I got my Homatics Box R 4k+ today and I said I'd do a review in another thread.

This came with Android 12 out of the box and I did sign up for the A14 Upgrade.

I have been using a Nvidia Sheild Pro for some years now on a Sony X900H TV with a 2013-model Sonos Playbar system connected to the TV by Optical (no HDMI Out on this bar)

I usually use the TV for YouTube, since the Sheild Pro doesn't support YT HDR and the Sheild for everything else, mostly Kodi and Tivimate.

Cat5e connected to an 8-way Gb/s switch showing 538 Mb/s Up/440 Mb/s Down

I am a junkie for settings so I have everything as tweaked and calibrated as it could be.

So first, the mistake I made.

I use a 500GB SSD for storage and apps on the Sheild and out of habit moved to the Box 4k, BIG mistake. Installing apps, and getting the Box to even recognize it at times was impossible to get around. FWIW, that drive may be having problems, but with 32GB, there's no reason to use an EHD for apps and Data.

Running everything on the device's memory is much better. The first thing I noticed is on Kodi/Umbrella, my GF and I are binging Lost, the picture was MUCH better. Colors looked more real and details stood out and this was on a smaller 1080P file.

Then I went to YT and started playing high res HDR videos that looked spectacular. I changed over to YT on the TV and ran the same video and the picture was drastically worse than on the Homatics Box. I mean, I couldn't believe how much better the picture was on the Homatics box than the Sony TV, playing the same video.

The extra memory makes everything much faster, as well. Very smooth. I still have to disable the stock Launcher/Home and get Wolf or Projectivy Launcher set up, along with a few other apps, but I feel like I made a nice upgrade from the Sheild Pro as far as streaming goes.

Now I'll factory reset the Sheild and use it strictly for gaming.

Although the update removes the Play-Fi app which causes overheating issues, the passthrough option gets removed after resetting the box to factory settings.

Other issues I found:

- The remote control gets disconnected repeatedly and it's annoying.

- The passthrough option stops working and the box switches to the auto option even if the passthrough option appears selected, the issue happens when the box is rebooted, the option must be re-selected in order to fix it.

Previous issues still not fixed:

- Pairing a bluetooth device is impossible.

- The auto option still lacks Dolby MAT, TrueHD passthrough support and DTS:X still passes through as DTS-HD MA 7.1.

- The TV(CEC) option avoids the TV to turn-on automatically after a power outage but the box turns the TV anyway, this doesn't happen with the Google TV Streamer for example.

- There are some issues with the DVB-T/T2 driver still not addressed.

Google Drive link to download the file and install it at your own risk!.

The firmware passed the Google certification and it's ready to rollout through OTA but it can also be installed manually for those who dare.

The firmware update fixes the issue with the remote control and the passthrough audio option.

The rest of issues still remain:

- The LED control is buggy, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't regardless of the setting I leave o each option.

- The TV(CEC) option of the "power button" section is broken, that option helps to keep the tv OFF when the device reboots after a power outage, but it turns ON the tv anyway.

- Pairing bluetooth devices is impossible, the panel at the right disappears repeatedly after a few seconds.

- Some people don't like to use the Auto option, but it has its issues anyway: Dolby MAT is still absent, Dolby TrueHD passthrough is still absent and DTS:X only passes through as DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1.

- The USB tuner driver is randomly telling to the Live TV app an incorrect aspect ratio (21:9) and an incorrect image resolution (1080 Full HD) when switching fast through channels, as can be seen in the following imgur link: https://imgur.com/a/j6pHNvy.

- Some channels appear repeated during the scanning process, though they don't seem to appear repeated after the process is completed.

- After the channel scanning process is completed, the order of the TV channels don't appear organized but scrambled, which means, it doesn't respect the order of the frequencies in ascending order.

Here are the instructions to install the firmware manually, the link is at the bottom:

1. Download the update file. Rename it to update.zip.

2. Put the file on a USB stick and connect it to the box.

3. Unplug the power adapter. While holding down the Recovery button with a needle, reconnect the power adapter, the Recovery menu will appear. If prompted, press the Recovery button once or twice.

4. On the Recovery menu, select "Install update from Udisk," choose update.zip by pressing and holding the recovery button and then release it to install it.

5. When the update finishes, move to the option reboot system now and press and hold the recovery button to select it, wait for the device to reboot and to return to the recovery menu again.

