. Enable HDR in Settings and it'll play HDR10 as well.
i've tried infuse with my apple tv , but didn't manage to set it up. :(
Is it possible to add an external 4k UHD disc drive to the Nvidia Shield for disc playback and still support Dolby Vision, Atmos, DTS:X etc.?
Yes
During the Nvidia Shield section you mentioned if you had ripped your disks as MKV's you would have been able to use Plex but instead you ripped to ISO files so you use Kodi. Besides missing the Menu and bonus features in the MKV version is there any other reason you choose to rip ISO?
The main reason I went with ISO is that is the original format used. Other than that, the mt2s file inside is left unchanged if the MKV is created without opting for any compression. No other reason really in my decision, but just the way I use DVDFab to do the rips, it just works and makes sense. I also use the Zidoo players to play back these 1:1 rips - my streamer boxes don't even connect to the NAS I have them stored on so its a non-issue.
Hello...if you connect sata bluray driver maby working?
No clue if that would actually work...
It supports USB bluray drive
How do you rip losless in iso? I know make MKV, but keeping tje Menus sounds pretty nice
It's a 1:1 rip - so a direct copy of the disc bit by bit using DVDFab
Can you play your media on the Zidoo via voice control? I am currently using Home Assistant’s Plex Assistant integration, which is amazing. I would want to be able to do that with these media players.
No voice control. It’s all done using the remote but it does allow IP control so possibly you could if you had a smart home integration to do it that way. It has an Rs232 port for that.
How’s the tone mapping. Even with the Epson 9400 the HDR on UHD disks are still too dark. Even with a Panasonic player.
I have the 9300 which is pretty much the same projector. What I did that greatly improved the HDR performance with the colour filter engaged (which is what I think you are implying about the loss of light output) is to buy a calibration sensor and do the greyscale calibration myself which brought a lot of detail back into the image. Also changing bulb at 1000 hours helps as well. I am just on 1100 hours with a new bulb on the way. They are only 150 bucks from catch of the day. So in answer to your question, love the way it applies the tone mapping. The LLDV VS10 implementation on all content looks great, although it can match so do HDR10 if it detects that or DV.
@@BuildMontage I had the 9300 before this one. My cinema filter stopped working just out of warranty and was lucky enough to to find someone that had the 9400 in stock mid last year. My brother pre ordered one in August and is still waiting. I was a bit scared that I was spending the money and there was only going to be minor improvement but boy was I wrong. The colour and picture sharpness is like night and day. The HDR is so much better but still not there yet. I have two calibrations, cinema filter on and off but both aren’t good enough for blu ray movies. Streaming HDR (depending on the service) looks good but is a bit hit and miss. Netflix is usually good but Disney is off (look at toy story 3 vs cars and you will know what I mean) I am still sticking with SDR for now but I hate how I can’t watch my Star Wars and marvel collection with Atmos as the soundtrack is only on the UHD version.
I use a nvida shield 4k this Runs Emby server.
ALso use the Sheild to watch my collection of 4k rips with Dolby atmos.
So would my experience be better with this as my Sheild also runs my iptv etc,
Shield is more versatile than the Zidoo - but the Zidoo is a nice way to scroll your library. Image quality is pretty much the same.
do you have a video on ripping Blue ray CDS? how to?
Not yet - it is coming (at some point when I get some spare time to make it!)
Can iuse both Nvidia Pro Shield and the Zidoo X9X?
Of course! I have both and use both all the time.
I don't like the blueray menus as for me it takes up too much screen space.
Does the Z9x have the option for just a list menu ?
Yes you dont have to use the bluray menu, just an option if you wanted to. And yes the z9x has list menu too.
Thank you, I'm considering both the Z9X and the Nvidia Shield.
I have a NAS on my lan, are both easy to connect to the NAS ?
Any details about the stability of the Zidoo Z9X? I've read lots of complains about freezing and other bugs on the firmware...
I am using it right now. Use it all the time. I’ve never had a single issue with it
@@BuildMontage Thanks for the info. 🙏Did you also tested it connected into receiver with DTS-HD 'audio through hdmi' ?
