K1 Plus Review: Android TV Box powered by Amlogic S905

As you know, there is more and more TV Boxes equipped with Amlogic S905. Today we want to introduce you to review Videostrong K1 Plus TV Box, one of the first TV Boxes models equipped with the SoC Amlogic S905. Is the TV Box with S905 turns out better or worse than the TV Box with RK3368 you will find out in this review. In this review also we want to bring you the the features and impressions of using K1 Plus TV Box and answer the question, is K1 Plus plays video files without any problem in 4K.

I want to say thanks to Videostrong (Videostrong Technology Co., Ltd) for sending us a K1 Plus TV Box to review. K1 Plus Android TV Box is available directly from Videostrong (on Alibaba.com) or Gearbest for $45.89 with coupon code: GBK1P (available in Black Friday / Cyber Monday for $39.99 on Gearbest), Geekbuying and Aliexpress.

K1 Plus is a refreshed version of the well-known model K1 TV Box. K1 Plus TV Box is a well and aesthetically made TV Box. As we said at the beginning of his heart is a new Amlogic S905 Quad core 64-bit  Cortex A53 Up to 2.0GHz processor which supports UHD 4K@60fps HW decoding, multiple formats including H.265 10-bit, H.264, AVS+ and also FHD 1080p @60fps HW encoding, H.264. K1 Plus is a normal version TV Box (OTT), but can also be equipped with Digital TV tuners: DVB-T2, DVB-S2, ATSC, ISDB-T, DTMB. Device also has Kodi Isengard, Fast Ethernet and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. K1 Plus TV Box runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Videostrong K1 Plus TV Box Technical Specifications:

• SoC – Amlogic S905 Quad core 64-bit  Cortex A53 Up to 2.0GHz
• GPU – Penta-core Mali-450 Up to 750MHZ, OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0 and Open VG 1.1 support
• OS – Android 5.1.1
• Memory – 1GB DDR3
• Storage –  Nand Flash 8GB ( up to 32GB Optional  ) + Micro SD card slot (up to 32GB)
• Connectivity – Fast Ethernet (Gigabit optional), 2.4Ghz 802.11 b/g/n/ Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth 4.0
• Interfaces – HDMI 2.0 (4Kx2K HDMI2.0 , HDCP2), 4x USB 2.0 HOST, 1 x SD card (up to 32GB), 1x AV, 1x SPDIF, 1x RJ45, DC jack ( 12V/1A)
• Video Decoder/ Encoder – 4Kp60 10-bit HEVC, 4Kp30 MPEG / VC-1 / AVS+ / H.264, H.264,1080P@60fps
• Other Features –  DLNA, Miracast, AirPlay, Kodi, Remote controller
• DRM – Playready, Verimatrix, Widewine (Probably not available right now)
• Misc – Power button and LED, IR receiver
• Power Supply – DC 12V/1A
• Dimensions – 130 x 120 x 32 mm
• Weight – 158g

What’s in the box?

What we find in the box? The box included everything that you need to get started:

• K1 Plus Android TV Box
• HDMI cable
• Power adapter 12V/1A (EU)
• Remote control (without AAA batteries)
• User Manual

The following video from our YouTube channel where you can take a look at more K1 Plus TV Box and bundled accessories.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbMmg0BgNAw[/embedyt]

 

First impressions, settings, overview of features

At the top is the POWER button with power LED. On one side there are four USB 2.0 ports and micro SD card slot. On the rear panel are: CVBS/ LR audio jack, Ethernet port (RJ45), HDMI 2.0 output, optical S/PDIF and DC jack.

At the bottom of the device you see that device can be wall-mounted. You can also see the MAC address and serial number. Below also remote control.

Booting Android to the “home screen” takes about 00:41.6 seconds (well enough). “Home screen” launcher K1 Plus looks very, very simple and easy to use. The same launcher before we could see in ZIDOO X1. Perhaps Videostrong works with ZIDOO. In addition to the remote control I used the standard keyboard, mouse and PROBOX2 Remote+. Unfortunately I could not use Xiaomi gamepad because tested model K1 Plus does not have Bluetooth.

