REVIEW: Tanix TX6-A with Allwinner H6 SoC and Android 9

PRODUCT DETAILS

Description

The model TANIX TX6-A TV-Box is presented in a totally generic cardboard box, inside we have the TV-Box, remote control, HDMI 2.0a cable, small first steps manual and 5V 2A power adapter with its adapter if necessary. The IR remote is a very basic model, it has a key to move the pointer on the screen using the crosshead.

• Remote Control: Only basic IR remote for basic functionalities. We can choose other alternatives.
• Voice control: Not available by default, see previous alternatives.
• Alternate control: We can control remotely using the app  Cetusplay / Don’t have its own remote control app.

This TV-Box TANIX TX6-A has a classic design, is a black box only with logo of the brand in the top. On the front we only have a small discrete white LED and on the perimeter we have all the connectors, the USB 3.0 port that is new in this SoC, we also have HDMI 2.1 connector up to 4K@75fps, AV jack, another USB 2.0, microSD reader and indicated with a red circle the power connector. In audio jack we have a hole for the update button of your firmware if necessary.

• Materials and measures: Plastic / 109 x 109 x 18 mm / 167 gr.
• Package contents: Manual / Adapter DC 5V 2A / HDMI cable / BT+IR remote with microphone (2x AAA batteries not included).
• Interfaces: HDMI 2.1 4K@75fps / AV Jack 3.5mm / Jack AV / 1x USB 2.0 / 1x USB 3.0 / MicroSD / Reset.
• Leds and panel: Frontal RGB LED.

When opening the TV-Box we can see the Wifi b/g/n (XR819), It has one internal antenna fixed to the outer shell. The cooling system consists in a metallic piece stuck to the upper cover that comes in contact with a thermal paste that presses the SoC to transmit the heat.

SYSTEM AND PERFORMANCE

Environment and Android system

We connect the TANIX TX6-A to the current, it starts automatically with an animation and the front led panel lights up. We arrived at the launcher by default called Alice UX based on windows and that has three main categories, the first customizable in the bottom bar, the second with the list of apps and the third with the settings and different areas to add apps. On one side we have some quick accesses to the latest apps that we have run. A launcher worked to use with the IR remote without a doubt, although it is more of the same. The system has a lower navigation bar but the upper notification area does not work. The performance is good and the Android 9 system well without forced closed apps.

• Launcher: Android 9 Launcher / YES we can change launcher but only Pixel launcher works 100% / Android UI rendering at 1080p.
• Multitasking and access: NO notification system / Multitasking available only in the lower navigation bar.
• Installed apps: Google play, Netflix, several streaming apps, Aptoide TV, Filemanager, Miracast and YouTube.
• Languages: All the international Android classics.
• On/Off Controls: If we keep press the power button we have reset and power off option / Configurable in settings.

We check the system data within the Android settings and through analysis software, we can see the details of the system installed by default, in this case in Android 9 with support for 32bit apps only.

• System version: Android 9 (32 bit) / Kernel 4.9.118 / Build 2019-04-16 / Reference p281.
• App store: Google Play with all the apps available for the Android system.
• Settings and root: Lateral Android settings / The system IS root by default / NO menu to deactivate it in settings.
• Support: TANIX have a site but now direct support / Firmware not available / Custom firmware no yet

Power and performance

In terms of power, the TANIX TX6-A has correct results on the Allwinner H6 Quad Core SoC line with ARM Cortex-A53 processors and Mali-T720 MP2 GPU. This new SoC made at 28nm is quite hot and as we see in intensive use has medium-term performance losses, the firmware does not seem to optimally adjust the CPU and keeps it much at its maximum.

• Consumption: Off 0.7W / Standby 3.5W / Basic use 6.1W / Maximum 7.2W
• Thermals: Minimum 62ºC / Maximum 90ºC / Maintains performance up to 88% / Heat zone on the top / Noise 0db

We pass our benchmarks with which we can see how the Allwinner H6 SoC is below the new SoC S905X2 but exceeds the previous S905X because it mounts a better GPU. In general the performance is below SoC as the new S922X (see our Beelink GT-King review) or the Rockchip RK3399 that already has more powerful ARM Cortex cores and better GPU.

In the following you can see a test of how PUBG moves in medium settings with the Allwinner H6 SoC, the result is fine and we can move without problems in lower settings. We recommend reading our tutorial to play with keyboard and mouse to PUBG in a TV-Box.

• Games and emulators: IS possible to play demanding titles such as PUBG / Emulators up to Wii / NO Vulkan support.
• Controls: Compatible with Gamepads by cable or bluetooth.

Network, storage, RAM and ports

In the TANIX TX6-A model we have integrated eMMC memory as internal storage, USB 3.0 ports and SD card reader. In the network section we have a Wifi b/g/n (XR819) and Ethernet 10/100 port. The performance of the Wifi chip is basic and we do not have a satisfactory top speed as we can see in the results.

