My device history has been Roku 3 to Raspberry Pi 2 to Apple TV 4 to Raspberry Pi 3 (both RPis using Rasplex). I’ve got a dedicated server with ample processing power.
I know that there can be a pronounced ‘banding’ in dark scenes with h264 and had basically got used to this with the Roku and it was no different when I moved to using the RPi2.
When I started to use the ATV4 around December last year I was massively impressed with the picture quality, especially the lack of banding (and then as time passes, you forget how good it is).
Anyway, I’ve just got myself the RPi3 and was initially very pleased with it until I sat down and watched something properly on it and then I realised that I was back to the banding problem. I checked out the same video on the ATV 4 and it is massively better. (I know it’s hard to define ‘massively better’ without a screen shot - but chalk and cheese). I also feel that there is a lack of vibrancy overall with the RPi 3.
Just to rule out one point - the video is definitely direct playing.
Now, I’ve read people saying how good the video quality on Rasplex is and therefore wonder if there is doing something wrong. My current set up appears a bit like when you install a video card in a PC with a low colour depth.
I’ve looked at all the settings on my RPi3 and I cannot see any obvious settings that are wrong - it’s basically as it comes ‘out of the box’ with a fresh install.
I was wondering if this is a universal problem or if it might be that I am missing something.
Oh, and if anyone asks the question - why don’t you just go back the ATV4? The answer is simple - it’s because the ATV4 is so limited in the files it can play (it’s particularly bad with most of my interlaced videos).
Any help would be gratefully received.
Best wishes
Malcolm Clark
