Amazon Fire TV Cube (Newest gen) | Hands-free streaming media player with Alexa, Wi-Fi 6E, 4K Ultra HD

After having connection problems, first sound then picture I was contacted by amazon to check a list. When I was resorting my cables (getting rid of sky-box+ stuff) I recognized that when pulling out the receiver unit, the picture and sound came back. So in the end the problem was not the set up but the hdmi eARC cable in the ONKYO receiver output. Since I managed that cable in the "right" position everything works (nearly) faultless. Just seems that - for whatever reason - the cube seems to interrupt the viewing, by asking you if you are still watching (apparently 3 times within an hour on itvX. My partner is watching a series for a few days now. First I thought these things are due to no interaction from the remote but there seems to be a different option for this message. I had the same while fiddling around with the connection. But I will keep asking my partner if this still comes up now and then.

My Home Cinema System consists of a BenQ 4K HDR UST Projector, the Amazon 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube (Since Nov 2019) and a Denon 4K HDR Receiver. I turn all my Home Cinema Equipment ON & OFF using a Backlit-LCD Logitech Elite Remote / Hub setup.Despite my previously submitted, lengthy Amazon Post on why I am staying with my 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube (now removed), I just couldn’t resist upgrading to Amazon’s Latest 3rd Gen Cube.As usual, the Device was delivered the next day, well Packaged, with a nice Finish & Build Quality of the Cube, Remote (not used) and Power Supply.It may be worth mentioning that when I recently added a Nvidia Shield TV Pro Streaming device to my Home Cinema System, I was informed by one of my Subscription Services, that I had reached my Licence Limit. Mindful of this and just to be on the safe side, I De-Registered my 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube, having first signed out of all my Subscription Services, prior to setting my new 3rd Gen Cube.Pairing my Alexa Remote PRO (purchased separately), was straight forward as was signing into my Amazon Prime Account. As previously stated, I use a Logitech Remote to turn all my Home Cinema Equipment ON & OFF. This is because most Remotes, including Amazon Remotes cannot be setup to turn my Projector OFF. My Projector has a quirky feature that requires the OFF button to be pressed twice before it turns OFF (even with its Original Remote). My Logitech Elite Remote allows me to program the 4K Projector, as a Device, with 2 OFF Commands, having a 1 second delay between each which works fine. My Logotech Remote is paired with the Fire TV Cube allowing full control of the Cube. However, once started, I prefer to use the more conveniently sized Backlit Alexa TV Remote PRO whilst viewing the Fire TV Cube Streaming Services.Obviously, I want the Amazon Remote to control my Denon's Volume / Mute, but the Cubes setup process requires that a TV is selected before you can add a Soundbar / Receiver Equipment. Generally, TVs are straight forward to setup with the Fire TV Cube but the same cannot be said for my Projector. The process involves the Cube turning the Connected TV OFF then ON again. Following the onscreen instructions, for Projectors, you need to press the Amazon Remotes Menu Key. Then you are confronted with a selection of IR Codes to switch the Projector OFF and then ON again. Obviously, as already stated, no single IR code would ever work for the OFF Command. Personally, I’m not keen on the idea of quickly turning a Laser Projector OFF-ON again, before the Lamp has had time to cool down. I decided to Select BenQ as a TV and told Alexa that this TV did turn OFF and ON again, which was not true. Now I was given the option to add a Soundbar / Receiver to my Cubes Equipment list. Setting up Alexa Remote PRO Volume / Mute buttons to work with my 4K Denon Receiver was straight forward. Having Logged back into all my Subscription Services, I completed the setup process by programming Buttons 1 & 2 on the Alexa Remote PRO, allowing instant access of 2 Apps (ITVX & Freevee) not visible on the Amazon Prime Start-Up Screen Banner.All in all, I am very pleased that I have Upgraded my Home Cinema System with the latest 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube from Amazon. The truth is, I cannot really detect any significant Performance improvement over my 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube, but everything is Fast, Smooth and Responsive. Two of the additional features that this 3rd Gen Cube includes are Wi-Fi 