AppleTV X - I am playing with something new

[Zeotrope]

I am working up a post on the latest gen ATV. What garbarge. Its abhorrent. I will do a post here on what all I have measured and discovered about it. I was hoping maybe I could use it, but, no way, no matter what i do with it its a big step down in pic and sound quality no matter what mods I do.

That's too bad. Perhaps you can consider a custom case...

 

[Xymox]

Wellll... A new case wont help. WAY to many things wrong with it.

I wont be spending any more time on it as it simply will never get close to the level of performance I can get with the A2169.

See below..

 

[Zeotrope]

Edit: I meant a new chassis. I understand that’s a massive commitment that may not be intellectually challenging. The current ATVX should be usable for a while, 10 years, hopefully? Depends on how nicely Apple wants to play with future OS updates. If the iPhone is an indication it should be possible to use the last gen for about 10 years.

 

[Zeotrope]

It’s funny how many people are just blindly upgrading assuming ‘if it’s new it must be better’!

 

[Xymox]

It’s funny how many people are just blindly upgrading assuming ‘if it’s new it must be better’!

EXACTLY.... In this case,,, "upgrading" is a clear downgrade.. I am going to post this vid over on MacRumors which will I am sure cause complete havoc

Indeed I think I will be modding the A2169 for a long time yet. I also anticipate that if I run out of new ones, I will be restoring older ones and selling with warranties. I think these might be the best stand alone AV streaming devices ever made. We shall see..

 

[Xymox]

ANother batch on their way to new homes

In my new space I have increased my production ability and lab space. Its great.

 

[Xymox]

I have a B-Stock unit that needs a new home. It has a slightly dinged back corner on the leaner. Not visible from the front. Its in perfect shape otherwise and new.

So.. I will let it go for $1750 to the first person who PMs me. Free shipping and it can ship immd.

The b-stock unit has a new home.

 

[Xymox]

I put 6x Stillpoints Ultra Mini under mine: 3x under the PSU and 3x under the ATV. Wow! Noticeable difference to picture and sound! I had rubber/cork 'sandwich' blocks before - complete garbage. The Stillpoints are not cheap, but they do make a noticeable difference!

Wow, great to hear. Its amazing to me that it can still get better. You watch and listen to it thinking "OMG, How can a streaming device look/sound this good" and then you play with HDMI or power cords and it gets significantly better. Its CRAZY there is so much quality in a stream that is so basic. It defies science for me that a 10Mbps stream from places like Pluto can be so drop dead amazing. And now I know feet really matter. That means, vibration really matters. Its crazy, I still get the impression the pic and sound can be even better.

This sure is a interesting project and I really need to work up some sort of study with some blind AB work and get some science going on what is happening. None of these huge changes I landed with these mods can be measured with current testing metrics. In fact the changes should make no difference. HDMI should be the same. But noooooo.... Its all very interesting.

I have ramped up my production capacity. I want to get more of these out there so there is a larger base as I think I want to involve people in a study. Everyone who got one I believe had a AppleTV 4K 2nd gen already and did AB. Many did AB with Oppos too.

I think the interesting aspect of all this is there seems to be some aspect of the human visual perceptual model that is incomplete. Like when science finally linked audio and jitter and we knew jitter mattered to humans and then measured it. SOMETHING needs to be measured and linked up so we know what to measure.

Thanks Zeotrope for testing out feet. I will add that to the list of things clients should explore with it.

 

[Xymox]

A review I had not seen yet. Awesome.

AppleTV X - The Mod - From Vinyl To Plastic

AppleTV X - The Mod. A custom upgrade including an external analog power supply that claims huge improvements in audio and video quality.

fromvinyltoplastic.com

 

[LeBlanc]

A review I had not seen yet. Awesome.

AppleTV X - The Mod - From Vinyl To Plastic

AppleTV X - The Mod. A custom upgrade including an external analog power supply that claims huge improvements in audio and video quality.

fromvinyltoplastic.com

Is it a review though?

 

[Zeotrope]

Is it a review though?

Looks like it to me!
There are several reviews here and online. The ATVX is really really great. I don’t know how I would go back to regular ATV or even Kaleidesape if I had to.

 

[LeBlanc]

Looks like it to me!
There are several reviews here and online. The ATVX is really really great. I don’t know how I would go back to regular ATV or even Kaleidesape if I had to.

Have you read it?

 

[Zeotrope]

Have you read it?

I have read it, have you? I also own one.
What are you getting at? That it's not a good device? That's it's not a "real review"? That you're personally impressed?
Not sure what value your posts add - sorry.

 

[Brucemck2]

For anyone using an AppleTV, this one is outstanding! Highly recommended.

 

[Zeotrope]

For anyone using an AppleTV, this one is outstanding! Highly recommended.

Indeed and I would add that for anyone using any device to watch movies or shows, there's nothing better. It's better than any unmodified blu-ray player, Kaleidescape, etc.

 

[LeBlanc]

I have read it, have you? I also own one.
What are you getting at? That it's not a good device? That's it's not a "real review"? That you're personally impressed?
Not sure what value your posts add - sorry.

Maybe I’m old school, but I would expect a review to include at least some description of the personal experience from the reviewer with the product. I couldn’t find this in the article. The author of the article himself has also categorized this in the news section of his website instead of the review section, which makes sense to me.

I have no comments regarding the product itself and landed here because of the interesting tear up of the latest Apple TV model.

 

[Low325]

Okay so, as of this writing, ATVX is still using the “better” ATV is that correct, and those are still available?

 

[Frank750]

Okay so, as of this writing, ATVX is still using the “better” ATV is that correct, and those are still available?

Yes and yes. I ordered one from GTT this morning and he shipped it within an hour.

 

[Alrainbow]

Wow, great to hear. Its amazing to me that it can still get better. You watch and listen to it thinking "OMG, How can a streaming device look/sound this good" and then you play with HDMI or power cords and it gets significantly better. Its CRAZY there is so much quality in a stream that is so basic. It defies science for me that a 10Mbps stream from places like Pluto can be so drop dead amazing. And now I know feet really matter. That means, vibration really matters. Its crazy, I still get the impression the pic and sound can be even better.

This sure is a interesting project and I really need to work up some sort of study with some blind AB work and get some science going on what is happening. None of these huge changes I landed with these mods can be measured with current testing metrics. In fact the changes should make no difference. HDMI should be the same. But noooooo.... Its all very interesting.

I have ramped up my production capacity. I want to get more of these out there so there is a larger base as I think I want to involve people in a study. Everyone who got one I believe had a AppleTV 4K 2nd gen already and did AB. Many did AB with Oppos too.

I think the interesting aspect of all this is there seems to be some aspect of the human visual perceptual model that is incomplete. Like when science finally linked audio and jitter and we knew jitter mattered to humans and then measured it. SOMETHING needs to be measured and linked up so we know what to measure.

Thanks Zeotrope for testing out feet. I will add that to the list of things clients should explore with it.

May I ask what is the output voltage for the internal sw mode psu ?

 

[Low325]

Yes and yes. I ordered one from GTT this morning and he shipped it within an hour.

Thanks! Went ahead and contacted Bill!