One piece of errata that I'll cover in more depth next week: Plex ATMOS passthrough works so long as it's not lossless. Lossless ATMOS works but it comes through as PCM and it does not appear to activate all channels.
Why is it only the SHIELD TV that supports DTS? Apple TV 4K (2022), this Cube don't. Being a Plex user that's the main reason I'm sticking with my SHIELD TV Pro (2019). The Ethernet port speed is also a disappointment like you said. Good review as always!
I’ll definitely be getting the FireCube to replace my FireStick 4K, Roku Ultra 2022 to replace my Roku 4K Express, and Apple TV 4K 2022 to replace Apple TV 4K 2017!
@@sticky59 2GB of RAM, bare minimum 16GB internal storage, obsolete ports, still running on Android 9.0. All those issues combined are enough reason not buy this device. Amazon went the cheap route on what is supposed to be their premium/flagship device.
@@peteowen3539 FACTS! My current speeds are 479.6Mbps( download) and 35.65mbps( upload). And this is WIFI! I have a 1gigabyte to play with. It handles SD, HD, 4K, 8K, and 12K with No problem. I added a USB to my Cube and have over 64gb of space. The thing is a BEAST! I also have my cable box running through it. Clears the picture up quite a bit. People are just crazy, man.
11:53 I'm surprised Netflix does not support frame rate matching because my 2nd gen cube supports frame rate matching on Netflix, prime and plex. Recently there was an update that solved the blank sideload app icon issues as well.
Thanks for the video Question to anyone: Can this be used alone with a computer monitor with no speakers, and just use the speaker in the cube as the tv speaker?
Does the picture and picture allow for an antenna feed running through the tvs coaxial and say Amazon prime at the same time? Or only 2 videos played through hdmi feeds on the box?
Hello, first time commenting. Can you test if this new version can output ultra wide screen resolutions (3440x1440) please. I mean shows and movies, not only the front UI. Thanks, nice show!
Does wired controllers like the Xbox 360 wired controller work with the fire cube 3rd gen? I want to use the wired controller I have to play xcloud and retroarch on the fire cube.
I watched your entire review. I was hoping you would have told us if this device makes watching Netflix any better. Would I enjoy watching Netflix on this device better than say the 2022 Roku ultra that comes with the Roku voice remote pro and is only $99
No Netflix won't be any better or worse in terms of quality vs a 4K firestick or any other streaming device like roku. The video quality is the same on all 4k streaming devices as long as the codecs etc on all devices are the same. The only difference will be the app load times on faster hardware.
Hi. I'm trying to record shows on my IPTV service. Using a thumb drive plugged in to the USB port on the cube 3 I just cannot get it to work. Do I need to do something with ADB?. Any suggestions would be much appreciated
@@LonSeidman I have the Nvidia shield with ai upscaling which works very well with 1080p content upscaled and see the difference clearly using 65 inch oled no TV is gonna match that level of upscaling can't live without it now, just with Amazon adding upscaling would be interested to see how it compares
The Shield has more modern ports while the Cube uses ports that were obsolete over a decade ago. I will stick with my Shield Pro 2019 until Nvidia releases a new version. Amazon came up short with their 3rd generation if the Cube.
It doesn't on my max or gen2 cube... neither does Disney+ Vudu, nothing.. no matter on wifi or hardwire! I have a CX and C1 OLED so I know that's not the issue.. when video setting in on Auto it just goes to 1080p.. garbage.. I'm annoyed and my return window had expired before I found the issue with both devices.
When they decide to skimp on hardware in what is supposed to be their flagship device why should we reward them with our money. 2GB of RAM, bare minimum 16 GB of internal storage, obsolete ports running on a locked version of Android 9.0 is a joke in 2022.
If you're not into gaming and just looking to cut the cord by streaming, the best thing about the 3rd gen Cube is that the 2nd gen Cube is now, as of Nov 25, 2022, only 60 bucks. A great streaming device for that price.
Looking right, looking left I place the Fire TV Cube on a tee and pull out my Calloway driver and let it rip! Then I go back to my Shield Pro with integrated RTX level gaming and adaptive A.I. upscaling and shake my head at the nonsense.
All they have to do is update that darn ethernet port but nooooooooo...... I bought a gigabit ethernet usb dongle a year ago that works fine but for some reason when the TV is off it gives me the orange knight rider lights until I wake up the TV
Lon, Do you happen to have any 4K Blu-Ray REMUXs on your Plex server that are HDR10+ also with Dolby Vision like 1917 or Birds of Prey. Those movies with both HDR10+ and DV result in black screen on my FireTV Stick Max. Was wondering if they do on this new Cube as well? Thanks
Hey Lon, great review! One thing I was wondering about that you didn't really cover was the new upscaling feature. How does it compare to the Nvidia Shield and Apple TV? Thanks!