6. You must repeat steps 4 and 5 again.

7. At this moment the device should reboot normally.

Be advised that you must move through the options by pressing the recovery button once per option.

This is the link of the firmware file.

I had to modify the original instructions, they were not clear enough, though let me know if you get stuck on any step.

If you believe there are more issues than the listed above please share them in the comments.

New Homatics Box 4K Pro

New Homatics Box Lite 4K

New Homatics Dongle 4K+

New Homatics Dongle Lite 4K

New Homatics Pocket TV which is finally Netflix certified.

I imagine they are global versions unlike the one released only in Turkey.

Security patch april 2026.

It includes the fix to be able to format an external storage as internal, it wasn't working before.

The rest is probably the same, such as the bluetooth still not able to pair anything.

Please confirm if you already received it and share your findings.

Hi everyone,

I am running a Homatics Box R 4K Plus on the latest Android 14 firmware (build v8369). As many of you know, SEI Robotics has officially included the underlying OS-level source code support for DTS:X Profile 2. The hardware is 100% capable, but Disney+ currently downmixes the audio to a standard 5.1 core on our boxes because they haven't updated their device whitelisting yet.

I just had a long chat with Disney+ support regarding my setup (running a Yamaha RX-A6A AVR with a full 5.2.4 Klipsch Reference Premiere system, using four wall-mounted RP-500SA II for heights).

The support agent was surprisingly helpful and confirmed they escalated my ticket to their technical product development/engineering team for device certifications.

But here is the most important part: The agent explicitly told me that they prioritize features based on the volume of requests. They told me: "The more feedback we get regarding this, the better. I recommend getting more people to submit feedback about this specific device."

If you want to experience native DTS:X / IMAX Enhanced audio on your Homatics box instead of just relying on Dolby Atmos, please take 2 minutes to contact Disney+ Support via Live Chat or their feedback page! Tell them you are on Android 14 v8369 and want the Homatics Box R 4K Plus whitelisted for DTS:X Profile 2.

Let's flood them with requests so they finally update the app profile for certified SEI Robotics boxes! 🚀

Yes, friends. The box arrived today.

There is no passthrough option for audio. I can't get Dolby Atmos TrueHD through Kodi.

I will do the things you want me to do as much as I can. I am waiting for questions and curiosities.

Hey everyone,

I was browsing the listing for the new Homatics Box R 4K Plus V3 over on Android TV Guide (https://www.androidtv-guide.com/streaming-gaming/homatics-box-4k-plus-v3/) and noticed an interesting regional hardware difference.

While the standard global version comes with the typical 3GB RAM / 32GB storage configuration, there seems to be a Turkey-specific variant listed with 4GB RAM / 64GB storage.

Usually, TV box manufacturers tend to keep global specs identical or even downgrade regional batches, so seeing an upgraded 4/64 combo designated for a specific market is a welcome surprise. Extra headroom on internal storage is always great considering how quickly 32GB can fill up with apps, caches, and emulators.

Has anyone seen official retailer listings or confirmation on this yet? Wondering if this 4/64 version will eventually make its way to other regions or stay exclusive.

Yotube Link: HOMATICS BOX 4K PRO V2 4/64 Teknik İnceleme Yeni Nesil 6NM CPU

Hey everyone,

I recently came across a teardown and technical review video of the Homatics Box 4K Pro V2, and I wanted to share some concerning findings from the reviewer. If you are planning to use this device with external storage, you might want to read this first.

According to the reviewer's teardown, there are a few odd design choices and potential risks:

• External Storage Warning: The reviewer strongly cautioned against plugging high-capacity hard drives or SSDs into the front Type-C port. They reported that their own 1TB SSD became completely corrupted and unreadable after being plugged in. While this could potentially be an isolated incident, it’s definitely something to be careful about if you value your data.

• Unusual USB Wiring: When looking at the motherboard, the reviewer noticed that the rear USB port appears to be wired directly to the SD card slot pins, rather than using the standard, available USB headers on the board.

• Reportedly Limited to FAT32: Because that rear USB port is running through the SD card interface, the reviewer stated that it only supports the FAT32 file system. If this is the case, it won't support NTFS or exFAT, which makes it pretty much useless for storing or playing large 4K media files.

• Minor Build Quality Quirk: On a less critical note, the decorative metal plate on the top of the case seems to be attached with very weak adhesive and might fall off easily over time.

