[MX Player] wangtastic:
(Note - this will be a lengthy post but I will include a tl;dr at the bottom for those of you with short attention spans)

Ok some more extensive testing has been done :D

I had some issues downloading the files from page 1 as the torrents had limited seeders and were taking too long so while waiting I performed some of my own tests...

First off I tested 2 files encoded by "Doki" both of exactly the same content

The Familiar of Zero OVA

The first file was a Hi10p 720p encode and the second was a Main10 HEVC encode.

Here's the media info:

Hi10p

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
File size : 457 MiB
Duration : 23mn 25s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 2 726 Kbps
Movie name : [Doki] Zero no Tsukaima - Princess no Rondo - OVA (1280x720 Hi10P BD FLAC)
Encoded date : UTC 2012-04-06 09:10:05
Writing application : mkvmerge v4.0.0 ('The Stars were mine') built on Jun 6 2010 16:18:42
Writing library : libebml v1.0.0 + libmatroska v1.0.0
Attachment : Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes

Video
ID : 3
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High 10@L5.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 16 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 23mn 25s
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 10 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Title : AVC
Writing library : x264 core 119 r2106 07efeb4
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=16 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=8 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=16.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=81 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=50000 / vbv_bufsize=50000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language : Japanese
Default : Yes
Forced : No

Main10P

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4 / Version 2
File size : 300 MiB
Duration : 23mn 25s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 1 793 Kbps
Movie name : [Doki] Zero no Tsukaima - Princess no Rondo - OVA (1280x720 HEVC BD FLAC)
Encoded date : UTC 2014-12-19 06:31:50
Writing application : mkvmerge v7.4.0 ('Circles') 64bit built on Dec 12 2014 12:19:56
Writing library : libebml v1.3.0 + libmatroska v1.4.1
Attachements : ARLRDBD.TTF / AVGARDNEclipse.ttf / FRABK.TTF / kaiu.ttf / MTCORSVA.TTF / Vesta-Bold.otf

Video
ID : 1
Format : HEVC
Format/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Codec ID : V_MPEGH/ISO/HEVC
Duration : 23mn 25s
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Title : HEVC
Language : Japanese
Default : Yes
Forced : No

As you can see from the above the HEVC doesn't really display much in the way of MediaInfo which is a strange quirk but nevertheless VLC's (Windows) codec info shows it as Main10 so I know the files are at least comparable.

Both files also had Karaoke-Style subs.

First off playback-wise both files played back fine on the device with no dropped frames etc, there was some stuttering but this is down to a refresh rate issue with my TV (has always happened on panning shots even through a PC due to it's poor motion interpolation algorithm). Forcing the Android Box to a set refresh rate of 24hz and enabling cinema mode on my TV eliminated the issue.

There was one strange issue however - the HEVC file would NOT playback using HW+ despite the fact that the 1080p Main10 file from yesterday (see previous post) would only playback using HW+.

The file plays but looks blocky and washed out - much the same as enabling HW on High10p content.

I'm not sure why this is happening and with limited mediainfo I can't really tell if there's a funky setting on, so I will encode one of my BR's in both 720 and 1080 HEVC Main10 and report back.

CPU usage was around 40-50% on the High10p file but 50+% on the Main10, so it appears as though HEVC might be more intensive than 264 (again will test more when I've got some of my own controlled samples).

Other than that could pause/skip/rewind both files to my hearts content, the HEVC Main10 version was better VERY slightly in terms of quality, even less banding than Hi10 and less grain (some view this as a bad thing mind)

Next up I tested the [Meguca]_Puella_Magi_Madoka_Magica_Part_III_-_Rebellion_[BD][h264-1080p_FLAC][45D40AAC].mkv file from page 1.

(1080p, 23,976fps, ~14.5 Mbps, High10@4.1, YUV 4:2:0 )

This file was unplayable at first until I enabled 4 cores and speedup tricks in Mx Player (+ a restart of the box) then it played back great until it came to a scene with all 3 girls walking towards the school, where the background panning seemed to flicker or maybe stutter? (though foreground totally ok).

