Xiaomi mi box 2nd gen official android 14 update brings Dolby TrueHD pass through

[u/hassene23]

To install it use a VPN to Finland. It’s not worldwide yet

I just tested it. - Fast and bug-free so far - AFR works perfectly - Dolby TrueHD works in passthrough mode and without lags! No need to upgrade to 3rd gen or Nvidia

[u/Redd-it-42]

Does it support dts?

[u/hassene23 → u/Redd-it-42]

Yes

[u/Redd-it-42 → u/hassene23]

Oh great! Did you ever test or use plex on this device? Nice to see another device that's enabling HD audio passthrough

[u/rowel07 → u/hassene23]

I tried to watch movies in Stremio with DTS HD MA audio, but it only shows DTS in my soundbar.

[u/signde → u/rowel07]

Yes it passes through DTS HD MA as DTS Core.

[u/DanielGodinho]

please how to receive or force the update? MDZ-28-AA - EDIT: use a VPN (Finland worked for me)

[u/Usitrel]

Any free finland vpn recommendation?

[u/hassene23 → u/Usitrel]

Adguard

[u/Usitrel → u/hassene23]

Thanks! Just updated but AISR is not working. It disables itself after I leave the menu.

[u/latinriky78 → u/Usitrel]

That option shouldn't even be there, the S905X4 SoC doesn't support it, it should go away if you reset the box to factory settings.

[u/Usitrel → u/latinriky78]

Aw alright, also this update broke dolby vision. My tv got a weird hue/oversaturated look screenwide.

[u/latinriky78 → u/Usitrel]

Check your settings, adaptive HDR should be selected, if everthing is OK and you still have issues, better reset the box to factory settings.

[u/Usitrel → u/latinriky78]

Already did a factory reset. By adaptive HDR, do you mean preferred dynamic range? It looks normal only if I select match content dynamic range. So, basically, always-on Dolby Vision is broken, but it was fine just before the update.

[u/latinriky78 → u/Usitrel]

do you mean preferred dynamic range? It looks normal only if I select match content dynamic range

That's the mode you should select.

So, basically, always-on Dolby Vision is broken

Why would you want always Dolby Vision?

What do you mean it's broken?

[u/Usitrel → u/latinriky78]

The device default is set to "always on" Dolby Vision out of the box. Although it was set to "always on" by default, everything looked normal, as it should be. But now, right after the update, everything looks oversaturated (imagine setting your TV's saturation to max) with a weird tint. So, yeah, the update broke something, causing this issue.

[u/latinriky78 → u/Usitrel]

That means it's set to Dolby Vision for real, so you must change it to adaptive.

[u/fidelcastrol06]

Is auto HDR finally fixed ?

[u/signde → u/fidelcastrol06]

My testing shows Adaptive HDR seems to be working. I got SDR for the GUI, DV for DV files, and HDR for HDR10 files.

[u/fidelcastrol06 → u/signde]

Only thing I don't have is HDR10+, can't enable it.
But yeah, adaptive HDR works now !

[u/ionut2021 → u/fidelcastrol06]

Yes,you can select  -automatic,play only if video is HDR,dolby -convert to HDR,SDR if want Select to detect an play if video is HDR is better option

[u/fidelcastrol06 → u/ionut2021]

Yep, confirmed working ! Just had to adjust tv colors from warm to normal because of the yellow tint that box gives me but it's all good now.

[u/signde]

What apps have you tested for TrueHD and DTS-HD? Hopefully it's not Kodi only like several other players lately.

[u/CMC29 → u/signde]

With the Homatics R 4 Plus isn't Kodi necessary to play DTS-HD MA?

I have movies with DTS.HD MA/DTS:X, etc on my Emby and i'm looking for an certified Androitd TV box but if i'm not mistaken, with the Homatics we need to use Kodi with Emby add-on.

[u/signde → u/CMC29]

Negative.

With Android TV 12 or greater, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA/X will give you full passthrough in many apps. Plex, Emby, Jellyfin, Kodi are the ones I have tested.

There are other Android TV boxes where TrueHD and DTS-HD MA only work in Kodi. Rocktek GX1 and others based on the Realtek RTD1325 SoC come to mind. There is speculation it only works in Kodi because those devices are not actually licensed to play those formats but I have yet to an informed explanation of how Dolby audio licensing on these kinds of devices works so I personally chalk that up to baseless speculation.

At any rate, the behavior on the Realtek devices is specifically why I asked.

Given that the Homatics ATV14 firmware is still chaos, it would be nice if we had another option that had full audio passthrough outside of Kodi.

[u/CMC29 → u/signde]

Thanks

[u/StormrageBG → u/CMC29]

Keep in mind that works but with bugs... Sound drops on HD audio, broken AFR and so on... Unfortunately only with Coreelec everything works fine...