• Storage: Total 32GB expandable with a USB memory stick / NTFS + exFAT compatible.
• RAM: Total 4GB – Free 3GB / DDR4.
• Network: Good speed in 5G with one external wifi antenna / Range 40 dBm, correct. / Bluetooth NOT included.
• We recommend reading our Tutorial SAMBA on Android networks if we are going to use files from our network PC.

VIDEO AND AUDIO TEST

Video playback test

Regarding the video playback section, the TANIX TX6-A has the Allwinner H6 SoC and a VPU compatible with most modern video formats such as h.265 and VP9. In this TV-Box we can use players like MX Player or install KODI from Google Play without the slightest problem, the system comes by default with a KODI version full of addons that we recommend to uninstall. This model has image quality settings with brightness, contrast and saturation, we also have several preconfigured quality and image modes. To modify these settings we must change them in the native player and the effects will be applied to all the players either MX Player or KODI.

• Settings and HDMI-CEC: YES image quality settings / RGB and SDR modes available / HDMI-CEC not available
• Automatic refresh rate change: Not available.
• Media sharing: Chromecast NO / Miracast yes / DLNA with BlubblePnP / Airplay with AirScreen.
• LibreELEC: This model is NOT compatible with LibreELEC.
• Tutorials: Judder effect and how to avoid it / Multi-channel audio guide / Correct dark screen when playing video on Android.

We pass several multimedia playback tests with the TANIX TX6-A account as the engine in the VPU with the so-called Allwinner Phoenix 3.0 VE Engine a specific hardware that allows us to decode h.265 and VP9 up to 4K@60fps natively and on the other hand we have the Smartcolor 3.0 DE Engine that controls the HDR modes like HLG and HDR10, although it does not support Dolby Vision.

• Ports: HDMI 2.1 4K@75fps / Jack audio stereo
• Max. bitrate: 100 Mbps = 12,5 MB/s.
• Tutorials: Install Addons in KODI in a simple way / LibreELEC installation guide for the TV-Boxes with Android

Video results

• The maximum bitrate depends on the port used to connect or the limitations of SAMBA Networks.

Audio playback test

For testing the audio in the TANIX TX6-A we use a Yamaha AV receiver, we check that they supports DD and DTS pass through sound. We can only listen to the multi-channel audio up to 5.1. If we do not have an AV receiver to listen the files with AC3 or multichannel sound we must configure the system to listen to configure the system to listen to multichannel AC3 videos in stereo on any TV.

• Ports: HDMI up to 5.1 / Stereo Jack
• Passthrough and certification: Available in settings / NO official certificates / NO Chromecast audio.
• Tutorial:  Multi channel audio configuration in Android devices

Audio test results

• PCM – Stereo only doing downmix from DD or DTS
• Core – Only the core of the format is played back with what we passed to the Dolby / DTS base system
  * Our AV receiver does not support these native formats but we verify that it is played back to 7.1

Streaming services

In our classics tests with streaming services we see how the most popular services work. The TANIX TX6-A presents the classic configuration without certificates that limits us in quality in several streaming services, luckily it seems that if it is compatible with most services even if they are in their most basic SD quality

• DRM: Google Widevine L3
• Certification: No
• Tutorial: Change the size of the captions and the mouse pointer on Android / Install Addons in KODI in a simple way

CONCLUSIONS

Score

Opinion

The TV-Box TANIX TX6-A is a low-cost model that mounts the Allwinner H6 SoC as its previous version Tanix TX6, in this case we have a cut in the Wifi adapter to reduce price. As we have seen in the tests, the Wifi adapter selected is quite basic and the results show quite low figures compared to the competition. We also have 10/100 network adapter and as a positive point the USB 3.0 adapter stands out.

The TANIX TX6-A integrates on its motherboard with 4GB of DDR3 RAM and has the latest version of Android 9 system that gives us some life in the long term, we do not count that if with control Flymouse or voice control which limits the usability The system, as we have seen, gets quite hot in normal use, it seems that the firmware is not very tuned to lower the frequencies of the processor when there is not much load in the system.

This TV-Box is cheap that can serve us for a basic use with KODI or other IPTV services but that has a lot of competition with more interesting SoC for the same price. Consult our recommended models to see other alternatives. Consult our recommended models to see other alternatives.

WHERE TO BUY AND ADD-ONS

Add-ons

TANIX TX6-A _

0.00

6.3

DESIGN AND CONNECTIVITY

6.5/10

HARDWARE

6.0/10

AUTONOMY

6.0/10

SUPPORT

6.5/10

PRICE/QUALITY

6.5/10

Pros

• Cheap
• Android 9
• Good number of connectors
• Fine as a media player
• PUBG compatible

Cons

• Basic wifi chip and Ethernet 10/100
• Firmware can be better, quite hot box