Verdict
The Zidoo Z3000 Pro is a fantastic medium actor that effortlessly handle any file format you throw at it , and even supports 8 kB for those with an center on the future . An intuitive exploiter user interface fuse with a well design remote makes this classy increase to the Zidoo line - up a delight to use , while the HDD bay deal difficult drive with capacities up to 16 TB . Only the lack of 3D support disappoints , but otherwise this capable unit is the perfect solution for anyone who loves collecting physical media but fears running out of ledge place .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Zidoo Z3000 Pro spring part of the mark ’s reach of media instrumentalist designed specifically for home cinema enthusiast .
These models all have aluminium bodies , hidden HDD bay , front display , backlit remote controls , and built - in wireless aerials . The Z3000 Pro pose above the 4 1000 Z2000 Pro , and below the flagship UHD8000 with its full - breadth human body , dual HDD bays and audiophile connectivity .
If you ’re like me and still enjoy corrupt 4 K saucer and Blu - rays , you inevitably have to resolve where to put all the box sets and special variant you accumulate . One answer is to rip the photographic film as MKV files or even the entire disk as an ISO file , and then store them on punishing driveway or a NAS to help save space . This is where Zidoo come in handy with its extensive line - up of extremely well - specify media players .
Availability
The Zidoo Z3000 Pro is wide usable and retail for £ 579 , although if you want 3D bread and butter and are n’t bothered about 8 K you may go for the bum Z2000 Pro at £ 379 . Conversely audiophiles may favour buying the flagship UHD8000 , which will set you back £ 1,099 .
Design
The Zidoo Z3000 Pro sports an attractive design , with a brush aluminum admixture casing that ’s terminate in home movie theater - friendly blackness . The player uses a high quality power supplying that touch base via a three - peg cable at the rear , where you ’ll also find a difficult on / off electrical switch .
There ’s a large and informatory light-emitting diode show on the leftfield that can be turned off if necessary , an illuminated standby button in the middle , and a textured drop cloth - down panel on the right , behind which is the 3.5 - in HDD Laurus nobilis . The overall build quality is excellent , and my only complaint is it ’s not a full - breadth unit – if you want that you ’ll have to stump up for the more expensive UHD8000 .
All the connectivity is at the rear , where you ’ll find dualHDMI outturn . The chief output suffer telecasting up to 8K/60p , while the second is for audio only , with Zidoo use digital separation technology to isolate encumbrance between the two . This approach is very handy if your AV C.P.U. or receiver ca n’t pass8 K resolution contentedness . There are also optical and coaxial digital yield , plus a stereo analogue output using RCA connecter .
The rest of the strong-arm connections are write of two USB 3.0 ports , an IR extender and RS-232 connector for successive control , along with an redundant USB 2.0 interface behind the drop down flap at the front . There ’s a gigabit LAN embrasure for a wired connexion or IP control , and thanks to its built - in antennas the Z3000 Pro also supportsWi - Fi 6and Bluetooth 5.2 for effective wireless connectivity .
Operation
The Zidoo Z3000 Pro is very easy to setup thanks to its ready to hand wizard and sensibly put down out card organisation . All you postulate to do is colligate your display or AV receiver , bet on their capability , and then largely leave behind most of the carte pick at their default scene . There are plenty of options to keep tweakers well-chosen , but the auto options will detect the type of presentation you are using and adjust the all the telecasting and audio output consequently .
The extensive processing horsepower under the punk ensures the histrion ’s interface and operation is silklike unruffled and highly reactive . The user port is delivered at a resolution of 4 jet , and includes a Poster Wall for lay out all your films and TV show in an easy approachable style . There are encompassing alternative for customising the layout , and it also skims TMBD for poster prowess , simulacrum and info . If you ’re like me and love categorize content , you’re able to have time of day of fun as you rip your favourite films and add them to the Z3000 .
The built - in large capacity HDD alcove ascertain unchanging and high - speed bidirectional read and write capabilities , put up more convenient media storage . The Z3000 can handle unvoiced drive with a capacity of up to 16 TB , which should be enough storage to handle the largest of strong-arm platter libraries . jibe a intemperate drive could n’t be easier , you literally just launch the door , one-armed bandit in the drive , and then close it again . The Z3000 will then automatically add it to the file handler for entree .
The include removed control is an inviolable joy to utilize thanks to an intuitive layout and a backlight that set off automatically when you pluck it up . There ’s also HDMI - CEC and a remote app ( iOS and Android ) , if you ’re looking for substitute form of control , while an RS232 serial connector and support for Control 4 will keep customs duty installers glad .
Features
The Z3000 Pro uses Android 11 as its operating system , which ensures it persist smooth and responsive in operation . It also lark about a knock-down Amlogic S928X - kelvin five - core processor , combined with 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB of build - in storehouse . As advert the 3.5 - in HDD bay stick out compatible difficult drives up to 16 TB for onboard memory , although can also use the musician to access content stored on a NAS on a local internet .
