I desperately need one of these. I ran out of room to keep my 4k dvds 📀 😫. I love the interface of these. But I will need to learn how to rip the disks to iso files
I have had good luck with a nvidia shield, a NAS, running emby. I rip all of my content with a flashed LG drive and store the content on the NAS, plays a perfect 1:1 rip like you would be putting a disc in. If you did this on the cheap end, the biggest expense is the shield, you can use any old repurposed computer for a NAS if it has enough ram and CPU power. The shield doesn't transcode content, it plays directly so you wouldn't need a high end video card. As far as collections, emby does all of that and I also added cover art so it shows DVD, BD, and UHD with the appropriate disc case, pretty slick as I browse content. UI is very fluid and fast.
That's all well and good, but now you're talking about more devices than just the Shield and a hard drive, right? As far as simplicity goes, they still don't have what the Zappiti offers. Also, there's no HiFi DAC and stereo XLR outputs for audiophiles. Different features for different needs.
@@darthdank1993 I don't have any experience with kodi long term, your mac mini is going to be a desktop computer basically, If you plug that into your TV and use it as the interface I think that would work. But if it were me I would make the mac mini the server and get a shield or apple TV as the gui on your TV for kodi.
@@TechnoDad That's true, but your average user probaly doesn't want to spend $1500 for one of these. But I totally get the extra outputs for high end equipment. If a person is somewhat tech saavy they can build something very comparable, or maybe even better with a used dell PC and a shield for less than $400. Not including the hard drive...but the hard drive isn't included in this either. I had a dune HD, which is similar to this, and hated it. The interface was very limited and janky, there is way more support with kodi, emby, and plex. Especially when it comes to artwork and special features. But having said that, I would love to try out a zappiti, but I wouldn't want to gamble on $1500.
I’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on a media player for years. I think we’re almost there with ‘ease of use’ for us ‘normies’ that don’t do tech for a living. Thanks for putting the info out there! Love the content
Hey Techno Dad! Thanks for your awesome review! For your 2 discs, I suggest you to use the new top banners. Very useful for Blu-ray editions with several discs. There is even specific banners for 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc-1 and 2. Hope this will help the community!
@@rhmarquez311 I believe Title banners only work in Movie folders & not in TV Series Folders 🤔 I own a Zappiti Neo & have had that issue since the new beta firmware update.
It would be great if there was a local retailer that carried it so I could test out my media in the store. Can't see dropping that kind of cash unless I'm able to test drive it in person.
Hopefully they will release a player that works as just a front end. I have a NAS on my network that I play through my oppo 203. Would love to have a fancy UI instead of the basic file structure the oppo offers
Agreed! I wish they had one without a drive bay. That would bring the cost down alot. They have one device from the previous generation of players which does that.
Way past my budget haha. Yes please do that tutorial of DVDFab and MKV Dolby Vision files! These have no integration with Plex, Emby, etc. right? Obviously Plex wouldn't read the ISO files (come on Plex!) but if I were to get one I'd like some sort of integration for other TV's in the house. Great video as always!
Plex will play MKV files with Dolby Vision, it just can't play ISO or BDMV. So if you want an experience like putting a disc into a player, then either the Zappiti or the Zidoo will fit that bill. Shield/Plex will play MKV and you can access your library from a different location.
@@TechnoDad That's my setup right now. I was thinking some type of integration between the two,. So on your main TV setup you have the full functionality of the Zappiti but then on other TV's where you have the SHIELD TV Pro/Fire TV Max Stick it'd sync for files that are supported there. Any chance Plex ever suppoorts ISO or BDMV files? I know that's a long shot haha.
@@TechnoDad this is absolutely correct. Both have their purpose. I have well over $1k invested in my plex setup so both options have potential to be pricey. Options are bliss! Great video Techno Dad!
Hi mate, great video as usual. I am still using my audiocom zappiti, so it’s great to hear that some of the new features will work on my player, when the software is upgraded. Yeah- I have 2 Iron Wolf Pro 16TB drives as well and yes, they’re bloody noisy (first thing my wife commented on) so I would also recommend using a rack to house the gear, in a separate room as opposed to using your zappiti in a unit under your TV. Good idea about the TV shows, I only have one series: Deadwood on my zappiti, as it frustrated me to spend the time to label and rename discs /episodes/seasons, I just said- movies only from now on. Cheers mate
Hey Channa, that was very informative. You went thru the same challenges I did with the NEO. I have the 18TB drive like yours and it was very noisy in the Zidoo Z10 that I had. Now in the Neo I do not notice it at all when watching movies. For as the slow Video wall that's the issue with their cloud server where all of Matadata is stored. You notice when you use the Video app on your macbook it is fast. Even when the box is turned off. I believe its a way to do offline local server and it will be very fast but I have not tried it though. Creating those groups were super easy and lots of fun. Good Luck Also, the correct statement we used back in the day was "Don't Let the Door hit you on the way out" PM
Great to see the Zappiti Reference video. I really enjoy mine. I use and external NAS. All my movies are ripped into MKV files. I fortunately haven’t had any problems with my Dolby Vision discs. They all pop up Dolby Vision when the info button is pressed. I have now ripped 535 4K discs an no problems. Love the convenience of the Zappiti. I also love the excellent picture and sound!
@@TechnoDad I posted a product update on Instagram. The longer that I have my Zappiti Reference the more I love it. It makes deciding what movie to watch very easy!
These are pretty cool, but I am sticking with physical media until I'm forced into digital. Trying to grab all my childhood films before Disney owns everything and starts only releasing/streaming edited versions
dvdfab is super easy. Ripper Tab, Select file type "mkv Passthrough", select the language tracks you want. Then RIP Passthrough is uncompressed. so full disc quality in an mkv file.
Thanks for the video Techndad. That drive noise u speak of is a killer for me as my rack is in my dedicated room. Plus it just sounds like way too much work. I will save up for k scape. Plug and play
I think that I may seriously consider getting one additionally because of another thing. The fact that they labeled the in/out puts upside down so someone reaching over it from the front can easily figure out what input is what shows an attention to detail that says that they were thinking about the entire process chain. What will happen if someone has our player installed and wants to put another cable in it but doesnt want to pull the player all the way out? Nice job. Now let me watch the rest of your review :)
Great video! I'm having problems with getting all the demo disk to be under one tittle, I will love to organize it the way you have it, Iike the imax, dts, Dolby. I don't know if you are adding it has a movie or a personal video. I will appreciate some help with that thank you in advance.
