Dolby Vision / HDR + Dolby Atmos on Minix Neo U9-H

krazkat06

Member
Hi,

Does anyone know what's the best way to have HDR + Dolby Atmos from the U9-H?

I'm currently able to output Dolby Atmos using Kodi (which passthrough the audio to my amp) and while there's 4k, there's no indication of 10bit HDR. Any advice on what I should be doing? Alternative to Kodi? Or some setting I need to enable? Thanks!
 
u9-H can play 10 bit rec2020 HDR files. Kodi is able to decode it.
Try one of them : https://4kmedia.org/

Thanks for the advice. I downloaded the sample files and when I play it direct on the TV (attached a thumb drive to the TV), it plays with hdr. But when I connect to my minix u9-h and run it with kodi, I'm not getting the hdr output.

I've set my display settings to ygbr420 10 bit and 4k2k 60hz in the android system. But when I go to kodi, it only shows a 1080p option. I can't seem to change anything.

Would really appreciate any help!
 
Can you check the HDMI port settings where you've connected the U9-H ?
1080p option in Kodi is just for the interface. Kodi's inside player can play 4K HDR movies.
 
Can you check the HDMI port settings where you've connected the U9-H ?
1080p option in Kodi is just for the interface. Kodi's inside player can play 4K HDR movies.

Sorry, what do you mean by check the HDMI port settings? I've connected it to my Sony TV X900F (HDMI 2 and it's supposed to be the full HDMI 2.0 bandwidth. Also enabled it in the TV settings already. Is there something else I need to enable on the Minix box?
 
Hi,

Does anyone know what's the best way to have HDR + Dolby Atmos from the U9-H?

I'm currently able to output Dolby Atmos using Kodi (which passthrough the audio to my amp) and while there's 4k, there's no indication of 10bit HDR. Any advice on what I should be doing? Alternative to Kodi? Or some setting I need to enable? Thanks!

Under the display settings on the U9-H there is a specific HDR setting, you can set it to auto, enabled or disabled, (auto works best for my particular hardware). I'm assuming you already set it when you set your resolution, etc., (you just haven't mentioned setting it anywhere so far that's all) ;).

FYI, there is actually a handy visual indicator within Kodi to let you know that it is correctly playing HDR content at a glance :)....

When playing normal SDR media, Kodi's on screen display will remain its usual colour.

When playing HDR media, Kodi's on screen display changes to an aqua/cyan colour.

Of course, this just tells you if Kodi is doing what it should. You still need to ensure your TV or AVR are also correctly configured for HDR as @Skynet has already advised.

It took me a while to notice that Kodi's OSD was changing colour for HDR when I got my HDR capable TV lol ;). Have a look & see :).

You also asked about Atmos, have you got that all sorted now too??
 
Ok like wow guys! U guys are so helpful!! I'm really thankful for all the advice coming in. Seriously. Kudos! :)

For the U9-H settings, yup, have set the HDR settings to auto.

Have also taken Skynet's advice to change the settings on the TV to recognise HDR10. Just that by doing so, even non-HDR content that i'm playing back is recognised as HDR (there's the little HDR logo displayed) but I know that not all files are encoded with HDR so it's strange that the tv is picking it up as a HDR content. It's honestly a small problem but it raises the question of whether it's a forced "HDR" rather than something encoded in the media file. Oh yes, to clarify, when the tv setting HDR is set to auto, it doesn't recognise the HDR from Kodi. I have to manually set it to HDR10 or HLG (which is where I said it forces the recognition of HDR).

Also yup! Have got atmos working! Sounds awesome!
 
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Ok like wow guys! U guys are so helpful!! I'm really thankful for all the advice coming in. Seriously. Kudos! :)

For the U9-H settings, yup, have set the HDR settings to auto.

Have also taken Skynet's advice to change the settings on the TV to recognise HDR10. Just that by doing so, even non-HDR content that i'm playing back is recognised as HDR (there's the little HDR logo displayed) but I know that not all files are encoded with HDR so it's strange that the tv is picking it up as a HDR content. It's honestly a small problem but it raises the question of whether it's a forced "HDR" rather than something encoded in the media file. Oh yes, to clarify, when the tv setting HDR is set to auto, it doesn't recognise the HDR from Kodi. I have to manually set it to HDR10 or HLG (which is where I said it forces the recognition of HDR).

Also yup! Have got atmos working! Sounds awesome!

Good, glad you've got your Atmos all sorted & you're welcome :).

This ongoing HDR issue could now possibly be some sort of conflict with both devices being set to auto for HDR??? Otherwise, I'm not at all familiar with the more recent Sony TV's & freely admit I'd be guessing on the best settings for your TV ;). Hopefully @Skynet or others may have some more ideas there :).

(You're obviously using an AVR or soundbar as well if you have Atmos?? That too may need configuring. What is your specific audio hardware/equipment?)

Try setting either the U9-H or the TV to auto & the other just set to enabled rather than both on auto. See what results that may yield, if no joy, try vice versa. It may take a little tinkering. Hopefully you'll get there :).
 