All of this processing power ensures the Z3000 Pro is not only fast , antiphonal and racy in operation but also see to it it can cover a comprehensive range of telecasting and audio file eccentric , along with every resolution up to 8 K , any frame charge per unit up to 60p , every version of mellow dynamic range , includingHDR10+andDolby Vision , and lossless audio up to and including Dolby Atmos and DTS : X.
Picture Performance
The Zidoo Z3000 Pro offer near - comprehensive TV reenforcement , making it an almost perfect media player . The only daub on its copy book is the lack of 3D support , which is no longer include for some cause . If you really want 3D playback you ’ll require to buy the tacky Z2000 Pro instead , although this player is fix to 4K.
Otherwise the Z3000 has you covered with reenforcement for 8 K , 4 KB , and every version of HDR include HDR10 + and Dolby Vision . The level of file support is mad , and with the elision of 3D I was n’t able to find any Indian file case that the Zidoo could n’t notice and immediately play , so from this perspective it has you covered .
This variety of comprehensive file cabinet keep has been a feature of Zidoo ’s medium role player for year , but the big new feature on the Z3000 Pro is its power to scale all depicted object up to 8 K , which I was able to check using my reference JVC DLA - NZ900 projector . It can also output native 8 K from suitably encoded picture file , so for the first fourth dimension I was able-bodied to delight the full capabilities of my 8 K beamer , and unsurprisingly the consequence were incredible .
However , once I had satisfied my curiosity I ultimately opt to set the Z3000 Pro to output 4 K , partly because there is n’t much native 8 K content , but also because the upscaling to 8 thou did n’t appear to make any detectable dispute to perceived resolution . It also meant I could output straight to my Ab C.P.U. , rather than split the audio recording off using the 2d HDMI output and send the picture flat to the JVC with the primaryHDMI 2.1output .
The other reward of stay with 4 K is that it allowed me to take full reward of the Z3000 Pro ’s ability to cover up to 4:4:4 and 12 - bit colour depth , while the AI - enhanced 4 KiB upscaling prove extremely effective with lower resolution content . In fact , I ’d go as far as to say the Z3000 Pro is the most capable medium player I ’ve tested to date .
Zidoo has added an automatonlike skeletal frame switching feature to assure smooth and accurate playback disregardless of the frame charge per unit . It prove very effectual in examination and eliminated a few event I had with the earlier Z1000 Pro . Another useful feature is the ability to move subtitles , which is handy if they ’ve been placed in the grim prevention and like me you ’re using a 2.35:1 aspect ratio project screen .
To be honest I ’m just scrape the Earth’s surface of what the Z3000 Pro can do , but no matter what your requirements it ’s a secure best this Zidoo media player has the solution . Most significantly it ’s flawless in surgical procedure , playing all the files I tested without any offspring , and give up the television in exactly the resolution , frame rate and dynamic range in which it was encoded .
Audio Performance
The Zidoo Z3000 Pro is n’t just a first - class video player , it ’s also a brilliant medicine player if you fancy ripping CD , DVD - Audio or SACD disc and put in those on its gruelling drive . Along with lossless audio format like Dolby Atmos and DTS :X for movies , there ’s also high - resolution audio support for formats like DSF , DFF , DSD , ISO , AIFF , APE , ALAC , FLAC and WAV . So basically , whatever audio file formatting you ’re using , the Z3000 Pro can play it !
The Z3000 Pro includes a music library that offers both local euphony playback and comprehensive local medicine direction . you’re able to add music files from local hard drives and web storage across platform , and the Zidoo music library will mechanically skim information , match artists , and add up record album covers . you may categorize by artist , album , music genre or any other criteria that takes your fancy .
If you want to stream music that ’s also a opening , either using built - in Tidal Connect or via in high spirits - timber DLNA roll from music pour apps instal on mobile devices within the same local internet . As with the video side of things , the Z3000 Pro is a unflawed performing artist that deliver audio exactly as encoded . Audiophiles may favor some of the features on the more expensive UHD8000 , but for most multitude the Z3000 is a top drawer music player .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
The Z3000 Pro is an exceptional media musician that can deal just about any video or audio file data formatting you throw at it .
alas the Z3000 Pro does n’t bear 3D files , so if this is an of import feature choose the 4 thou Z2000 Pro instead .
Final Thoughts
The Zidoo Z3000 Pro is a well - design , solidly make and extensively intend media participant . It ’s a firearm of cake to setup and use , and offers plenty of customisation choice for those who wish to curate their aggregation . Crucially it proved to be bullet - cogent evidence in testing , plow every Indian file character I try asunder from 3D.
It also deliver a unflawed video recording and audio public presentation that ’s unseamed in mental process . It might not be quite the same as putting on your favourite disc , but candidly it ’s a lot more user well-disposed and means you do n’t have to come up space to swot up in another bookcase .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every merchandise we review thoroughly over an elongated period of time . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , live with money to review a product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics insurance .
FAQs
The Z3000 Pro is designed to store and playback content from a progress - in hard drive , if you want to access streaming service of process you should look at Fire , Apple or Roku devices instead .
