New firmware v2.2.56 beta version for ZIDOO Z9S release

Still got the odd the sparkle on 8 bit 444 but no where near as bad. Changed to 422 as you suggested and not a sparkle in sight

Glad it’s firmware and not a faulty unit.

 

Not sure we can conclude it is the firmware as 422 is less stressful on the HDMI interface/cable than 444 (less data throughput required with 422). But if it solves your problem, that's what really matters

 

https://www.zidoo.tv/Support/support_guide/guide_target/ua1h3YuLrJzeq7k9e[ld]3ulg==.html

 

12-bit 422 uses exactly the same bandwidth as 8-bit 444 (8.9Gbps) - it's an odd mode in that it allows 12-bit video at HDMI 1.4 speeds.

 

In my experience , 10bit gives better contrast brighter colour than 8bit,so I give priority to 10bit always

 

You are correct, it is 444 with 10 and/or 12 bits which has higher data throughput than 12bit 422.

 

The Volume Label problem is applicable to all models with all FW versions as far as I can judge:
http://forum.zidoo.tv/index.php?thr...ume-label-11-character-display-maximum.10894/
Debugged it as far as possible. May be VL's are not that relevant for all as it is for me? But having multiple HDD's connected it is very handy.

 

1. HDD via USB 3.0 - randomly unmounted when watching movies.
2. Display don't work correctly in standby mode. Always says "bye".

Rollback to 2.1.30. Fix this please!!!

 

I only know the USB problem that ports are not sticky. When inserting/unplugging something on one USB port another USB port may get inactive as a side-effect.

 

No. Different problem. Same on 2.1.40.
I use 2 HDD via USB 3.0 - WD 8TB My Book Desktop, Seagate Expansion 8TB Desktop.
Unmounted only 1 drive - from which i watch movie. After this - only restart.

 

Are you sure it is not a cable connector problem. USB3 specifically is notorious for wacky contacts.

 

Sure, 100%
2.1.30 - no problem
I'm not only one with this problem. I saw some posts in 2.1.40 topic with same problem.

 

8 bit 422 has been working OK without sparkies whilst watching 1080p content the weekend. I don't know now if it is a firmware or hardware issue as by lowering those settings it has taken the stress of the HDMI port.

Surely though if it was the stress on the HDMI port then i would see it all the time and not just on dark scenes or a black image, I have downloaded 30 second sample files which have a 400MB bit rate and no sparlklies.

My Kit chain is Zidoo Z9s>Marantz NR1608>OLED55C6

I'm leaning towards firmware, I really need another unit to test, what's your best guess?

 

If you are only using 1080p content then you have no need to move from 8-bit 422 - any increase in bit depth only pads, there is no video processing and changing colour decoding to 444 will have no impact since the source is 420 (in common with UHD BluRay) and again, there is no interpolation.

On the face of it there's nothing wrong with your HDMI chain (although you don't quote cable lengths - I assume 1 - 1.5m) but it may just be incompatibility. It's certainly not firmware per se since no one else seems to have the problem

The only time I've seen it, and this is with 1295 boxes, was on an old Denon X2000 (same stable as your Marantz) but that was only at 2160p 10-bit 444, I've certainly never seen it at 1080p.

It can't possibly be cable stress at 1080p, a damp piece of string will pass that and higher bitrate files will make no difference - we're talking about HDMI transfer speeds in the order of Gbps, not video bit rate in the order of Mbps.

Your best option would be to test it on different equipment and see if you can replicate the problem - do you have another TV to try or someone local who doesn't mind you fiddling about at the back of theirs?

If you can replicate the problem on different equipment then odds on it's the box, and I would assume a fault. If you can't then it's your kit chain, but I'm kind of leaning towards a duff HDMI stage on the box.

 

Do u guys notice or not if u turn off TV while listening music, after 9s, no sound, wait until 14s the sound is back.
Connection is z9s HDMI to amp, amp HDMI to TV. Any idea why and how to fix ? Investing problem.

 

Sounds like a CEC issue between the TV and the Amp - Try turning CEC off in the amp to see if the problem goes away. If it does you can then play with CEC settings to see what works best although in my experience CEC is more trouble than it's worth.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

So I did some more testing tonight with a 4K 50GB mkv that I know has sparkles on a specific scene.

Colour Settings are priority 10 bit, YCbCr 444 and hdmi range mode set to auto and I get sparklies. However change the range mode to 16-235 and NO sparklies on the same scene.

Does this make any sense to you?

 

Yes (I think!). You should have it set to limited (16-235) when displaying on a TV.

 

Kind of - if all settings are correct and all the HDMi equipment behaving, if you have HDMI range set to auto, it should output limited range by default since that's how BluRays and UHD BluRays are encoded.

Full HDMI range would only be applicable if for example you were outputting to a PC monitor. So belt and braces, always chose limited (16-235) range anyway.

The usual upshot of choosing extended range would be to raise the black floor so everything looks greyer. You haven't mentioned this so I assume it's not happening so maybe the sparklies are symptomatic of incorrect HDMI levels.

I always set HDMI range to limited just to be sure it's set correctly.

Hope this has sorted it for you!

 

Just found out the root cause of noisy sound. The volume need to set max to prevent this. Lower down the volume can cause noisy sound. Only happen on this type of DTS audio file.