Upgrading to Rose RS151 Streaming

[Richx200]

An amlogic box for audio, interesting. One of those is a successor to my Shield when they started ads and introduced android-problems with multichannel aac/pcm. I put CoreElec on them and gain everything the Shield can't do. License formats go out by passthrough though.

I heard about CoreElec but didn't know what or how it worked. Does it replace Android, is it an APK, plugin, VST ?

 

[kemmler3D]

they still sounded aged, so I was trying to brighten them up.

I think the more "correct" (philosophically debatable) approach to restoring / enhancing treble in that situation would be to use EQ and/or an exciter if upper harmonics are actually lost.

To come up with the EQ, you could find a new copy of one of the vinyl records, digitize that directly, then compare the tape transfers to that.

Ambience is a really nice reverb plugin but I don't think of it as a tool for restoration! More like a tool for making synth drums sound more real...

 

[Ruediger]

I heard about CoreElec but didn't know what or how it worked. Does it replace Android, is it an APK, plugin, VST ?

It's just enough Linux to run Kodi with all features. SDcard is the usual medium, no need to install into device emmc. The bootloader gets dual-tricked, but one can boot the integrated OS any time.

In the audio section the android limits don't apply. Especially useful for multichannel aac and pcm up to whatever x.x the stream contains.

It also features hdmi and/or optical multichannel out.

The bigger amlogic boxes with 8k and 4k120 are also supported. The system can be extended with a kajillion addons. I don't use much, TV program, some ad-free YT, some music visuals.

It also acts as a nice DLNA library and player. Haven't done that yet, but plan to make an older box into a mediaserver. The scraped infos for music can be very comprehensive, some levels up from a simple free dlna server.

I don't remember if the Shield had decoding licenses. I passthrough those to an AVR no matter what player. CoreElec can en/decode the free formats like AC3. Android is probably the same.

 

[Richx200]

I think the more "correct" (philosophically debatable) approach to restoring / enhancing treble in that situation would be to use EQ and/or an exciter if upper harmonics are actually lost.

To come up with the EQ, you could find a new copy of one of the vinyl records, digitize that directly, then compare the tape transfers to that.

Ambience is a really nice reverb plugin but I don't think of it as a tool for restoration! More like a tool for making synth drums sound more real...

Yeah, treble was an issue but, I was trying to get more audio below transition because almost all 50s-60s recording had the low-end cut to allow for more recording time. The manural recordings sounded like a 6"x9" speaker reflecting off a windshield lacking fidelity. When I used the Orvil "Presence" or "Ambience" preset the recording sounded much better.

 

[Richx200]

It's just enough Linux to run Kodi with all features. SDcard is the usual medium, no need to install into device emmc. The bootloader gets dual-tricked, but one can boot the integrated OS any time.

In the audio section the android limits don't apply. Especially useful for multichannel aac and pcm up to whatever x.x the stream contains.

It also features hdmi and/or optical multichannel out.

The bigger amlogic boxes with 8k and 4k120 are also supported. The system can be extended with a kajillion addons. I don't use much, TV program, some ad-free YT, some music visuals.

It also acts as a nice DLNA library and player. Haven't done that yet, but plan to make an older box into a mediaserver. The scraped infos for music can be very comprehensive, some levels up from a simple free dlna server.

I don't remember if the Shield had decoding licenses. I passthrough those to an AVR no matter what player. CoreElec can en/decode the free formats like AC3. Android is probably the same.

I would appreiate it if you could point me in the direction of CoreElec setup... Github ?

PS the Zidoo uses Andriod Open Source 6gb ram

 

[Ruediger]

I would appreiate it if you could point me in the direction of CoreElec setup... Github ?

PS the Zidoo uses Andriod Open Source 6gb ram

The site is https://coreelec.org/

Normally just download the proper image and follow install instructions.

But that would be too easy. The 928 is still new. When I got my Minix U8K last year (same SoC) it was already fully supported. Minix works with these guys, but I see no Zidoo on the list and still no generic 928 image yet. This will change, but no idea when.

You could use an image from a device with the same chip, but It's a bit of a stretch. No harm in trying though.

ps. my Minix comes with AOSP 11, dolby vision binary and 8/128gb. AOSP is not bad, the previous regular androids for amlogic made more problems. I guess the Zidoo is on the same level.

 

[Richx200]

The site is https://coreelec.org/

Normally just download the proper image and follow install instructions.

But that would be too easy. The 928 is still new. When I got my Minix U8K last year (same SoC) it was already fully supported. Minix works with these guys, but I see no Zidoo on the list and still no generic 928 image yet. This will change, but no idea when.