Na sua opinião para assistir filmes e ter melhoramento na imagem pelo upscaling qual seria a melhor opção entre a placa de video ou TV nvidia Shields?
How does the Z9X compare to the Z1000 pro for picture quality and sound? Thanks. What is the advantage to the Z1000Pro oer the Z9X other than internal Drive bay?
Great question: main difference is the processor/ram, so it's every so slightly slower to move around the menus and load images but it's not a huge difference. Audio/video is identical. Ive done extensive testing with both.
@@BuildMontage thank you for the quick response. Very interesting. So if I buy the z9x I get the same audio and video quality. I might have to pick one up then. Thank you.
I was this 🤌 close to getting the Nvidia Shield and loading Kodi to replace my WDTV Live.
my collection needs a player with a bit power these days and the Zidoo looks just the ticket.
Did you make a video on how you rip and set your library up, I’m thinking of using smaller sized ISO’s.
Thanks
No I decided not to due to the legal ramifications of showing people how to circumvent copy protection.
I would love to see a video on how you rip a movies (Bluray?) to your NAS, then a quick tutorial on how you edit the artwork in Kodi. What are you using for a NAS? and how big? I have a 8TB NAS now but its not really designed for media streaming. I'm probably going to build something, any recommendations? Love the videos, thanks!
That video is in the works!
This is madness!! I remember when the Shield Pro came out and everyone was gung ho about getting it, so I did. WAAAAy before I had thought/been able to create a theater room. Now this?? I didn't even know something like this existed! So thanks! I originally was just looking for solid Blu-Ray player, but now I feel like FOMO. Maybe I'll just put the Shield on another TV then...
I got rid of my physical players for the Zidoo.
Hello , just curious , is there any difference in video/audio quality between Shield and Zidoo if I am just connecting my external HD to it for watching watching mkv etc file formats ?
I dont think so - I even said so in the video. It's more about the user experience.
Great video buddy. Would love to see the process
hi. Thanks for this comparison. Does the Z9X Dolby Vision on 4k IOSs (from twolayer Discs)?
Yes the z9x supports and plays back dolby vision if the display (tv usually!) can play it back. If it doesn’t u can force the vs10 engine to playback DV so you don’t get that weird magenta and green look to the image.
Yes, please give us a video on your NAS and ripping!!!
I have a shield pro and have Kodi and never have any issues with passing through native audio.
You don't need to go to developer mode at all for that.
Just set audio to passthrough, and have the shield connected directly to the AVR not through the tv using arc/eArc
You can disable Arc/eArc on the AVR if the shield is hdmi directly in to it.
As for Kodi , again set to passthrough and all audio codecs are passed through.
Kodi is set to give you access to all audio codecs and now also Dolby vision.
I think you need to change Kodi skins to get a better flow.
Plex does have it's issues but set to direct play it's usually pretty stable on a home network as long as it's hardwired.
I can play back full 100GB remux file on my shield pro using Kodi.
I'm not in to having all the DVD menu tbh, I don't ever watch or use them.
As for ripping your own physical media that's illegal in NZ and AU. So I wouldn't do a video on that one
To get the custom frame rate and resolution options you do need to unlock developer mode on Shield - there are also setting you need to enable for passthrough. Zidoo just works when u turn it on. Also Kodi absolutely does NOT have the pass through options enabled by default. Ripping is only illegal if you plan on selling. You are allowed to have a backup of your physical media. If it were illegal, Zappiti NAS with ripper wouldn't be able to be sold here.
@@BuildMontage for movies you don't need custom frame rate. Just switch to the option of 24hz HDR ready DV ready.
To set passthrough on kodi it's one click.
As for legality of owning and ripping. No it's not legal even just for your self..
It's legal in say Switzerland or Sweden one of the two but I think you'll find in Australia and New Zealand that is actually still illegal. As it's bypassing the copyright of the DVD .
Maybe look it up before you make a video about ripping them just to be safe .
Ask a copyright lawyer in Aussie if you can find one.
And as for that other box, it's a fork of Kodi as it's open source and can be tweaked to do what you want it to do.
