R_volution PlayerOne 8K Review

Physical disc collections, while beloved for their high-quality video and audio, present a dilemma for some movie enthusiasts. The substantial space they require, coupled with the inconvenience of swapping discs during a system demo, can detract from the viewing experience. The hassle of physically changing discs, and waiting for each to load, disrupts the seamless enjoyment of one’s system.

Over the last couple of years, more enthusiasts have turned to ripping or backing up their movie collections. This trend towards digital collections is driven by the desire to save space and maintain easy access to movies. However, there's a catch. When most people think of digital movie collections, they think of streaming, which often means a compromise on video and audio quality.

Enter the R_volution PlayerOne 8K, a solution designed to bridge this gap. R_volution provides a couple of different player options that allow users to access media from onboard or attached storage, as well as network-attached storage (NAS). The company's user interface is reminiscent of popular streaming platforms, offering a familiar and user-friendly navigation experience. With R_volution, the convenience of digital media does not come at the expense of quality, ensuring that movie lovers no longer have to choose between ease of access and high-fidelity playback.

Specifications

The recently released R_volution PlayerOne 8K is the company’s new media player that supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, powered by the new Amlogic S928X-K/J chipset. It serves both as a media player and a server, capable of streaming content to other R_volution devices within a network. The device includes an internal hard drive bay, offering storage options of up to 32 TB for movies, TV shows, and other media files.

Speaking of media files, the R_volution PlayerOne 8K supports an extensive range of the most current video file formats. This includes MKVs, both BD and UHD ISO files with full and quick access to BD/UHD menus, AV-1, BDMV files, as well as high-resolution audio files such as DSD, AIFF, FLAC, and ALAC. In terms of playback capabilities, it offers support for Auro3D, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X, pretty much handling every file type and codec a user might need.

The R_volution PlayerOne 8K is equipped with 8GB of RAM, features Quick Media Switching, and supports both 8K video output and upscaling, along with WiFi 6 connectivity. One of the major drawbacks from a couple of years ago was that media players had an issue with the playback of Dolby Vision. This device successfully overcomes this by supporting playback of BDMV and ISO files in various Dolby Vision profiles (P4, P5, P7 MEL and FEL, and P8). Thanks to the VS10 engine, it can also convert standard dynamic range (SDR) to high dynamic range (HDR) content to 12-bit video processing and vice versa depending on your display.

The remote control provided with the player is thoughtfully designed, encompassing all the features one might need. It features a backlit design which is an especially useful feature in dark rooms. The remote is equipped with a variety of shortcut buttons for quick access to functions like image ratio, resolution switching, subtitles, audio tracks, and repeat mode. It also includes a Stop button and direct playback controls allowing users to skip forward or backward by 1 minute or 10 seconds. Although the remote's comprehensive functionality results in a slightly larger size, its design ensures it remains comfortable to hold.

Setup with R_Video

At the core of the system lies the company’s Video media player software, R_video, which operates on an Android-based platform. The PlayerOne 8K comes with R_video included at no extra cost. This software scans your video files, whether they're stored on a local drive connected to the PlayerOne 8K or accessible via a NAS on the local network. R_video then gathers cover art, backgrounds, and detailed information such as cast, director, release date, and ratings for each file. Users can effortlessly browse movies by genre, sort them by rating, duration, or release date, read synopses, watch trailers, and ultimately, play the movie with the simple press of a button.

R_video takes the browsing experience a step further with its automatic top banner, displaying the type of media (e.g., 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD), and adds the movie’s soundtrack while you browse through movies or TV shows. It leverages a fanart database along with R_video DB and TMDB for a variety of options. The user interface also lets you directly filter and sort from categories to 4K only movies, to recently watched or added. There’s also a search option that showcases movies featuring specific actors or directors.

With all the features and capabilities of the R_volution PlayerOne 8K in mind, you might be wondering about the setup process. Thankfully, it's quite simple. I used an SSD loaded with about 34 movies, ranging from Blu-ray comedies in MKV format to 4K HDR Dolby Vision ISO and BDMV files. After integrating the SSD with the player, navigating to the video section is your next step.

Initially, you're greeted with a login page, offering an option to create a new account if you don't already have one. After account creation, you're directed to a page where you're asked to enter a token. It's worth noting that the token location isn't specified on this page, but it can be found on a sticker at the bottom of your player. If you plan on rack mounting, it might be helpful to take a picture of it before installing. Entering this token takes you to the Connection screen, where clicking the connection button launches the R_video app.

Upon accessing the app, you encounter a folder management page, marked by a plus icon at the upper left corner. Selecting this lets you browse and locate your media. My collection of 30 movies was indexed in about five minutes, with the system seamlessly cataloging each file by name and type from my hard drive. You're then free to personalize the poster and background images for each movie or add any additional information you desire. By default, the player will group a movie that is part of a saga with the rest of the titles automatically. If you only have one movie out of a collection, you can pull the individual title from the collection to show as a single movie on the poster wall.

While this process is straightforward on the player itself, the company also offers a desktop application for Mac and Windows that mirrors the player's interface, providing an even easier way to manage your media. At the time of this review, there isn't a mobile app available, but it seems likely that there could be one on the horizon.

The player performed well in identifying titles and accurately recognized most of my collection. Out of 32 titles, only two required a little help. When you access the information section, the player prompts you to identify the titles and from there you can input the name of the movie you're trying to identify. A list of potential matches then appears below, allowing you to select the correct one, with the update taking effect immediately.

Performance

Once everything was set up and running smoothly, I found the experience of using the system to be quite enjoyable. The image quality was on par with the Magnetar player I used for comparison.

During my time with the player, I didn’t see any discernible quality loss in movie or TV show playback when compared to their disc counterparts. Setting the player to output at a fixed resolution, such as upscaling everything to Dolby Vision with the VS10 processing, resulting in a seamless viewing experience devoid of any notable issues. I also ran a couple of tests on Dolby Vision playback with several titles, including "Pulp Fiction," and can confirm that it handled Dolby Vision using the P7 profile well.

Conclusion

As someone who has long preferred physical media, the idea of moving my movie collection to a digital format was initially met with some hesitation. However, my experience with the R_volution PlayerOne 8K has been a turning point. Its superior playback quality has demonstrated that a digital collection can indeed match and in some aspects, surpass physical media playback.

What truly sets this player apart is its user interface, making the browsing experience enjoyable with animated posters and the integration of movie soundtracks. This thoughtful design, coupled with the device's performance, makes the R_volution PlayerOne 8K not just a mere media player, but a central hub for movie enthusiasts seeking a premium experience that justifies its $899 price tag. For anyone considering upgrading their movie/TV collection, this player should be at the top of your list.

FAQ

What is the difference between a media player and a streaming stick?

A media player is generally more feature-rich, offering a wider range of file format support and connectivity options. In contrast, a streaming stick focuses primarily on streaming content from online services and is more compact.

What is Dolby Vision FEL?

Certain Dolby Vision profiles operate on a dual-layer system, such as profile 7, which is utilized for Ultra HD Blu-ray. This system comprises a base layer (BL) and an enhancement layer (EL) that work together to create a 12-bit video stream. The enhancement layer may be categorized as either a full enhancement layer (FEL) or a minimum enhancement layer (MEL).

Is Dolby Vision 10 or 12-bit?

Dolby Vision supports up to 12-bit color depth, enabling it to display a wider range of colors and more detailed gradations compared to the more common 10-bit color depth found in other HDR formats. This capability allows for more precise color representation and enhanced visual quality.