Dune HD Homatics Box R 4K Plus Review

Outstanding media player using the "Dune" media player. This is the link to acquire the Dune app for this device. It does NOT come installed, you have to download it........
dune-hd.com/su...

[@retkon_]

The Dune Homatics box is not recognized by the dune mobile remote app and another disadvantage is that the playlist/select feature cannot be used because there is no "PLAY" function. The okay button can only start the content of one folder at a time. DUNE customer service won't help, it takes them two weeks to react by automatic reply of the likes: we have received your request ".. And then... nothing.. It's been six weeks now...

[@carlosmendoza8064]

Please could you make a video showing Dune with Android TV 12 to see the automatic refresh rate update in streaming apps

[@clarkss12]

Soon

[@p750mmx]

Appreciate the effort, but no, it's not outstanding at this moment. The Android TV Build itself needs still plenty of work, but that is done through beta testing of the Homatics R Plus box (not with the Dune box, it kills the Dune app when using beta), and the Dune app still needs a lot of improvement, that seems a bit on hold now. The AFR option they build in the app is really nothing more then changing the resolution/refreshrate in the background within the Android TV settings, sometimes a user even must confirm the change of that, so not really AFR and not always in the background ;) Sins there is a very good CoreElec build specific for the Homatics R Plus and alike (most SEI804 boxes), there really is no reason to use the Dune app at this moment. Can be used as double boot option and has great support. Still work in progress, but that also goes for this specific Dune. I also have it, but it brings really nothing more at this moment. Maybe if one prefers black as a color in stead of white/silver ;)

[@clarkss12]

I have read some of your post on the CE forum and AVS forum, so I respect your observations. Agreed, the Android needs a lot of work, but I think the "Dune" app works very well. Not sure what you mean about the AFR option running under "Dune", it seems to work fine for me, no issues that I see. I have had this box for a couple of days now, and really quite impressed with the "Dune" app. It does everything for me, Except the DTS-HD MA audio codec. CoreELEC works well as a dual boot solution, but I have been primarily testing the "Dune" app under Android. I rarely use my 2017 Shield, and looking for a good replacement. This box checks most of the boxes for me.

[@nickkk4583]

​@@clarkss12 How well does it upscale from 480p to 4k? Will there be before and after pictures?

[@jeffreyawalling6184]

Excellent review! I'm gonna buy one this week. :-)

[@clarkss12]

Thank you for the kind comment. You will definitely enjoy it. One of the better boxes out there for the price and everything it can do.

[@reticularimus]

Thanks for the review. Looks like a decent device. I realize that you wanted to focus on the Dune Media Player software, but I would have liked to have seen ALL of the AIDA64 screens (not just the first few). You usually show the AIDA64 screens. I missed them in this review.

[@clarkss12]

You are probably the few people that actually wants to see that information. I didn't want to really make it a long video.

[@reticularimus]

@@clarkss12 I understand. It would take only maybe 30 seconds to show the aida64 screens. You don't need to talk over them for a long time, I can pause the video to look at them. Anyway, it's too late now. I understand that most people don't care about this information, but like I said, it can be done really quickly.

[@clarkss12]

@@reticularimus from now on, I will add that information, and also Wi-Fi speed test. Thanks for your feedback,. I really appreciate that.

[@reticularimus]

@@clarkss12 Thanks, that's very kind of you. Don't get me wrong, this review of the Dune Homatics is still very good and has a lot of useful information. Maybe if you have time later you can reply here with just a couple of the aida64 values. In the "System" section, the value for "Board", and in the "Android" section, the value for "Fingerprint".

[@clarkss12]

@@reticularimus I will make a follow up video of this media player, using the Android player. This video was about the Dune app. I will test the WiFi and Aida 64, etc. Anything else you need to see??

[@veneration1]

Great video. Can we use it to just view ALL home collection media (not genres) together in a list like the old style Dune interface ? I like list view with audio and movies together. If you have used older Dunes you will know what I mean. I don't like my media separated by genres/types, I want to select whatever folder I want, such as an audio folder, or movie folder, without having to go Home to change type it will view first.

[@clarkss12]

I just checked, And yes it has the option for the old style. It has three options, new, old, and customize manually.

[@veneration1]

​@@clarkss12 Many thanks !!