My advice is always to rely on your television's own upscaler.. I haven't been impressed with anything I've seen on these other boxes including Nvidia's AI feature vs. what my LG OLED does on its own.
@@LonSeidman doesn't the Apple TV, Fire stick or any streaming device have to upscale lower quality content before it sends it to the TV? My understanding is that the TV only does upscaling when using integrated apps?
I agree that they should have made it better on the ports. But if people want to speed it up shouldn't all these people doing reviews say something about how you can still get around the 100 speeds? Nobody is saying anything!
Excellent review! To optimize viewing and listening experience, what is the ideal setup? Should the HDMI(eArc) from the Cube be connected to the HDMI(eArc) of the soundbar or to the projector?
Just returned to this video today as a new Fire Cube 3 arrived yesterday. I returned one of these a year ago not seeing enough difference from the gen2 on my dual band wifi. Now I have tri-band (tp-Link XE75 with 6e) so it seemed time to try again. I was actually looking for a teardown on this version because the wifi 6e on mine doesn't perform much better than 5GHz band on the gen 2's I have, and I wanted to read up on that device. My internet is 900Mbps--a limit my other 6e devices are exceeding slightly--except for the Cube3--which has been updated to the latest, greatest(?). It is connected to 6Ghz with WPA3. At the top range, I'm hitting 420Mbps but really more like 375. My Cube2's regularly run above 330--ethernet or, now with XE75 wifi. That's not much difference considering my other devices literally doubled their wifi speeds. I'm trying to discover whether the wifi component in my unit is defective, or is the unit really trash. Until I re-viewed this video, other speed reports showed pretty much what I was getting. Yours, OTOH, went higher on wifi 6. I wonder what 6e would be. Guess I'll try another.
Hi, Can FireTV Cube (3rd gen) in Cinema/Theater mode play audio? I know that the FireTV Cube 3rd gen (just like the Stick 4K Max) supports HDMI ARC. So the audio of other HDMI devices connected to the TV can be routed to the Fire TV. However, I don't have a Cube to try this out.th other Echo devices (e.g. 2x Echo + Sub combo) to use them in Cinema/Theater mode. Then the audio of the Fire TV will be redirected to the speakers. If you combine HDMI ARC and Theater mode, even audio from the other HDMI devices will be routed to the Echos, which is brilliant. I could test this setup with a Fire Stick and it works well. However, there is a scenario I am really interested in (and it could lead me to buy a Cube), but I can't put my hand on a Cube to try this out. The Cube by itself can play audio as it has an integrated speaker. If I use the Cube in Ciname/Theater mode, can it play the audio too? So instead of having a 3-speaker (2x echo + sub) theater setup, I could have a 4-speaker one? You can imagine a room setup like this: - TV + Cube + Sub in front of you - 2 Echos behind you / next to you. Did anyone try this already?
Spdif optical out would make this a device that would greatly increase use on high res Amazon music. Although I am guessing you could use usb into a high quality DAC.
They had an opportunity to make this great and blew it! 10/100 Ethernet? Why Not Giga or Multi-Gig! USB 2.0 seriously, Minimum standard should be 3.0! They have the space to be able to add an SSD or NVme M.2 for storage! Hard fail for this unit!
@@MackenzieHorn Hard-Core enthusiasts want the fastest everything, it costs about $1 to make these boxes 10/100/1000, so why not do it? I look at 10/100 as technology that is 30+ years old, and it's more about internal Network speeds and not internet speeds.
Kinda lame of Amazon not to ship their high-end device with the voice remote pro. Roku ships the Roku ultra and streaming stick 4k + with their voice remote pro and unlike Amazon the Roku voice remote pro is rechargeable and the Roku ultra only costs $99
I know right? its their premier streaming device. I think they dropped the ball on this gen. 2nd Gen was just like the 1st gen but a lot faster and was really good.
Think about it, everyone has complained about the price of the 3rd gen Cube. Because of the extra tech added in the Pro remote, Amazon would have had to bump the price of the Cube up even more, rather than just including the Alexa remote that comes with the Fire TV series (Omni) and not everyone would find the Pro remote useful or want all the extra buttons, therefore be pissed about having to spend so much on the Cube if it included the Pro remote. I think it was smart to offer it as a separate remote.
I love that you specifically mention enthusiast and avg consumers. Great way to let me see the two main parties. I can gauge my purchase better, maybe even try and start mentioning a few more groups like "gamer's" and "old people" just kidding but upper age people might become viewers.
