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Need solid recommendation for Android set top box that will work with HBO Max

2,641 777 June 16, 2021 at 09:07 AM
short version: I need an android set top box that will work fine with the hbo max app, and preferably with Hulu, Disney+, etc. I'm tired of trying to sideload and spending time trying to troubleshoot no audio, when audio works just fine on |Netflix, Amazon video, |Paramount+, etc.

long version:

I bought an X96 Air box for about $60 maybe 4 months ago. While it works fine with Amazon video, Hulu, Netflix and Paramount Plus, it does not work ok with Disney plus or |HB|O max. I liked the specs of the box, Amlogic S905X3 quad core processor, Mali G31MP2 Gpu, 32 gigs of onboard storage, and 4GB of system RAM.

With Disney Plus, I had to sideload the app, because it wasn't showing up on the |Play store. I got no audio until I downloaded shows as a file. With HBO Max, I get no audio, period. Hulu worked fine after sideloading it and trying different versions. I've spent way, WAY too much time troubleshooting audio issues, and I'm done. I just need something that is confirmed to work with no issues out of the box with all of the major streaming services. (and also confirmed to let you install from the Google Play store)

I have a dumb ~7 year old Sanyo 1080p TV, with car stereo speakers hooked up to it, and I'm using HDMI to send video & audio to the tv set from the Android box. I have a Logitech wireless mouse that I use with the box from my couch.

Can anyone recommend a rock solid Android set top box that will work fine with these?

Thanks so very much!
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Joined Jun 2005 kyivindependent.com
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Joined Nov 2013
mebe
> bubble2 8,950 Posts
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jasefanz
06-16-2021 at 10:09 AM.
06-16-2021 at 10:09 AM.
I was having audio issues with HBO Max and something else (on ROKU)(it was driving me crazy as it was only on 2 things and everything else had sound) I went to settings (on ROKU) - audio -audio mode and had to switch from auto to stereo or the reverse stereo to auto and it fixed issue

maybe you have something similar ... only time I have ever had problems

other than that change HDMI cable out to a newer/better version (even though ppl hate hearing that, sometimes it fixes issues)
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Joined Mar 2004
Ta da.
> bubble2 1,121 Posts
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TeeDub
06-16-2021 at 12:17 PM.
06-16-2021 at 12:17 PM.
How about a fire stick? It will support Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max.
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Joined Jun 2005
kyivindependent.com
> bubble2 2,641 Posts
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slugbug
06-16-2021 at 04:36 PM.
06-16-2021 at 04:36 PM.
Quote from TeeDub :
How about a fire stick? It will support Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max.
Ah, I need to be able to download the files like you can in Android, for offline watching.
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Joined Jun 2005
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,409 Posts
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NYExcuse
06-16-2021 at 07:21 PM.
06-16-2021 at 07:21 PM.
Quote from slugbug :
Ah, I need to be able to download the files like you can in Android, for offline watching.
https://troypoint.com/increase-st...k-fire-tv/
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L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 6,283 Posts
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YanksIn2009
06-16-2021 at 10:13 PM.
06-16-2021 at 10:13 PM.
Not quite understanding why the difficulty. Get an Nvidia Shield TV Pro 4K and you should be good to go.

A Fire TV Stick will likely work almost as well but is far more of a pita if you want to directly hookup up media. However, you can always do so through DLNA via a Windows PC on your home network.


https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/shie...ld-tv-pro/
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L42: The Ultimate Answer
> bubble2 1,659 Posts
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FlashX83
06-17-2021 at 05:51 AM.
06-17-2021 at 05:51 AM.
Quote from slugbug :
Ah, I need to be able to download the files like you can in Android, for offline watching.
I looked into this not long ago for something to use in a RV that doesn't always have Internet, but didn't find any devices that supported offline downloads in all the common streaming apps.

A couple alternatives:
You could use an Android phone or tablet. Most phones and some tablets have either MHL or mini/micro HDMI. No easy way to remote control it though, but there are some bluetooth media remote options that might work.

Another option would be to use something like Play-On to download your shows rather than the function built into the app. It's not free and depending on your Internet speed can take considerably longer to download, but the result will play on pretty much anything.
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Ta da.
> bubble2 1,121 Posts
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TeeDub
06-18-2021 at 06:25 AM.
06-18-2021 at 06:25 AM.
Quote from YanksIn2009 :
Not quite understanding why the difficulty. Get an Nvidia Shield TV Pro 4K and you should be good to go.

A Fire TV Stick will likely work almost as well but is far more of a pita if you want to directly hookup up media. However, you can always do so through DLNA via a Windows PC on your home network.


https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/shie...ld-tv-pro/

I have a NAS on my home network with some video content. VLC will load natively on the firestick and play directly from it. (That doesn't help this person's problem of wanting to download and playback from Netflix/etc.)
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Joined Jun 2005
kyivindependent.com
> bubble2 2,641 Posts
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Original Poster
slugbug
06-18-2021 at 09:59 AM.
06-18-2021 at 09:59 AM.
A couple alternatives:
You could use an Android phone or tablet. Most phones and some tablets have either MHL or mini/micro HDMI. No easy way to remote control it though, but there are some bluetooth media remote options that might work.

Hmm. Tell me more about this - will the specs on the phone box actually say whether a phone has mini hdmi out?
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Joined Oct 2008
Professional Novice
> bubble2 11,890 Posts
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RUsum1
06-19-2021 at 09:34 PM.
06-19-2021 at 09:34 PM.
Does it have to be android? I have mostly android stuff but my Apple TV4k has been awesome. Not sure if it is missing any apps. I watch most stuff through Plex using my NAS.

But as the other person suggested, the nVidia Shield seems to be the Bentley of non-Apple streamers.
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L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,592 Posts
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EyeBaller
06-22-2021 at 09:37 AM.
06-22-2021 at 09:37 AM.
If you need offline viewing options then the Shield is the correct answer.
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