Looking for a box with good audio

by DrDolce

I'm looking for an Android TV box with good audio quality. Besides playing 4K content the main purpose is to use it as a music streamer for Tidal or Spotify. I want to connect it to my receiver using a digital optical cable. Because of that, the NVidea Shield Pro is a no go. I'm now looking at the Beelink GT King Pro and Ugoos UT8 Pro.

The Beelink advertises itself as a Hi-fi machine, but I don't know how the two compare. Ugoos is running a new version of Android, but reviews from februari describe it as buggy. Firmware update might have resolved this?

Does anyone have any advice on these two options? Or many have suggestions for better alternatives? Thanks!

NedSc

Nvidia Shield Pro will work fine with optical. Just use a USB audio interface or an HDMI optical extractor.

When dealing with optical/SPDIF, every single Android TV box will be identical in regards to quality, because it's digital. Don't buy anything from Beelink or Ugoos. They're garbage brands.

latinriky78

In this sub You will receive recommendations for certified devices only, therefore, take a look at the following list, for the ones without an SPDIF port you can use an HDMI audio extractor which serves for the same purpose or you can connect the device directly to your TV and then connect the SPDIF port of your TV to your AV receiver or whatever you use provided your TV has one of course:

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE UNITED STATES ONLY:

- AirTV Mini (More info at airtv.net/products)

- AT&T TV (More info at http://att.com/tv/device-features )

- Tivo Stream 4K (More info at http://tivo.com/products/stream-4k )

- T-Mobile TVision HUB (More info at http://t-mobile.com/tvision/services/hub )

- Verizon Stream TV (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at http://verizon.com/products/verizon-stream-tv-gen-2 )

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE US, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:

- Chromecast with Google TV (more info at http://tv.google )

- Realme Stick 4K with Google TV (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at https://buy.realme.com/in/goods/426 )

- Mecool KD3 with Google TV (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Xiaomi Stick 4K (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at http://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-tv-stick-4k/ )

- Dynalink TV dongle (More info at http://dynalink.life )

- Homatics Box Q (More info at http://homatics.eu/products/homatics-box-q )

- Homatics Dongle Q (More info at http://homatics.eu/products/homatics-dongle-q )

- Mecool KM2 (More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Nvidia Shield TV (The most expensive but powerful, recommended for gaming. More info at http://shield.nvidia.com )

- Walmart Onn (More info at http://walmart.com )

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH ONLY PRIME VIDEO FOR THE US, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:

- Formuler GTV (Gigabit ethernet. Exclusive MYTVOnline2 app for IPTV. More info at http://formuler.tv/gtv )

WARNING!, ALTHOUGH MECOOL IS THE BEST OEM WHEN IT COMES TO RELEASING NEW DEVICES EVERY YEAR, THEY ARE THE WORST WHEN IT COMES TO RELEASING FIRMWARE UPDATES TO FIX BUGS AND ISSUES, IF YOU DON'T MIND ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN GET ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MODELS:

- Mecool KM6 Classic Edition (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool KM6 Deluxe Edition (AV1 hardware decoding. Gigabit ethernet. WiFi 6. 4GB of RAM. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool KM7 (AV1 hardware decoding. 2GB/16GB and 4GB/64GB versions. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool KT1 (AV1 hardware decoding. DVB-T2/S2/C tuner built-in. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool Now (An Android TV device with a built-in camera and microphone, suitable for videoconferencing. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool KD2 TV Stick (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool HomePlus KA1 (Android TV speaker with AV1 hardware decoding, DVB-T/T2/C variant. More info at http://mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

For more info about all certified Android TV devices, head over to www.androidtv-guide.com website.

FlickFreak

Mecool KM2

Ematic Jetstream 4K

kdashjl

Mibox?

Daell

I want to connect it to my receiver using a digital optical cable.

Why this is a requirement? Your receiver doesn't have ARC HDMI port?

AlexR1973

Mecool KM6 Deluxe. I really like it. ?Have to spend some time manually updating it, but now no problem except some buggy AFR.

Elf-Lord

Check youtube for a dude called Darko Audio ...

formidible

For the best quality music I'd suggest adding Sonos speakers. Not cheap, but worth it if quality of sound is important to you.