[@MarvinConnell]

Good day... Can you tell me the different Zoom options available in the Dune HD Media Centre? (I believe it's the Dune OS section) I'm looking to get a device for my 21:9 monitor & I want to make sure it has the zoom type I will need... Thanks... P.S. I believe there's a OS Beta out with widescreen support - just in case you have a 21:9 device that can test it... =]

[@misobeast8047]

Music is handled poorly with this box. The ATV side uses software decoding (IEC-Packer or similar) instead of utilizing the AML hardware. Essentially there is no passthrough function. That means anything not standard stereo (FLAC 5.1, Atmos, DTS, DSD) is converted to 24-48 stereo. Goodbye metadata and multichannel. No apps seem to improve upon this behavior. On the Dune HD Media center side..there is NO music cataloging whatsoever, just a basic network browser. While It can UPnP any format your receiver can handle, you end up stuck browsing by file folder (welcome to the early oughts!). Additionally, the 'Now Playing' screen shows you a low res version of your album art. Perhaps its a 2000's theme? Its obvious Dune had zero interest in Music. Maybe most people never listen to music? The Dune HD video cataloging is functional, but is also stuck in the 2000s. Its apparent that no one has worked on its Media Center in a very long time. Video on the ATV video side is also a fail. HBOMax drops all content to 1080p...although it does pass Dolby Vision. Plex also dumps all my NAS 4k content to 1080p HDR out of this box as well. I don't have Netflix, so maybe that works correctly? Did you hook the Dune directly to the TV? Mine goes through my new Sony AN1000 receiver which is able to pass just about everything. Perhaps I should try it through the TV. It can't be worse....can it? This box is so useless to me at present that I installed Coreelec 21a on it. All audio and video formats now pass correctly except: 1) DSD still converts, but at least to multichannel 192 LPCM. 2) I also don't have TrueHD atmos or DTSX content to evaluate. Obviously Kodi doesn't have great streaming apps (add-ons) so I still have to use my TV's built in HBOMax to get 4k DV playback. I guess everyone looks for different features, but I'm still surprised at how good you think this box is. My opinion is close to the opposite. The HW is obviously capable as Coreelec figured out how to use it correctly, but the firmware implementation is truly awful. I'm not very optimistic the fw will actually ever be fixed either. It ends up being an overpriced piece of capable hardware that can function predominantly as a LAN streamer with open source software. $150 is a rip-off in that scenario. $80 might be almost fair. Sub $60 ATV devices function better. Most people that pay a premium for an ATV streamer want it to handle ALL uncompressed formats from ALL sources. In its current build, the Dune HD box fails miserably at that.

[@bennib5558]

Which box do you recommend? My shield is starting to reboot all the time

[@AnilKumar-lt4uk]

Which box do you recommend for av receiver

[@delpinsky]

I own an old Dune BD Prime 3.0 Blu-ray player, which is now outdated because it's stuck on H264 decoding. That's why I'm looking for a 4K media player capable of playing everything (mkv..flac..folders) from an external portable hard drive, just like my old Dune player did. If DTS-HD decoding doesn't work and other audio sources 5.1, even if I connect this media player to an A/V Receiver, then it's a real rip off. I was so happy when I saw this one. I see Homatics are working on the Android 12 beta, for example. But I'm wondering whether you can use firmware updates from Homatics in the Dune. Homatics would cost me less... but yes, those issues really worry me.

[@nickkk4583]

How well does it upscale from 480p to 4k? Will there be before and after pictures?

[@stevenlindsay23]

If the source is 480p, it can't bring it up to 4k

[@mckenziesmall6275]

You say Dolby TrueHD is working but pcm is showing up on the screen.

[@clarkss12]

TrueHD shows up on my AVR, but not DTS-HD, guess I was not very clear. This box, extracts the DTS core and plays that, so my AVR shows DTS, and not DTS-HD. Or, I just play everything in PCM.

[@andrassimai8087]

Hello! Could you tell me please, can this player put behind the srt subtitle some full black or transparent (30%) stripe?

[@jprofiler]

Hi Ron, how to add youtube (and all the other stuff 6:51) in the dune media player? in my player it shows only netflix apple & prime.

[@clarkss12]

I am not really sure what you mean?