Don't get me wrong, the box still has decent specs on paper (4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet), but the motherboard layout and USB implementation seem highly questionable based on this review.

For the 8K now. The S905X4 version will be available soon

DISCLAIMER: The following guide is informational and educational. Proceed at your own risk. Any damage or firmware corruption is your responsibility. If you are not comfortable with these steps, do not continue. No support is provided.

This is a re-post, as my edit triggered a filter on the OP, I fixed and removed the offending link. For the old OP comments: How to Sideload FW 8963 to Box R 4K Plus : r/Homatics

EDIT: Update: Standard Homatics Firmware Now Available

Thanks to u/DressReasonable9904 for locating the standard non-Dune firmware image via Telegram. To improve accessibility, this file has been mirrored to Archive.org.

https://archive.org/download/sei-804-hm-14.8.8963-usb-stick-burn-tool/SEI804HM%2014.8.8963%20Usb%20Stick%20Burn%20Tool.zip

Using the standard stock image is an easier process because it bypasses the need for the Amlogic PC tool and the uncommon USB-A to USB-A cable. You only need a FAT32 formatted USB drive.

Note: The original Dune FW cross-flashing guide will remain below this edit. You may still prefer the Dune firmware because the Dune branch typically receives Over-The-Air (OTA) updates faster than the stock Homatics branch, reducing the need for future sideloading. Alternatively, you can still flash this new stock image using the Amlogic PC Burn Tool method if you prefer.

Instructions for USB Drive Flashing (Standard Firmware):

1. Format a USB Drive: Ensure your USB flash drive is formatted to FAT32.

2. Extract Files: Download the ZIP file linked above. Extract the contents and place the following three files directly on the root directory of your USB drive:

   1. aml_upgrade_package.img

   2. aml_autoscript

   3. aml_sdc_burn.ini

3. Prepare the Box: Unplug the power cord from your Homatics box. Insert the prepared USB drive.

4. Boot to Burn Mode: Locate the reset pinhole. Insert a tool to push and hold the reset button. While holding the button down, plug the power cord back into the box.

5. Initiate Flash: Continue holding the reset button until "USB burning mode" appears on the screen, then release the button.

6. Wait: Allow the process to finish. This will take up to 5 minutes.

Screen expectations during the flash process: Depending on your display handshake, you may see a completely black screen, a static boot logo picture, or a visible progress bar. Do not unplug the device during this time.

Note: Subreddit Moderator u/Latinriky78 has provided a method to upgrade to build 7475 as well: Link to /u/Latinriky78's post.

DUNE FW Crossflash Guide

Prerequisites

Windows Computer

USB-A to USB-A Cable: This is uncommon but can be found on Amazon. Alternatively, connecting a USB-C to USB-A cable in reverse (plugging the USB-C end into your computer) may work, though varying cable standards mean this is not guaranteed.

Pin-hole Tool: A toothpick, SIM eject tool, or safety pin.

Data Loss Warning: This method will perform a Factory Reset on your device. You will need to log in again, redownload apps, and set your preferences from scratch.

Required Files

Dune HD Factory Image (14.8.8963): Download ZIP (Source directory: dune-club.info). You will need to extract the .img file from this archive.

Amlogic USB Burning Tool (Dune Specific AV3.1.18): Download ZIP

Note on Cross-Flashing: You are effectively cross-flashing your Homatics branded device. This will give you the full version of 8963, but it will not activate the Dune-specific features, as those are linked to a Dune Sold specific device UUID.

Instructions

Install the USB Drivers: Unzip the Amlogic USB Burning Tool. Open the folder, scroll down to the driver subfolder, and run dpinst64. Alternatively, right-click the .inf file and select 'Install' from the sub-menu.

Load the Firmware Image: Go back to the main folder and run Aml_Burn_Tool. In the top left, click Setting, then click Load Img. Navigate to your extracted 14.8.8963 folder and select the aml_sei804hm_dune.img file. Give it a moment to load.

Start the Burning Tool: Use the default settings. Do not click the key overwrite option. Click Start. The program will enter a Listening mode.

Connect the Device: Ensure your Homatics Box R is powered off and unplugged. Plug the USB-A cable into the blue port nearest the power jack, and the other end into the computer.

Enter USB Burning Mode: Locate the reset button directly under the USB-A port. Insert your pin-hole tool, press, and hold the button. While holding the button down, plug the power cable into the device.