You could use an image from a device with the same chip, but It's a bit of a stretch. No harm in trying though.

ps. my Minix comes with AOSP 11, dolby vision binary and 8/128gb. AOSP is not bad, the previous regular androids for amlogic made more problems. I guess the Zidoo is on the same level.

I was looking around and got everything but the "Device Tree" for the Zidoo. I checked the net and no luck I even use a Droid Tools App to look into the Zidoo again nothing. In the device report I did run across your box, and it appears the only difference I can see is the ram 8gb mine you device number is 6gb s5_s928_minix_u8k. If I was to use that number I didn't know how to deal with the name "Minix" ... any thoughts? Weill in the meantime I keep looking and let you know what comes up.

One other question since you have the Minix ultra is the Atmos certified licensed by Minix. Because the Zidoo Atmos, although they say supports Atmos, is really a pass-through to Apple audio, and you have to join Apple to use it.

 

[Apesbrain]

I wouldn't want to spend $5600.00 for the Rose

Nor would I. Have you considered the Eversolo streamers? They are quite a bit less costly and very good performers.

That said, I don't see any real issue with the Zidoo. It's unlikely a new digital transport will dramatically change your sound. Is there some functionality that you need which is not provided by the Zidoo?

Have you tried digitally connecting the Zidoo directly to the Anthem? Also, have you tried listening to the Zidoo analog outs? Not that there's anything wrong with the Topping DAC, but you have other options.

 

[Ruediger]

I was looking around and got everything but the "Device Tree" for the Zidoo. I checked the net and no luck I even use a Droid Tools App to look into the Zidoo again nothing. In the device report I did run across your box, and it appears the only difference I can see is the ram 8gb mine you device number is 6gb s5_s928_minix_u8k. If I was to use that number I didn't know how to deal with the name "Minix" ... any thoughts? Weill in the meantime I keep looking and let you know what comes up.

One other question since you have the Minix ultra is the Atmos certified licensed by Minix. Because the Zidoo Atmos, although they say supports Atmos, is really a pass-through to Apple audio, and you have to join Apple to use it.

I think you can use the u8k files and try it.

Here is some more info about architecture. It's evolving into the 3rd one now. I would use NO 22 from the start with the 928 chip.

Amlogic-no, New Order

Amlogic-no, New Order Team CoreELEC is proud to present project Amlogic-no (New Order). For months, the team has worked tirelessly to build an “almost finished” product, ready for the first public test release. Team CoreELEC would like to thank all those who helped to get this project off the...

discourse.coreelec.org

As for Atmos I have no idea. The AOSP comes halfway prepared, but I haven't used it or looked at what they included. Specs say nothing about it.

 

[kemmler3D]

Yeah, treble was an issue but, I was trying to get more audio below transition because almost all 50s-60s recording had the low-end cut to allow for more recording time. The manural recordings sounded like a 6"x9" speaker reflecting off a windshield lacking fidelity. When I used the Orvil "Presence" or "Ambience" preset the recording sounded much better.

Makes sense... you might be able to do a more surgical intervention with a subharmonic synthesizer plugin, basically it adds bass below the lowest bass present in the recording, so in cases where the bass was cut too much for mastering, you can theoretically 'restore' what's there, or at least add something in a harmonically sensible way. Example: https://www.plugin-alliance.com/products/bx_subsynth

I'm not saying you shouldn't use reverb if you like how it sounds, I'm just hung up on "that's not what that's for!!" based on many years spent playing with VSTs...

Like if you tell me you're doing roundovers with a sander, I'm going to say buy a router, but if it works it works...

 

[Richx200]

I heard about CoreElec but didn't know what or how it worked. Does it replace Android, is it an APK, plugin, VST ?

Yes it replaces Android

 

[Richx200]

I think you can use the u8k files and try it.

Here is some more info about architecture. It's evolving into the 3rd one now. I would use NO 22 from the start with the 928 chip.

Amlogic-no, New Order

Amlogic-no, New Order Team CoreELEC is proud to present project Amlogic-no (New Order). For months, the team has worked tirelessly to build an “almost finished” product, ready for the first public test release. Team CoreELEC would like to thank all those who helped to get this project off the...

discourse.coreelec.org

As for Atmos I have no idea. The AOSP comes halfway prepared, but I haven't used it or looked at what they included. Specs say nothing about it.

Thank you for the response I did get to the bottom of my problem; the Zidoo Z30 is Android TV box. The box has no USB Driver and the has no capacity for one. Therefore, the box is all out. The box is a great disappointment; and this explains why Google Play Stores won't install many apps on the box. "Incomputable"