[@jprofiler]

@@clarkss12 i update my question ;)

[@Mahesh-n4k]

Hello.. In the New firmware update you can play DTS HD and DTSX. Check Dune support

[@clarkss12]

Yes it does.

[@elliotness6560]

Hey Ronnie question I'm trying to use dune hd box as a samba server so I can access my movies in another room with my other android box using nova media player app to scan for available servers how do I go about getting it done

[@clarkss12]

If you run CoreELEC on a pen drive connected to your box, that makes a fantastic samba server. You can dual boot into Android or CoreELEC.

[@user-wo5ob8vo7g]

Hallo. Kann man alle Streaming Apps wie z.B Prime Video, Disney+ usw. Im Dune Media Center nutzen?

[@clarkss12]

Yes, but there is no difference than playing from the Android interface.

[@laionica]

Hi I'm having issues with Dolby Atmos on this Device. I'm using Kodi and when I go to Audio setting in Kodi and enable passthrough. It plays fine for a while. But if I pause or rewind. Then the Sound cuts out or stop 'start (Dolby Atmos). But if I disable Passthrough it will play 5.1 fine. Do you know any fix for this ?? The same settings i use in Kodi play fine on my Nvidia Shield.

[@clarkss12]

I'm not sure about that issue. I usually use the Dune app for my local media, And I don't have any problems at all with that app. Why are you using a Kodi app?

[@bobcrane9945]

How does the dune device differ from the standard 4K plus homatics device

[@clarkss12]

It supports the dune app

[@jc4626]

Got the box today, and updated to android 12, but audio only comes in Dolby audio +, Atmos is not working, kinda baffling as my Nvidia worked perfectly, kinda disappointed, any suggestions? Thxs for the review.

[@clarkss12]

Must be something in the setting. Dolby DD+, and Dolby Atmos work perfectly. In fact all of the HD audio codecs work, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, DTS:X, etc..

[@laionica]

I've set up the Box and it won't play in 4K and in AIDA64. It says Screen Resolution 1920 × 1080. Is there anyway to change this ?

[@clarkss12]

Are you connected directly to your TV using your HDMI cable?

[@clarkss12]

That is the native GUI for the main screen, and is normal for most of these devices. It will change resolutions that your media is in. For example, 4k media will change to 4k. You can go into the settings/screen resolutions/Display mode and you can see all of your resolutions that your TV supports. Also, on your Dune box, go into HDR settings and make sure you have selected the HDR versions that your TV supports.

[@stevenlindsay23]

I own a Dune HD, will this be suitable upgrade?

[@clarkss12]

I should be.

[@dapperDiane]

getting new dune ne t week question I have can you use apps like Syncler and Weyd work with or you need CoreELEC for apps. I a bit confused. Thank you

[@clarkss12]

Are they Android apps or Kodi apps? I'm not familiar with them

[@clarkss12]

It looks like they are Kodi addons...... In that case you don't need CoreELEC, just use the Android version of Kodi to install those apps.

[@dapperDiane]

Both are Android APK

[@clarkss12]

@@dapperDiane if those are Android apps, then you don't need CoreELEC. GOOD CHOICE OF MEDIA PLAYER THOUGH.

[@paul1desm]

Does anyone tested the usb c tuner on this box specifically the dvb-c and dvb-t2?

[@laionica]

I tried a Kodi Build Lastnight. I only use 3rd Party Apps. No Netflix or any of the others. But like I said Shield no issues

[@clarkss12]

Is the apps that are not showing 4k?? Are they streaming apps??.

[@laionica]

I have'nt tried any Apps on there. Currently only tried Kodi Build... But even with no Kodi Aida64 is still showing 1080 in resolution even after changing resolution in Device settings to 4K

[@clarkss12]

@@laionica I am at a loss of what you are playing on this device.. I am guessing that you don't have your own media. What are the apps that you are using?? Are they internet streaming apps??? You said you only use 3rd party apps, what are they??

[@ImLVLegitcusImthasht]

That metal plat is a heat sink. Haha

[@laionica]

I received my Device today. Is it normal for it to be rattling inside the Box ?

[@clarkss12]

No, that is not normal.

[@laionica]

Does the Power plug fit Australia ?

[@clarkss12]

I'm sure they make it plug for Australia.

[@RidhuanKhairi]

does tv refresh rate will follow dune apps if my tv support vrr?