These are always challenging devices to review as general consumers and enthusiasts are looking for two very different things! As I am just about one year past the half way mark of my 40's I'm very careful about age references these days ;)
Yes you can. Keep the Blu-ray player powered on at all times and you can see the player when you switch to the proper input on the home screen of the Fire TV cube. Must plug the Blu-ray player via HDMI in to the in port in the back of the cube instead of the TV HDMI port on TV.
The 100Mbps ethernet is a deal killer for me. Everyone will say you don't need more, but they're wrong. If you rip UHD Blu-Ray to your NAS and don't compress the video, you'll need more than 100Mbps to stream those without issues. Test your Plex server and player using one of the high-bitrate Jellyfish videos out there. The memory and storage sizes along with the USB 2.0 are also problems. I know price is an issue, but the price they're asking for this device can't be justified when compared to the stick. Not with all these flaws.
The new 🍎 TV 4k for $150 is a better deal than this 3rd gen cube. If you don't want to sideload and tinker with the device then the apple tv is a better streaming device.
The fire cube tv is so awesome lon everyone should get the fire cube tv right lon your awesome lon and keep up the good work 😊😊 and you rock 🎸 lon and enjoy your evening 🌆😊😊😊😊😊
@@MSMMr1982 Hi, it's personal choice. I just was wondering why you said that everyone should get the fire cube. I do have a 1st. Gen fire cube. But I am not a big fan of fire products. Take care, enjoy the rest of the evening. ✌️
I too was skeptical about the lack of a GB LAN port but I bought it anyway. For streaming a 100 MBS port is fine because even in 4k you do not need more than about 30 MBS depending on the service you are streaming from - my wifi on the device is over 500 MBS which is fast emough for just about anything. So in reality the lack of a 1GB LAN port is not really an issue...just my humble opinion. I still prefer my Shield Pro, but this device exceeded my expectations aside from a few minor flaws/annoyances that seem to be on all FireTV devices. But it blows away the standard version of the Shield that I had and got this device to replace it. I am happy with it.
Can't see the point of this thing. Would a Firestick and and a separate Echo speaker not be better? You can then put the speaker where you like, As for the HDMI input almost everything has this feature such as soundbars AV receivers etc. and most modern TV's have plenty of HDMI inputs and is it really that much of an issue to change inputs on a TV. Maybe I am missing something.
With fire recast getting discontinued, is there any way to get OTA channels show up in the “Live” TV section of fire tv interface? It’s such a great feature but don’t know any other dvr boxes or apps doing it for OTA channels
How is the internal speaker quality compared to the 2nd generation fire tv cube? My 2nd gen cube outputs with a very bad audio quality from the internal speaker… almost rubbish. I wish they managed to improve it
Brilliant thanks well explained thanks for sharing that I have just brought a amazon 4k max fire 🔥 stick from argos the last one got it chipped cheap well please never had one before but I have seen the amazon cube 4k 3rd generation thats next on my list 😀
Totally missing in this video is the fact the 3rd gen does not have my app and channels. A deal breaker for me because I can't remember all my apps that I would like to use from time to time.
TBF, the Boxes problem isn't Plex, it's Plex that is the problem. Speaking as a Plex Pro user for the past 4+ years, I've never met a so user unfriendly app yet!
The only reason why I would buy a Fire TV Cube is to connect it to my AVR for atmos as my tv doesnt support ARC and thus no atmos. But with the framerate issue its a no go atm they gotta fix that
@@LonSeidman I actually own an Apple TV 4k since 2017. I love it for the most part but since i have alexa all around my appartement, i considering switching to fire tv. That hdmi in port also seems perfect to plug à 4k BR player and control it with the same remote or by voice. Thanks for pointing that out anyway cause i'm very sensible to frame pacing issues or stutter of any kind! 😀
the slow ports are a way to get people to purchase 2 devises...the first one because its new then the second one when the mark2 is available with the updated faster ports.
FWIW I have had a shield pro since 2020 but just got a cube gen 3. The picture output on the cube is way better. Moreover it knows when to switch to hdr more reliably. The main clincher for me is HDR on youtube works, which it does not on either ATV or Shield due to hardware limitations. The major downside? I cannot get it to connect to my harmony remote or vise versa, it does not show up in the cube settings as a harmony keyboard which is a major bummer. I accept this may be more about harmony being abandoned. However with the crap lip sync issues on ATV 4K (when sync frames is on) or no HDR (When sync frames is off) and the short comings of hdr on shield I thought I was there with the cube 3rd gen. But this does not connect to my harmony. each of these devices has strengths but non of them 'do it all'. However I am struggling to see what shield does better after my short testing. I streamed my largest movie avatar, 68gigs 4k HDR over plex without any issue, so am struggling to see the concern with the ethernet port.
