Official Z12 Ultra Questions and Discussion thread.

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  • 4. Instruction Articles

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    Quote from jostie2000

    I’ve already received my Z12 Ultra, and within an hour I had reported it for return on principle. Who on earth thought it was a good idea to put the volume buttons on the side? The main volume buttons only work with your own system in IR mode. Nobody wants to change the box volume. Nobody! The device itself is fine, nothing more, but the remote is a complete joke.

    I tested my Z12 Ultra today.

    I’m one of the 100% who wants to use the main volume buttons to control the volume of my tv/soundbar/surround set/everything. I don’t care about the box volume.

    The fix:

    I don’t use the new Z12 remote. I linked my good old one Z11 BT1 remote 🙈

    Quote from joostvdb

    I tested my Z12 Ultra today.

    I’m one of the 100% who wants to use the main volume buttons to control the volume of my tv/soundbar/surround set/everything. I don’t care about the box volume.

    The fix:

    I don’t use the new Z12 remote. I linked my good old one Z11 BT1 remote 🙈

    Then I don’t see the point in paying €180 for a box with the same soft- and hardware. I only use it for TV, and there’s no content in Dolby Vision or Atmos. Mine’s already packed back up.

    Quote from joostvdb

    I tested my Z12 Ultra today.

    I’m one of the 100% who wants to use the main volume buttons to control the volume of my tv/soundbar/surround set/everything. I don’t care about the box volume.

    The fix:

    I don’t use the new Z12 remote. I linked my good old one Z11 BT1 remote 🙈

    Isnt it possible to open the app formuler remote? Inst that installed on the box?

    And setup your remote to your tv brand?

    Must be possible looks like to me my friend. Like Z11, gtv, z8

    Quote from Lucky133

    Isnt it possible to open the app formuler remote? Inst that installed on the box?

    And setup your remote to your tv brand?

    Must be possible looks like to me my friend. Like Z11, gtv, z8

    No, it doesn’t work like with the Z8/10/11. The BT1 had two main volume buttons on the remote itself. The BT3 has adjustable volume buttons on the side, which is extremely inconvenient! The volume buttons on the remote itself only work via IR in TV mode.

    Quote from Choubs

    I look forward to hearing your feedback because that's exactly what I'd like to know (especially with the .mkv container) :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

    Mkv files with dolby vision and lossy (normal atmos) work fine on the plex and jellyfin apps on the z12. See my post above re truehd/dts-HD which does not work.

    In particular dolby vision profile 8 files I tried without truehd worked fine. I didnt test any profile 7 or 5 files because most of those come with truehd/dts-HD.


    In short, this box is great for iptv, but not really a plex box. It doesn't seem to me to be really rhat much different from the z11 pro max - the extra money goes towards the larger flash drive and newer remote.

    Quote from sek

    Mkv files with dolby vision and lossy (normal atmos) work fine on the plex and jellyfin apps on the z12. See my post above re truehd/dts-HD which does not work.

    In particular dolby vision profile 8 files I tried without truehd worked fine. I didnt test any profile 7 or 5 files because most of those come with truehd/dts-HD.


    In short, this box is great for iptv, but not really a plex box. It doesn't seem to me to be really rhat much different from the z11 pro max - the extra money goes towards the larger flash drive and newer remote.

    Just checking your soundbar definitely supports those formats? Maybe passthrough enabled at some point will make it work?

    Hello sek

    I missed your message, thanks for reminding me :thumbs_up:

    For my part, I only use .mkv files in layer 8 with Plex and I also use a Denon AVC-X3800H amplifier with an LG G3.

    This is good news for Dolby Vision but really annoying for Dolby True-HD and DTS-HD*A. :frowning_face:

    Edit : However, I just checked the audio settings on the Z11 Pro Max and it does support DTS-HD*A :unamused_face:

    Quote from jostie2000

    No, it doesn’t work like with the Z8/10/11. The BT1 had two main volume buttons on the remote itself. The BT3 has adjustable volume buttons on the side, which is extremely inconvenient! The volume buttons on the remote itself only work via IR in TV mode.

    It is a bluetooth remote.

    Maby they bring an update out fot the bt3 and formuler remote app. So that we can change it like before.

    I dont have a z12 (yet).

    Quote from LDeacon

    Just checking your soundbar definitely supports those formats? Maybe passthrough enabled at some point will make it work?

    Yes, I have a denon x1800h, and a lg c3. Both support audio passthrough for all audio formats. I also have a homatics r 4k+ and an ugoos am6b+ running coreelec, so I've tested these formats a lot.


    To summarise, I just tested things again, and with formuler z12 ultra<-->denon x1800h<--->lg c3, both 2.1b cables:

    - no qms. As I said this only works with formuler plugged into the tv directly.

    In the plex app on the formuler:

    - [Bluray-2160p][TrueHD 5.1][DV HDR10][HEVC]-REMUX: HDR logo is triggered and first frame shows, but no playback, just stuck there. AVR shows "Surround" as it always does.

    - [Bluray-2160p][DTS-X 7.1][HDR10][x265]: Same as above.

    - [Bluray-2160p][TrueHD Atmos 7.1][DV HDR10Plus][x265]: Same as above.

    - [Bluray-2160p][DTS-HD MA 5.1][DV HDR10][x265]: Same as above.