Example the latest release of Kodi now has DV but some DV files won't work as it only has one or two of the 7 DV codecs.
So the version of Kodi I have which has been altered has all the DV codecs.
Also just checked Kodi on standard setting , passthrough shows up to be enabled. You've only got to turn it on.
Or when playing movies go to sound icon and enable it for that movie and then select for everything.
As long as your shield is plugged directly in to the AVR and you have passthrough enabled on both shield and Kodi it'll pass everything to the AVR and give you the corresponding audio codec.
Now if plugged in to say a tv using arc / eArc then to the avr you may run in to issues with that.
That's why a tv or projector should really just become a monitor as such
@@briantidey2225 pass through in Kodi is one click. But, by default all the other options for Dolby Atmos are disabled and you can’t even see that unless you go into advanced. Also if it’s illegal to have a backup of your physical disk, how are Zappiti in business here? They sell a ripper and NAS which sole purpose is to copy your disk. Also the players only play back that sort of ripped content. I have done research and all of it pointed to being ok if you own it.
@@briantidey2225 incorrect. U still need to enable all of the other settings under advanced mode. You have them enabled now but when you install Kodi, they are disabled. I have video and photo evidence of this.
I have both the Ziddo Z9X and the Z10 Pro, Amazing devices!
I just ordered the Z9X, would've got the Z10 Pro but it would've taken a month to get here.
Hello, what do you recommend only for Netflix, Prime, Disney etc.??, I'm not interested in movies from external drives - I watch blue or uhd.
For a one fits all device maybe the Nvidia shield.
@@BuildMontage I bought Shield :) - I'm testing it :D
Can you use the box with iptv subscription?
No
Found some answers here I asked you in another video. Once again. Great channel. You and I look for the exact same features. Like the same features. And have I'm guessing similar setups. Havent had to worry about any of this fir a while because my Zappiti took care of my needs. About to set up a Sheild. Have already returned one once. And looks like the Zidoo is a perfect replacement. As far as resolution and sound quality though. Besides it not being dedicated. Are these two comparable? I didn't even have Vision on my Zappiti. And I'm not a projector fan. I use Oleds. And I have a pretty decent 7.2.4 setup. Not the best in the world but a pretty great looking and sounding setup for my needs. With that? Would you highly recommend the Zidoo over the Shield? Or is it comparable enough to not worry. My wife would greatly enjoy everything encompassed into one player. A main reason I went for the Shield. Plus Im familiar with Kodu. Agree with you 100% on that. And then there's also a chance the Zappiti app will someday make that usable again. I'm really on a fence here if you happen to aee this or the other. Thanks again.
Thank you. I would choose Zidoo over the Shield if dedicated movies are what you're after. The shield is a great multipurpose device but doesn't have the same user experience as the Zidoo which has a more premium feel to it when you're browsing movies. I use the Apple TV as my streamer, and the Zidoo as my dedicated player and this combo works well for me.
You can do almost everything you mentioned and from 5:57 onward it does it all as well! Enabling a collection or making a movie collection bundle together is easy and is an option that you can activate on the Kodi menu, you can even make collections of movies like A fist full of dollars, for a few dollars more, The good the bad and the ugly!
Audio wise is the same as it is a passthrough bitstream.
For a person that is savy on this affairs it should be quite explanatory, and a bit of exploring on youtube facilitates this a lot!
What Shiled lacks is the ability to play 3D movies! Zidoo doesn't suffer from this "fault".
Hello whats the goal of using an external Media Player? I Just dont get it, cant you just plug a external harddrive in the TV with a movie on it and watch it?
Sure you can do that. The purpose of my video (and my channel) is about home theater and pushing for the best possible quality you can. The Zidoo will produce exceptional video quality, and a lot better than just the TV can reproduce. Also, my focus is generally on projectors with a multi channel speaker setup, so the players can send the data via bitstream to the AV Procesor for decoding and allowing it to do the heavy lifting for high fidelity audio and video.
@@BuildMontage the thing is im planing to buy a new TV and a Dolby Atmos Sound System and i heared that the quality of streams Like Netflix 4k are not enough so thought about puting movies on a external HDD and Plug that into the TV, do you think it will work or should i buy a external movie Player for that?
