Q+ Player, DLNA Proxy DMR Geek 7.0.4

This media player, initially supporting UPnP DLNA functionality as a Digital Media Renderer (DMR), has significantly evolved into a comprehensive DLNA Control Point. While it retains its DMR capabilities when necessary, its current primary function extends beyond traditional roles, incorporating advanced media management features. It now acts, in a manner somewhat akin to a media server, but with enhanced flexibility and control—focusing on managing, proxying, and delivering media content in a manner that surpasses standard DLNA DMS implementations. The embedded DMR functionality remains fully integrated and optimized; however, the app's core strength lies in its ability to control playback, handle diverse media sources, and deliver bit-perfect, playlist-driven audio transmission across multiple devices.

Bit-perfect playback is maintained through a sophisticated proxy system that intelligently adapts based on network configuration:

• Direct Playback: When both the DMR and media source reside on the same network subnet and the format is supported by the DMR, playback occurs directly without additional processing, ensuring minimal latency.
• Passthrough Proxy: In scenarios where the DMR is located on a different network segment—such as via internet—or when data transfer involves protocols unsupported by the DMR (e.g., SMB or WebDAV), a passthrough proxy guarantees reliable data delivery, performing error recovery when necessary.
• Playback Proxy: If the original audio format (e.g., APE) is unsupported by the DMR, a dedicated playback proxy decodes the source and streams raw WAV data to preserve audio fidelity.

The application also features built-in support for SMB and WebDAV protocols, enabling uninterrupted playback even with device screens turned off.

Regarding video playback, this player supports comprehensive subtitle management with SSA/ASS formats. Users can add or modify font files independently, and subtitles can be dimmed to adapt to HDR and Dolby Vision content's high contrast and brightness requirements. The font size is adjustable for enhanced readability. Support for SUP (Blu-ray) and VobSub (DVD) subtitle formats was introduced in version 5.1, with options to embed subtitles within MKV containers or load external files. During playback, users may select individual subtitle tracks or load subtitle packages compressed in formats such as Zip, 7Z, or RAR.

The player supports HDR and Dolby Vision content, along with features like digital audio passthrough, MKV chapter navigation, frame-by-frame stepping, detailed audio track management—including delay adjustments—and comprehensive subtitle controls with timing offsets. It also displays frame rate information and supports automatic refresh rate adjustments to optimize playback quality. Dolby Vision playback on NVIDIA Shield TV 2019 has been successfully implemented. Additional functionalities include video rotation on demand and full-screen zoom via pinch gestures.

Originally designed for segmented media files in m3u8 (HLS) format—primarily targeted at TS files—they now support MP4 and FLV formats as well, broadening their applicability for streaming media handling.