I am interested in the Zappiti Neo or Reference media player. My goal is to have the media player connected to an Apple TV4K, and have the media player convert dolby vision content (from ATV) to hdr10+ content for my JVC NZ8 (HDR10+) projector. Audio from the media player will go over HDMI to my AVR Rotel RAP 1580mk2, and the video signal from the media player will go to the projector. I know that HDFury Vrroom, etc. can do this, but I hope the Zappiti media players will do this as well, since I like the total package of Zappiti better (add a movie library on HD later, etc.). Hoping someone can tell me if this is possible or not, and if they tried it themselves.
Hello, Zappiti question... I have an old Dune HD than ran Zappiti software. Loved it back in the day and it mounted to my NAS. Would the Zappiti Reference be able to play everything off a NAS? For example, ISO and bluerays with no lag? Really interested.
Great video! +1 for details on ripping and maintaining HDR and Dolby Vision metadata. Also, how would you compare Zapiti vs. running Plex with something like the Shield?
Hi Adam! I think those devices are two different things all together. If you want to access or share your library out of your home, then go with Shield/Plex. If you want a media player that will more than just MKV files, like ISO or BDMV, then go Zappiti. Also, the Shield Pro is a beast of a streaming device, so it has that as well.
Yeah I would have thought Plex and Shield has an upperhand with NAS in the mix.. however as of the current firmware Plex is failing at playing atmos true hd randomly. So Shield has firmware issues at the moment. Kodi on shield has better iso and plex playback currently..
Thanks for another great video, would love a tutorial getting a straight rip of dvd / blu ray / 4K film with menus to the new players, I tried the method on your other video and had no success with makemkv as well! Even just a little nugget as a response on here would be great 😁👍
I have the Duo, and it has not let me down. Odd to find you still have the delay with loading etc. Thought that would have been addressed, but perhaps that is an issue for the drive speed? Are you able to show the difference in speed with SSD vs HDD? I hope one day they add a simplified system for Home Videos and/or Music Videos. As it is, there currently isn't one. And the Music player is rubbish.
Nice video bro. Very informative. I've got 2 questions for you. Is this a FULL multi-media player? Can I play my music files 'cause you didn't touch on that. Also, do you have to use hard drives? Can't you use ssd drives instead to eliminate the noise? The price points are far outta my reach and if I can't play music then it's not worth it for me.
Hi, Alex! Yes, it does! I had a whole section on that but I had to cut it out due to time. I was able to play FLAC and DSD files on the Zappiti through the network. It has that ESS Sabre DAC with balanced stereo XLR outputs, which will give you a higher quality signal to your amplifier. As for SSDs, it's a good idea and yes, it will remove the drive noise issue, but it's pretty expensive. I have a 16TB spinning drive which was around $500 but the equibvalent SSD is around $3K. That's a tough pill to swallow.
How does it deal with Cinavia audio? Most of my ripped movies (that I bought) use HD audio, possibly with Cinevia-mangled audio streams in them. Would be a shame if this thing stopped playing HD audio because of the Cinavia DRM BS.
Hi. Excellent info. I have a Neo on order and waiting. I have a Zappiti 4K HDR with my server on my pc instead of the cloud. I'll put the older version in a guest room but wondering if I can use my present catalogue DB or will I have to build a whole new one? I don't see anything on line on if/how to do that. Hoping you have video on that as well as how to use sharing. Thanks!
So do I hook this system up to my network…and then just rip the blu rays on my PC using Make MKV…then transfer the files over the network onto this device? Seems like a lot of extra data shuffling no? Why wouldn’t they just incorporate a 4k blu ray player drive into this box that will just directly rip the movie onto the installed hard drive?
Noob question: Is the main benefit of this whole setup just to avoid the minor inconvenience of loading and unloading 4k blu ray discs by having them ripped and accessible in a simple UI? Is there any other benefit from a quality standpoint?
Yes, you don't have to locate the disc and of course, you don't need to store the disc and case. I have my cases in a box in a storage unit. So you can free up some physical space in your home.
Great review Techno Dad, Thx 🙏👍👌🍻 A quick question that you may be able to help me & other Zappiti users with : Im a proud owner of the Zappiti Neo Media Player 👌👍 My question regarding upgrading my Existing WD 4TB HDD (TV Shows) with all my Medadata & my custom info regarding episode lengths & info etc. (I own a PC) Question : Can I copy & paste the entire collection (including all Medadata) from my existing 4TB (external HDD) to a new 16TB (external HDD) ? And if so.... can you provide me & the community with a how-to video on how to do this. Any help would be very much appreciated 🙏 Thankyou
Hi! I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to do this. You will have to point the Zappiti at the new HDD and folder with all your content. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Hi Channa! How do these new Zappiti models compare to something like a Zidoo Z10 Pro that you reviewed before? For example Zappiti Neo is $1500 and Z10 is $350... even the ZIDOO Z1000PRO is $450. What constitutes the $1200+ price jump when these two brands they have nearly identical capabilities?
If you need good DAC, go to Zidoo UHD3000, way better than Zappiti. Zappiti, Zidoo, Dune PQ are 100% identical, but good to know, the RTD1619DR PQ is average.
@@TechnoDad why would you want to mess with the sound with a dac. ? If your watching a movie the sound is supposed to be passed through and decided by your amplifier, not the media player
Hi, great review, been considering the reference since it came out, currently have a oppo 203, which is an incredible media player, but unfortunately doesn't have the user interface that the zappiti has which I love. A couple of questions please, when you refer to the noise of the hard drive, are you referring to it when it's in the zappiti itself? And also on the menus does it play the soundtrack of the movie? Many thanks
I don't have the new Zappiti but an older Version, the 4k HDR Duo. I am really annoyed by the harddrive noise of mine as well. I bought another hard drive but it was only a littl bit quieter. But it's definately the hard drives/hard drive bays of the Zappiti. If i play a movie that's on the external SSD, the unit is dead quiet...
@@darreningram8942 I actually use a combination of an external SSD and an external WD harddrive which is really quiet but I still have an 8 TB WD Red drive in one of the slots as well. It's a little quieter than the Seagate skyhawk I had in there first but it's still quite noisy. I guess it's not the player's fault, most 2.5" harddrives are just very noisy The player could isolate the noise better though...