Thanks you very much :)
You could certainly do that but I wouldn’t recommend the TV as being able to reproduce what the Zidoo can especially if you’re playing 1:1 rips, also you are pushing the audio from the TV backwards to your audio system which is sorta backwards and may not result in the best audio as well.
@@BuildMontage ah so with an external Media Player you plug the audio System directly into it? Sounds like better quality 😄
Hmm my nvidia shield starts to get old and nvidia have closed the production of new hardware so v4 wont come (version 2019 is the last thats gonna be produced). But i use plex for my content and it in mkv files. This product seems interesting. My nas is a synology ds1522+ with 2 dx517 addons and 15x 20 tb disks in synologys raid config. So a quite large plex server. But i paid for plex pass and if this one have the same system as plex it make plex useless. Question is it working automatically with posters and thumbnails or do i have to set it up all by my self. I dont really feel to have to fix over 2000+ movies and over 8000+ episodes of series. It will be a full time job for atleast half a year to set up. It took me years and years to build the server with content. Im extremely split what to do. Is it a good idea to get one?
I love my Zioo products - I have a review on the new flagship UHD8000 on my channel if you want to look it up. I ditched PLEX even though I have been a member since the 2000s
Hey Tony. Great info. Couple of questions. How does zidoo handle extras for movies. And what about tv shows/extras as well. Is this device IYO better in quality playback that shield/kodi. I sometimes see dragging on video when some scenes pan across screen on my shield pro using kodi. Thanks!
What do you mean by extras? I personally feel the Zidoo is better than Shield/Kodi for the reasons mentioned in the video - I also like how the Zidoo handles the meta data and shows additional stuff about the director and actors etc.
Great video clip . I have tried to rip movies but never turn out that's why I use Apple I buy my movie it go to my library I get all the info I need about the movie. Cheers
Great stuff thx. Ok stupid question. How do I rip movies that I own to a Nas? Is there software that I need? Thx
I ordered a zidoo z9x because I needed mkv FEL dolby vision profile 7 playback which the apple tv 4k cannot do it just falls back to HDR with infuse pro. With an almost full 18tb drive on my openmediavault server it would be too time consuming to remux them to DV profile 8. I will still use the ATV 4K for online streaming and just use the z9x for local network streaming.
That’s exactly how I use it :)
Just very simple question, Can Zidoo 9X play 4K REMUX HDR movies directly from USB drive? NO NAS etc. Just directly plugged into device, Can Zidoo play them without any lag?
Simple answer… 100%
Yes of course.
Great video. I just bought a Sony XR77A80J 77" OLED TV and use a Panasonic DP-UB9000PCK and Apple TV 4K. My concern is quality-I don’t want to loose any quality if I go this route. I have been using MakeMKV to rip older DVDs and TV series and playing them back using Emby. Please elaborate on how best to get my 4K/bluray movies ripped then using the Zidoo. BTW, can't find them in Canada? Also, what about the Z10Pro? That IS available on Amazon Canada.
Hey there. Quality will be as good as a disk in my opinion. It's the same source and using a dedicated player to play it back. I use DVDFab to do my rips to ISO format. And yes the Z10Pro is perfectly good - its similar to the z9x but allows you to put a drive bay in.
Although you have almost helped me through the ripping set up process i think it would be great to see a full video. No has really done it before. And it aint so simpleZ :) it would need a few setup processes - such as Synology and Zapitti Server on DSM 7.
I think quite a few people are interested in this so I will get cracking on that video.
@@BuildMontage although its my next step - setting up folders to sort movies etc etc - Zapitti V Zidoo etc etc thx Tony :)
Can it play sbs 3d videos with out stuck
Does the zidoo software allow user profiles like plex?
No the Zidoo is more of a player similar to what you'd expect from a disk player, so no user accounts required.
Picking one up on Friday can’t wait
Great Info, Many thanks. Can someone advice regarding ripped movies as MKV Maintaining original Quality Which one is better KODI/PLEX on nVidia Sheild or Apple TV "Doesn't support KODI" or Zidoo from Audio/Video Quality prospective?