You can put gaming systems like Xbox or Playstation and your dvd player and if you have a cable or satellite subscription you can put the cable or satellite box in
One piece of errata that I'll cover in more depth next week: Plex ATMOS passthrough works so long as it's not lossless. Lossless ATMOS works but it comes through as PCM and it does not appear to activate all channels.
Firmware update improves the audio and the upscaling can you update your review?
halow, can you test Firecube 3 with WD MyBook 14TB? I doubt it cant read. Thanx
do you know if this device supports universal media server?thanx
100Mb Ethernet and an old USb port, when was this released, in the 1990s ?
Why is it only the SHIELD TV that supports DTS? Apple TV 4K (2022), this Cube don't. Being a Plex user that's the main reason I'm sticking with my SHIELD TV Pro (2019). The Ethernet port speed is also a disappointment like you said. Good review as always!
2022 and we are still unable to replace the Shield TV that has been around since 2015.
Only 100 Mbps Ethernet port in 2022. How much would 1000 Mbps Ethernet have possibly cost Amazon in late 2022? SMH.
It would have cost less than $1 to make it 1000Mbps.
Adding a gigabit would have cost next to nothing
ive patiently been waiting for this review... 👍
I’ll definitely be getting the FireCube to replace my FireStick 4K, Roku Ultra 2022 to replace my Roku 4K Express, and Apple TV 4K 2022 to replace Apple TV 4K 2017!
You forgot to add RUclips Premium from RUclips!
Really good video. Does soundbar get connected to cube with HDMI port or still to TV?
Same as before.
I love the Darth Daddy Profile, priceless!
Did he not touch on the 4k upscaling, or did I just miss it? I'm curious how well that feature works.
With 2Gb RAM and 16Gb ROM...why would you even give this a second look. And the tethering to Amazon is definitely unacceptable.
@@sticky59 Because 2/16gb is plenty for mine (and most peoples) usage scenarios.
@@sticky59
2GB of RAM, bare minimum 16GB internal storage, obsolete ports, still running on Android 9.0. All those issues combined are enough reason not buy this device. Amazon went the cheap route on what is supposed to be their premium/flagship device.
@@Mr01dschool Yep, definitely for the plug and play crowd.
@@dakkon74 You obviously have no idea what these 4Gb/32 or 64Gb Chinese boxes run like then.
...$139...only 10/100 ethernet and usb 2.0...no thanks...bait and hook...
The Fire Cube is a BEAST!
PERIOD!
4K only needs 25/30 mb. 100 direct is plenty enough.
6e.... is so nice.
@@peteowen3539 FACTS! My current speeds are 479.6Mbps( download) and 35.65mbps( upload).
And this is WIFI! I have a 1gigabyte to play with. It handles SD, HD, 4K, 8K, and 12K with No problem. I added a USB to my Cube and have over 64gb of space. The thing is a BEAST! I also have my cable box running through it. Clears the picture up quite a bit. People are just crazy, man.
halow, can you test Firecube 3 with WD MyBook 14TB? I doubt it cant read. Thanx
Can you connect a powered or unpowered 2 TB or more HDD to it and get it to play media directly from that, or does it pretend that it’s not connected?
11:53
I'm surprised Netflix does not support frame rate matching because my 2nd gen cube supports frame rate matching on Netflix, prime and plex.
Recently there was an update that solved the blank sideload app icon issues as well.
Didn’t work for me with 24p and it’s on the latest update - no change to sideloaded apps
Lon - I run a plex server from an old computer , will I be able to host the server from them 3rd gen cube ? Since it has a usb port?
Thanks
No, you can't run a plex server on the cube or any android device other than the nvidia shield pro
Thanks for the video Question to anyone: Can this be used alone with a computer monitor with no speakers, and just use the speaker in the cube as the tv speaker?
Does the picture and picture allow for an antenna feed running through the tvs coaxial and say Amazon prime at the same time? Or only 2 videos played through hdmi feeds on the box?
Hello, first time commenting. Can you test if this new version can output ultra wide screen resolutions (3440x1440) please. I mean shows and movies, not only the front UI. Thanks, nice show!
Why did Amazon say it comes with the remote pro when it hasn't been released yet and that remote is the same as the actual Fire TVs TV
would a mouse & keyboard combo work on it and what about usb hub?
