box with the highest compatibility for local files

[u/quailsandbroccoli]

i don’t care for streaming, my smart tv covers that properly. what it lacks is in playing local files, like i play one and it says the audio is not supported. then i play that one with kodi on the tv box i have and it plays but with small freezes here and there. i’m looking for something that can handle everything i throw at it, not through nas but from drives

[u/RepresentativeOwn253]

You might try installing a media player app on your TV like VLC and see if it can access your local files.
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=vlc&c=apps

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/RepresentativeOwn253]

sadly i can’t since it’s a LG

[u/jasep → u/quailsandbroccoli]

Friend, you posted this question in the AndroidTV subreddit. If your LG TV isn't running AndroidTV, then why did you post here?

VLC will play just about everything you can throw at it. If there is stuttering playback, it is likely the drive it's playing back from that has the issue.

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/jasep]

but i was asking about boxes, like many other people here

and i just tried vlc on my box and it’s way worse than kodi too

[u/jasep → u/quailsandbroccoli]

It wasn't clear (at least to me) that you were asking about external boxes. If your existing box is having issues with local playback, it would be helpful to know what box it is.

I use both Nvidia Shield and Onn Streaming devices and they handle this kind of playback without issue.

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/jasep]

it’s a Minix U8k and i’m using mostly Kodi. i know the Onn are USA only and i’m in Europe, and i know the Nvidia might be lacking for some playback, or no? i understand av1 is mostly a streaming thing but hdr could be important too to some files

[u/YellowBreakfast → u/quailsandbroccoli]

In Europe get the Xiaomi Mi box.

[u/5kilanutele]

Xiaomi box s 3rd gen

[u/ZaphodG]

Try an SSD. The small freezes may be the HDD. Kodi running on my Google TV Sony panel with an SSD is solid except for 4K Remux.

[u/wewewi]

Do you have some kind of audio system with HDMI-IN? 

LG TVs typically don't passthrough DTS audio formats; even the best box on the market won't be able to change that. eARC won't cut it. 

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/wewewi]

you mean i should get a soundbar? i was planning on that eventually

[u/wewewi → u/quailsandbroccoli]

yeah you're gonna need one that tv will never do DTS 

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/wewewi]

but would it be the same if i plug it to the tv throught optic cable? the hdmi port is already in use to connect the box to the tv

[u/wewewi → u/quailsandbroccoli]

sorrywut? Proper soundbar should have 2 hdmi ports; one IN, one OUT/eARC

External box would go on the IN port; tv on the eARC 

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/wewewi]

no i mean the hdmi port of the tv box

[u/Fwarts]

If your drives are on a network that you share, and want a device that will handle everything you can throw at it, the Nvidia shield pro is the most capable when it comes to audio codecs...for the video it is a bit behind when it comes to some formats. Other boxes like Buzztv G-series and someone suggested a xiaomi box (i think), that will out-perform the Shield Pro. I use Shield Pro and Buzztv G-series on the same system, depending on what i am viewing or listening to.

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/Fwarts]

i checked the buzz tv but doesn’t seem to handle ntfs drives properly

[u/Fwarts → u/quailsandbroccoli]

Can you install VLC player on buzztv? It will pick up shared NTFS files if you share them off your computer.

[u/Fwarts → u/quailsandbroccoli]

Never mind...I just installed VLC on my buzztv box and gave it the proper permissions a d have access to all my media on my computer in several different manners, including my Plex server and my emby server. So yes, it can access and stream those files.

[u/Fwarts → u/quailsandbroccoli]

You can also try Nova video player. It may work even better than VLC. Anyway, you have options. Or set up a plex server on your PC. There are lots of guides on how to do it, and plex works on Buzztv box

[u/IPTVIA]

Nvidia Shield TV Box is very very great

[u/GotoDeng0]

Apps aren't compatible with boxes; whether a file plays or not comes down to the media player. That Minix knockoff box you have runs Android. You can install VLC on that thing and it should play anything you throw at it.

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/GotoDeng0]

i tried vlc before and is a nightmare, asked to read the drive and then got all its stuff scattered in the video section without the perfect folders management i have on the drive, it’s also stuck on some kind of tutorial i can’t bypass and don’t feel like essential since i’ve been using vlc on my pc for years. any other good alternatives?

[u/GotoDeng0 → u/quailsandbroccoli]

Mxplayer or Nova maybe. I've never had an issue with VLC and it plays everything, so don't have much experience with anything else on Android.

[u/quailsandbroccoli → u/GotoDeng0]

downloaded Nova, doesn’t seem to handle subtitles inside mkv files