@@floz9718 ok, thanks, I've only recently purchased mine and still don't have any internal drives for it yet, just waiting for a good deal on a couple. You say you have the WD Red, I've heard they are the most quietest as compared to the Seagate, would you say there is a noticeable difference?
Great content. In your opinion, is the Zappiti product is better than Zidoo in terms of image and sound quality? I was worried about the question of whether to hear the disc reading... Keep up the good work.
Hi Channa, great review on this beautiful media player! If there is one person's expertise I trust in this space its YOU! Recently, I've had a really hard time picking a 32 inch display for my home arcade (will be used for retro and modern games: primarily 1080p) and don't know if I should stick with the LG 1080p IPS (32ML600M-B) monitor that comes with the machine (better response time & input lag) but only has a 1200:1 contrast ratio or put in a Samsung QLED 4k TV, which has better resolution and contrast ratio/inkier black levels but inferior response time/input lag... or some other VA panel/TV? If I were to go with a QLED would you go with the Samsung Q60A (32 inch) or the Q50R (32 inch)? Based on the reviews the Q60A has better brightness (473 cd/m² vs 305 cd/m²), input lag (10.1ms vs 10.6ms) and black uniformity (0.669% vs 1.531%) but the Q50R has better blacks/contrast ratio (5,428:1 vs 4,653:1) and better response time (80%response time-5.5ms vs 7.2ms //100%response time-15.2ms vs17.3ms). Would highly appreciate any thoughts and or suggestions.
It's so sad that they only sell these things with hard drives. They used to have a mini version without hard drives but that seems to be out of stuck. Maybe nobody bought it. I have all my ripped ISOs on my NAS and there is no way ever that I will put anything with moving parts in my media bench. Question though. Zappiti seems to be the only option if you want access to bluray menus, and they claim UHD compatibility. Does this really work? And if so why is this not a bigger thing than it is? Plex support keeps saying that nobody wants this but I'm just sick of ripping media and having to spend time on all of the extra material. Does this work reliably?
Yes! They are very similar. I have the Zidoo Z10 Pro but they are super cheap feeling compared to the Zappiti. Also, the Zappiti has more HiFi Audio features thank the Zidoo.
Great video. Quick question. When using zappiti share to pull movies from the downstairs player if u had a hard drive in both players would it merge the libraries like u had it all on one disk or can u only look at one disk at a time. Thanks in advance
Hi Rob! Great question. I am not 100% sure if it'll work this way, but you could point Zappiti 1 to an internal drive and a drive on Zappiti 2. And at the same time, you have Zappiti 2 pulling from an internal drive and then another drive on Zappiti 1. I think that could work.
It kinda works. Doesn’t add it to ur library by “merging disks” but allows you to switch from one collection to another pretty quickly once it’s all on the same network
can I play movies from external hard drive with the help of this device, if not then please mention the device from which I can play all of my movies from external hard drive in my smart 4k TV through usb . My TV didn't support all the formats while playing directly through USB. so please mention the device from where I can play all the formats. And what about bluray player?
Can it host DLNA content (DLNA Standby) on a local/local wifi network So with the Nvidia Shield if you have Kodi you can basically connect a HDD while USB standby is set to on and access those files on the HDD via another TV that is connected to the same modem?
Why not just go for the Nvidia Shield TV Pro? It´s a fraction of the price. And works great with Plex and a NAS on the same network. A much more mature and evolved product by the looks of it
for demos what I did was rip the movie to mkv. and then use mkvtoolnix to trim the movie down to my demo part. like just the race scene from ready player one.
@@TechnoDad this is the procedure in mkvtoonix: Add sources files, then go to the output files. Second field down is splitting. select "by parts based on timestamps" then under parts Put both time parts of scene you want to have "1:56:00-1:58:00. then click start multiplexing. After about 5 min you will have just that time stamp in a full MKV file and still have the original copy. Now no more fast forwarding in the movie to see your test files.
Hi excellent review I have the neo it's fantastic player too u will not go wrong with that one too. Is there any chance u can show us how to rip dolby vision with make MKV it would be greatly appreciated many thanks for ur time and help.
I pre-ordered (and paid for) this player 6 weeks ago from Zappiti USA. I should have contacted you. I received a Neo by mistake. They sent me a label to return the wrong player and I just received my replacement - another Neo! That's strike 2.
No. That's just for the menus and navigating through the Zappiti. It will change the aspect ratio to whatever the movie is in. So if it's IMAX, it'll play that, or 2.35:1, 2.40:1, or 16:9.
Whats the best way (for someone who doesnt really know what they are doing) to get files onto the drive on this device? I had been looking at the Zapitti NAS rip just for ease of use, going by the ads anyway it seems a one stop shop, i can put a disc in and the box does the rest. Downside is its highly expensive! i'd love an easier, cheaper but above all easy one stop shop type solution to get files onto the player.
They both have things about them that make them different. With Shield/Plex you can access your movie library from outside your home. However, you can only use MKV files on Shield/Plex. With the Zappiti, you can use MKV, M2TS, ISO, BDMV, and many more. Also, the Zappiti is substantially more expensive.
Hey Techno Dad! This is my first video of yours and am now a big fan. In regards to video quality... Watching a movie on Plex through a Shield or Apple TV doesn't even come close to how well the same movie will look through my Sony X800M2. Just because something supports DV or HDR doesn't mean it looks as good as it truly can. As far as I can tell, nothing beats how well Sony and Panasonic disc players perform (or Oppo RIP). Which leads me to my question... How does the content actually look? Any info regarding colors, blacks, lines etc would be appreciated.
Thank you so much, S O! The content looks pretty much the same as the Oppo/Reavon players. I will do a side by side with some content to see, but I think it's really close.
@@TechnoDad thank you! Please let me know. Really considering the Neo since I don't need the DAC and XLR outs but I don't want to sacrifice picture quality. Appreciate your help!
I got some at trade shows and I got some on eBay. Just go into it knowing that possibly the eBay ones are copies. You just have to manage your expectations.
@@TechnoDad I want to feed my LG C Oled and nz7 with that. Can you explain why it is not necessary? I assume the original fps of cinematic movies? Please let me know in detail if possible. Waiting on buying one because of that. It can play all (nearly) codecs, right?
