Best Way to Play 4k Video File in 2024

Spennyrich on 01/07/2024 - 09:17
Last edited 01/07/2024 - 12:12 by 1 other user

Hi OzB, I recently picked up the TCL C855 85" paired with a Q990D Samsung Sound Bar which comes with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos HDR10+ etc

I want to know what is going to be the best way to play a 4k video file on the tv, I've typically just been using VLC to cast from my laptop to a Chromecast.

From my initial reading it seems like the best setup would be casting to a Nvidia Shield through a Plex media server.

  1. Best media player: Would my Xbox series X or casting from my laptop (Lenovo Legion 4070) do the job?
  2. Best software: Is plex media server going to give me the best encoding?
  3. Best method: is there any loss when casting wirelessly, do I get better playback if I play the video file from a USB?

Thanks in advance.

Computing

Comments

  • pencilhead on 02/07/2024 - 18:57

    Is the AM6b+ better than the AM8 pro?

    • UNO on 02/07/2024 - 20:05

      Interested to know this too

      • pencilhead on 26/08/2024 - 11:46

        I ended up getting AM8 Pro.
        Installed coreelec.
        Works really well. Plays all 4K files I've tried so far.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2024 - 19:11
    +1

    Install kodi … add network share… done. Will play anything

  • Timothy-Mineworker on 02/07/2024 - 21:30

    Depends on how far you want to go on the 4K "video file" and amount willing to spend

    4K Encodes(WEB-DL 4K)? anything really, fire tv/shield/tv usb port/android media box.

    4K Remux?(full uncompressed 4K 1:1 rip to MKV) a shield with a USB HDD connected to it and JUSTPLAYER or MAVEN KODI NERDS for cheap, or Zidoo Z9X

    want to go all out with 4K Remuxes, 4K UHD ISO/FOLDER rips? nice poster wall? somehting like the Zidoo Z2000

  • sachk on 02/07/2024 - 21:41

    Native kodi, jellyfin or Plex should be able to play dolby vision or HDR10+ flawlessly. shield is better but not really worth the money.

  • figarow on 03/07/2024 - 08:10

    I just hook up the laptop to TV via HDMI cable and all is good. Not ideal for permanent solution but in a pinch does the job.

  • ganymede on 03/07/2024 - 11:36

    I have been playing 4k videos from my 1tb portable HDD plugged in directly to my Sony TV all these years, am I missing anything here?

    • logistics on 03/07/2024 - 12:36
      +1

      The need to unplug to put new content on?

    • pinkybrain on 03/07/2024 - 13:28

      am I missing anything here

      just get a mediaplayer box and stream it from your pc

    • buckerooni on 04/07/2024 - 14:30

      lol was going to ask this question too! For all the stuffing around of setting up a server, streaming, etc - and while it's pretty neat and nerdy to have up and running - plugging/unplugging an SSD doesn't seem that hard. I guess it depends how often you are getting and consuming new content.

      I love dolby atmos and would not want to lose that.

      • spackbace on 04/07/2024 - 17:27

        Doesn't take much to set up Plex, and shows your library nicely rather than just a list of files :)

        But it does really depend on how often you're watching downloaded content. If once a week or so, I'm sure moving the drive back and forth would be fine

  • BluebirdV on 03/07/2024 - 13:05
    +3

    It all sounds very technical. Why doesn't someone come up with something more user friendly and easy?

    • schquid on 03/07/2024 - 14:07

      Because that's the fun part

    • spackbace on 03/07/2024 - 14:55

      That was the idea of the Shield, but it's now a 5yo system which hasn't been updated

      Shield Pro can run as a Plex server, has 2x usb ports for playing direct from drives etc

  • Pusdi on 03/07/2024 - 19:45

    Is the fire cube plagued by Amazon ads?

    • pinkybrain on 04/07/2024 - 09:28

      Is the fire cube plagued by Amazon ads?

      does amazon sell products?
      does amazon like to promote their shows and prime subscriptions?

      if you know the answers to both questions then that should answer your own question

      • Pusdi on 04/07/2024 - 11:22

        Yeah I suspected that's why they sell these cheap. They should actually pay us to use them

  • ruddiger7 on 04/07/2024 - 07:40

    Nvidia really need to update their shield with a new model. But with the billions/trillions to be made with AI it seems to be the last thing on their mind.

    • pinkybrain on 04/07/2024 - 09:30

      Nvidia really need to update their shield with a new model.

      Also is there anything that the current shield can't play in media files that they feel the need to update it?

      Nvidia is raking in so much money from AI, that this would likely be on their least concerns..
      They don't even give a shit about being competitive in the GPU pricing no more..

      • ruddiger7 on 04/07/2024 - 09:52
        +1

        AV1 codec, HDR10+, 8K I think are a few - there may be more.

        • pinkybrain on 04/07/2024 - 14:12

          AV1 codec, HDR10+, 8K I think are a few - there may be more

          Does any of the other competitors devices (appleTV, google TV, firestick max etc) have those features and can play it smoothly (AV1 codec, HDR10+, 8K)?

          GoogleTV supports AV1 on the HD model but the 4K model still does not..
          and they still using 8GB storage which is just not suitable in 2024..

          8K content is still not that big.. or that much in demand..
          and only main place to watch is those youtube 8K scenes videos etc..

          I think many people's internet would struggle to stream 8K smoothly..
          not to mention storing 8K movies would take up alot of storage space.

          Right now in the android media players, nvidia shield is probably still the most powerful machine out of all the ones that are out there..
          Maybe there might be a new one when the switch 2 gets released.

  • juzza87 on 04/07/2024 - 09:32

    I don't know about the standard supported but we use an Apple TV 4k with the VLC app installed, and access through a remote share (eg NAS, shared folder on computer etc.), never skipped a beat though it's a basic TV.

    It depends on the "casting" method, if it's a Chromecast for example they'll connect to the stream directly where possible (eg play the Youtube video locally instead of sending it through the phone to the Chromecast), whereas if it's Miracast or Screen Mirroring it won't have the bandwidth. Always better to hard wire everything where possible (network, display cables).

  • npc on 04/07/2024 - 09:44
    +1

    Apple TV with Infuse app and the files are stored on NAS. Seems to work with everything including huge 60-80gb 4K files and obviously all streaming services. This is the simplest technical solution that I could find that all family easily understands.

  • Pusdi on 04/07/2024 - 14:59

    Slightly off topic: what is the smallest compressed 4k Dolby vision/HDR10+ file size you can get away with for an average length movie of, say 2 hours, that has negligible loss of quality to an average viewer?

    I'm guessing the answer could be pretty subjective..

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