Box setups like Nvidia Shield should be able to get Netflix 4K right?

That's true if just looking at a 4K streamer. But the beefier specs of the Nvidia plus the included Shield remote and wireless controller, the price is about fair in my opinion. I took a look at the Roku 4K but there were reports about overheating and noisy fan.

Amazon Fire TV 4k hardware specs is a little compared with the other 2 Android boxes. Given the choice, I would choose the Roku over this.

Apple TV 4K? Not interested in going into Apple ecosystem. BTW, I thought Apple TV does not do 4k?

Anyway, I chose the Nvidia because of the following;

- Gigabit Ethernet
- USB 3.0
- High-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit/192 kHz over HDMI and USB
- DD+/DTS (pass-through), DTS-HD MA (pass-through), Dolby TrueHD (pass-through)

4K TVs must be HDCP 2.2 compliant too right? How is your audio setup? Connect to any AVR?

Planning on using an external Android box for streaming instead of relying on smart TV software. I have a Yamaha YSP-2500 soundbar and the specs say it can passthrough 4k. My current TV (not smart TV and does not do 4K) uses HDMI ARC. Problem is the HDMI ports on the soundbar are not HDCP 2.2. Youtube 4K should be fine but not for Netflix 4K.

I think to run Netflix 4K, I would need to connect the Android box directly to the TV and rely on using optical out from TV to the soundbar or AVR?

Currently giving the whole setup thing a deep thought but I've yet to come to the 4K TV part.

Thanks for the informative reply. I'm aware of the various apps in the Smart TV. I choose the Nvidia basically to replace my ageing HTPC and also because the cheaper alternatives won't do Netflix 4K. My HTPC still runs fine but I wanted something that is as powerful (or more powerful) and yet uses less power, smaller footprint and less noisy. Oh yes, having USB 3 means it has flexibility in terms of expansion.

So the features of the Nvidia are actually important to me because I have lots of hi-res flacs and Bluray rips stored in my NAS.

I also don't game but perhaps with the Nvidia Shield, I'll get hooked.

Yes, I'm fully aware. Hence I mentioned that I've yet to look for a 4K TV. It's still on my to do list.

Yes, Netflix 4K is also the reason I narrowed the Nvidia Shield and not other boxes.

At the current moment, my soundbar acts as a HDMI splitter on top of acting as a soundbar. If I plug in the Nvidia Shield directly into the soundbar, everything else will work but not for Netflix 4K I believe. Perhaps I'll re-wire and connect just the soundbar to the TV and get ARC working. All other HDMI connections directly to the 4K TV. Now to find a 4K TV with loads of HDMI input...

Yup, that's why I gravitated to this thread when I first saw it because I'm also shopping around for one.

I agree. But also note that the TV is the most expensive item in the whole equation. So naturally it needs to have the most consideration. Picture quality above all else and then other function priorities fall into place according to one's own need.

Yes I'm aware that good smart TVs already have built in Netflix app and other apps as well. My preference for an external Android box is not and should not be interpreted as the only sensible route to getting Netflix 4K. I mentioned my need for an external Android box is so that I can retire my old HTPC.

Thanks for the tip. I was initially toying with the optical cable is the last resort. But I think I can make the HDMI ARC connection between TV and soundbar work. To make Netflix 4K work with HDCP 2.2, I need to connect the Nvidia direct to the TV. I also plan for other peripherals to connect to the TV directly. The TV would have to have at lease 3 HDMI In ports.

Yeah, I have the same mind too and think that going the expensive route but buy it only once. I don't go choosing the most expensive one and work from there... No. Of course it needs to justify itself being reasonably expensive. Anyway, when comparing with other Android boxes itself, the sum itself is not much. So trying to save there is IMO a not worth it. Better to save elsewhere and skim on other things. But when comparing to a HTPC, the Nvidia is still cheap.

Yes, I'm aware of it's limitations but for the simplicity it offers, it's still miles better than sound from the TV speaker itself.

Your requirements are similar to mine. Well kind of... I think I already found a solution. Just hope I can find time with this long weekend coming up and if the wife and kids would play nice and don't interrupt me.

LOL. The HTPC I built is close to 8 years old. Along the way I did upgrade the graphics card and put an SSD drive but that's about it. Of course when I shifted to my new place, I placed gigabit network and set up a NAS. A cheapo Sharp 60 inch TV and a soundbar. For me the only thing short at the moment is a 4K TV...

Yup. You and me pretty similar. Still waiting for that 4K TV. If planning to make your system not become obsolete fast, sometimes a little bit more spending is required.

Say did anybody see the new 4.9 mm super thin Sony 4K TV? I saw the 65 inch the other day and thought it was quite beautiful. But price wise not beautiful.