Good, glad you've got your Atmos all sorted & you're welcome :).

This ongoing HDR issue could now possibly be some sort of conflict with both devices being set to auto for HDR??? Otherwise, I'm not at all familiar with the more recent Sony TV's & freely admit I'd be guessing on the best settings for your TV ;). Hopefully @Skynet or others may have some more ideas there :).

(You're obviously using an AVR or soundbar as well if you have Atmos?? That too may need configuring. What is your specific audio hardware/equipment?)

Try setting either the U9-H or the TV to auto & the other just set to enabled rather than both on auto. See what results that may yield, if no joy, try vice versa. It may take a little tinkering. Hopefully you'll get there :).

My setup is:
TV: Sony X900F
Amp: Denon X5200W
Minix Neo U9-H
Media files from: https://4kmedia.org/

The interesting thing is I've tried connecting the HDD with the sample files direct to the tv and it plays back at 4K with HDR enabled (tv is on auto mode).

I shall go try with your proposed "either - or" method and report back!
 
My setup is:
TV: Sony X900F
Amp: Denon X5200W
Minix Neo U9-H
Media files from: https://4kmedia.org/

The interesting thing is I've tried connecting the HDD with the sample files direct to the tv and it plays back at 4K with HDR enabled (tv is on auto mode).

I shall go try with your proposed "either - or" method and report back!

Yeh, you mentioned that in a previous post ;). Which raises more questions!!

Was the TV actually doing things correctly already?? Or, does the built in media player ignore user settings on the TV & just processes media files as they are??

Or, is it the U9-H or your AVR that's interfering somehow when you attempt to play the same files??

Fingers crossed it's just a case of some tinkering required & you'll sort it out or simply stumble upon a solution ;).
 
My setup is:
TV: Sony X900F
Amp: Denon X5200W
Minix Neo U9-H
Media files from: https://4kmedia.org/

The interesting thing is I've tried connecting the HDD with the sample files direct to the tv and it plays back at 4K with HDR enabled (tv is on auto mode).

I shall go try with your proposed "either - or" method and report back!

You might also want to check in here.... https://denon-uk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4723/~/hdr-format-compatibility

Amongst others, it lists the X4200W & the X6200W as being HDR compatible (or firmware updates will/have been issued), but not the X5200W :(.

EDIT - And/or here too. It's not looking good from a brief scan of capabilities :(..... https://denon.custhelp.com/app/answ...~/dolby-vision-/-hlg-updates-for-av-receivers
 
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@krazkat06,

Ultimately, new plan, try hooking up the U9-H directly to the TV & play your HDR test files in Kodi. If it all works as intended you'll probably have your answer. Albeit somewhat bittersweet :(.

I've scanned through the specs & several product reviews for the 5200W as well & sadly no mention of HDR compatibly either.
 
@ArcticWolf I've tried connecting the U9-H direct to the TV and no dice on HDR (if either is set to auto). If I change the U9-H HDR to "on" and X900F to auto, no HDR detected. Only when change X900F to HDR10 or HLG, then there's a forced HDR (why I say forced because even for content without HDR encoded, there's still the HDR logo). So eliminated the possibility of the X5200W being a problem.
 
Just wondering if anyone has even managed to get HDR recognised on their TVs (perhaps not even Sony) using Kodi on the U9-H.
 
@ArcticWolf I've tried connecting the U9-H direct to the TV and no dice on HDR (if either is set to auto). If I change the U9-H HDR to "on" and X900F to auto, no HDR detected. Only when change X900F to HDR10 or HLG, then there's a forced HDR (why I say forced because even for content without HDR encoded, there's still the HDR logo). So eliminated the possibility of the X5200W being a problem.

How are the movie colours when you play a non-HDR movie in forced HDR mode ? Are they good or not ?
 
How are the movie colours when you play a non-HDR movie in forced HDR mode ? Are they good or not ?

Good question :).

Just wondering if anyone has even managed to get HDR recognised on their TVs (perhaps not even Sony) using Kodi on the U9-H.

The U9-H definitely supports HDR :). Works fine with the hardware in my sig, (although as stated I had to tinker a little to get it all right).

It could be something you've enabled/disabled or possibly an error with your Kodi. Try MX Player & see if HDR functions normally from that ;).

Following a direct hook up to your TV & subject to your AVR being fully HDR compatible, have you also tried using different HDMI cables to what you're currently using?

Is there anything else you haven't mentioned such as extremely long HDMI cable runs ;)??
 
@ArcticWolf unfortunately if I were to "force" the tv to output hdr, the color is quite bad. Overly saturated and color is all wrong on the non-hdr content. Even on hdr content, forcing it to display as hdr is not as gd or vibrant as if the content is automatically recognised by the TV (eg when the hdd with the content is connected direct to the TV and using the TV's internal player).

Have played ard and still somehow an unable to get the u9-h to recognise hdr content. Sigh.

Last resort is to try the libreelec method.
 
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