6E and the HDMI 2.1 Input. Upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6E Network seems to be quite an expensive undertaking, whilst I currently have no interest using the Cubes HDMI Input for other devices. I believe the Image Quality of the 3rd Gen Cube looks better than its predecessor. I did notice, whilst drilling down the various 3rd Gen Cube Menus, under Display & Audio / Display that the last option allows you to turn, “Super Resolution” ON or OFF, which when turned ON produces a Sharper Picture. This may explain my perceived Image Quality Enhancement over this Cubes predecessor.My 2nd Gen TV Cube sounded very tinny and unpleasant. To get around this, I redirected the 2nd Gen Cubes audio output to my 3rd Gen Echo Dot (Fabric version), the sound quality being very much on par with the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube. Having upgraded to the 3rd Gen Fire Tv Cube, I no longer need the 3rd Gen Echo Dot, meaning one less power socket is being used.To Summarise, the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube is a Superior Device over its predecessor, including a couple of additional, worthwhile features, which I may come to appreciate sometime in the future. This Fire TV Cube’s Processors have also been upgraded from a Hexi-Core to an Octa-Core, offering a higher level of technical performance than its predecessor.These days Voice Control of Hi-Fi & Domestic equipment is a feature that really does need to be included, with Streaming Devices, to remain competitive. I find the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube's Voice Control, every bit as capable as its 2nd Gen predecessor. I have a couple of Smart Sockets to operate Audio equipment using Alexa Voice Control and most of the rooms in my home use Alexa Voice Control to switch Lighting On-Off. Although the initial novelty factor has worn off somewhat, Voice Control is a still a cool feature. Alexa Voice Control through the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube, does work well, but being Old-School, I prefer to use the Alexa Remote Pro / Logitech Elite for my Home Cinema Device Control / Navigation.I am pleased that I have upgraded to the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube which I purchased at an Amazon reduction of £20 on the normal selling price. This effectively reduced the price of the Alexa Remote PRO which I had purchased previously for use with my 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube.I would Recommend the Fire TV Cube 3rd Gen, with a Big-Thumbs-Up, hence this 5 Star Review.***** REVIEW UPDATE – 7th June 2023 ****At this moment in time, my BenQ 4K Projector is being repaired, so I’m using my old LG 55” 4K OLED TV (with Screen-Burn). The BIG plus is, because I’m not using the BenQ Projector (2 OFF Commands), I can use the Amazon Remote Pro to Switch my LG TV, Fire TV Cube & Denon Receiver ON & OFF. This means I do not need to use my Logitech Elite Remote at all.Another change I have made, which I initially shunned, is to connect my Nvidia Shield TV Pro into the Fire TV Cubes HDMI 2.1 Input. This has freed up one Denon 4K HDMI Input, allowing me to quickly switch between the Amazon Cube and the Nvidia Shield. This makes Audio-Visual Comparison between the two Devices much Easier and Effective than having to change Denon Inputs to select each of the Streaming Devices. So, the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube’s HDMI 2.1 Input is a very worthwhile addition.My Home Cinema preference is to turn each required Hi-Fi Device On-Off without using HDMI CEC Auto-Sensing. This, I believe, made the detection of the Nvidia Shield’s HDMI Signal via the Fire TV Cubes HDMI Input, somewhat more challenging than expected but with perseverance was achieved.Nvidia Shield TV Pro Amendment 21.09.2023Since connecting my Shield TV Pro to the Fire TV Cubes 2.1 HDMI Input, I have been experiencing regular 1 second Audio Drop-Outs. It would seem that this Audio Drop-Out issue has been flagged many times since 2019 by Shield TV Pro owners. I think this may have something to do with HDMI Pass-Through compatibility. As I’m fully conversant with the Pros & Cons of the Cube and the Shield Streaming Devices, I no longer require the previously mentioned, efficient Audio-Visual comparison switching. My Shield TV Pro is now connected to its own dedicated Denon HDMI Input, whilst I now use the Fire TV Cubes HDMI 2.1 Input, with my FreeviewPlay SD/HD Player/Recorder. This has sorted the Shields Audio Drop-Outs, whilst Switching between the Cube and the TV Set-Top Box makes far more sense and is a more convenient setup.

