I'm using "Audio Passthrough", "H/W Acceleration" & "Sync" checked as a default setting on all my devices. and As two of my devices support HD-Audio so i have enbled all the HD-Audio formats for Passthrough as those are supported by my AV as well.

Bro frankly building & setting up RPI2 is not very difficult and if you install OSMC or OpenElec then once installed these will even do auto update whenever new software is available.
Otherwise the only Android box i like and currently using as well is Amazon FireTV but again maintaining, running Kodi on Amazon FireTV is not that easy....
May be you can try Minx media player you may like it as Minx do have their own tweaked version of Kodi running on their Android Devices.
Else you can try the followings, ready to use Kodi/OpenElec/OSMC boxes but they will cost you more than RPI2 (actually you can buy 2 RPI 2 in the same price )

Kodi: Cubox TV http://cuboxtv.com
OpenElec: WeTek http://webshop.openelec.tv
OSMC: Vero https://osmc.tv/product/vero/

Vero is the most expensive one and for each one of them you have to place an order online and wait for delivery.... currently there's no local vendor who is selling something similar which runs Kodi/OpenElec/OSMC out of box as native OS/media player.

you can get it from same website:

http://my.element14.com/raspberry-pi/raspb...SearchLookAhead

browse through it... got few selection.

can use below link on what are the things you need to get and how to set it up

https://www.squirrelhosting.co.uk/hosting-b...g-info.php?id=9

This post has been edited by exkaizen: Jul 23 2015, 05:58 PM

everyone went thru a period of learning, from ground zero, so yr concerns are real.
i understand becos i went thru all that last yr.

u need to come to terms with these critical factors:
.. r u the "astro type" - push buttons only or willing to spend time to make a device work properly and maintain it?
.. do u want ENGLISH only or other languages?

specifically, if himedia, u will be better off with Q16 unless yr budget is too low.

this is a kodi thread, i do not wish to derail it with device selection matters. u can visit:

androidtv box:
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3126605/+420
himedia:
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1849024/+1280

1 more thing i concern... rpi2 vs android box...
some android box built in apps or u can install some apps that allow u to watch live tv which rpi2 cannot...this make me to make decisions hard

Thanks for your humble feedback

a quick one: the "A/V sync Method - default is Video clock (resample audio)" do I need to change anything here? pls answer this, appreciate.

ciao!

I just make a purchases on pifi dac with ubitap. After consideration since cheapest with all item i needed in 1 shot and cheaper price.

If in my liking would build another one purely portable hifi.

Who said cannot? Most of us are using Kodi to watch live channels.

For my case - I am the type that would wanna just bring it home ... plug it into my TV and start watching. I understand that most ready-to-use box are in Chinese interface whereas the shows will be in English. I am perfectly fine with that.

So to answer your questions, I just wanna push buttons. I do not mind increasing my budget if I can get a better box like the Q16 if there's a valid reason to pick it over the Q1/3/5/etc.

Is buying locally is also important or you ok to buy online and wait few days for delivery?

Of course prefer to buy locally where I can get support easily or at least CALL the person for quick troubleshoot if a problem occurs.
I have not used these boxes before but seeing there's so many firmware updates / patches / etc ... I do think that it can get quite tedious if the stuff suddenly stops working.

Well in such a case go to this link and visit this shop https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1462384 they have most variety of different android devices available to them locally. Almost every brand you can find there, you can take your pick ....
I like this seller also cuz at least in my case i have bought the player and they easily let you change within reasons if you can show to them why you want to change...Will entertain you to demo every product in detail and help you understand... most sellers don't do all this.
Though i think Minx is still better than HiMedia and few others.
Rest it's your choice.

This post has been edited by jaan76: Jul 23 2015, 09:25 PM

Thanks for the directory, will definitely be in touch with the buyer on the suitable models.

That is the seller that recommended me to go with HiMedia

Should I opt for a Minx unit instead?

Their first preference is always recommend HiMedia to every customer, they are the one who brought HiMedia in MY so this is their first interest but if you will ask they will be willing to recommend others as well...
Actually i bought two different HiMedia devices and was not satisfied with them in terms of the performance, One thing about Minx which can be good or bad depends how you sees it is.... They have customised Kodi to perform better on their devices as well as play Full HD video which most of the Android players even today doesn't support... you will find many Android media boxes claim that they can play even 4K media but when it comes to Kodi they only support HD (720p). But Minx has re wrote the code to support Full HD and H/W acceleration which again most of them doesn't support.
Rest i would say go to their shop, ask them to demo both HiMedia and Minx ... see whichever you like ... buy
Last year i bought AC Ryan Velo again according to them can play Kodi very well but same issues as all other Android boxes but they were ok to replace that for me

Is anyone having issues running PVR Stalker?

Was running find previously but these few days keep getting unable to load channels.

If I were to replace my FireTV I will most likely go with Cubox - easy to stash for overseas travels.

there are many links for many devices, many sellers. some hv great reputation, some less so. some disappear after selling. u can dig deeper into some of the threads, u will find many horror stories.

check this one too for seller of himedia and minix models, ask questions.
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3201002/+780

2 things i wish to reiterate:

- androids are changing very quickly. 1 yr old is quite old, 2 yrs old is almost obsolete.
- if u r not going to be hands on too much, u will definitely need good support - make sure u r convinced u will get all the help u need!

all the best.

I also like Cubox a lot but i think Vero is even better somehow or at least to me it looks a better proposition
But currently too happy with my Core i3 HTPC as main media player nothing still beats that

This post has been edited by jaan76: Jul 23 2015, 10:20 PM

Keep it to default

I think they finally implemented their paid service. Looks like bye bye IPTV Stalker . Only some South American Channels left.

This post has been edited by Ngto: Jul 24 2015, 08:46 AM