The Roku Ultra Streaming Player is currently the best on the market

[crackedknee]

Also note, the Walmart model (4800RW) is $30 off and so is $69.00 even. And its the one that has a Vudu button, and a Vudu credit, for those that would be specifically interested in that. I got mine in-store easily enough.

[lgans316]

Does this support frame rate matching?

[crackedknee]

Originally Posted by lgans316

Does this support frame rate matching?

Yes, but as with previous models, it is factory set to "off" and you have to go into the settings and change it to "auto". It's under System and Advanced Settings.

[wxman2003]

Originally Posted by lgans316

Does this support frame rate matching?

Yes, but not all apps support it, whereas with the Apple TV 4K it does. Last I read, Netflix, Disney+ and HULU do not on the Roku. Here is an extensive list of what the ROKU can and can not do.

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/off...#post-60171776

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by wxman2003

Yes, but not all apps support it, whereas with the Apple TV 4K it does. Last I read, Netflix, Disney+ and HULU do not on the Roku. Here is an extensive list of what the ROKU can and can not do.

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/off...#post-60171776

Apple TV player is the best out there and Roku is 2nd IMO.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

Apple TV player is the best out there and Roku is 2nd IMO.

Having owned a Roku for over a year and just ditching it for a Amazon Fire TV I would say the Fire TV is a much better device solely because it uses RF instead of IR for it's remote, let alone being voice controlled.

[disneywildcat]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Having owned a Roku for over a year and just ditching it for a Amazon Fire TV I would say the Fire TV is a much better device solely because it uses RF instead of IR for it's remote, let alone being voice controlled.

I have had less Atmos issues with the 2018 Roku Ultra than the Amazon Fire TV 4K Stick (the Apple TV app on Fire TV 4K Stick still doesn’t pass Atmos while the Roku Ultra’s Apple TV channel does). And it’s easier to get to any channel/app on Roku than the Fire TV 4K Stick (as to view all apps you have to get to another page).

I decided to get the 2020 Roku Ultra to replace my 2018 Roku Ultra (which I intend to give to my parents now that Roku 4K devices have AirPlay 2) as I have a Vizio V Series TV with Dolby Vision. It’s working well so far with loading apps quickly, though the Funimation app is quitting prematurely during the closing credits of episodes (could be a problem with Funimation rather than Roku). Roku runs AirPlay 2 better than my Vizio TV (which couldn’t pass Atmos thru ARC while using its AirPlay 2 function). Atmos works on AirPlay 2 and the Apple TV channel on the Roku Ultra 2018 and 2020 models.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by disneywildcat

I have had less Atmos issues with the 2018 Roku Ultra than the Amazon Fire TV 4K Stick (the Apple TV app on Fire TV 4K Stick still doesn’t pass Atmos while the Roku Ultra’s Apple TV channel does). And it’s easier to get to any channel/app on Roku than the Fire TV 4K Stick (as to view all apps you have to get to another page).

I decided to get the 2020 Roku Ultra to replace my 2018 Roku Ultra (which I intend to give to my parents now that Roku 4K devices have AirPlay 2) as I have a Vizio V Series TV with Dolby Vision. It’s working well so far with loading apps quickly, though the Funimation app is quitting prematurely during the closing credits of episodes (could be a problem with Funimation rather than Roku). Roku runs AirPlay 2 better than my Vizio TV (which couldn’t pass Atmos thru ARC while using its AirPlay 2 function). Atmos works on AirPlay 2 and the Apple TV channel on the Roku Ultra 2018 and 2020 models.

I understand that you needed to get the 2020 Roku Ultra to have the Dolby Vision HDR feature over HDMI 2.0b, since its my understanding that the Roku Ultra 2016-2019 models with HDMI 2.0a are not firmware upgradable to HDMI 2.0b with Dolby Vision HDR. However it sounds like from your post you are able to get Dolby Atmos using bitstream from the 2018 Roku Ultra. So maybe the Roku Ultra models between the years 2016-2019 also work with Dolby Atmos compatible A/V receivers if one bitstreams. I almost upgraded to a Pioneer Elite Dolby Atmos A/V receiver a couple of years ago, however I got busy working on other projects and delayed the upgrade. Its time consuming to switch out a A/V receiver and move from 7.1 surround sound to 13.1.

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Having owned a Roku for over a year and just ditching it for a Amazon Fire TV I would say the Fire TV is a much better device solely because it uses RF instead of IR for it's remote, let alone being voice controlled.

I personally found the Fire TV fine (I have two fire sticks at home but boxed up), one of it's problems is that the dashboard is flooded with Amazon advertising and the Fire stick has limited storage capacity (which the latter would be solved by getting a fire cube).

[disneywildcat]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

I understand that you needed to get the 2020 Roku Ultra to have the Dolby Vision HDR feature over HDMI 2.0b, since its my understanding that the Roku Ultra 2016-2019 models with HDMI 2.0a are not firmware upgradable to HDMI 2.0b with Dolby Vision HDR. However it sounds like from your post you are able to get Dolby Atmos using bitstream from the 2018 Roku Ultra. So maybe the Roku Ultra models between the years 2016-2019 also work with Dolby Atmos compatible A/V receivers if one bitstreams. I almost upgraded to a Pioneer Elite Dolby Atmos A/V receiver a couple of years ago, however I got busy working on other projects and delayed the upgrade. Its time consuming to switch out a A/V receiver and move from 7.1 surround sound to 13.1.