[@clarkss12]

If you are asking if apps like Netflix supports the AFR, then no it doesn't.

[@sanderrombouts8809]

I got the same Android box, did not know there was a dune app for because of this video is whas able to download en install the dune hd app but thnx for that only got one problem hope someone can tell me what to do dune hd mediacenter app is empty only got file manager favorites and settings that's it in the setting screen I only have 2 options general only language choice and information of device that's it no option to add apps and other streaming services

[@laionica]

I have no idea about COreELECT... Im not much of a whiz with this sought of stuff. I thought it was straight forward like the Shield.

[@clarkss12]

The device itself is the same as the Shield, but goes even further in capabilities than the shield. CoreELEC is a Just enough OS Linux distribution, combining cutting edge hardware support with a small disk and memory footprint while providing an efficient, elegant and non-destructive solution to deliver a complete Kodi Entertainment Center experience for Android-based set-top boxes

[@laionica]

@clarkss12 But correct me if I'm Wrong. I was reading you have to install it ( CoreElect ( ontol a Flash Drive and write some file code or can I install it straight onto the Device and does it have to be configured ? As I'm not good with that king of stuff.

[@clarkss12]

@@laionica You are partially correct. You have to "burn" the OS onto a flash drive, and copy a file from a created folder on the flash drive to the root of the flash drive. This creates another Operating system on the flash drive, and does NOT affect the Android OS. So, you can use the Box as it is, or boot into the CoreELEC operation system. You will have two operating systems to choose from. But, unless you have a fairly sophistic media center, you don't not need to use CoreELEC. The Dune app running under Android on this box does everything the the Shield does, and more, EXCEPT DTS-HD, it uses the DTS core instead.

[@laionica]

I just want to Play good quality Films in 4K or 1080p in Dolby Vision and great Audio like Dolby Atmos and 5.1 Surround. Will I need to use the App for that. I will be using KODI. No Subscription Services like Netflix.... Cheers !!!

[@clarkss12]

Kodi does come up short on this box, but the Dune app is fantastic. If you just want Kodi, then you can dual boot into CoreELEC. CE plays everything perfectly.

[@renesonse5794]

​ @clarkss12 Would it be possible for you to do a quick vid on how exactly to do this and what it does? :)

[@clarkss12]

@@renesonse5794 Are you talking about using CoreELEC on this box?

[@carlosmendoza8064]

Do you know if it comes with Android TV 12 today?

[@clarkss12]

If not, it will ask you to update to Android 12.

[@carlosmendoza8064]

@@clarkss12 thanks

[@Kevin-qz3bq]

Ronnie is there a way of dimming the front led ?

[@clarkss12]

I think so

[@Kevin-qz3bq]

@@clarkss12 I cannot see setting at all

[@clarkss12]

@@Kevin-qz3bq let me check

[@Kevin-qz3bq]

​@@clarkss12thx mate

[@clarkss12]

@@Kevin-qz3bq The setting is under "Display and Sound". Goes by % in increments of 10%.

[@rajmohanpm8189]

thank you for the video. How about audio? did it play your Dolby Atmos video/audio properly? any lag or issues for playing dolby atmos?

[@clarkss12]

I just got done using it a few minutes ago playing a Dolby vision video with Atmos audio. But I was using CoreELEC instead of Android. Using the Dune app, it does not pass through the DTS HD MA audio codec. Otherwise that plays perfectly also.

[@rajmohanpm8189]

Thank u for replying. But i don't understand those core elec etc..my aim is to play those riped 4k hdr dolby atmos videos in my home theater. I have 7.2.4, can u advice? Is it worth buying it for 350 Canadian dollers?

[@rabahfdoul4844]

Basically, if all what you are looking for is Dolby vision and Dolby Atmos (true had) this box will do that perfectly fine. But if you have some rips with DTS HD the box won’t pass it through, it might downsample it. So in your case you are good to go with the box and you don’t need open elec or any other side loaded OS. Hope this helped.

[@rajmohanpm8189]

@@rabahfdoul4844 thank u.. I think thats what u want frm a media player right..

