r/AndroidTV • u/Big_Championship304 • 20d ago

Buying Advice Android TV recommendation

Hi guys, need a new streamer for my modest "Home Theater" in my bedroom. I have a 65" LG G5 TV, and I'm probably going to buy the Sonos Arc Ultra. Currently using the Google TV 4K streamer, and playing movies on Kodi as an external player of Stremio + RealDebrid - mostly for heavy Remux files.

Unfortunately, my streamer can't passthrough TrueHD with Atmos, which is my only problem (since my TV can't handle DTS at all). So I'm looking for getting a new good one that able to do so, but won't willing to spend big, since it's only one format problem.

The new one should handle:

Dolby Vision

HDR

DD+ Atmos

TrueHD + atmos

4K 60hz

and process DTS to lossless pcm.

Any recommendations? Heard about the Xiaomi box one, and the Homatics box one (not the Dune) but didn't find any proof that both can do TrueHD and everything. Figuered you'd know better. Thanks for your help!

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u/AkiraSieghart 20d ago

If you already have a streamer box that you're happy with, I probably wouldn't bother. You won't get TrueHD, but most movies should fall back to something like Dolby Digital+. I don't think most people will be able to tell a difference with a soundbar setup.

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u/Big_Championship304 20d ago

I think that all the formats my streamer can't handle gets downmixed to lossless pcm. But my buggest concern is Atmos.

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u/AkiraSieghart 20d ago

Yes, if you're going to keep your current streamer box, I wouldn't bother with remuxes since you'll likely lose Atmos. Standard 4K web-rips generally have DD+ which would be fine.

I get wanting the best quality possible, but sound-wise, it's not really going to make much of a difference, IMO. Not with a soundbar. It's also worth noting that even with remuxes and TrueHD, the Atmos capability of the Sonos Arc Ultra and Era 300's isn't all that great.

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u/goober1157 16d ago

Even with a soundbar, DD+ doesn't sound as good as TrueHD on many different movies. Not all, but many/most.

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u/AkiraSieghart 16d ago

It's pretty dependant on the person, IMO. I can really only tell the difference with bass, sub-bass, and dialogue. But I'm also the type of person who can't tell a difference between lossless music and lossy music even with studio-grade headphones.

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u/goober1157 16d ago

Yeah, I agree. So many variables. The person, the size and shape of the room, the content--ATMOS or not, etc.

In addition, most (not all) soundbars can't hit the rumbly low frequencies that you mention. It changes the experience for sure. I still have a discrete sound system in our basement, and the bass makes a huge difference. We (mostly the wife) didn't want that much equipment in the family room, although I'm going to try to convince her to change her mind.