Does wired controllers like the Xbox 360 wired controller work with the fire cube 3rd gen? I want to use the wired controller I have to play xcloud and retroarch on the fire cube.
Felt like I was in a pinball machine.
I watched your entire review. I was hoping you would have told us if this device makes watching Netflix any better. Would I enjoy watching Netflix on this device better than say the 2022 Roku ultra that comes with the Roku voice remote pro and is only $99
No Netflix won't be any better or worse in terms of quality vs a 4K firestick or any other streaming device like roku. The video quality is the same on all 4k streaming devices as long as the codecs etc on all devices are the same. The only difference will be the app load times on faster hardware.
Hi. I'm trying to record shows on my IPTV service. Using a thumb drive plugged in to the USB port on the cube 3 I just cannot get it to work. Do I need to do something with ADB?. Any suggestions would be much appreciated
Use tivimate
Piece of junk at $139, at that price point and a new device launch in 2022 specs are disappointing!
upscalling vs the nvidia shield ?
You’re best relying on the upscaler built into your TV IMHO.
@@LonSeidman I have the Nvidia shield with ai upscaling which works very well with 1080p content upscaled and see the difference clearly using 65 inch oled no TV is gonna match that level of upscaling can't live without it now, just with Amazon adding upscaling would be interested to see how it compares
the shield has better audio other than that this blows the shield away
The Shield has more modern ports while the Cube uses ports that were obsolete over a decade ago. I will stick with my Shield Pro 2019 until Nvidia releases a new version. Amazon came up short with their 3rd generation if the Cube.
@@Mr01dschool you got a point the cube ethernet speed maxs out at 100 Mbps. that is weak my shield is way faster
4k hdr netflix doesn't work on firestick 4k max, I hope this problem doesn't plague the cube
It doesn't on my max or gen2 cube... neither does Disney+ Vudu, nothing.. no matter on wifi or hardwire! I have a CX and C1 OLED so I know that's not the issue.. when video setting in on Auto it just goes to 1080p.. garbage.. I'm annoyed and my return window had expired before I found the issue with both devices.
Turn off HDR in the 4k max settings (annoying I know) and it fixes the issue
@@immyj927 I have and doesn't work.. I also am a bit of a visual snob, I want 4k Dolby vision and Atmos.. annoyed
Amazon sure has turned the Fire Cube into hot garbage. I still see zero reasons to buy a Fire Cube instead of an Nvidia Shield TV.
When they decide to skimp on hardware in what is supposed to be their flagship device why should we reward them with our money. 2GB of RAM, bare minimum 16 GB of internal storage, obsolete ports running on a locked version of Android 9.0 is a joke in 2022.
Way overpriced.
If you're not into gaming and just looking to cut the cord by streaming, the best thing about the 3rd gen Cube is that the 2nd gen Cube is now, as of Nov 25, 2022, only 60 bucks. A great streaming device for that price.
Looking right, looking left I place the Fire TV Cube on a tee and pull out my Calloway driver and let it rip!
Then I go back to my Shield Pro with integrated RTX level gaming and adaptive A.I. upscaling and shake my head at the nonsense.
That's the problem with Amazon streamers, they always nerf their devices. eeek, wouldn't touch one again.
We are heading into 2023,and stuck in 10/100,USB 2,and 32 bit,no 64 bit apps !?
What's up with that? Too many deficits for me.
I understood that the NVIDIA SHIELD is better than this cube.... am I right?!?
Hey LON I've heard the new cube is really good this year. Is it really that much better than the previous cube and firesticks presently on the market?
Watch the video :)
Shame...another flawed product from Amazon. 10/100Mbps and USB 2.0..? Come on....😣
I think I would spend the extra money and try getting a shield on sale.
All they have to do is update that darn ethernet port but nooooooooo...... I bought a gigabit ethernet usb dongle a year ago that works fine but for some reason when the TV is off it gives me the orange knight rider lights until I wake up the TV
no idea why the cheap out on ethernet port. I can't image there being much difference in price.
Lon, Do you happen to have any 4K Blu-Ray REMUXs on your Plex server that are HDR10+ also with Dolby Vision like 1917 or Birds of Prey. Those movies with both HDR10+ and DV result in black screen on my FireTV Stick Max. Was wondering if they do on this new Cube as well? Thanks
Hey Lon, great review! One thing I was wondering about that you didn't really cover was the new upscaling feature. How does it compare to the Nvidia Shield and Apple TV? Thanks!
My advice is always to rely on your television's own upscaler.. I haven't been impressed with anything I've seen on these other boxes including Nvidia's AI feature vs. what my LG OLED does on its own.