@@starfighter_ten I buy now new 77 Sony oled ,.and new multimedia center,.this Zappiti,or Dune Max Vision 4K ,..and none of this players havent hdmi 2.1 ,..because isnt need it. All your best video wuality is just need for 2.0 4K and 120HZ is hdmi2.1 yes,.but that is for consoles my friend :) xbox series x and PS5,..i have both and for them i will use hdmi2.1 ,.not for multimedia center. All Dolby Vision, HDR10+ etc etc,....are in hdmi 2.0 ,..not for 2.1. Thats just for nextgen consoles ,not movies :)
I have 2 hard drives in my Zappitti player but nothing shows up. They have both been formatted so I don’t know what could be the issue. Is there any other thing I need to do or settings I need to change?
@@TechnoDad Firstly, when I insert the drives into the bays and turn on the zappiti, I don’t even hear the drives booting up. It’s as if they’re not even in there. I can use them via a usb docking station so I know there’s nothing wrong with the drives themselves. I’m just confused as to why they won’t work in the bays of the zappiti player
@@paulrevere1479 That sounds like something is wrong with that specific Zappiti unit. Can you exchange it? I turn my Zappiti on and then put the drive in and I can hear it spin up.
Yeah, that would cut out that whole disc reading noise situation...but a 16TB SSD would cost $3K and I would need two of those. So that's a bit too much for me. I'm sure people out there could afford something like that though.
Yes, please shows us a tutorial of DVDfab to get Dolby Vision MKV. Thanks
Will do!
I desperately need one of these. I ran out of room to keep my 4k dvds 📀 😫. I love the interface of these.
But I will need to learn how to rip the disks to iso files
I have had good luck with a nvidia shield, a NAS, running emby. I rip all of my content with a flashed LG drive and store the content on the NAS, plays a perfect 1:1 rip like you would be putting a disc in. If you did this on the cheap end, the biggest expense is the shield, you can use any old repurposed computer for a NAS if it has enough ram and CPU power. The shield doesn't transcode content, it plays directly so you wouldn't need a high end video card. As far as collections, emby does all of that and I also added cover art so it shows DVD, BD, and UHD with the appropriate disc case, pretty slick as I browse content. UI is very fluid and fast.
How much ram or cpu power do you need? For kodi would you recommend the shield over an old Mac mini?
I follow the same route have a 2bay basic nas from WD and shield pro as plex media server and client..shield play pretty much anything
That's all well and good, but now you're talking about more devices than just the Shield and a hard drive, right? As far as simplicity goes, they still don't have what the Zappiti offers. Also, there's no HiFi DAC and stereo XLR outputs for audiophiles. Different features for different needs.
@@darthdank1993 I don't have any experience with kodi long term, your mac mini is going to be a desktop computer basically, If you plug that into your TV and use it as the interface I think that would work. But if it were me I would make the mac mini the server and get a shield or apple TV as the gui on your TV for kodi.
@@TechnoDad That's true, but your average user probaly doesn't want to spend $1500 for one of these. But I totally get the extra outputs for high end equipment. If a person is somewhat tech saavy they can build something very comparable, or maybe even better with a used dell PC and a shield for less than $400. Not including the hard drive...but the hard drive isn't included in this either. I had a dune HD, which is similar to this, and hated it. The interface was very limited and janky, there is way more support with kodi, emby, and plex. Especially when it comes to artwork and special features. But having said that, I would love to try out a zappiti, but I wouldn't want to gamble on $1500.
Naming my next pet Zapitti, love the name
LOL!
I’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on a media player for years. I think we’re almost there with ‘ease of use’ for us ‘normies’ that don’t do tech for a living. Thanks for putting the info out there! Love the content
Thank you for watching, Jeremy.
Hey Techno Dad! Thanks for your awesome review! For your 2 discs, I suggest you to use the new top banners. Very useful for Blu-ray editions with several discs. There is even specific banners for 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc-1 and 2. Hope this will help the community!
Hi! Top Banners? Where can I find out more about that?
Press the Menu button on remote, then Edit… , then scroll down to Additional top banner
@@rhmarquez311 I believe Title banners only work in Movie folders & not in TV Series Folders 🤔 I own a Zappiti Neo & have had that issue since the new beta firmware update.
It would be great if there was a local retailer that carried it so I could test out my media in the store. Can't see dropping that kind of cash unless I'm able to test drive it in person.
I currently use WD Red Plus, they are very quiet, but they max out at 14TB.
Hopefully they will release a player that works as just a front end. I have a NAS on my network that I play through my oppo 203. Would love to have a fancy UI instead of the basic file structure the oppo offers
Agreed! I wish they had one without a drive bay. That would bring the cost down alot. They have one device from the previous generation of players which does that.
Way past my budget haha. Yes please do that tutorial of DVDFab and MKV Dolby Vision files! These have no integration with Plex, Emby, etc. right? Obviously Plex wouldn't read the ISO files (come on Plex!) but if I were to get one I'd like some sort of integration for other TV's in the house. Great video as always!
Dolby Vision works perfectly on plex. I have a 40tb synology Nas running plex server and using nvidia sheild as a player and everything works perfect.
Plex will play MKV files with Dolby Vision, it just can't play ISO or BDMV. So if you want an experience like putting a disc into a player, then either the Zappiti or the Zidoo will fit that bill. Shield/Plex will play MKV and you can access your library from a different location.
@@TechnoDad That's my setup right now. I was thinking some type of integration between the two,. So on your main TV setup you have the full functionality of the Zappiti but then on other TV's where you have the SHIELD TV Pro/Fire TV Max Stick it'd sync for files that are supported there. Any chance Plex ever suppoorts ISO or BDMV files? I know that's a long shot haha.
@@TechnoDad this is absolutely correct. Both have their purpose. I have well over $1k invested in my plex setup so both options have potential to be pricey. Options are bliss! Great video Techno Dad!
Hi mate, great video as usual. I am still using my audiocom zappiti, so it’s great to hear that some of the new features will work on my player, when the software is upgraded.
Yeah- I have 2 Iron Wolf Pro 16TB drives as well and yes, they’re bloody noisy (first thing my wife commented on) so I would also recommend using a rack to house the gear, in a separate room as opposed to using your zappiti in a unit under your TV.
