Issue with new UHD5000

The Amlogic devices fell out of favor for me, so I am strictly using the family of 1619BPD devices now. While they are not as snappy as the AML's, I was enjoying the stability of the previous line of devices. I have a couple of 2000 Pro's and now a new-in-box UHD5000, which is giving me fits for some reason.

I set all of these boxes up with the same settings - I even backup and restore HT (4.3.52). The issue with the UHD5000 started right away when playing my first movie. Basically, I got no video or sound. This stumped me because this device was replacing one of the 2000 Pro's, which I moved upstairs. So it was plugged into the same HDMI port on the same receiver going to the same TV. And it's using the same SoC as the 2000 Pro, so I was a little shocked when I ran into this issue.

Fast forward a few hours of troubleshooting and the issue seems to relate to resolution and/or frame rate matching. Basically, I cannot get movies to play unless the Display/Resolution frame rate matches the movie I want to play. If I set my Display setting to 4k-23Hz then all of my movies that are 4k-23Hz work fine. If I then try to play a movie that is actually 24Hz it will fail. I can go back and change the Display setting to 4k-24Hz and then it will work. I figured this out by playing with the resolution button while the black screen/handshaking issue would happen. I noticed that if I started tapping it a few times I would finally get a picture and sound. This workaround of using the Resolution buttons seems to work every single time, so it shouldn't be some EDID or compatibility issue.

I could be crazy, but I kind of remember being this being an issue in the past. I do not remember which devices or firmware it was happening on though. I don't get why this is happening to me right now when other devices in the same family work so great for me. All devices are using v1.0.95 firmware. I even brought the UHD5000 upstairs and hooked it up to a different receiver and television and the exact same thing happens. I was thinking I could try factory resetting my receiver, but I am skeptical that will resolve anything after the same issue occurred when using another receiver.

I'm at a loss as to what to try next. I've done a factory reset once already. I could reflash the device but that seems kind of high risk/low reward. @Markswift2003 do you have any ideas? Does this sort of issue ring any bells?

 

Really odd one!

Firstly, no, I don't recall anyone having an issue like this before.

Ignoring all other HDMI modes and focussing on 4K23 and 4K24, assuming the following:

1. Setting UI to 4K23 allows 4K23 content to play and 4K24 content will not play

AND

2. Setting the UI to 4K24 allows 4K24 content to play and 4K23 content will not play

This can't be an EDID problem if for no other reason than 4K23 and 4K24 are the same as far as EDID is concerned - it doesn't separate 23/24Hz.

I assume you've tried turning frame rate mode off - I'd expect this to just play all content in the current UI mode - obviously non acceptable for day to day use, but a useful test, especially if it fails.

All I can come up with here is an internal software issue which I'd hope would be cleared with a factory reset and at worst a firmware reload.

If a factory reset doesn't fix it I'd net try loading the current firmware over the top of the existing before going down the emergency flash route.

I also assume that the HDMI outs are set correctly? Can't see how it'd create these symptoms, but worth a check.

 

Yes, turning frame rate matching off starts every movie fine at 60fps. Firmware reapply didn't change anything (ugh). The multiple hdmi ports (along with DAC) seem to be the only thing different hardware-wise. What do you mean exactly by HDMI outs are set correctly? Are you talking about the HDMI audio settings?

 

Yes - so audio is routed through the main HDMI - from your description I assume this is already the case, and I can't see how it would relate to this problem but just wanted to be sure as this is the only real difference in operation between this and your other players.

 

Yeah, I have played around with the hdmi audio output settings and it has no effect. I think I will try outputting straight to a TV and remove my D+M receivers out of the equation and see if anything changes. Otherwise, I guess I am left with reflashing.

Of course I had to look at other sellers to get this older model new. I wouldn’t have minded a used one, but couldn’t find a seller so I bought from a reputable Chinese shop on eBay. Nothing about the sale, packaging, or player itself seems off except this stupid issue. I really don’t want to have to return this thing.

 

This seems too specific a problem to be hardware related - but it's definitely an odd one!

Don't suppose you know anyone with an HDFury device? Instances like this are where they come into their own because you can see exactly what's squirting out of the HDMI port (or not!).

 

Well, I just did the plug directly into my TV test and it seems to be working like it should. So it seems like yet another issue where the Zidoo cannot get along with my Denon and Marantz receivers. I had the audio sync issues with the AML devices and the only way I could avoid them was bypassing my receivers. All of my receivers are in the latest family of HDMI v2.1 devices and very popular, so these kinds of issues are perplexing to me.