@@LonSeidman doesn't the Apple TV, Fire stick or any streaming device have to upscale lower quality content before it sends it to the TV? My understanding is that the TV only does upscaling when using integrated apps?
2022 coming up to 2023 and they put in it a USB 2 port and 100 mb lan port . I got 2nd gen I stick with that .
Lon, would've loved to hear what you think of the upscaling.
Hello, I have the following question, when I use Hdmi in, does the sound from the Fire TV play? and is there a sound setting
I agree that they should have made it better on the ports. But if people want to speed it up shouldn't all these people doing reviews say something about how you can still get around the 100 speeds? Nobody is saying anything!
Excellent review! To optimize viewing and listening experience, what is the ideal setup? Should the HDMI(eArc) from the Cube be connected to the HDMI(eArc) of the soundbar or to the projector?
Can you stream music on it with the TV off? you can't do that on the older models.
@@ThaTexan no have amazon fire cube gen 3 and tried it out it turns on the TV and plays the music
Maybe I missed it but did you test the super resolution upscaling? Wonder how well it works
Just returned to this video today as a new Fire Cube 3 arrived yesterday. I returned one of these a year ago not seeing enough difference from the gen2 on my dual band wifi. Now I have tri-band (tp-Link XE75 with 6e) so it seemed time to try again. I was actually looking for a teardown on this version because the wifi 6e on mine doesn't perform much better than 5GHz band on the gen 2's I have, and I wanted to read up on that device. My internet is 900Mbps--a limit my other 6e devices are exceeding slightly--except for the Cube3--which has been updated to the latest, greatest(?). It is connected to 6Ghz with WPA3. At the top range, I'm hitting 420Mbps but really more like 375. My Cube2's regularly run above 330--ethernet or, now with XE75 wifi. That's not much difference considering my other devices literally doubled their wifi speeds. I'm trying to discover whether the wifi component in my unit is defective, or is the unit really trash. Until I re-viewed this video, other speed reports showed pretty much what I was getting. Yours, OTOH, went higher on wifi 6. I wonder what 6e would be. Guess I'll try another.
100 Mbit/s = DOA
halow, can you test Firecube 3rd gen with WD MyBook 14TB? I doubt it cant read. Thanx
Hi,
Can FireTV Cube (3rd gen) in Cinema/Theater mode play audio?
I know that the FireTV Cube 3rd gen (just like the Stick 4K Max) supports HDMI ARC.
So the audio of other HDMI devices connected to the TV can be routed to the Fire TV.
However, I don't have a Cube to try this out.th other Echo devices (e.g. 2x Echo + Sub combo) to use them in Cinema/Theater mode. Then the audio of the Fire TV will be redirected to the speakers.
If you combine HDMI ARC and Theater mode, even audio from the other HDMI devices will be routed to the Echos, which is brilliant.
I could test this setup with a Fire Stick and it works well.
However, there is a scenario I am really interested in (and it could lead me to buy a Cube), but I can't put my hand on a Cube to try this out.
The Cube by itself can play audio as it has an integrated speaker.
If I use the Cube in Ciname/Theater mode, can it play the audio too?
So instead of having a 3-speaker (2x echo + sub) theater setup, I could have a 4-speaker one?
You can imagine a room setup like this:
- TV + Cube + Sub in front of you
- 2 Echos behind you / next to you.
Did anyone try this already?
Spdif optical out would make this a device that would greatly increase use on high res Amazon music. Although I am guessing you could use usb into a high quality DAC.
They had an opportunity to make this great and blew it! 10/100 Ethernet? Why Not Giga or Multi-Gig! USB 2.0 seriously, Minimum standard should be 3.0! They have the space to be able to add an SSD or NVme M.2 for storage! Hard fail for this unit!
I'm with you on that! Very narrow market for a high end TV box if they exclude the enthusiasts IMHO.
@@LonSeidman Great Box if this was still 2005!
Why would a streaming device need more than 10/100? Doesn't the highest rate 4k only take about 25 megs?
@@MackenzieHorn Hard-Core enthusiasts want the fastest everything, it costs about $1 to make these boxes 10/100/1000, so why not do it? I look at 10/100 as technology that is 30+ years old, and it's more about internal Network speeds and not internet speeds.
@@MackenzieHorn my dude, 4k bitrates can go into 150mbit territory, so very important if you do plex.
I was hoping for a better gpu. I don't need a builtin echo dot/ Speaker. Just high quality graphics
I have a new Sony Bravia XR , what would be the best way to set up my new Fire TV cube when it arrives ?