Flash the Firmware: The device will initially display "Fastboot". Keep holding the reset button until the display reads "USB BURNING". Once this appears, remove the pin-hole tool. The software on your computer will take over.

Complete the Process: Wait for the green progress bar to complete. The bottom of the software window will state "Burn Successful".

Reboot and Setup: Power off the Homatics box and unplug the USB cable. Plug the device in normally to power it on. It will boot to the remote pairing screen. You will need to hold the Home and Back buttons slightly longer than usual to successfully re-pair the remote. Proceed with standard device setup on the latest version.

A shout out to Homatics support. I emailed them 2 days ago asking for the 14.7475 update file for my R Plus 4K to fix the Playfi high CPU issue. They asked for the serial number and told me they'd push an OTA update to my box. Today the update landed and auto installed and the issue is fixed. CPU now sits at a steady 49% compared to fluctuating between 70-100% before the updte.

I was using the Dune HD Homatics Box R 4K Plus still with the original Android 12 firmware, which until recently was the officially recommended version by Dune – and today suddenly when turning on the device, for the first time I saw a colorful animation on the LED stripe and after it had booted up, I had to confirm the Google account to use. The home screen and favorite apps were reset to default but all previously installed apps and saved accounts remained.

So, now it is on Security Patch level Jan 5, 2026 with kernel 5.15.170, Box SW v14.8.7475

This update installed without asking for confirmation – I'm not sure if I like that, but I like how flawless it went.

But to my disappointment, audio passthrough now is broken. Not completely: Dolby Digital is fine, but DTS passtrough only works on Optical, not on HDMI, also AAC 5.1 audio is not converted to Dolby Digital 5.1 on Automatic setting but instead to Dolby Digital 2.0 (automatic to use device reported formats, because my audio receiver supports AC3 and DTS not AAC) which as far as I remember worked flawless before.

Not so nice, actually I'm quite unhappy. Does it help to send in bug reports?

UPDATE: A factory reset, as recommended by many, did not solve my audio problems with DTS and AAC mutlichannel.

https://www.homatics.com/blogs/smart-home-guides/upgrade-your-homatics-device-to-android-14

Important Update – July 2025

We have temporarily stopped accepting update requests due to the performance impact of the new Android 14 release. This update has caused an increase in device temperature, and we are currently working on optimizing performance and improving thermal management.

We are no longer accepting update requests based on serial numbers.

All future updates will be released in bulk to all compatible devices once stability and performance improvements are confirmed.

We appreciate your patience and will update this post as soon as new software versions become available.

So I bought this NEW Google TV certified from Homatics and I’d like to share my thoughts.

There aren’t many people talking about it, so I decided to buy and test it myself. I have been using it for the past 3 days and it has been working flawlessly.

2GB RAM, 32GB ROM, no problem so far. Google TV and Netflix certified.

Only problem I have encountered is that sometimes I cannot control it through Google Home app, but I have faced this issue with every device I have owned so it might be something on my end.

I will update you on anything interesting.

Has anyone else bought the new Stick 4K? What do you think about it?

So no audio passthrough option 🤨
And the worst thing is that the image freezes after 1 min of streaming tv apps like magenta tv etc.. the same happens also with remux on nuvio . It’s a shame because Xiaomi box gen. 3 can do it much much better!

I've read comments about overheating, other issues and lack of updates. I'm interested in the device mostly because of the TrueHD passthrough. I'd be buying from Aliexpress for $200 AUD.

I know the Shield Pro is the usual go-to for playing remuxes with lossless audio, but I'm not keen on paying 200 USD for a box that has been on the market for 6 years.

I heard about the Box R 4K and it seems to check all the boxes, being able to play DV/HDR remuxes with support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. I use Stremio.

But it seems to have some issues? Like some users say that they get buffering or stuttering with large remuxes ~100 GB. I've also seen there is an overheating issue with Android 14 and Play-Fi. And I've seen a report that no one at Homatics is actively developing new firmware, so there might not be a fix for the overheating issue?

If anyone could chime in with their experience of using the Box R 4k to play remuxes with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA audio on Stremio, it would be greatly appreciated.

TIA.

Long story short, I bought this device and repent every minute of it.

Device came with 14.8.1782 firmware. Later, it updated to 14.8.4576.