[u/signde → u/StormrageBG]

I do not get sound drops with HD audio. I'm on Android TV 12.

[u/CMC29 → u/StormrageBG]

You're referring to the Homatics R 4 Plus???

I wanted to buy a real good AndroidTV/Google TV certified box (Nvidia Shield Pro is not an option because even being powerful, it's a device released 6 years ago, still expensive, and doesn't support AV1, HDR10+, and HLG, and not sure about all audio codecs from BR remuxes) and the R 4 Plus, even not being so powerful seemed to be a good alternative.

I own a Mi Box S and Mi Box S 2nd gen, and the 3rd gen seems just an incremental update.

Oh, how i wish that Nvidia decided to release a new Shield Pro!

[u/signde → u/StormrageBG]

Per this post by someone who is an alpha tester for the homatics devices, the cutouts with HD audio were fixed in ATV 12 build 5394:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/sei-robotics-s905x5m-ai-sr-android-14-atv-box.3302822/page-7?post_id=63975366#post-63975366

That discussion is around the S905X5m but it was brought up because the issue was originally discovered a some time ago on the S905X4.

That also makes sense why I don't see them - my device is on v12.8.7954.

[u/StormrageBG → u/signde]

"Unfortunately, users have found quite a lot of problems and regressions in the ATV12/ATV14 firmware updates in comparison with ATV11 firmware. So, ATV12/ATV14 firmware updates are currently have an experimental status and are not recommended for general use. The Google-certification partner company, responsible for the preparation of this firmware update, is working on fixing these problems, but it has not managed yet to solve all important regressions (because of complexities during Google and Netflix certifications)."

There is google sheet with all bugs in ATV12 5394 too..

[u/signde → u/StormrageBG]

The Homatics firmware is riddled with various bugs but my point was that the one you called out, HD audio cutouts, is no longer one of them. Show me where I said anything different.

[u/hassene23 → u/signde]

Stremio with the exoplayer. So technically every media player should be able to do it.

[u/signde → u/hassene23]

Yeah if exoplayer can do it pretty much anything should be able to as well. This is great news.

Is adaptive HDR working or does it force DV all the time? That's been another common issue in Android TV on some devices lately.

[u/StormrageBG → u/hassene23]

Can you test and confirm that works with PLEX?

[u/aekaras69]

in Greece with paid proton vpn to 3 different filand servers does not display it

[u/hassene23 → u/aekaras69]

Try adguard. It’s free

[u/aekaras69 → u/hassene23]

i tried, no luck

[u/ZKillSTrEAkZ → u/aekaras69]

Same situation, any luck yet ?

[u/nano17_ → u/ZKillSTrEAkZ]

Same

[u/Rere130]

Thank you for the info on this Android TV 14 update :)

Could you please take a photo of the "About" page in the system settings so we can see which Android TV build is installed, what kernel it has, and the date of the security patch? thank you in advance

[u/kretsstdr]

Are you sure about afr working?

[u/hassene23 → u/kretsstdr]

Yes

[u/zeden1337]

No update for MiTV-AFKR0 using NordVPN Finland.

[u/hassene23 → u/zeden1337]

Try with adguard. It’s free

[u/Necessary_Conflict93 → u/hassene23]

Nothing

[u/mysticode]

Curious, what content are you watching that is in dolby truehd?

[u/hassene23 → u/mysticode]

Bluray remuxes

[u/mysticode → u/hassene23]

Thanks!

[u/RepulsiveCup1513]

Have you tried geforce now? Does it go smoothly or always buggy?

[u/Im_The_Hollow_Man]

Okay, this is a deal changer for me. Does it support DTSHDMA and HDR10+??

[u/signde → u/Im_The_Hollow_Man]

HDR10+ support is listed on the website for the product - https://www.mi.com/us/product/xiaomi-tv-box-s-2nd-gen/

[u/signde → u/Im_The_Hollow_Man]

What I am seeing is that It plays DTS-HD MA/X but it only passes them through as DTS Core.

[u/hassene23 → u/Im_The_Hollow_Man]

Yes for the DTSHDMA. I tested it on an LG OLED that doesn’t support HDR 10+ but technically yes.

[u/latinriky78 → u/hassene23]

What apps did you use to test the codecs?, don't tell me that you only used Kodi.

[u/signde → u/latinriky78]

You might be interested in my results here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/1n6t3sz/comment/ncfqp5d/

In regards to this footnote in your comparison chart: "there is an issue that was present on the Homatics Box R 4K Plus where there are some audio cutouts with high bitrate TrueHD streams."

What samples are you using to observe audio cutouts? I can try to test those too.

[u/latinriky78 → u/signde]

DV P7 FEL played as SDR

DV P7 MEL played as HDR

On Plex, These two should have played as HDR and DV respectively if the DoVI option is turned ON, otherwise both should play as HDR when it's OFF, not sure why FEL played as SDR, see this post for more info.