I use a 5.1.2 Atmos Soundbar (LG SYC9) and 2.0 LG wireless speakers. I used to run the Roku Ultra 2018 directly to the soundbar via a HDMI switch (as Disney+ at launch only outputted Atmos thru a direct connection to the soundbar) to ensure Atmos was received by the soundbar. I now run the 2020 Roku Ultra to the TV as all Roku channels that support Atmos (including Disney+) can output Atmos via ARC with the 2020 Roku Ultra.

The Fire TV 4K Stick had resolution issues when I tried to connect it directly to the soundbar (via the HDMI switch). Atmos output did not improve for apps like Apple TV.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Having owned a Roku for over a year and just ditching it for a Amazon Fire TV I would say the Fire TV is a much better device solely because it uses RF instead of IR for it's remote, let alone being voice controlled.

Every Roku Ultra between the years 2016-2020 use RF remote controls with voice control. One can walk into another room and still control the Roku Ultra. Also one can speak into the remote control to do a search for a movie title, etc. The remote also has stereo headphones that come with it so for late night listening one can watch TV while not waking people up.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by disneywildcat

I use a 5.1.2 Atmos Soundbar (LG SYC9) and 2.0 LG wireless speakers. I used to run the Roku Ultra 2018 directly to the soundbar via a HDMI switch (as Disney+ at launch only outputted Atmos thru a direct connection to the soundbar) to ensure Atmos was received by the soundbar. I now run the 2020 Roku Ultra to the TV as all Roku channels that support Atmos (including Disney+) can output Atmos via ARC with the 2020 Roku Ultra.

The Fire TV 4K Stick had resolution issues when I tried to connect it directly to the soundbar (via the HDMI switch). Atmos output did not improve for apps like Apple TV.

I am glad that you are happy with your setup.

My family members are still using a 2008 model Pioneer Elite A/V receiver with 7.1 surround sound for DTS-HD Master audio, 7.1 Dolby True HD, and 7.1 PCM. Plus some newer models of Pioneer Elite A/V receivers from the year 2011+. In 2014 Dolby Atmos encoded Blu-ray titles started coming out, but I held off on upgrading my A/V receiver because I wanted a A/V receiver with both Dolby Atmos and DTS X. In 2015 DTS X Blu-ray encoded movies started coming out. In 2015 I was strongly considering upgrading to a A/V receiver that had both Dolby Atmos and DTS X. I guess I should have did that 5 years ago. However, one of the main reasons I held off is because in 2016 the new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format was going to launch, which met one would need a new A/V receiver that offers HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 to pass 4K signals. Another issue is the first generation 4K A/V receivers did not have HDCP 2.2 and one had to wait for the second generation for HDCP 2.2 to be offered. Then most 4K A/V receivers would not pass Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+, just recently in late 2020 has A/V receivers started offering the ability to pass all the HDR formats.

So looking back I should have upgraded in 2015 or 2016 the A/V receiver. When OPPO Digital INC came out with a new Blu-ray player, I have always upgraded to the latest model since switching out a Blu-ray player is much more easier then switching out a new A/V receiver or display every year. The way technology is moving I might have to purchase a new A/V receiver and display every 5 years instead of every 10+ years. The average consumer upgrades their home theater system once every 10 years.

My next A/V receiver will be either a Pioneer Elite, Yamaha, or Denon most likely. One negative feature of all the streaming providers is that so far they only offer lossy audio. The Dolby Atmos surround sound is a lossy format for streaming providers. The advantage of Blu-ray is consumer have true 13.1 lossless Dolby Atmos and true 13.1 lossless DTS X Pro technology that works with both standard Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray formats.

Personally I do not use streaming at all when I am by myself. When I do watch TV with a family member sometimes we watch streaming instead of 4K Blu-ray. However 4K Blu-ray is still the reference quality that all other consumer formats are compared too. Nothing beats lossless audio and the higher bit HEVC 4K Blu-ray video with a bit rate up to 128Mbps. In order for the streaming providers to offer 4K Blu-ray quality they are going to have to offer streaming at 128Mbps with a minimum required Internet speed of 150Mbps or come out with a new advanced video compression system that takes up less space then HEVC while still maintaining the same lossy video quality.

[HDTV1080P]

QUOTE

"Roku said it has surpassed Samsung as the No. 1 supplier of smart TV operating system software in the U.S. and Canada."

https://www.nexttv.com/news/roku-tou...y-over-samsung

[Ottoodin]

I usually use HDMI output!

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Ottoodin

I usually use HDMI output!

HDMI output on the Roku Ultra has always been the only option to receive a video signal to a display. That is true even on the 2016 model. If you are talking about audio, then only the 2016 model Roku Ultra has the optical audio output that can be used in place of HDMI.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...0&postcount=29

[i007spectre]

I have a Roku Streaming Stick + and when I look at Wonder Woman 84 it only says available in HD so how do I know if it is playing in 4K.

[lgans316]

Does this do frame rate matching on all apps without any Kodi hacks?

[notops]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

I have a Roku Streaming Stick + and when I look at Wonder Woman 84 it only says available in HD so how do I know if it is playing in 4K.

Go to the picture info on your TV while you're watching it and see if it's playing in HDR.