Good idea about the TV shows, I only have one series: Deadwood on my zappiti, as it frustrated me to spend the time to label and rename discs /episodes/seasons, I just said- movies only from now on.
Cheers mate
Ayyyy! Good to hear from you, Paul! I hope everything is going well with you.
Great video as always!!!
Keep up the good work Techno Dad!!!
Thanks, David!!
Hey Channa, that was very informative. You went thru the same challenges I did with the NEO. I have the 18TB drive like yours and it was very noisy in the Zidoo Z10 that I had. Now in the Neo I do not notice it at all when watching movies. For as the slow Video wall that's the issue with their cloud server where all of Matadata is stored. You notice when you use the Video app on your macbook it is fast. Even when the box is turned off. I believe its a way to do offline local server and it will be very fast but I have not tried it though. Creating those groups were super easy and lots of fun.
Good Luck
Also, the correct statement we used back in the day was "Don't Let the Door hit you on the way out"
PM
Great to see the Zappiti Reference video. I really enjoy mine. I use and external NAS. All my movies are ripped into MKV files. I fortunately haven’t had any problems with my Dolby Vision discs. They all pop up Dolby Vision when the info button is pressed. I have now ripped 535 4K discs an no problems. Love the convenience of the Zappiti. I also love the excellent picture and sound!
Woot woot!! Love this thing. Haters can hate all they want, they are missing the point.
@@TechnoDad I posted a product update on Instagram. The longer that I have my Zappiti Reference the more I love it. It makes deciding what movie to watch very easy!
@Hi-Fi Haven What 4k burner do you use?
You need some rubber isolation feet to reduce hard drive noise.
Dunno...might need a different drive...
Of course we want a DVD Fab tutorial 🤘
You got it!
These are pretty cool, but I am sticking with physical media until I'm forced into digital. Trying to grab all my childhood films before Disney owns everything and starts only releasing/streaming edited versions
Word! I rip all my discs and put the discs in storage. Everything gets played on this device.
dvdfab is super easy.
Ripper Tab, Select file type "mkv Passthrough", select the language tracks you want. Then RIP
Passthrough is uncompressed. so full disc quality in an mkv file.
Thanks for the video Techndad. That drive noise u speak of is a killer for me as my rack is in my dedicated room. Plus it just sounds like way too much work. I will save up for k scape. Plug and play
Agreed! I wish I can afford the Kaleidescape.
regarding the comment about the drive noise, what drive are you using ? And why arent we using SSD in a 3.5 enclosure?
This product is like owning a high end fridge and then buying a smaller fridge that costs almost the same and it only stores cheese.
YES! LOL!!
yes more about how to make ios files would be awesome!
Sure!
I think that I may seriously consider getting one additionally because of another thing. The fact that they labeled the in/out puts upside down so someone reaching over it from the front can easily figure out what input is what shows an attention to detail that says that they were thinking about the entire process chain. What will happen if someone has our player installed and wants to put another cable in it but doesnt want to pull the player all the way out? Nice job. Now let me watch the rest of your review :)
That's a great point! Only a few companies do this.
Great vid techno dad
Glad you enjoyed it
glad to see you putting out solo videos Channa D.
Thanks man! I have a lot of things going on.
@@TechnoDad I know you are a very busy guy. I wonder do you ever sleep?
Great video! I'm having problems with getting all the demo disk to be under one tittle, I will love to organize it the way you have it, Iike the imax, dts, Dolby. I don't know if you are adding it has a movie or a personal video. I will appreciate some help with that thank you in advance.
Still not sure what the point of Zappiti is. For sharing I use plex- if I want to watch a film, I grab the disc and put it in the Oppo.
Is the zappiti Nas ripper still available and of any use?
Thanks for the video. Does this have an audio/video sync delay? Can you watch trailers from the movie poster screen?
Very informative video. I'm also running out of Disc Space. Thanks
What's up DT?! I have almost filled up my first 16TB.
I am interested in the Zappiti Neo or Reference media player. My goal is to have the media player connected to an Apple TV4K, and have the media player convert dolby vision content (from ATV) to hdr10+ content for my JVC NZ8 (HDR10+) projector.
Audio from the media player will go over HDMI to my AVR Rotel RAP 1580mk2, and the video signal from the media player will go to the projector. I know that HDFury Vrroom, etc. can do this, but I hope the Zappiti media players will do this as well, since I like the total package of Zappiti better (add a movie library on HD later, etc.). Hoping someone can tell me if this is possible or not, and if they tried it themselves.
Hello, Zappiti question... I have an old Dune HD than ran Zappiti software. Loved it back in the day and it mounted to my NAS. Would the Zappiti Reference be able to play everything off a NAS? For example, ISO and bluerays with no lag? Really interested.
Great video! +1 for details on ripping and maintaining HDR and Dolby Vision metadata. Also, how would you compare Zapiti vs. running Plex with something like the Shield?
Hi Adam! I think those devices are two different things all together. If you want to access or share your library out of your home, then go with Shield/Plex. If you want a media player that will more than just MKV files, like ISO or BDMV, then go Zappiti. Also, the Shield Pro is a beast of a streaming device, so it has that as well.
Yeah I would have thought Plex and Shield has an upperhand with NAS in the mix.. however as of the current firmware Plex is failing at playing atmos true hd randomly. So Shield has firmware issues at the moment. Kodi on shield has better iso and plex playback currently..
Thanks for another great video, would love a tutorial getting a straight rip of dvd / blu ray / 4K film with menus to the new players, I tried the method on your other video and had no success with makemkv as well! Even just a little nugget as a response on here would be great 😁👍
Hi Chris! Here's an older video on ripping ISO files with DVDFab - czcams.com/video/zr_TbLNGP3w/video.html
@Techno Dad, what type of hard drives are you using? Are they dedicated NAS drives that are low noise or regular desktop drives?
Nice review like always. I wish I can have it, but Im not ready to let go my oppo 203 yet.
Thanks!
Yes i am interested with your tutorial on ripping uhd films on make mkv and iso on dvdfab uhd copy
ISO Ripping in DVDFab - czcams.com/video/zr_TbLNGP3w/video.html
what settings do you use when ripping on dvdfab 4K?? do you use nvidia gpu or intel ??
I have the Duo, and it has not let me down. Odd to find you still have the delay with loading etc. Thought that would have been addressed, but perhaps that is an issue for the drive speed? Are you able to show the difference in speed with SSD vs HDD?
