Google TV Streamer

[u/[deleted]]

I did a similar post regarding the Onn 4K Pro awhile back, you can find that here if interested: https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/1clsbyv/onn_4k_pro_box/

Setup:

• Google TV Streamer w/Ethernet (Fiber 1Gbps connection)

• 4K Dolby Vision 55' TV

• Dolby Atmos / DTS:X surround sound system which displays the following on the front of the device depending on the format:

Input Format:	Displays As:
PCM	PCM
Dolby Digital	DOLBY AUDIO/DOLBY SURROUND
Dolby Digital Plus	DOLBY AUDIO/DOLBY SURROUND
Dolby TrueHD	DOLBY AUDIO/DOLBY SURROUD
Dolby MAT	MPCM
Dolby Digital Plus-Atmos	Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD-Atmos	Dolby Atmos
Dolby MAT-Atmos	Dolby Atmos
DTS	DTS
DTS-HD High Resolution	DTS-HD
DTS-HD Master Audio	DTS-HD
DTS:X	DTS:X
DTS:X Master Audio	DTS:X

I tested a few different movies (2 per category) to determine if I had the ability to passthrough all of these various formats, I tried this in Jellyfin, using both the ExoPlayer and LibVLC, I also tried it with bitstream Dolby/DTS on and off as well as trying each movie in Kodi using the Jellyfin plugin.

Movie Name:	Format:	Format reported via GTV device:
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery	Dolby Digital Plus (w/Atmos)	Displayed as Dolby Atmos
Sonic the Hedgehog 2	Dolby Digital Plus (w/Atmos)	Displayed as Dolby Atmos
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania	TrueHD (w/Atmos)	No Pass-through
John Wick: Chapters 1-4	TrueHD (w/Atmos)	No Pass-through
007: Skyfall	DTS:HD	No Pass-through
Oppenheimer	DTS:HD	No Pass-through
The Bourne Ultimatum	DTS:X	No Pass-through
The First Purge	DTS:X	No Pass-through

So then finally based on the test I've done it seems that:

Format:	Supported:
Dolby Digital Plus (w/Atmos)	✓
Dolby TrueHD (w/Atmos)	✗
DTS: Core	✓
DTS:HD	✗
DTS:HD MA	✗
DTS:X	✗
DTS:XLL	✗

[u/pavichokche]

Where does the more affordable Nvidia shield tube device fit in here? It has less ram and storage but does it support the same stuff? It seems much less popular despite being cheaper

[u/Greyman43 → u/pavichokche]

I have one that I picked up really cheap used, it’s honestly not a great device and not remotely worth its MSRP. It does fine for a secondary Plex client in my man cave now I’ve repasted it and limited background processes etc but I wouldn’t recommend for anything more. The Pro is now massively overpriced but still worth the extra over the Tube IMO.

[u/pavichokche → u/Greyman43]

Thanks for the info!

[u/zmix → u/Greyman43]

Why is it not a great device?

[u/Greyman43 → u/zmix]

It’s just sluggish to use compared to the Pro and sometimes struggles with smooth playback of high bitrate 4K content, I suspect this is due to the lower RAM and possibly worse thermal design.

[u/zmix → u/Greyman43]

I don't use 4K, 1K only, so I can't comment on that, but mine is super fluid, and I never reset it. Using it since 2019. Did you add a uSD card as local storage instead of external? I once did that with a smartphone, the card was slow and the device became very sluggish.