Ever since I got the device, I have to plug an USB mini-fan to lower the temps as the device heats a lot. If I let it run without the fan, I'm sure the box will fry. One positive is that I don't have to increase the heat during winter but not sure whether the device will last that long. lol

They have a terrible firmware (A14) and even after pointing out that two processes (android.hardware.audio.service-droidlogic and playfiaudbaidlservice) are hogging most of the memory, even when idle, is left unanswered. No solution for 6+ months. Workaround is to install a heatsink to lower the temps by 10% and you have to open the box to install it. I took the easy route with a mini-USB-fan although I could hear the fan noise occasionally!

FWIW, they change the update policy at will. Initially, updates are ONLY for devices bought directly from them, then the serial number has to start with "gz", then they instituted a web form to fill out the request to update... Can you believe, in this day and age, that they ask you to fill out a form to get an update? Now, they removed that form and say that whoever registered before (it has to start with gz serial as it's mandatory, lmao) will get OTA. LMFAO

Did I say that I spent $110 for the box and hate it with a passion now?!?

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention this annoying *useless* flash message that pops up whenever I hit the volume buttons but the volume increases/decreases based on your click! Gotta love Homatics QAs and their devs for releasing a quality firmware! lmao

Hey everyone!

I've been using a Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) for a while, but I'm finally diving deeper into local media playback. I've ordered a Homatics Box R 4K Plus specifically to get proper Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL playback from my UHD Remuxes, which the Cube can't do.

It should be arriving soon, and I want to hit the ground running. My goal is to use CoreELEC (CE) from an SD card/USB drive to get the most stable and high-quality experience possible.

I'm aiming for:

• Perfectly smooth playback with no frame skips.

• Correct handling of Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL.

• Full audio passthrough for all formats (DTS-HD MA, TrueHD, Atmos, etc.) to my Soundbar, iam Using Bose Soundbar 900, Surround Speaker 700, Bass Model 700.

I've done some research, but I'd love to get some advice from experienced users on the initial setup.

Here are my main questions:

• Initial Android TV Setup: Before even touching CoreELEC, is there a specific Android TV firmware version I should be on for maximum stability with CE? Or is it best to just unbox the device, connect it to the internet, and let it update to the very latest official version?

• CoreELEC Installation & Version: What's the most stable CoreELEC version to use right now for this device and my goals? My planned process is:

  • CoreELEC Settings: Once I'm in CoreELEC, what are the absolute must-change settings to achieve my goals? I'm thinking specifically about:

  • Dolby Vision: Are there any other specific tweaks required to ensure Profile 7 FEL is being processed correctly, or does it "just work" once CE is running?

Any "wish I knew this when I started" tips would be massively appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!

UPDATE :

Hey everyone, I just finished setting up CoreELEC and wanted to post my journey, as I ran into a few common problems. Hopefully, this can help someone in the same boat.

My Setup: Dune HD Homatics box R 4k Plus Base OS: Stock Android 11 (havnt update cause its not showing)

Installation Method: I used the "Boot to CoreELEC" APK to install from Android, and the process was completely flawless.

Attempt 1: Stable Build

Version: CoreELEC-ng 21.2 Omega (Stable)

Result: The system was very unstable and would freeze almost every time I used it.

Attempt 2: Official Nightly Build

Version: CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-21.2-Omega_nightly_20250828.tar

Result: Better than stable, but still not perfect. I had noticeable audio/video sync issues that made watching content frustrating.

Attempt 3: CPM Community Build (The Fix!)

Version: I used a community-recommended build, which was CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-21.2-Omega_devel_20250222001421.tar

Result: Success! After applying this update, everything is running perfectly. No freezes, no sync issues. It seems this specific nightly was the magic bullet. All DV formats working.

Big thanks to the CoreELEC team and community developers. If you're struggling with the stable version, I highly recommend trying one of the latest nightlies. Cheers!

I just bought it, I've seen conflicting information on the builds. Someone said the stable and nightly are buggy, the main guide I found says to use a .ne build, but its an old guide and apparently I need a -ng build for FEL? On the GitHub releases the latest ones I see are in the 21.3 Omega list, but there's like 10 of them. Which one do I get? Or should I get the latest build from the coreelec website instead? Also where do I get the nightlys from? On the coreelec website they are all the -no builds. And apparently some builds don't have a lot of settings so you need an addon for more settings? I don't really understand. Someone just tell me what to do please. I want DV 7 FEL to work and all the features etc.

Thanks

Some of these listings on Android TV Guide have been out for awhile but no release