I hope one day they add a simplified system for Home Videos and/or Music Videos. As it is, there currently isn't one. And the Music player is rubbish.
How does it compare to Plex/NAS?
Or shield running kodi
This will support more file types and has a HiFi DAC with XLR outputs for audiophiles.
Nice video bro. Very informative. I've got 2 questions for you. Is this a FULL multi-media player? Can I play my music files 'cause you didn't touch on that. Also, do you have to use hard drives? Can't you use ssd drives instead to eliminate the noise? The price points are far outta my reach and if I can't play music then it's not worth it for me.
Hi, Alex! Yes, it does! I had a whole section on that but I had to cut it out due to time. I was able to play FLAC and DSD files on the Zappiti through the network. It has that ESS Sabre DAC with balanced stereo XLR outputs, which will give you a higher quality signal to your amplifier. As for SSDs, it's a good idea and yes, it will remove the drive noise issue, but it's pretty expensive. I have a 16TB spinning drive which was around $500 but the equibvalent SSD is around $3K. That's a tough pill to swallow.
@@TechnoDad Agreed, it is a tough pill to swallow but I don't need SSDs that big for my purposes. In for a penny and all that jazz.
YES on tutorial for DVDFAB DOLBY VISION ripping.
Ah, you already made it!
How does it deal with Cinavia audio? Most of my ripped movies (that I bought) use HD audio, possibly with Cinevia-mangled audio streams in them. Would be a shame if this thing stopped playing HD audio because of the Cinavia DRM BS.
Love the Jump! Love your music..!!
Do you have your songs on Spotify? If yes please share link!!
Hi! Yes, I do,. Here's a link - bit.ly/CDS29YrsS
I didn't hear enough of New Track #1 to know if i like it or not but from what i heard, it wasn't catchy.
Hi. Excellent info. I have a Neo on order and waiting. I have a Zappiti 4K HDR with my server on my pc instead of the cloud. I'll put the older version in a guest room but wondering if I can use my present catalogue DB or will I have to build a whole new one? I don't see anything on line on if/how to do that. Hoping you have video on that as well as how to use sharing. Thanks!
Hi! I just logged into my account on the new Zappiti and was able to access my previous database since I set it up as a share to begin with.
How it handles HDR?
Does it have tone mapping?
So do I hook this system up to my network…and then just rip the blu rays on my PC using Make MKV…then transfer the files over the network onto this device? Seems like a lot of extra data shuffling no? Why wouldn’t they just incorporate a 4k blu ray player drive into this box that will just directly rip the movie onto the installed hard drive?
Noob question: Is the main benefit of this whole setup just to avoid the minor inconvenience of loading and unloading 4k blu ray discs by having them ripped and accessible in a simple UI? Is there any other benefit from a quality standpoint?
Yes, you don't have to locate the disc and of course, you don't need to store the disc and case. I have my cases in a box in a storage unit. So you can free up some physical space in your home.
I'm pretty green with Zappiti, can this media player to stream youtube or netflix as well?
Great video. I've been interested in adding something like this, or plex
Right on!
Nice to see a scope screen option!
Yeah, I think that's definitely a good thing!
Anyone have suggestions on a 4K burner drive? I tried emailing the Alex guy but never heard back.
Great review Techno Dad, Thx 🙏👍👌🍻
A quick question that you may be able to help me & other Zappiti users with :
Im a proud owner of the Zappiti Neo Media Player 👌👍
My question regarding upgrading my Existing WD 4TB HDD (TV Shows) with all my Medadata & my custom info regarding episode lengths & info etc. (I own a PC)
Question : Can I copy & paste the entire collection (including all Medadata) from my existing 4TB (external HDD) to a new 16TB (external HDD) ?
And if so.... can you provide me & the community with a how-to video on how to do this.
Any help would be very much appreciated 🙏
Thankyou
Hi! I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to do this. You will have to point the Zappiti at the new HDD and folder with all your content. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Hi Channa! How do these new Zappiti models compare to something like a Zidoo Z10 Pro that you reviewed before? For example Zappiti Neo is $1500 and Z10 is $350... even the ZIDOO Z1000PRO is $450. What constitutes the $1200+ price jump when these two brands they have nearly identical capabilities?
Hi Marc! The Zappiti has more HiFi audio features than the Zidoo. Better DACs and some say black levels, but I didn't notice that.
If you need good DAC, go to Zidoo UHD3000, way better than Zappiti. Zappiti, Zidoo, Dune PQ are 100% identical, but good to know, the RTD1619DR PQ is average.
@@TechnoDad why would you want to mess with the sound with a dac. ? If your watching a movie the sound is supposed to be passed through and decided by your amplifier, not the media player
Hi, great review, been considering the reference since it came out, currently have a oppo 203, which is an incredible media player, but unfortunately doesn't have the user interface that the zappiti has which I love.
A couple of questions please, when you refer to the noise of the hard drive, are you referring to it when it's in the zappiti itself? And also on the menus does it play the soundtrack of the movie?
Many thanks
So he doesn't reply to messages then?
I don't have the new Zappiti but an older Version, the 4k HDR Duo. I am really annoyed by the harddrive noise of mine as well. I bought another hard drive but it was only a littl bit quieter. But it's definately the hard drives/hard drive bays of the Zappiti. If i play a movie that's on the external SSD, the unit is dead quiet...
@@floz9718 thanks for the reply, so do you use a ssd drive with yours?
@@darreningram8942 I actually use a combination of an external SSD and an external WD harddrive which is really quiet but I still have an 8 TB WD Red drive in one of the slots as well. It's a little quieter than the Seagate skyhawk I had in there first but it's still quite noisy. I guess it's not the player's fault, most 2.5" harddrives are just very noisy The player could isolate the noise better though...
@@floz9718 ok, thanks, I've only recently purchased mine and still don't have any internal drives for it yet, just waiting for a good deal on a couple. You say you have the WD Red, I've heard they are the most quietest as compared to the Seagate, would you say there is a noticeable difference?
Great content. In your opinion, is the Zappiti product is better than Zidoo in terms of image and sound quality? I was worried about the question of whether to hear the disc reading... Keep up the good work.