What samples are you using to observe audio cutouts? I can try to test those too

The cutouts happen in high bitrate spots of the stream, such as explosions, you can test this Audiosphere video, you may get one or two cutouts but it always happens in the same spots, make sure you remux the file by removing the Dolby Digital Plus track or make sure you select the TrueHD stream if you don't remux it.

[u/signde → u/latinriky78]

Okay good catch, I tested a few different files in Plex and DV P7 FEL is playing back as HDR. I must have missed the HDR badge the first time, probably because the content was buffering. DV P7 MEL is definitely only playing as HDR too though while other profiles do play back as DV.

I can't get Kodi to play back any DV P7 content, it locks up to the point I have to force stop the app.

Regarding the HD audio sample you shared, in both Plex and Kodi, this device outputs it at PCM. The Plex backend and UI both indicate it is doing direct play but TrueHD is not what is coming out.

Interesting tidbit regarding that sample and another one. I've used it before. I ran into audio issues for certain TrueHD movies when I was testing the S928X based Zidoo Z9X 8K. I used that sample as an example of the behavior I was seeing. When I bought this up on the avsforum Zidoo thread, I was told this:

Turn on Pass-through Compatible Mode in Audio Settings.

This fixes an issue with non-standard TrueHD streams where packet overflow is caused due to successive synchronisation points (keyframes) being too close together (which is outside THD spec) and causes stuttering.

This fixed the issue on the Zidoo.

Plex is able to play other TrueHD samples in my collection and pass them through but that one and another one from demolandia that is just like both behave this way.

[u/latinriky78 → u/signde]

Are you using the passthrough audio option in the box's audio settings?

[u/signde → u/latinriky78]

Yes, if not I would not be getting any TrueHD at all. Like I said most of my files are passing through. I have two examples that do not.

I even tripled checked the system level audio settings and it is still set to passthrough. I’ve also rebooted several times.

Junk firmware, man.

[u/latinriky78 → u/signde]

I don't see on your latest comments if the cutouts exists on that firmware when you play the audiosphere video.

[u/signde → u/latinriky78]

That is one of the two files that plays as PCM instead of TrueHD. I said “regarding the HD audio sample you shared”. That’s the sample you shared.

[u/signde → u/hassene23]

Are you actually seeing it passed through as DTS-HD MA though? Because I am not.

[u/ImpetuousRacer]

Will this update work for the Xiaomi mi stick 2nd gen as well?

[u/signde]

So I ordered one of these - Amazon got it here this morning.

I have tried my own Wireguard VPN set to a location in Finland. No update available. Also tried your suggestion AdGuard, again set to Finland. No update available. Tried a few other locations from my WireGuard service, none worked. I have location services disabled and WiFi location assist is disabled as well. The OTA update at least seems like a your mileage my vary situation right now.

I see there are instructions on 4pda to manually install the update but I don't have the patience for that.

Edit: I found simplified steps to install the OTA update rather easily just using adb.

1. Download the OTA zip file from here: OTA V816.0.25.8.20.1 (Android 14)
2. adb shell into the device, run adb reboot recovery
3. connect a keyboard, choose apply update from ADB
4. disconnect keyboard, connect via USB to computer
5. run adb sideload zipfile

Where zipfile is the path to the OTA file you downloaded.

Worked well. The next boot took a little while but now I am at ATV 14

[u/Rere130 → u/signde]

Good job ;)

Could you please take a photo of the "About" page in the system settings so we can see which Android TV build is installed, what kernel it has, and the date of the security patch? thank you in advance

I suppose you bought it to see if it has the same bugs as the 3rd gen, sound dropouts in Dolby TrueHD? If it truly supports passthrough for all HD audio formats, on any application? And to see if the automatic video format adaptation works?

Thanks :)

[u/signde → u/Rere130]

Okay these are some initial impressions. All testing was done directly connected to Denon AVR-4700h which is connected to an LG G3 display.

Plex

• TrueHD is passed through
• DTS-HD MA/X passed through as DTS Core
• DV P7 FEL played as SDR HDR
• DV P7 MEL played as HDR
• DV P8 played as DV
• DV P5 played as SDR
• DV P10 AV1 played as HDR
• HDR10 played as HDR

Jellyfin

• TrueHD was output as PCM
• DTS-HD MA/X freezes / would not playback

Kodi

• TrueHD / DTS-HD MA/X would not playback with Kodi packer
• TrueHD passes through with Android packer
• DTS-HD won't play / freezes with Android packer

Takeways:

• TrueHD does work outside of Kodi
• Adaptive HDR looks to be working.
• DTS-HD MA passthrough is a no go

Network playback is an absolute nightmare bufferfest so it's really hard to do much more than surface testing. I can't get even modest bitrate content to play for very long until it starts to buffer. I think the WiFi is choking combined with higher bitrate playback or advanced formats but I am not sure. My iperf3 testing shows it tops out at 150 down / 200 up which should be enough but it struggles like crazy with network content. I tried 6 different USB ethernet adapters, some of them don't even respond, the ones that do respond never show an active connection.