I am looking to make a video, I'm just waiting to see the legal ramifications on doing so as you need to bypass DRM on the disk. Zidoo is nice, easy and looks awesome, and Shield running Kodi is equally as good in terms of quality of audio and video - although I think the way the Zidoo renders is slightly better as you can also modify the image output with sliders.
Hi there, thanks for the vid, I am actually looking for a media player to play my movie files! For the Zidoo, is it possible that I connect to a USB external drive and just play the mkv/movie files from there directly? Thanks!
Yes you can :)
Will the zidoo output the native resolution of the content with no scaling? So if you play a 1080p file it outputs 1080p? If you play 4K it out puts 4K?
Yes it will. It has resolution and content matching on by default.
@@BuildMontage looks like it upscales any content under 1080p to 1080p. No big deal, but for those of us with lumagens, it’s not ideal. Not that there is much if any content under that now which is good.
Also pretty harsh on kodi. Kodi on Nvidia shield is shit. Much much better on a standalone device like odroid N2.
The tone mapping is interesting. It’s obviously static based on the HDR metadata.
@@MrAtoulmin I was answering a specific use case of streamer box vs dedicated player for out of the box playback of 1;1 rips. It does hdr10 and dv. For the price I think this little unit does ok. For streaming I use shield or atv. No video processor yet but Madvr is in my sights.
Is the Zidoo Z9X any better than the Zidoo Z1000 PRO 4K UHD Media Player - they both run the same CPU, GPU and RAM? The only difference I can see is the hard drive slot.
There is more - RAM, HDD slots, form factor. Yes, agree, there isn't huge difference in performance - playback is identical between all models.
Nvidia shields upscaling is unmatched, and it can also play games with GeForce now.
I think the new samsung tvs have it beat.
Great if you are a gamer. I found the upscaling produced disappointing results. Nothing like 4k and it introduced noise to the picture
Is the z9x better than the nvidia shield pro for local media playback? :)
It was literally the point of the video to answer that question 😂
@@BuildMontage yes sorry 😆 I'm using my shield pro only for 4k hdr remuxes, will I get better picture with the zidoo?? 😳 Or do you have any other suggestions?
@@Darkoholic I don’t know about “better” but overall for me it is a better experience. I have both as well so it’s an objective opinion. I use Zidoo every day.
hello , i do like the ui or posters in plex, I=the way you can see ur personal content movies shows in the screen. is there is any way we can get that instead of plex apps like Kodi? because Kodi is reading my Dolby atmos and 4k movie better than plex
yes get the Zidoo it is better than Plex
You have convinced me to give the Zidoo a shot. Had been looking at Zidoo and Zappiti for months. New Zappitis are ridiculously over priced. I’ve had an Apple TV/Plex set up for years but I’m tired of the 4K Dolby Vision limitations of this set up. Zidoo doesn’t look as snappy as an ATV but way faster than a disk. Keep up the good work!
Curious to hear about these 4K Dolby Vision limitations in Plex?
@@paulholyoak did u get a green tint on playing back mkv files with dolby vision sent my zidoo back because of this..
With the shield being literally the only player capable of Dolby vision single layer dual track profile 7, which is the approved mkv spec as per dolby, and being the only player capable of actual truehd audio pass through while Kodi really really lacking in any hdr presentation at all, I can see people being frustrated with Kodi or Plex on devices besides the shield. But for large libraries, 1030 4K remuxes and many more 1080p Blu-ray’s, I don’t see how this device would be able to handle a database of that size as compared to a dedicated Plex server. If it allowed for Plex install I would be very interested in the device as it could potentially solve some red shift errors that are somewhat still present in some movies on the shield. Have you seen any performance degradation on very very large databases of movies?
Im not sure what you're asking here. The library for the Zidoo is stored on a NAS and pulled over NFS. I'm unaware of any issues with the image. The Zidoo has the LLDV VS10 engine built into it so playback is pretty nice in my opinion. Shield playback is pretty similar pulling the same ISO files from my NAS.
