I recently found this chinese Android TV box called AOK TV Pro+. Just wonder do you guys know about this?

I got few questions for those who knows about this unit.

1. What is the specification of this unit? I know so far is 1GB RAM and 16GB emmc storage.
2. Can I flash this unit to newer version of Android TV?
3. What about other OS like Lineage OS?

Yes that is the software , you can google or check youtube on this.

As long as video/audio signal can input to pc via hdmi / usb , the software can do recording and all sorts of video editing eg playstation, tv box, etc.

From what i checked months ago , certain new Android versions can't support multi channel audio passthru , i think ver. 11 upwards. Usual apps eg. VLC won't work. Certain software may have the right codecs to process eg. kodi or certain hardware eg nvidia etc.

Damn I didn't realise the Mi Box S is so far down in performance compared to it's peers. Are the TV boxes above similarly priced to the Mi Box S? I'm looking at capability of Netflix 4k, iQiyi 4k, Youtube 4k, TVB Anywhere+ (don't think this streaming service does 4k yet).

If you need Netflix certified box like I do, only those marked (N) is suitable. Without Certification it is almost impossible to get 1080p resolution let alone 4K.
Among all the 9 boxes that I have, Onn performed the best and second is Xiaomi.
Rests are Chinese boxes without Netflix Certification and the current best is 360P for Netflix (few years ago was 720P but currently blocked by Netflix) Really PITA
Both Onn & Xiaomi have upgraded to Amlogic S905X4. Onn with 3GB/32GB. Xiaomi still with 2GB/8GB.
Both are priced around US$50 +/- . For Onn, a forwarder for last mile delivery and additional delivery fee is required.

Since the Mi Box S (2nd Gen) is the only one officially available here (warranty), I'll probably go for that option. It's about RM200+ on Shopee/Lazada, with vouchers can probably get lower. I'm guessing running Netflix 4k, iQiyi 4k, and TVB Anywhere+ shouldn't be an issue on the Mi Box S. However, I'm also interested in ad-free Youtube and streaming live Badminton matches. You mentioned in the previous page regarding SlimBox OS? Does that work with the Mi Box S?

Yes, the 1-Gen Mi Box S with the Amlogic S905X can also do live BWF TV. I used to subscribed [12-Month] TVBAnywhere+ VOD Zone service plan when the special price was about RM30. Now, I just make do with Netflix and the 'other' movies as time is the limiting factor.

For info only. TV subscription - Astro SuperSport 4

ALTERNATIVE Opera vpn

FYI, Today's LIVE matches with estimated times for Malaysian players in Quarter Final.

I believe most Netflix certified Android box can passthrough DD 5.1 audio via HDMI. Non-certified boxes with powerful SOC can do it (above say RM150) but lower ends one probably not, or at least not without hiccups.

So the question is - what audio content do you really want to passthrough to your Sony?

Since the Sony can handle core Dolby Digital (640kbps) and DTS (1.5 Mbps) via HDMI, your Android box should be set to Dolby Digital and DTS only. No Dolby Digital Plus.

That's how passthrough work with Kodi.

Don't forget to enable DTS.

You could get a new/used 5.1 receiver with your Sony satellite speakers. That way you have less worry about the modern formats as the new receiver will handle it. Just need to get a powered subwoofer as well.

Just to check, this Opera VPN can be installed on Android/Google TV, and then using Youtube through it to watch live BWF matches?

I'm not sure, it may be for their browser use only

look into other vpns like protonvpn or windscribe for free choices of vpn that are system wide

Browser only.

The box is superb for that price

IF there is one thing to complain, I feel that the UI is slightly less responsive/not as butterly fluid vs before the Android 12 upgrade

Nevertheless, I am still happy with it serving me more than 2 years now & thanks to the recommendation from fellow forummers here

Understand the new onn. 4K Pro streaming android TV box is manufactured by Shenzhen SDMC Technology Co., Ltd (Not Askey).

Thanks, I'll try Proton VPN free, its one device only but the data is unlimited. Windscribe free can be used on many devices but sadly only has 10GB data free per month.

eauyong Thanks for the recommendations ! I got myself a Mi Box S 2nd Gen for RM160 and it has been working great so far. 4K60 with Dolby Vision works flawlessly. The streaming apps also run well, i.e. Netflix, iQiyi, WeTV, TVBAnywhere, etc. SmartTube is also sideloaded and Proton VPN allows me to watch BWF Live matches without hindrance. Here's hoping it's built to last

Care to share your wonderful experiences with assthrolites so they can know we can live without it.

Well it would be out of topic in that thread if I do so haha. I didn't have the Ultrabox so my comparison might not be truly fair/balance since I had the inferior lower spec Ultibox. Astro wanted their own in-house software for security/control/lower cost?, at the very least they should have optimised it somewhat well. It's a shame, because the difference is as clear as night and day. Then again, I guess most of their budget went to the satellite capabilities of the Astro box.

Ultrabox is not much better because it doesn't support dolby vision and over-priced box.
It always get hanged and need to restart periodically unless you place it in the aircon room.
So your monthly subscription together with Mibox will be how much?

The Ultrabox has better internal specs correct? If it still hangs and restarts periodically it's probably software optimisation again and/or poor design of heat dissipation. I don't know whether Astro actually mentions this upfront to current/potential customers that the Ultrabox can ONLY run 4K on Netflix as it is natively built into the software and the rest are just inferior web app versions. They are always parading it around as their premier 4K TV Box. Before I terminated Astro, it was appearing in ads in between shows almost all the time lmao. Well I suppose they atleast have the 4K sports channel, minus Dolby Vision/HDR10+ support for everything, probably worth it for sports fans?

Mi Box S 2nd Gen was RM160 after promotion/vouchers, RRP is usually RM230.
Regarding subscriptions I have it somewhat planned out;

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Netflix 4K premium is RM55 per month, the whole house uses this and it's probably the only Western streaming app we will have for now since it has the most content.

The rest of the streaming apps are for my older folks so for now that is iQiyi, WeTV, and TVBAnywhere:
I purchased iQiyi 4K premium for a year since it was on 50% discount (RM89.90), so that is RM7.50 per month.

WeTV is currently on first month trial for RM5.90.

TVBAnywhere is subscribed for one month at RM20, won't be renewing this as my parents wanted to only watch the new TVB drama that was recently released. If and when a new TVB drama is released and my parents are interested, I will start subscribing again. TVBAnywhere is actually more on the expensive side and they don't release new content often enough to warrant a continuous subscription, even at discount.

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Interestingly, the other Chinese streaming apps (e.g. iQiyi, WeTV, Youku, MangoTV, etc.) are all relatively affordable and seem to have frequent big discounts like 50% off. Without discount, it is RM11.90 per month for most of them except iQiyi 4K premium. So my plan is to subscribe individually (or more) month by month depending on new shows that my parents want to watch, e.g. this month WeTV, next month Youku, following month MangoTV, or both/more in one month, etc.

So all these Chinese streaming apps are well below the monthly RM65 paid to Astro for the Primary pack. I don't include the cost of Netflix since my family has had that for a long time even when we still had Astro.

Example: [RM11.90*3 = RM35.70 (iQiyi, WeTV, Youku)] + RM20 (TVBAnywhere) = RM55.70 per month, this is before discounts and me selectively picking which to subscribe this month. If through 50% discounts, most of them will be about RM8 per month or less if I decide to subscribe for a year, making it even lower than above.