[@AmazingOrange87]

@@clarkss12so is CoreElec basically Kodi? As I currently use Kodi on my NVIDIA shield and would happy use this Dune HD is Kodi supports all the codecs

[@MaharionPendragon]

Hi, I just got the exact same box. If you or anyone else is still reading the comments, I have a very interesting problem that even the seller Baltics admit is an issue. So, every night I'd totally power everything down at the main electrical plug. All electricity is switched off. When I turn everything back on the next morning, the Dolby Vision setting will be turned to OFF. I'd have to manually go to Display Settings to turn Dolby Vision to ON every morning. The seller says the engineers know it happens . I'd like to know if this is your experience as well. If not, please help, what have you done differently to prevent your DV from turning to OFF after turning off all electricity for the night

[@clarkss12]

I never completely remove power from any of my media players. They draw so little current it doesn't matter for me.

[@MaharionPendragon]

@@clarkss12 Oh interesting. But accumulated over time, the general advice is to switch everything off at the mains, especially if you have heavy duty media players like avr. Still, I'd be really curious if you would turn off all power to your box overnight, and see if the DV sets itself to OFF the next time you power the box back up. Anyone else face this issue?

[@clarkss12]

@@MaharionPendragon Let me see if I understand this correctly. Under "display and sound", "HDR settings", then there are 3 video options, 1>HDR, 2>Dolby Vision, 3>HDR Auto. Your are saying that after a power cycle, your Dolby Vision setting is no longer enabled?? If this is correct, then I do not have that issue. However, If all of your devices are completely powered off, I would thing there is a hand shaking going on when you power everything back on. For a test, I would unplug your Dune box, and NOT power it back up UNTILL all of your devices are completely powered back on. I think that if you do that, your Dune will still have the "Dolby Vision" setting enabled.

[@MaharionPendragon]

@@clarkss12 Yes you understand correctly. The seller Baltics said something similar. He asked me to try different sequences of powering off & on. Said something about if the box doesn't detect tv or avr, it switches the DV to off. This is surely fixable with a program code. I'll try your suggestion but imagine how tedious it is to leave the box unplugged, wait until tv is powered on, then power on the box!! Also, I wonder why it doesn't happen to you if you power off everything at night & power on again in the morning. Surely, your power on sequence is, turn on power to all devices at same time

[@clarkss12]

@@MaharionPendragon I only powered off my Dune box, not the whole system. I have a Vizio TV with 4 HDMI inputs and and a Yamaha AVR with 7 inputs, all of them have a device connected to each HDMI port. It would be a true hassle for me to set each device back up after restoring power. Also, I was an industrial electrician for over 30 years, and I learned that power spikes KILL electronics. Each time you power cycle the electricity feeding electronics, you are generating a spike. But if you choose to power off all of you electronics, that is your decision. My next suggestion would be that you put the Dune device on a smart plug. You can manually power cycle manually with you cellular phone of setup an automatic time to power off and on.

[@laionica]

Yes from TV to Device

[@roleila7014]

双系统嘛？

[@laionica]

No I don't have my own Media. I'm using Kodi 20.2

[@clarkss12]

Okay, The apps that you're using, must determine if the media that your playing is 4K. Netflix plays in 4K Dolby Vision with Dolby Atmos audio. However, a lot of my media is not 4K, so it will not Play 4K. I have Dolby Vision videos purchased through Vudu and they will only play in 1080p on this device.

[@laionica]

@clarkss12 The Apps that I use Play in 4K on the Nvidia Shield

[@laionica]

Any suggestions .

[@clarkss12]

When you play a 4k video, how do you check with your TV to see what resolution and framerate your box is sending it?? Most TVs have a "stats for nerd" that shows the information of the videos being player.

[@laionica]

@clarkss12 I'm not even getting 4K Links on movies I know are 4K. However om not having this issue on Shield

[@clarkss12]

@@laionica Are you using your own media or streaming from the internet?? I don't know why you are not getting 4k. If you get it from the Shield, you definitely get it from this player. Also, what app are you using, the Dune app??

[@pablodepablo7990]

Buenas noches, perdone soy capaz de instalar la aplicación de dune, veo que usted la tiene me puede ayudar, gracias

[@clarkss12]

Do you mean that you don't have that app?? You have to download it from their site.

[@pablodepablo7990]

@@clarkss12 gracias así lo hice pero no consigo instalarlo, no se hacerlo

[@pablodepablo7990]

Muchas gracias ya pude instalar la aplicación, gracias