As a reminder, the new R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition multimedia player, like the R_volution PlayerOne 8K and R_volution PlayerOne 8K models, offers an experience close to that of the Zappiti players and the eponymous application, signed by the company same name which ceased its activities recently.
R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition, what developments?££££
The R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition is the result of a partnership with the German company Aunthentics Cinema, which specializes in “tweaked†hardware. Unlike usual where the latter intervenes on an existing product to improve its performance, R_volution and Authentic Cinema decided from the start to work hand in hand to achieve an ultimate version of the 100% digital R_volution PlayerOne 8K media player. For this, many of the components have been replaced or improved with for example the presence of a toroidal power supply (80 VA), high capacity capacitors from Mundorf, a video section shielded by a thick copper plate (1.5 mm) , a modified motherboard, massive aluminum feet, a new connector for the power cable with conductors in pure rhodium-plated copper (rhodium plated), a case treated against resonance, an additional filter for the hard drive power supply internal…
All these changes benefit audiovisual quality with a drastic reduction in video noise, particularly in low light, for improved colorimetry and contrast. The same goes for the audio, which offers an extremely precise scene and reveals many sound details.
R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition and R_video, 100% dematerialized audio-video experience££££
The R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition is based on a similar principle: offering the possibility of ripping your own films/series or music on the player's hard drive or on the R_volution Nas (network hard drive box, see photo below), to then enjoy it in a completely dematerialized way using a dedicated application, R_video. The latter, graphically superb with animated backgrounds, offers the film poster, all the associated technical information, its distribution... The application also allows you to browse its library of titles via various filters (title, actor, director, categories, release date, length, etc.), to automatically group and manage sagas (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Game of Thrones, etc.), launch a trailer, etc. All with unprecedented speed.
In terms of image quality, the R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition is equipped with the ultimate in technology. Its new Amlogic S928X-K/J SoC, based on a Quad Core ARM A55 processor clocked at 2 GHz + a Quad Core ARM A76 chip clocked at 1.9 GHz + an additional core dedicated to system needs, offers enormous raw power , approximately twice as high as that of the Realtek RTD1619DR embedded in the first R_volution PlayerOne of the name.
The R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition is therefore perfectly equipped to handle an Ultra HD 8K 60 Hz signal up to HDR Dolby Vision. In addition, AV1 compatibility allows you to enjoy suitable content available on YouTube. Of course, HDR10, HDR10+ are required and the VS10 mode (exclusive algorithm developed by Dolby Laboratories for 12-bit processing of HDR signals), which can be activated on demand on SDR signals to convert them into HDR, and vice versa, offers further image enhancement. Ultra HD 8K Upscaling is also present. Also worth noting is the support for DTS:X for audio decoding of all major sound processes.
R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition, multiroom experience££££
Good news, in the presence of several R_volution players, the R_Share function allows a multiroom configuration to enjoy content in several rooms in a home. While it is possible to simultaneously broadcast up to four 1080p quality signals, streaming is limited to two streams in 4K Ultra HD quality and only one in 8K. And to top it all off, the upcoming R_Sync feature will perfectly and automatically synchronize content between different players to resume playback exactly where you left off when moving from one room to another.
R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition, connectivity££££
Before returning in more detail, later, to the characteristics of the R_volution multimedia player, a visual of its rear panel informs us about its connectivity: an HDMI output CEC 2.1a, an optical output, two USB ports (one 2.0 plus one 3.0) and an Ethernet port. Namely, the R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition is marketed with an IR offset to control it even if it is hidden in a piece of furniture and QMS (Quick Media Switching) technology is included to avoid, on a compatible broadcaster, screens black when changing sources.
R_video, better than the Zappiti reference?££££
For the rest, all the brilliant functions popularized by the Zappiti application in recent years are available here with the R_video application (available at a price of 5 .99 €/month or 50 €/year, free for owners of an R_volution player): download of subtitles, pictograms of all kinds to define and label content, poster of films signed R_video (the R_volution database has approximately 18,000 posters at the time of writing), parental control, customization of the user interface, playback of a film soundtrack during navigation, management of 24 Hz and 23.976 Hz signals…
A rack is of course always present to accommodate an internal 3.5'' Sata type hard drive with up to 32 TB of storage capacity (two 16 TB partitions).
R_video, support for Dune players in focus££££
After the development of support for Zappiti players (see our R_video news: application compatible with Zappiti players), the developers of the R_video application is working hard on compatibility with Dune players.
Latest information, the R_volution Mini, a third multimedia player should therefore show the end of its components in the coming months (spring) to expand the range.
Immediate availability (at HD Land). Indicative prices: €1,800 for the R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition player and €2,999 for the R_volution Nas bare box.
Reminder of the key characteristics of the R_volution PlayerOne 8K Signature Edition:
• Type: Multimedia player
• Processor: Amlogic S928X-K/J (Quad Core ARM A55 at 2.0 GHz + Quad Core ARM A76 clocked at 1.9 GHz + additional core for system needs
• Ram memory: 4 GB
• Storage memory: 32 GB
• Cache memory: 1 MB
• Codec compatibility(s): AC3, DTS:X, Mpeg, AAC, HEAAC, LPCM, Alac, AIFF, Wav, MQA, VSELP, Flac, APE, Ogg/Vorbis (up to 192 kHz/24 bits), HEVC, VP9, Iso 3D BD, Iso BD, BDMV, MKV, M4A, Mpeg-TS, Mpeg-PS, M2TS, Vob, AVI, Mov MP4, QT, WMV, Iso DVD, Video TS, SACD Iso, AVC-HD• DSD compatibility: yes
• Hi-Res Audio certification: yes
• Input(s): 2 USB ports (one 2.0 plus one 3.0) and 1 Ethernet port.
• Output(s): 1 HDMI CEC 2.1a output, 1 optical output
• Gapless function: yes
• Other(s): Ultra HD/8K upscaling, full auto-framerate function ( frequencies 23.976/24/50/59.94/60 Hz), Widevine L1 DRM
• Multiroom function: R_Share
• Rec2020 compatibility: yes
• HDR10 compatibility
• HDR compatibility Dolby Vision
• HDR10+ compatibility
• Dolby Atmos compatibility
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 Dual Band, Bluetooth 5.2
• Application: R_Video
• UPnP gateway function ( DLNA): yes
• Consumption (On/standby): 39 W/0.02 W
• Dimensions (L x D x H): 430 x 285 x 80 mm
• Weight: 6.7 kg