The device worked in the resolution of FHD 1920×1080 (1080p 60Hz) but you can also adjust the preferred resolution (also 4K) or set the auto mode.  On the launcher we have access to the most important features: settings, apps, browser, file manager, kodi. K1 Plus comes with pre-installed applications such as IPFox and Private Live TV with IPTV channels. K1 Plus has also DLNA, Miracast and Airplay. I had no problem with Ethernet and WiFi connection to my router. The remote control works without a problem also with PROBOX2 Remote+ there were no problems, everything worked quickly without delays. Below a few screenshots.

K1 Plus is another TV Box which has KODI Isengard with additions (more precisely KODI 15.2 Isengard). Below screenshot from Kodi.

On K1 Plus TV Box you can play without a problem. Beach Buggy Racing and Jetpack Joyride runs reliably and without problem, also I was able to run Asphalt 8: Airborne which also worked without problems.

Operating system and components

The K1 Plus TV Box runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop, namely version 5.1.1 and the Linux Kernel version 3.14.29. The firmware installed on the device received for revie had a problem with compatibility with Google Play (you can not install applications from Google Play).

Therefore, to complete the tests it was made a firmware update (2015-11-23). What solved the problems.

TV Box is equipped with a SoC Amlogic S905 Quad core 64-bit  Cortex A53 Up to 2.0GHz processor and GPU Mali-450, CPU speed between 100 MHz and 2.02 GHz. On the following screens you can see exactly the components used and their specification (Information taken from the application AnTuTu Benchmark v5.7.1, CPU-Z and AIDA64). Unfortunately, Amlogic S905 is not yet recognized in the applications only detected ARM Cortex–A53. Also, the model device is detected as K1 Plus (p20x) and board p20x.

Performance tests and benchmarks

For testing I use the app AnTuTu Video Tester 3.0 and AnTuTu Benchmark 5.7.1. The following screenshots from the video test. The result 886.  A better result was achieved PROBOX2 EX + with Amlogic S812 –  1024!. ZIDOO X6 Pro with RK3368 – 530. As you can see, Amlogic processors better falling out in the tests. Interestingly the TV Box with a newer processor Amlogic S905 came out worse than the S812. Perhaps the machine needs more optimizing or overclocking.

Video playback by Kodi Isengard (15.2) and MX Player runs smoothly and stable. K1 Plus TV Box without problem seems plays movies with the resolution of 480p,720p and 1080p (24fps, 30fps, 60fps) and also 4K (small problems with 60fps) with various codecs video such as H.264, H.265, MPEG2, MPEG4, RMVB and audio – DTS and AC3. Also I tested several video formats – AVI, MKV, MP4 (typical formats in which it holds the majority of films) and also videos was played without any problems. The K1 Plus tested 4K video play without any major problems. The following table compares Kodi and MX Player for some video samples.

Typical 1080p	KODI	MX Player
MPEG2 / MP2 2.0 – 6.6Mbps	OK	OK
MPEG4 / MP3 2.0 – 7.6Mbps	OK	OK
H264 / AAC 2.0 – 7.2Mbps	OK	OK
VC1 / WMA3 2.0 – 25Mbps	OK	OK
VP8 / VORBIS 2.0 – 7.8Mbs	OK	OK
–	–	–
4K Video
Sintel – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 24fps	OK	OK
BBB Sunflower -H264 – 60fps	Audio sync issues, delay	OK
Honey Bees – 96fps	OK	OK
Skyfall – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 10Mbps	OK	OK
Puppies Bath – h264/AAC 2.0	OK	OK
Cinemartin H265/HEVC	OK	OK
Tears of steel – 60fps	OK	OK
HD Club Chimei – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 60Mbps	OK	OK
–	–	–
H.265/VP9 Video
Tears of steel – H265-HVEC / AAC 2.0 – 15Mbps	OK	OK
Youtube – VP9 / 1080p	OK	OK

 

Most of the samples was played without problems, sometimes jumping or minimal blur. Failed to play VP9 (H.264 @ 60fps). By contrast, which was quite strange that most of the samples after the start began with a black screen.Only after the re-start from the beginning, the video was played correctly. 4K video is playing very well.

K1 Plus Benchmarks

The K1 Plus TV Box scored 29252 (PROBOX2 EX+ – 34332, ZIDOO X6 Pro – 30158) on AnTuTu Benchmark 5.7. Below a lot of screenshots of AnTuTu and GeekBech 3.

The K1 PLUS TV Box scored 4299 on Ice Storm Extreme (PROBOX2 EX+ – 5834, ZIDOO X6 Pro – 4431) Ice Storm Unlimited – failed to perform.