Now have two of these, both working really well. Streaming content via KODI (you'll have to allow unofficial apps to be installed) from a media-pc running Windows 10 over SMB. No issues whatsoever, but to set this up correctly a keyboard and mouse will make things much easier.Once done, the unit can happily run with just the supplied remote.KODI is very responsive, much faster and smoother than using a Raspberry Pi 4 - plus you get the extra functionality that the Fire offers out of the box.

Please see my photosThis is a most wonderful piece of kit, not realising just how much more responsive it is than the 4K Max TV Fire Stick, but it is. Using some of the apps like iPlayer, ITVx, Channel 4 apps etc....All very fast at loading and navigating. Great improvements there.The Octa Core processor seems to be much faster than the previous Hex Core one they had used.This is not the first Cube we have had, but it has been a very decent improvement over the older model.We very much like its Alexa integration possibilities as well as the remote having buttons for Netflix and Prime instant launch options. The Alexa integration goes as far as using voice controls to switch on and off smart sockets attached to lighting that is controlled via Alexa in our home. It will do that.Voice command support is interesting and we are beginning to appreciate that. Playing the radio etc.....all that is meant we have now freed up an Alex device in the room the Cube is in to use elsewhere, great value.Note you can't ask the Cube to play music from its internal speaker, it is not an Echo device. The TV would need to be on for it to play music and the audio for that is sent via the HDMI lead.That is why we have connected our Cube by BT to a Sony standalone speaker, to be used when needed for playing music without the TV needing to be on.The super resolution scaling is as good as what our TV could do, meaning it is very good. When running SD content, or 1080p, upscaling using the Cube looks incredibly sharp, not overly, and detail is vey much retained and, seemingly, even improved.Super Resolution set under Settings and the Display and Audio, just scroll down and enable.Setting it up was very very easy, it came linked to my account, option at purchase, and even allowed us, see photo, to synchronise the visual picture animation of a bouncing ball with the sound. That ensures both are synchronised.As noted the responsiveness of this box is faster than the Max 4K stick, whilst enjoying the integrated speaker, HDMI in, Full sized USB A and, this part not entirely useful, built in Ethernet.That leads me to the reason why I dropped a star from the review.This is the third generation Cube and it is using a 100Mb Ethernet connection. That can be problematic if being used for Plex or Emby AND you are streaming very large 4k material at very high bit rates.We have Wi-Fi 6 and we then tried going from the rather slow Ethernet connection to Wi-Fi, the router being close to where the Cube is. It is decent, well better than the Ethernet for our needs, BUT our Wi-Fi is not used just for the Cube and we have that many other devices, including Wireless VR, that the bandwidth can be limited.See applicable photo for the next part.We had a Ugreen 1GB Ethernet adapter to use, that connects to the Cube via the USB A port on it. That allows a much faster Ethernet connection than the 100Mb, but still seems to be limited by the USB port to around 350Mb. Still, faster than the Ethernet port on the Cube.For our needs that is perfect.I can also connect, low powered, devices to the adapter by its 3 onboard USB ports, in our case a Wireless adapter for our Logitech keyboard.So, overall, the DV and HDR support that this Cube offers works a treat. Sound wise, nothing exotic for us, as long as it supports DD and DTS, and that works fine also, then we are happy enough. That is passed through the HDMI lead. It has never failed to pick up the correct HDR / DV content correctly, nor the appropriate audio stream.Storage wise seems ok, if you did not need to use the USB port as I did then you could have additional storage there, with the option to move apps to it that would help to supplement the onboard storage.An excellent piece of kit, very much improved from their previous generation and what is offered works well. Whilst there have been work around for the rather pedestrian 100Mbs LAN options there should have been a 1Gbs connection fitted to this device.Recognising that the Cube is NOT and Echo device be prepared to understand its limitations on playing music etc, a described above.Perhaps the Ethernet and sound limitations could be improved on for newer generations of this device.Very much recommended and very much enjoyed.Hope this review has been helpful.