Z9X PRO lagging playback of the LOTR UHD Reux Release

Hi,

I recently bought Z9X PRO and it has difficulties to fluently play LOTR UHD release.. I have remux of the official release with extra audio/subtitles track for my country and the playback is not 100% fluent.. every 5 seconds or so I notice slight yanking (lagging).. it happens quite precisely.. and no matter what Audio/Subtitle track I select.

Any idea what it might be? Thanks.

Here is the mediainfo of the LOTR TWO TOWERS:

Code:

General
Unique ID                                : 289144661335873390093731662455161566388 (0xD9873C747FF57CF63D25386A377934B4)
Complete name                            : Z:\Movies.UHD\The Lord of the Rings 2 - The Two Towers [Extended][4K].mkv
Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 4
File size                                : 124 GiB
Duration                                 : 3 h 55 min
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 75.5 Mb/s
Frame rate                               : 23.976 FPS
Movie name                               : The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended 4K
Encoded date                             : 2020-12-04 13:23:29 UTC
Writing application                      : mkvmerge v51.0.0 ('I Wish') 64-bit
Writing library                          : libebml v1.4.0 + libmatroska v1.6.2
IMDB                                     : tt0167261
TMDB                                     : movie/121

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : HEVC
Format/Info                              : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile                           : Main 10@L5.1@High
HDR format                               : Dolby Vision, Version 1.0, dvhe.07.06, BL+EL+RPU, Blu-ray compatible / SMPTE ST 2086, HDR10 compatible
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEGH/ISO/HEVC
Duration                                 : 3 h 55 min
Bit rate                                 : 62.2 Mb/s
Width                                    : 3 840 pixels
Height                                   : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0 (Type 2)
Bit depth                                : 10 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.313
Stream size                              : 102 GiB (82%)
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.2020
Transfer characteristics                 : PQ
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.2020 non-constant
Mastering display color primaries        : Display P3
Mastering display luminance              : min: 0.0050 cd/m2, max: 4000 cd/m2
Maximum Content Light Level              : 827 cd/m2
Maximum Frame-Average Light Level        : 329 cd/m2

Audio #1
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : MLP FBA 16-ch
Format/Info                              : Meridian Lossless Packing FBA with 16-channel presentation
Commercial name                          : Dolby TrueHD with Dolby Atmos
Codec ID                                 : A_TRUEHD
Duration                                 : 3 h 55 min
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 3 058 kb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 4 668 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 8 channels
Channel layout                           : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 1 200.000 FPS (40 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossless
Stream size                              : 5.03 GiB (4%)
Title                                    : TrueHD Atmos 7.1
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Number of dynamic objects                : 11
Bed channel count                        : 1 channel
Bed channel configuration                : LFE

Audio #2
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital
Format settings                          : Dolby Surround EX
Codec ID                                 : A_AC3
Duration                                 : 3 h 55 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 448 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
Channel layout                           : L R C LFE Ls Rs
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 754 MiB (1%)
Title                                    : AC-3 5.1-EX
Language                                 : English
Service kind                             : Complete Main
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

Audio #3
ID                                       : 4
Format                                   : DTS ES XCh XLL
Format/Info                              : Digital Theater Systems
Commercial name                          : DTS-HD Master Audio
Codec ID                                 : A_DTS
Duration                                 : 3 h 55 min
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 4 453 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 7 channels
Channel layout                           : C L R Ls Rs LFE Cb
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 93.750 FPS (512 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossless
Stream size                              : 7.32 GiB (6%)
Title                                    : English DTS-HD MA 6.1 [4 453 Kbps]
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

Audio #4
ID                                       : 5
Format                                   : DTS ES XCh XLL
Format/Info                              : Digital Theater Systems
Commercial name                          : DTS-HD Master Audio
Codec ID                                 : A_DTS
Duration                                 : 3 h 55 min
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 4 394 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 7 channels
Channel layout                           : C L R Ls Rs LFE Cb
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 93.750 FPS (512 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossless
Stream size                              : 7.23 GiB (6%)
Title                                    : Czech DTS-HD MA 6.1 [4 394 Kbps]
Language                                 : Czech
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

Text #1
ID                                       : 10
Format                                   : PGS
Muxing mode                              : zlib
Codec ID                                 : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info                            : Picture based subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Duration                                 : 3 h 33 min
Bit rate                                 : 23.1 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 0.338 FPS
Count of elements                        : 4324
Stream size                              : 35.2 MiB (0%)
Title                                    : English (SDH)
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

Text #2
ID                                       : 11
Format                                   : PGS
Muxing mode                              : zlib
Codec ID                                 : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info                            : Picture based subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Duration                                 : 3 h 42 min
Bit rate                                 : 18.6 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 0.300 FPS
Count of elements                        : 4012
Stream size                              : 29.6 MiB (0%)
Title                                    : Czech
Language                                 : Czech
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

 

You might try to do a speed test + see the max bitrate of your movie with the info button while playing. I've a zidoo that I can cable to ethernet, so I use an adapter because zidoo's wifi sucks. I have a lot of stuttering/unplayable movies when the bitrate reach 100mbps

 

Its over the LAN - Samba server.. and I have gigabit connection. It does the same via Plex or Emby. In the other room I have 4 year old Sony TV which plays it directly (DLNA or Plex/Emby) without any lag..