The strange thing is CPU usage was around 60% at this point so I'm not sure what's causing it? I have a feeling that it could be network related as the files were being streamed from a WHS2011 box and I'd been having issues with transfer speeds in the morning due to a backup task running on the server. The only other thing it could be is dodgey firmware - I'm going to stick some custom streamlined firmware on the box and maybe even OpenELEC (there's a version already available) to see how I get on.

I'll report back with findings.

Generally speaking CPU was at 60%-80% most of the way through, though for some reason the CPU is limited to 1600mhz despite being 2.0GHZ, I forced the CPU to 2.0GHZ but there was little point as it was already playing ok at 1.6ghz but the extra bandwidth is a nice buffer for those more complicated scenes.

As I couldn't get the other files to download I tested 2 more Hi10 files of my own creation.

Media info below...

Bleach - Fade to Black

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
File size : 3.27 GiB
Duration : 1h 33mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 4 987 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2012-12-09 18:15:59
Writing application : mkvmerge v5.8.0 ('No Sleep / Pillow') built on Sep 2 2012 14:52:40
Writing library : libebml v1.2.3 + libmatroska v1.3.0
Attachements : LT.ttf / LT_3italic_2.ttf

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High 4:4:4 Predictive@L5
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 16 frames
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 33mn
Width : 1 276 pixels
Height : 688 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.85:1
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:4:4
Bit depth : 10 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Writing library : x264 core 125 r0+2868M 54929fe
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=16 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=32 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=4 / threads=1 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=8 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=13.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=81 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=2:1.00
Language : Japanese
Default : Yes
Forced : No
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709

Heaven's Lost Property - Clockwork Angel

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
File size : 2.63 GiB
Duration : 1h 38mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 3 843 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2013-06-22 20:02:07
Writing application : mkvmerge v6.2.0 ('Promised Land') built on Apr 28 2013 12:22:01
Writing library : libebml v1.3.0 + libmatroska v1.4.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High 10@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 16 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 38mn
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 10 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Writing library : x264 core 133 r2334 a3ac64b
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=16 / deblock=1:1:1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=0.40:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=10 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=16 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=230 / keyint_min=22 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=90 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=25.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=4 / qpmax=60 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:0.60
Default : Yes
Forced : No

Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : TrueHD
Codec ID : A_TRUEHD
Duration : 1h 38mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Maximum bit rate : 3 612 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossless
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No

Both files are much smaller in terms of bit rate than Puella was and both files play stupendously with no issues. :)

So I'd say that your average Hi10p file downloaded from the web will be no issue for this box :D

I'm going to do some more extensive testing with some controlled samples of both Hi10p and HEVC Main10 with more emphasis put on HEVC as I don't download - I rip my own BR's to my WHS and I will likely be using HEVC.

But for now it looks as if Hi10p works on these boxes with no major issues, though I need to try and get to the bottom of the issue I had with the Puella file and report back.

It'll be a few days before I respond due to family commitments (boo for being an adult!)

tl;dr version

:

Hi10p 720p works out the box - you're good to go. (CPU 40%)

Hi10p 1080p works - needs 4 cores enabling + speedup tricks + reset. (CPU 60%)

Main10 better than Hi10p in terms of picture quality - though very marginal (same clip used in both formats for testing)

CPU limited to 1.6ghz by default - need SuperSU + Overclock tool to raise to stated 2.0Ghz.

HEVC 720p Main10 requires further testing as test file may be bad but working in SW only not HW+ like previous 1080p file. Appears more CPU intensive than Hi10p counterpart. (50+% on 720p, 1080p not tested as runs off HW+ ok) - Have tested fully and Main10 not supported in hardware on Amlogic S812 - confimed by manufacturer too. Original HEVC Main10 file uses some strange setting.

HEVC Main10 (from previous post)- best of the bunch in terms of picture quality and playback(see above) - Seeking/resume does not work.

Refresh rate issues with motion interpolation - need to set display to refresh rate of file (eg 24hz) through Android settings.

None of my test files working in Kodi 15 Alpha or VLC reliably.

Karaoke subs work on Hi10p and Main10 with no issues.

More tests to be done over next 7 days (custom FW and potential issues with test files) Done

Need to work out why MX Player will not seek on HEVC Main10 files