Roku Device Features, Settings & Updates

[zolotoiy]

I really don't want to buy ShieldTV just for TrueHD/DTSMA. Is there any chance lossless passthrough is being worked on?

[atc98092]

"zolotoiy" wrote:
I really don't want to buy ShieldTV just for TrueHD/DTSMA. Is there any chance lossless passthrough is being worked on?

Roku never announces in advance what is being developed for future release. This is something often asked for. However, it was announced here in this forum 2-3 weeks ago that the Ultra 4660 (current model) will now bitstream DTS/MA. I have the 4640, so I can't verify this. I bought a Shield specifically for this purpose. Once I upgrade my other TV to 4K, I may replace my Ultra with another Shield, unless Roku finally supports TrueHD. However, no Roku box still supports image based captions, so that's another place the Shield wins. I can stream my UHD rips in 4K/UHD and TrueHD Atmos or DTS:X and display captions right now. No telling when/if Roku will ever support them both. 

[legoguy1000]

Are there any updates to this??

[atc98092]

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@legoguy1000 wrote:

Are there any updates to this??

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Nope. We'll never know unless/until Roku actually announces it. Personally I've given up on Roku adding it and use an Nvidia Shield for my lossless needs. I plan on replacing my Ultra with another Shield if they go on sale for Christmas. The Roku was sufficient when I only had a 1080 TV in the family room, but now that I've upgraded that one to 4K I want to be able to watch my 4K/HDR rips with lossless audio, as I can in the bedroom with my current Shield. 

[shackrock]

That's so crazy, can we still get all of the same apps on the shield?

[atc98092]

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@shackrock wrote:

That's so crazy, can we still get all of the same apps on the shield?

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The major ones, certainly. It doesn't support YouTube HDR, and so far the Disney+ channel doesn't support Atmos, but things like Netflix, Prime Video, Vudu, Hulu, Movies Anywhere, and virtually all the most popular apps are there. And the Shield plays absolutely every video I have, regardless of container, video or audio codec, and also seems to play any caption tracks they have. No transcoding required. But I will say that configuration and use isn't as easy as a Roku, mostly because there are so many possible options available. And the overall user interface is no where near as easy to use as a Roku.

I really don't consider them as competing products, but more as the complement each other with different capabilities. But if you want lossless audio bitstreaming, as well as the major online streaming services, there's nothing else available without spending more than $300. The inexpensive Android boxes you can find on Amazon (and other sites) are often lacking something, like the app availability, or the Gigabit network connection.

[shackrock]

Makes sense, thanks for the information.

Looks like I'm going to get the Shield Pro then on black friday/cyber monday...

[chadwick404]

Just adding my strong desire for them to support this feature, too...

[atc98092]

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@chadwick404 wrote:

Just adding my strong desire for them to support this feature, too...

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Well, according to the audio control panel, firmware 9.3.0 has added support for TrueHD. We don't know the details about it yet, and no current channel supports it. But I would expect Roku Media Player to add it soon, as well as Plex and Emby. Other than those three, I don't know what other channels might make use of it. None of the online streaming sites offer anything higher than Dolby Digital Plus, which is still lossy and is used to reduce the bitrate, not to improve audio quality. 

[chadwick404]

Well, that seems like good news.  I use Plex and that is why I want the capability.  Would you happen to know if a Roku 4 (4400) can support the pass thru?