 

I have noticed the playback is better when using AC3 audio track - but only through Plex. Via Zidoo's HomeTheater (or Emby app) pretty much the same lagging no matter the audio track I select.

I made a speed test to the server where is the content I'm streaming from: 350/230mbps.

I would like to point out again that Sony TV which is connected over a 100mbps Ethernet has no issues playing this movie or any other.

I understand streaming such a bitrate might be overkill but I'm having 77" OLDED TV so want the best possible source for it.

Appreciate any help with this. Thanks

 

This is nothing to do with bandwidth.

A better description of what's happening would certainly help and whether the issue is restricted to just this one movie.

 

Thanks for the reply. It does for all the Remuxes from BD 4K releases of LOTR and Hobbit - all 6 movies experience exactly same lagging behavior - check the video - I chose fluent camera move so it's obvious. I attached media info from each movie as well. Thanks.

PS: couldn't upload mp4 video format so i added '.zip' as fake extension.. For viewing delete it, it's just regular mp4 file.

 

Still not sure what the issue is - is it the subtitles lagging behind or is it video stuttering?

(I deleted the images as they contain references to obviously pirated content)

 

I own hard copy of LOTR and Hobbit. In that case you are allowed to download it from other sources.. at least in EU.

The video itself makes a little lag.. every 5-7 seconds or so.. i can try to capture it better.. i can also try to test the BD disk, but need to buy BD mechanic.. I only have PS5 at the moment.

Anyway feel free to tell me what to do in order to present the issue in a more obvious way..

Thanks!

 

Ok, so it's a stutter, is that right?

It sounds like the THD issue referenced here:

http://forum.zidoo.tv/index.php?threads/z9x-pro-stuttering.97143/

 

Yes - like a FPS drop from 24 to 1-3 every 7 senconds..

I have read the thread you sent. For me it is happening even when using AC3 Audio track and no subtitles.. Should I provide you with the clip to test it (pm me then)? Or you already addressed the issue and we just need to wait for the release?

Other things which are not 100% clear to me is when playing via Plex (on Zidoo) stuttering is almost gone when using AC3 audio track (I have seen this movies over 100 times so can tell occasionaly there still is a little stutter). When playing via Emby, its even worse than Zidoo's HomeTheater..

As I said I can help with whatever is needed to have this resolved Appreciate.

 

I'm concerned it happens on the AC3 track, so if you can provide a small clip by PM that shows the issue that would be very helpful.

I've sent your file to the devs as it's the best example I've seen because it's a constant panning shot and shows the issue very clearly. Hopefully we'll get a fix soon.

 

Ok I got your clip and yes, this is the THD stuttering issue that has been reported.

The AC3 and DTS tracks play perfectly.

 

Strange but interesting development:

http://forum.zidoo.tv/index.php?threads/z9x-pro-stuttering.97143/page-2#post-209261

 

Thanks.. anyway how come only Z9X Pro is experiencing this issues? Its based on different architecture than others?

 

Not a clue. Don't know why some TrueHD files have issues and some don't and so far the devs don't seem to be able to replicate which is really really odd.

 

So i just triple checked and the stuttering happens for other audio formats as well.. not as strong (half noticable) as for THD but I confirm 100% there is. I am trying to record it on camera but 30fps shutter speed is not enough to capture it properly.. will try with my Insta360 camera. BTW my ZX9 pro is quite cold to the touch, so no overheating problem in my opinion.

 

There's no point filming anything - that doesn't allow us to replicate it.

There is something very odd with your clip - it no longer stutters for me at all and although I can't explain why, I have to discount it because it doesn't allow me or the devs to replicate the problems.

If you see a problem with the AC3 soundtracks check you have Auto Frame Rate on.

 

Interestingly, I just did a full factory reset and the stuttering returned to your clip so I have no idea what that's all about!!!

 

THIS HELPED WITH AC3!! I had it turned off (probably by default) and selected 3rd option to match the frame rate and resolution. Can you please explain why it helped?

For the THD stuttering still present.

 

NEVER turn off auto framerate - I have no idea why it's off by default when you first get the box - that probably causes half the problems people report.