Zidoo, Zappiti, Dune PQ is same, please check the "Zappiti Neo with Magic Pixel 3.0" yt video
They all use the same SOC and everything is digital, so the differences are in the interface and player reliability.
I have the Zidoo Z10 Pro and they are pretty similar. Zappiti has better build quality though.
Hey Techno Dad where can I get a zappiti neo? Isn’t available on their site
It’s been sold out for some time.
Hi Channa, great review on this beautiful media player! If there is one person's expertise I trust in this space its YOU! Recently, I've had a really hard time picking a 32 inch display for my home arcade (will be used for retro and modern games: primarily 1080p) and don't know if I should stick with the LG 1080p IPS (32ML600M-B) monitor that comes with the machine (better response time & input lag) but only has a 1200:1 contrast ratio or put in a Samsung QLED 4k TV, which has better resolution and contrast ratio/inkier black levels but inferior response time/input lag... or some other VA panel/TV? If I were to go with a QLED would you go with the Samsung Q60A (32 inch) or the Q50R (32 inch)? Based on the reviews the Q60A has better brightness (473 cd/m² vs 305 cd/m²), input lag (10.1ms vs 10.6ms) and black uniformity (0.669% vs 1.531%) but the Q50R has better blacks/contrast ratio (5,428:1 vs 4,653:1) and better response time (80%response time-5.5ms vs 7.2ms //100%response time-15.2ms vs17.3ms). Would highly appreciate any thoughts and or suggestions.
Hi! Thank you for watching my videos! Out of the two, Q60A or Q50R, I would with the Q60A.
@@TechnoDad Thanks 🙏 Thats what I am leaning towards. Not too many choices in that size.
It's so sad that they only sell these things with hard drives. They used to have a mini version without hard drives but that seems to be out of stuck. Maybe nobody bought it. I have all my ripped ISOs on my NAS and there is no way ever that I will put anything with moving parts in my media bench.
Question though. Zappiti seems to be the only option if you want access to bluray menus, and they claim UHD compatibility. Does this really work? And if so why is this not a bigger thing than it is? Plex support keeps saying that nobody wants this but I'm just sick of ripping media and having to spend time on all of the extra material. Does this work reliably?
Very nice review. What do you think about the Zidoo devices? They seem to be similar to the Zappiti.
Yes! They are very similar. I have the Zidoo Z10 Pro but they are super cheap feeling compared to the Zappiti. Also, the Zappiti has more HiFi Audio features thank the Zidoo.
@@TechnoDad Thanks for the insight.
I'd definitely would like a tutorial on how to burn the movies onto the Zappiti.
Will do! Here's the first one I made - czcams.com/video/AqUpY78BlnQ/video.html
The interface is already laggy, I wonder how the background animations affect this.
Not sure. Once the page loads the first time, then it's much faster.
Channa looking and sounding great ❤❤🔥🔥❤
Thank you, Tristan!
Does it have a shuffle/auto play feature?
Yes, I think it does!
Is it possible to connect Synology Nas to it?
Great video. Quick question. When using zappiti share to pull movies from the downstairs player if u had a hard drive in both players would it merge the libraries like u had it all on one disk or can u only look at one disk at a time. Thanks in advance
Hi Rob! Great question. I am not 100% sure if it'll work this way, but you could point Zappiti 1 to an internal drive and a drive on Zappiti 2. And at the same time, you have Zappiti 2 pulling from an internal drive and then another drive on Zappiti 1. I think that could work.
@@TechnoDad my zappiti one just came in I’m going to put a drive in it and see if I can pull from my neo brb
It kinda works. Doesn’t add it to ur library by “merging disks” but allows you to switch from one collection to another pretty quickly once it’s all on the same network
can I play movies from external hard drive with the help of this device, if not then please mention the device from which I can play all of my movies from external hard drive in my smart 4k TV through usb . My TV didn't support all the formats while playing directly through USB. so please mention the device from where I can play all the formats.
And what about bluray player?
Yes, this will play all your movies on an external hard drive
Can it host DLNA content (DLNA Standby) on a local/local wifi network
So with the Nvidia Shield if you have Kodi you can basically connect a HDD while USB standby is set to on and access those files on the HDD via another TV that is connected to the same modem?
That sounds like it will work but I can't say for sure.
Why not just go for the Nvidia Shield TV Pro? It´s a fraction of the price. And works great with Plex and a NAS on the same network. A much more mature and evolved product by the looks of it
Plex is too limiting. No ISO and BDMV support. There's also the HiFi DAC and XLR outputs.
for demos what I did was rip the movie to mkv. and then use mkvtoolnix to trim the movie down to my demo part. like just the race scene from ready player one.
Hi! Interesting! I'll have to check that out!
@@TechnoDad this is the procedure in mkvtoonix: Add sources files, then go to the output files. Second field down is splitting. select "by parts based on timestamps" then under parts Put both time parts of scene you want to have "1:56:00-1:58:00. then click start multiplexing. After about 5 min you will have just that time stamp in a full MKV file and still have the original copy. Now no more fast forwarding in the movie to see your test files.
please do the video of dvdfab dolby vision mkv
Hi excellent review I have the neo it's fantastic player too u will not go wrong with that one too. Is there any chance u can show us how to rip dolby vision with make MKV it would be greatly appreciated many thanks for ur time and help.
Thanks! And yes, I can.
Thanks a lot ur top lad al look forward to seeing it.
For 4k ripping you said you had a hard time with mkv…what about mkv backup (their iso) I have a library of those backups were those buggy too?
Hi! Those BDMV folder backups worked well. I'm just trying to rip to MKV with Dolby Vision and it was taking forever and I ended up stopping the rips.
I pre-ordered (and paid for) this player 6 weeks ago from Zappiti USA. I should have contacted you. I received a Neo by mistake. They sent me a label to return the wrong player and I just received my replacement - another Neo! That's strike 2.
That’s too bad, Donny. I can’t really say much other than that. I hope third time is a charm 🤞🏽
How would this work if I had my drives in a NAS? Would it still function as if having the drives directly plugged in to the Zappiti?
Hi!! Yes, it should work just fine. Point the Zappiti to the folders on your NAS and it will pull all the content from there.
@@TechnoDad Awesome. Thanks for the reply
Does it change all your videos to 2:35 format when selecting that.feature ?