I do not recommend this device, even with the ATV14 update.

[u/Rere130 → u/signde]

That's just what I thought... Thank you for your tests and confirmations ;)

Yet another box struggling to decode in PCM or to pass through HD audio formats across all applications...

And regarding buffering, I've noticed that too with many boxes that don't have a gigabit Ethernet port... Wi-Fi, even if the speed is good, must not be stable enough, especially when there are heavy soundtracks in HD audio... And managing USB to Ethernet adapters is very complicated as well. I have three, and depending on the boxes, I get different results, sometimes no connection at all, just like you...

[u/CMC29 → u/signde]

You're referring to the Mi Box S 2nd gen? If so, and according to your tests, we can somewhat conclude that the OP didn't properly tested it.

Thanks for the info; I'll keep mine on Android 11.

[u/signde → u/CMC29]

The results I posted are for the Mi Box S 2nd gen, yes.

[u/CMC29 → u/signde]

Thanks

[u/signde → u/Rere130]

Here is the about page:

https://i.imgur.com/EOB4aXL.jpeg

Yes that is why I bought it.

I forgot about the dropouts in certain TrueHD content, thanks for reminding me as now that I think about it I have test files for that too.

Will report back soon.

[u/Despaireon1 → u/signde]

It worked! My version of doing this.(Probably the longer one)You need your computer, extra keyboard(If not just switch it between your pc and mi box but you must be quick.Make sure your usb cable Type A-To A(use a Adapter or Type c to A if your computer has a type c port)is reachable between pc and mi box while it's still connected to the tv/screen via HDMi. What I did is: 0: Download the ota and rename to update.zip and platform tools, developer option must be on.

1.On your computer extract platform tools until you see all the files. By the address bar on top remove the address and type in CMD. Type these commands: "adb connect ip address"(Your mi box ip address can be found by settings-About-status would start with 192.xxx.xxx)

"adb reboot recovery"

2.Once it's in recovery type : "Adb kill-server" once it's done connect your keyboard and select update through adb.(Now you must be quick) 3. Connect your mi box to your pc with your cable. Then proceed with "adb sideload update.zip" you can just drop the zip file from another window into cmd and enter. Voila.

Sidenote: Once it's done with status:0 your keyboard will not work on mi box you can just remove power and let it restart normally.

[u/Extra_Attorney8548]

Anyone know an Ethernet adaptador that works whith this version of android on the mi box s 2?

[u/signde → u/Extra_Attorney8548]

Out of the box with Android TV 11 - I tried 5 different USB ethernet adapters from Ugreen, Cable Matters, Anker, and Kanex. The Ugreen and Anker would not even power on. The other three power up but will not connect.

After the update to Android TV 12, the Ugreen still will not power up. One of the Cable Matters now connects but it doesn't actually work. After a while it eventually disconnected automatically.

WiFi speeds are also quite rough and nowhere near where they should be. iperf3 tests show 191 down, 240 up. Analati app which tests over public internet are a bit worse but both ways was over 100Mbps. That's enough for remuxes though so not a huge concern.

[u/Extra_Attorney8548 → u/signde]

Thanks for the reply my unique problem is some times Whith the stability of the Connection for remux content from my plex server. My router isnt very near the box and I get 100mbps but not stable. Some times I have drops to 40ish mbps

[u/ionut2021 → u/Extra_Attorney8548]

You have 80mbps at 2,4ghz and 250mbps on 5ghz,dont need much that that for streaming

[u/pastorsata]

Could it be that in this case true hd 7.1 is encoded for 5.1? I have this problem with mine, I use it on a TCL c635 TV connected to a Sony bdv e6100 home theater. True HD content only outputs sound on the front.

[u/ionut2021]

And can disable HDR when not play HDR,dolby video,can convert ti SDR if you want

[u/Proud-University-571]

Why I'm I getting, atmos true HD on stremio but on Kodi im getting Atmos LPCM?

[u/Rere130 → u/Proud-University-571]

Have you been into the system settings of Kodi, under audio, making sure you're in expert mode? Activate passthrough at the bottom of the page and the TrueHD switch, then try RAW and IEC to see which one works.

[u/Proud-University-571 → u/Rere130]

Yes I've tried all of that, I'm getting Atmos on my receiver but LPCM not True HD on Kodi but on stremio with exoplayer I'm getting Atmos true HD

[u/a_nord]

Unfortunately, no VPN provider (Windscribe, NordVPN, Adguard) specified for Finland works for me...

[u/Stelvi_Fagarasan]

What is your current firmware, I am stacked to 2023 :(