@@BuildMontage I’m assuming the ziddo stores the movie file location on the nas and the metadata it downloads from the internet for the movies in a local database. As more movies are added and more metadata is downloaded does the performance degrade…is more what I was asking
@@BuildMontage for instance with Plex all the metadata and movie file locations are stored server side on the Plex database on whatever server/nas you use. Hence using high performance nvme raid ssds makes the interface loaded and database access lightning quick. I’m worried the ziddo would perform horribly slowly with a very very large movie collection and it’s correspondingly large amounts of metadata.
The Shield can't play Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL.
I like the skin you have, but you are the only one i see with those images (and the info), is it built-in or you did some things to get that skin...?
The skin is built in.
Hi Bro. Does the Z9X have the same features as the more expensive models? How to tag chapters? Congrats from Brazil.
Yes its mostly the same, just not as powerful in terms of menu loading (not by much!) and the music components.
Can this work with a external hard drive
Sure can!
I believe the shield will handle Dolby TrueHD in the plex app but you would have to have your blu rays ripped as MKVs and not ISOs losing the menus.
Shield will pass through TrueHD (with Atmos meta data) in PLEX with MKV only as PLEX can't read ISOs - hence why I use the Zidoo, so yes you're correct :)
@@BuildMontage I believe java runtimes are needed to display blu rays menus which may explain why kodi on the shield can't run the menus. And the zidoo box probably has the required java runtimes.
What software package do you use for ripping?
DVDFab or MAKEMKV
I just got the Zidoo Z9X and its much smoother playback compared to the shield/kodi. (No judder or stuttering) I'm also not sure if the picture and audio are better, but they are stellar!
Purpose built media player.
@@BuildMontage It makes a big difference and I didn't think it would.
Check out the zappiti media player, a comparison on its features and player ( audio and video ) compared to the sheiks would be appreciated. The zappiti also allows you to add applications, so it’s an all in one.
I am hoping for a Zappiti at some point to compare the two.
Would like to see Zappiti vs Shield too. Primarily interested to see if there is any audio/video quality difference.
Hello brother
Just wanted to say that (almost) ALL the reasons you prefer the Zidoo are solved and are available by choosing a better Skin for Kodi
I have the collections, all the info about movies, can explore movies based on director/actor/genre, etc Can see the trailer. Choose artwork, etc. It’s a very nice experience
The only thing that I didn’t try is playing ISOs because I don’t use them
Most people who use Kodi change the skin as a first step. The default skin is really there because there needs to be a default skin
What you say is mostly true however I have tried all the skins in Kodi and I don't like any of them. It doesn't have the same feel and user experience as a dedicated player that only does that one thing. Its just a choice, an option, as I said in the video, virtually no difference in playback performance from either player, I just prefer the experience from the Zidoo personally - and I own both devices remember :)
@@BuildMontage I understand brother. To each their own
Just suggested it in case you hadn't tried that route
I personally use Arctic Fuse as a skin and like it (even if a little bit a pain in the ass to configure at first)
But to be honest, my main reason for using Kodi is streaming content rather than playing files i have backed up locally. If that was the case, i might have gone with the Zidoo instead
Have a nice day
As me and you slightly discussed on an older video, kodi is amazing once you've figured it out but it takes time and effort.
Little tip: leave the audio at 2.0 and turn on passthrough. This will make kodi not touch the audio and send it straight to the receiver.
I can imagine it would be great if you could fine tune everything. For me the Poster Wall app on Zidoo is hands down the nicest way to scroll your library. It's all subjective. I have yet to see a full Kodi implementation like it. None of the skins are very nice at all. Link me to some resources if you have a chance and I'll take a look at Kodi's potential.
@@BuildMontage
I'm currently running the AEON Flux skin. It's highly customizable and has 3 varieties of a wall. I run the standard wall with the case option on (looks like physical media), and then "shift" for sets of movies.
As far as audio, leave it at 2.0 and turn the passthrough on. This will bypass the media device and send the audio straight to your receiver to do the processing.
So using Plex on the shield is even easier and interface is as good if not better. Ripping 4k disks to an MKV file without any compression of video or audio is a breeze. I find this video ill informed.