They should include the new pro remote with this! I have the gen 1 cube and it is getting sluggish but it has been an awesome device.
Kinda lame of Amazon not to ship their high-end device with the voice remote pro. Roku ships the Roku ultra and streaming stick 4k + with their voice remote pro and unlike Amazon the Roku voice remote pro is rechargeable and the Roku ultra only costs $99
I know right? its their premier streaming device. I think they dropped the ball on this gen. 2nd Gen was just like the 1st gen but a lot faster and was really good.
Think about it, everyone has complained about the price of the 3rd gen Cube. Because of the extra tech added in the Pro remote, Amazon would have had to bump the price of the Cube up even more, rather than just including the Alexa remote that comes with the Fire TV series (Omni) and not everyone would find the Pro remote useful or want all the extra buttons, therefore be pissed about having to spend so much on the Cube if it included the Pro remote. I think it was smart to offer it as a separate remote.
How would I connect a stereo amplifier to the Cube to play streamed music ?
I love that you specifically mention enthusiast and avg consumers. Great way to let me see the two main parties. I can gauge my purchase better, maybe even try and start mentioning a few more groups like "gamer's" and "old people" just kidding but upper age people might become viewers.
These are always challenging devices to review as general consumers and enthusiasts are looking for two very different things! As I am just about one year past the half way mark of my 40's I'm very careful about age references these days ;)
100 hahaha junk
Will this natively read a USB HDD formatted with NTFS? or is it limited to FAT32?
I Think 3rd gen gets support for exfat and ntfs so you can use bigger storage
@@David-uq2uk In TDUK's video he says it supoorts only FAT32 natively (that is without side loading ES File Explorer which is a PITA)
Hi Lon can you please review the Alexa Voice Remote Pro it comes out November 16, 2022.
Yes I have one on order!
100mbps... however 6e wifi can do 1 gbps
My mother's bought a new smart tv but only 2 hdmi sockets. Could I plug my blu ray player into the cube and the picture come up on screen.
Yes you can. Keep the Blu-ray player powered on at all times and you can see the player when you switch to the proper input on the home screen of the Fire TV cube. Must plug the Blu-ray player via HDMI in to the in port in the back of the cube instead of the TV HDMI port on TV.
How do I turn Alexa off as I don’t want it listening in ?
The 100Mbps ethernet is a deal killer for me. Everyone will say you don't need more, but they're wrong. If you rip UHD Blu-Ray to your NAS and don't compress the video, you'll need more than 100Mbps to stream those without issues. Test your Plex server and player using one of the high-bitrate Jellyfish videos out there.
The memory and storage sizes along with the USB 2.0 are also problems. I know price is an issue, but the price they're asking for this device can't be justified when compared to the stick. Not with all these flaws.
The new 🍎 TV 4k for $150 is a better deal than this 3rd gen cube. If you don't want to sideload and tinker with the device then the apple tv is a better streaming device.
Amazon is still stuck in 2010 using obsolete ports like USB 2.0 and Ethernet 10/100.
USB 2 and 100 mb Ethernet port . I will stick with my 2nd gen I got it new for 60 quid in sale . 140 for new one over priced should be 99 quid .
The fire cube tv is so awesome lon everyone should get the fire cube tv right lon your awesome lon and keep up the good work 😊😊 and you rock 🎸 lon and enjoy your evening 🌆😊😊😊😊😊
@MSMMr1982. Why should everyone get the fire cube? 🤔
@@Bill_Sawyer your right bill my best bet to get the fire stick instead right bill
@@MSMMr1982 Hi, it's personal choice. I just was wondering why you said that everyone should get the fire cube. I do have a 1st. Gen fire cube. But I am not a big fan of fire products. Take care, enjoy the rest of the evening. ✌️
@@Bill_Sawyer you too Bill 😊😊😊😊😊
sideloaded apps does show
Great review as always, can't pull the trigger on the new cube because of the lack of gigabit lan port
I too was skeptical about the lack of a GB LAN port but I bought it anyway. For streaming a 100 MBS port is fine because even in 4k you do not need more than about 30 MBS depending on the service you are streaming from - my wifi on the device is over 500 MBS which is fast emough for just about anything. So in reality the lack of a 1GB LAN port is not really an issue...just my humble opinion. I still prefer my Shield Pro, but this device exceeded my expectations aside from a few minor flaws/annoyances that seem to be on all FireTV devices. But it blows away the standard version of the Shield that I had and got this device to replace it. I am happy with it.
Can't see the point of this thing. Would a Firestick and and a separate Echo speaker not be better? You can then put the speaker where you like, As for the HDMI input almost everything has this feature such as soundbars AV receivers etc. and most modern TV's have plenty of HDMI inputs and is it really that much of an issue to change inputs on a TV.