@Markswift2003 I had one of the original Vertex devices to help with some audio sync issues I had 5-6 years ago, but I sold it after I changed some of the hardware in my setup and put the sync issues behind me. I thought HDFury might come up in conversation today, so I was actually browsing their site last night haha. I was sort of eyeing up that Dr. HDMI device, but seems like it'd have limited functionality for me past this kind of issue. But boy do I love buying new hardware when I can find a reason to justify it lol!

 

Hi could you post a picture of your video and audio settings please?

thanks.

 

Sure, I have always followed Mark's recommended settings when I can. I think these are the most pertinent settings to this issue:

Playback->Auto frame rate->Frame rate mode->Match frame rate and resolution
Playback->Auto frame rate->Frame rate pause->No pause (played around with this to no avail)

Display->Resolution->3840x2160p @ 23Hz (have obviously played around with this setting)
Display->Color settings->4K 50-60Hz->PriorityYUV420 10bit
Display->Color settings->4K 23-30Hz->PriorityYUV444 10bit
Display->Color settings->Non-4k->PriorityYUV 444 10bit
Display->Color settings->HDMI color range->16-235
Display->Color settings->Deep Colour compatibility->Turn Off
Display->Color settings->HDMI Signal format->Enhanced format
Display->HDR->Auto
Display->Dolby Vision compatible mode->Priority LLDV
Display->Custom EDID->No

Audio->HDMI Ouput->Main port + Secondary port mode
Audio->HDMI audio->Auto
Audio->Pass-through AMP compatibility mode->Off

 

Here are my chains. Again, I have zero issues with the 2000 Pro's and I have never ran across this particular issue with older models like the Z9x or the newer AML devices.

Zidoo 2000 Pro-->Marantz Cinema 50-->Samsung S95b
Zidoo 2000 Pro-->Denon x4800H-->LG E9
Zidoo UHD5000-->Denon A1H-->Sony A90J

 

The Denon A1H is a great Amp ! for me, i think it's better to let the Amp manage your sound for this did you try to set this : Audio->Pass-through AMP compatibility mode->ON and Audio->HDMI audio->RAW ?

 

I can't say I tried the compatibility mode option before, so it's probably worth a try. Regarding the Auto/RAW setting, I have definitely changed those back and forth when troubleshooting this

 

ok and did you try with Audio and Video on the two dedicated hdmi ports?

 

I have switched the Audio HDMI Output setting quite a bit during troubleshooting. If you are talking about hooking up separate cables to both HDMI outputs and running one to the AVR and the other to the television, then that's a step farther than I care to troubleshoot. Even if that worked it's not something I would entertain doing.

 

Hooked it up to my 4th television in my office that doesn't use a receiver and again, it works just fine with my preferred settings.

 

If it works fine without the AMP maybe it's not a setting in your Zidoo but maybe in your Amp.
Did you check the HDMI settings on it? maybe try to disable HDMI Control CEC and eARC just for the test

 

Oh yeah, yesterday I was trying all sorts of stuff on the A1H. I don’t use the eARC port on any of my televisions so as to always avoid it. I also don’t have CEC enabled on either of my Denons.

I think there is some incompatibility between this particular BPD device and my D+M receivers and I should be able to determine that when I get my ‘sitting in a dark corner somewhere’ Integra HDMI 2.1 AVR hooked up tonight or tomorrow. Again remember, I can get any movie (hdr type and HD audio) working after these handshake issues by simply toggling the Resolution button on the remote. I can always go to the correct resolution and frame rate this way manually and it always works. There is just something off with the initial handshake.

And just to cover all of my bases during a week I have off from work, I have an HDFury device arriving on Tuesday .

 

Confirmed.

UHD5000 (recommended settings) --> Integra DRX 3.4 --> Samsung S95B ---- Works Good!

UHD5000 (any settings) --> Denon/Marantz HDMI2.1 AVR's --> TV ---- F**K OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

 

Very strange ^^

i don't like when i don't find the solution , but without yours devices in front of me it will be complicated^^

if you want you can provide your HDMI settings of your AMP.

And a little try you can do, try to start your TV first > AMP in 2nd > UHD5000 in 3rd, this order avoid a lot of issue with EDID and hanshake.

 

What setting do you have for 4K/8K Signal Format in the Denon? Assuming 4K only, it should be Enhanced - this is the default so I assume that's what you have set.

Also, try:

Display->Color settings->4K 23-30Hz->PriorityYUV422 12bit
Display->Color settings->Non-4k->PriorityYUV 422 12bit

And test:

Set UI to 4K SDR 23.976

Make sure HDR & Frame Rate is set to Auto and play some 4K HDR10 23.976 content and some 4K DV 23.976 content.

That will generate an HDMI sync so we can see if it's just refresh change that causes the issue or a more general HDMI sync.