That’s your way. I’m demonstrating two different devices. Not a fan of plex or Kodi.
Awesome video. The more I see about the Zidoo, the more I want to purchase one. I'm so deep in Plex at this point. Time to make a change? UGHHHHH
No need to change.. Plex still has its uses. You have a Harmony Elite, you just flick back at the press of a button.
If u rip as an iso does the file name need to be renamed properly to get it to group within a collection or its just automatic?
My new fav utube channel👌 I'm also very interested I'm a ripping video, I'm waiting on my drive to start
Thank you for watching. Renaming does help the scraper to identify the movie, however you can always manually match it.
Whose picture quality is better?
I think it's pretty close to identical for PQ.
this is EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. anytime I try and look into video playback they all all about streaming. I have an extensive 4k library so I needed this. I do have an LG OLED C1 but still
Definitely, a dedicated player is perfect - either disks or ripped and playback through the Zidoo.
@@BuildMontage I have two external HDs and one internal 14tb one hooked into a dock (which connects via USB). Would these work all setup and connected to the box?
Very interesting device. Thinking of digitizing my collection and this seems like a good option.
It is, I still use mine daily.
Hi @build montage - don’t you have 3D movies collection? Never seen any in your videos
I don't like 3D movies I'm sorry
I just wanna watch own content on a 4k OLED using a big ass storage which I want to acces via my pc to add and delete content of desired. I want all the goodies like vision / atmos etc. Just use a shield with storage the way? With plex or Kodi.
Yes that works.
Found some points to be inaccurate regarding the Nvidia Shield.
First, you don't need to access developer options to make the Shield work with various video formats. Most users won't miss Blu-ray menus, so if that's not a priority, you can simply rip your Blu-rays in a lossless format. These files play perfectly through Plex or Jellyfin without needing Kodi, which, as you noted, can be clunky.
My setup is straightforward: I use the Nvidia Shield (2019 Pro model) connected to my NAS, streaming remuxed, lossless videos. It handles Dolby Vision, all HDR formats, and supports audio passthrough, including Atmos. The process is simple: (1) Get an Nvidia Shield 2019 Pro, (2) Rip your discs, and (3) Use Plex for playback with audio passthrough. That's all there is to it, without the complications your video suggests.
This could be true now, but a couple of years ago when I made the video, what you're talking about was not possible - I didn't just make stuff up - I spent quite a bit of time trying to get it to work before I made the video and the assistance I got showed me to do what I showed in the video. Since then, no doubt these things have likely been fixed and improved upon - hindsight is 20/20 :)
@@BuildMontage I stumbled across your video as I was debating what would be my main client for my ripped blue rays. Eventually bought a Nvidia shield second hand and found it to be pretty great minus blue ray menus . Maybe make a follow up video updating the current state of things . Keep up the good work
May i know comparison Nvidia Shield pro vs Zidoo z9x for picture video quality ? which the best video result, please let me know. prefer for bluray rip ultra HD 4K HDR. thx
@@mulyant0 nvidia shield if you’re not looking to run blue rays in their native menus and play blurray disk formats then nvidia shield is the far superior option
I think you got your thumbnail picture for this video mixed up
No I don't think I did... One is a dedicated player and the other can do both but mostly used for streaming.
@@BuildMontage you think the shield is better for streaming rather than playing files off a external drive?
As much as I like my NVidia Shield Pro, I can't find a way to play my Blu-ray 3D files with it, so I picked up the Z9X. On the plus side, I do finally get to watch 3D files on my BenQ projector, but the picture quality seems somewhat washed out compared to my NVidia Shield Pro. Even the surround audio formats sound compressed compared to the Pro. Really wish it would have worked out but picture and sound quality are more important to me than a box that's capable of playing all formats. Will keep using my trusty Pro until I figure out this Blu-ray 3D files issue :(
That doesnt sound right. You may need to check your settings. Audio should be set to RAW so that it doesn't do any kind of manipulation to the stream and does a bitstream pass through, and also for video, make sure you have the SDR to HDR settings correctly mapped as well as the gamma setting. It should be as good/better than the shield.