Maybe I am missing something.
With fire recast getting discontinued, is there any way to get OTA channels show up in the “Live” TV section of fire tv interface? It’s such a great feature but don’t know any other dvr boxes or apps doing it for OTA channels
No mention of the Super Resolution Upscaling they are putting forward; is it going to be its own video?..
How is the internal speaker quality compared to the 2nd generation fire tv cube? My 2nd gen cube outputs with a very bad audio quality from the internal speaker… almost rubbish. I wish they managed to improve it
Brilliant thanks well explained thanks for sharing that I have just brought a amazon 4k max fire 🔥 stick from argos the last one got it chipped cheap well please never had one before but I have seen the amazon cube 4k 3rd generation thats next on my list 😀
Totally missing in this video is the fact the 3rd gen does not have my app and channels. A deal breaker for me because I can't remember all my apps that I would like to use from time to time.
TBF, the Boxes problem isn't Plex, it's Plex that is the problem.
Speaking as a Plex Pro user for the past 4+ years, I've never met a so user unfriendly app yet!
The only reason why I would buy a Fire TV Cube is to connect it to my AVR for atmos as my tv doesnt support ARC and thus no atmos. But with the framerate issue its a no go atm they gotta fix that
You stated Nvidia shield can get gigabit. I am not achieving that being wired on my gig connection. Only hitting about 100 down. Any suggestions?
I Was actually considering this new Fire tv cube but those framerate matching issues are a dealbreaker.
To be fair the shield has similar issues at the moment. The best box for frame rate matching is the AppleTV at the moment.
@@LonSeidman I actually own an Apple TV 4k since 2017. I love it for the most part but since i have alexa all around my appartement, i considering switching to fire tv. That hdmi in port also seems perfect to plug à 4k BR player and control it with the same remote or by voice. Thanks for pointing that out anyway cause i'm very sensible to frame pacing issues or stutter of any kind! 😀
Yes. I agree. Sticking with the Nvidia Shield
the slow ports are a way to get people to purchase 2 devises...the first one because its new then the second one when the mark2 is available with the updated faster ports.
Awesome Thanks
Jailbreak?
Hi I would like to know which 4k monitor works best with the new Amazon cube.
Is the test TV dolby vision capable?
any recommendations for minimal delay IPTV to set up on fire cube?
have you notice video quality improvement when super resolution is turn-on
Nice review. Going to buy one! I don't like apple!
You can get the first gen sometimes on sale for 30 or 40 bucks on woot.
I will wait to see how new Apple box will perform, I think better than this one
does the ugreen ethernet adapter work for over 100 meg? on this?
lon bud check out fire tv news about this cube
Can the hdmi in be able to handle a xbox or Playstation?
I set up my mom's new 4K Max Firestick. The speed of everything impressed me, noticeable snappier then my non max older 4k stick.
Yeah the Max has just enough of a boost to be noticeable!
can i download movies for offline view on Plex or apple tv (itunes purchases)?
that's kinda the point of plex isnt it
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Hi , Fire TV Cube is google tv ? Does It support Playstore?
No, it uses a version of android that Amazon forked years ago and Amazon’s App Store.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Fire_TV
Nice review, Darth Daddy.
FWIW I have had a shield pro since 2020 but just got a cube gen 3. The picture output on the cube is way better. Moreover it knows when to switch to hdr more reliably. The main clincher for me is HDR on youtube works, which it does not on either ATV or Shield due to hardware limitations. The major downside? I cannot get it to connect to my harmony remote or vise versa, it does not show up in the cube settings as a harmony keyboard which is a major bummer. I accept this may be more about harmony being abandoned.
However with the crap lip sync issues on ATV 4K (when sync frames is on) or no HDR (When sync frames is off) and the short comings of hdr on shield I thought I was there with the cube 3rd gen. But this does not connect to my harmony.
each of these devices has strengths but non of them 'do it all'. However I am struggling to see what shield does better after my short testing. I streamed my largest movie avatar, 68gigs 4k HDR over plex without any issue, so am struggling to see the concern with the ethernet port.
If i plug usb 3.1 thumb drive, will it work as additional storage?
With usb 2 speed
@@Kevin-qz3bq Thank You :)
What can I put in the in hdmi ???
You can put gaming systems like Xbox or Playstation and your dvd player and if you have a cable or satellite subscription you can put the cable or satellite box in
@@joshuamillard582 can you put a soundbar into it ?
@helenalovelock1030 yes just use an HDMI cable