No. That's just for the menus and navigating through the Zappiti. It will change the aspect ratio to whatever the movie is in. So if it's IMAX, it'll play that, or 2.35:1, 2.40:1, or 16:9.
how does this compare to a Zidoo?
Depending on the model, they are pretty much the same.
Are the internal zappit hard drives loud like the network drives too?
I am using a network drive which I think might be the cause of the loud noise.
Have you tested Zappiti with the sound and video splitted ? (Video on hdmi out and the sound hdmi audio only ?) Does it work perfectly ? Thank you
Hi Alex, I haven’t tried that.
Hi, okay thank you :)
Whats the best way (for someone who doesnt really know what they are doing) to get files onto the drive on this device? I had been looking at the Zapitti NAS rip just for ease of use, going by the ads anyway it seems a one stop shop, i can put a disc in and the box does the rest. Downside is its highly expensive! i'd love an easier, cheaper but above all easy one stop shop type solution to get files onto the player.
Hi! There are a couple of ways. Here’s a video - czcams.com/video/YfL9-syrMas/video.html
@@TechnoDad Many thanks! and hello from the UK!
what is thhe ddiffernce between the Zappiti and Nvida Shield ?
They both have things about them that make them different. With Shield/Plex you can access your movie library from outside your home. However, you can only use MKV files on Shield/Plex. With the Zappiti, you can use MKV, M2TS, ISO, BDMV, and many more. Also, the Zappiti is substantially more expensive.
Hey Techno Dad! This is my first video of yours and am now a big fan.
In regards to video quality... Watching a movie on Plex through a Shield or Apple TV doesn't even come close to how well the same movie will look through my Sony X800M2. Just because something supports DV or HDR doesn't mean it looks as good as it truly can. As far as I can tell, nothing beats how well Sony and Panasonic disc players perform (or Oppo RIP). Which leads me to my question...
How does the content actually look? Any info regarding colors, blacks, lines etc would be appreciated.
Thank you so much, S O! The content looks pretty much the same as the Oppo/Reavon players. I will do a side by side with some content to see, but I think it's really close.
@@TechnoDad thank you! Please let me know. Really considering the Neo since I don't need the DAC and XLR outs but I don't want to sacrifice picture quality.
Appreciate your help!
yes i would like to see comparison from 4K Player and the zappiti and also Audio quality if I wanted to use it as music player
What's the best place to source Dolby demo discs? Are ebay ones authentic?
I got some at trade shows and I got some on eBay. Just go into it knowing that possibly the eBay ones are copies. You just have to manage your expectations.
@@TechnoDad If the eBay discs are bit-perfect, I don't care ;)
@@TechnoDad I saw your other video about the "burned" eBay demo discs. Thanks, I am going to stay away from it.
Does it still play 3d? Will it play dvd backups from dvd fab too?
I believe so. I'll have to check in a different room.
4k 120hz hdmi 2.1 not available unfortunately. Do you know if there will be a device like this one that supports it? Thanks
4K 120Hz & HDMI 2.1 is not necessary on a device like this.
@@TechnoDad I want to feed my LG C Oled and nz7 with that. Can you explain why it is not necessary? I assume the original fps of cinematic movies? Please let me know in detail if possible. Waiting on buying one because of that. It can play all (nearly) codecs, right?
@@starfighter_ten I buy now new 77 Sony oled ,.and new multimedia center,.this Zappiti,or Dune Max Vision 4K ,..and none of this players havent hdmi 2.1 ,..because isnt need it. All your best video wuality is just need for 2.0 4K and 120HZ is hdmi2.1 yes,.but that is for consoles my friend :) xbox series x and PS5,..i have both and for them i will use hdmi2.1 ,.not for multimedia center. All Dolby Vision, HDR10+ etc etc,....are in hdmi 2.0 ,..not for 2.1. Thats just for nextgen consoles ,not movies :)
Once in the Video section, how do you add the Demo icon on the bottom?
Ok Figured it out
Love my Zappiti Neo
Copy that! I have an older video that can help - czcams.com/video/Yb3tkZO9UEE/video.html
Yes on the tutorial please
so better or just as good as kaleidescape? ?
The KScape is much more expensive but you don’t have to rip your own movies, just download into the KScape.
hi have you tested the music app?
Not specifically that app, but I have played FLAC and DSD without issues over the network. I'll check out the music app in a few days.
I have 2 hard drives in my Zappitti player but nothing shows up. They have both been formatted so I don’t know what could be the issue. Is there any other thing I need to do or settings I need to change?
Nothing shows up? Did you point the Zappiti Movie app to the drive?
@@TechnoDad Firstly, when I insert the drives into the bays and turn on the zappiti, I don’t even hear the drives booting up. It’s as if they’re not even in there. I can use them via a usb docking station so I know there’s nothing wrong with the drives themselves. I’m just confused as to why they won’t work in the bays of the zappiti player
@@paulrevere1479 That sounds like something is wrong with that specific Zappiti unit. Can you exchange it? I turn my Zappiti on and then put the drive in and I can hear it spin up.
Seriously over priced, but its a great unit
Yeah, it's a pricey setup for sure!
your paying for the BDMV/ISO support that the opensource/closed source software doesnt provide (plex,jellyfin,emby)
@@lancenewdinger4316 if you want those features on a cheaper player, try Zidoo Z9X
@@skidavid1289 You clearly haven't tried playing either from a Zidoo Z9X. Success is a "wing and a prayer".
Thanks T. Dad
Thank you for watching, Craig!
How does the picture quality compare to other devices?
The PQ is not great. Please search for youtube video with this title: "Zappiti Neo with Magic Pixel 3.0"
Please check the "Zappiti Neo with Magic Pixel 3.0" yt video
Whatever differences you may see in a graph, you probably won't notice while watching content.
The noisy drive is on you. Zappiti does not control that.
The interface and loading looks too slow for now
Can an xbox series x do all that? 🤔
Unfortunately, no.
One of the dumbest names for a product I’ve seen in awhile.
Have you ever tried the nvidia shield with kodi. It does the same thing but super cheap
Zidoo or zappiti for the interface?
Zappiti has a better interface.
I like Zappiti better.
Why not just use a SSD? Yes, it’s more expensive, but it’s much faster and it’s silent.
Yeah, that would cut out that whole disc reading noise situation...but a 16TB SSD would cost $3K and I would need two of those. So that's a bit too much for me. I'm sure people out there could afford something like that though.