    => TrueHD (Atmos or not), and DTS-X and DTS-HD do *not* play in plex. It's the same in jellyfin and more or less the same in Kodi. It's also the same if I plug the formuler directly into the tv.


    On the other hand:

    -[Remux-2160p][DTS 2.0][DV HDR10][HEVC]: is a dolby vision profile 7 which plays fine in HDR.

    -[ATVP WEBDL-2160p][DV HDR10Plus][EAC3 Atmos 5.1][h265]: is a dolby vision profile 8 which plays fine in Dolby Vision and DD+.

    I received the Formuler box yesterday.

    I was able to play "Top Gun Maverick 2022 IMAX 2160p UHD Blu-ray Remux HEVC DV TrueHD 7.1-HDT" in Kodi.

    I enabled all passthrough settings in Kodi. In addition, I changed the audio option in the developer settings from PCM to RAW, and in the passthrough settings I set it to Passthrough Legacy (a new feature in the Z12).

    I had both video and proper audio output on all sound streams of this title.

    Tv (LG G4) Showed Dolby vision and Dolby Atmos (Soundbar)

    Quote from rickoa

    I received the Formuler box yesterday.

    I was able to play "Top Gun Maverick 2022 IMAX 2160p UHD Blu-ray Remux HEVC DV TrueHD 7.1-HDT" in Kodi.

    I enabled all passthrough settings in Kodi. In addition, I changed the audio option in the developer settings from PCM to RAW, and in the passthrough settings I set it to Passthrough Legacy (a new feature in the Z12).

    I had both video and proper audio output on all sound streams of this title.

    Tv (LG G4) Showed Dolby vision and Dolby Atmos (Soundbar)

    Nice! I had no luck with Kodi. I'll try the 'passthrough legacy' option later this evening. Hopefully that fixes the broken playback in plex.

    Do you know what it does?

    Quote from rickoa

    I received the Formuler box yesterday.

    I was able to play "Top Gun Maverick 2022 IMAX 2160p UHD Blu-ray Remux HEVC DV TrueHD 7.1-HDT" in Kodi.

    I enabled all passthrough settings in Kodi. In addition, I changed the audio option in the developer settings from PCM to RAW, and in the passthrough settings I set it to Passthrough Legacy (a new feature in the Z12).

    I had both video and proper audio output on all sound streams of this title.

    Tv (LG G4) Showed Dolby vision and Dolby Atmos (Soundbar)

    Are the passthrough settings in dev options too?

    I have the new Z12 Ultra on test for a couple of days. There seems to be a bug in the Bluetooth software.

    Paired my earbuds - 1st day worked. After that, do not. Its not the earbuds as they work with all other devices - says connected/paired for audio - yet no volume. Restarted the box & the earbuds - deleted, re-paired, no difference - no volume/output/

    Quote from Lucky133

    It is a bluetooth remote.

    Maby they bring an update out fot the bt3 and formuler remote app. So that we can change it like before.

    I dont have a z12 (yet).

    I understand that. Although I doubt it, because in that case the buttons on the sides would no longer serve any purpose. But until then, I don’t see any added value in the Z12 Ultra compared to the Z11 Pro Max. The hardware is almost identical, and there are hardly any TV channels in DoVi and/or Atmos.

    Can you please test using MOL3?

    For Dolby vision and true hd .

    Thanks to all


    Just for information using the Z11 pm the true hd audio signals are already working only using Kodi as external player but not using MOL3.

    So according to the recent feedbacks I ve the feeling that for audio it is the same than the Z11 only Dolby vision support is the new feature for me .

    For the tester: i know sky uk or usa main has with an event dolby atmos sound.

    Saw it one time with my z11.

    Dolby vision can you only test in the vod section i think.

    no channel so far i know broadcast with dolby vision. (Note: your tv must have dolby vision support, for the people who dont know it.

    I'm receiving the Formuler Z12 Ultra today; my audio/video test files are ready to launch on Plex (Kodi isn't a benchmark since it bypasses certain things).


    For a reminder on the Formuler Z11 Pro Max this is what I have :

    Plex passthrough enabled:

    - DTS-HD MA: crash

    - DTS-HD HRA: crash

    - DTS:X: crash

    - DTS: ok

    - Dolby TrueHD: crash

    - Dolby TrueHD Atmos: crash

    - Dolby Digital: ok

    - Dolby Digital Plus: ok

    - Dolby Digital Plus Atmos: ok

    - PCM: ok

    - AAC 5.1: ok (PCM)


    Plex passthrough disabled:

    - DTS-HD MA: PCM

    - DTS-HD HRA: PCM

    - DTS:X: PCM

    - DTS: PCM

    - Dolby TrueHD: PCM but stuttering

    - Dolby TrueHD Atmos: PCM but stuttering

    - Dolby Digital: PCM

    - Dolby Digital Plus: PCM

    - Dolby Digital Plus Atmos: PCM

    - PCM: ok

    - AAC 5.1: ok (PCM)


    MOL3:

    - DTS-HD MA: DTS

    - DTS-HD HRA: DTS

    - DTS:X: DTS

    - DTS: DTS but stuttering

    - Dolby TrueHD: PCM

    - Dolby TrueHD Atmos: PCM

    - Dolby Digital: ok

    - Dolby Digital Plus: ok

    - Dolby Digital Plus Atmos: ok

    - PCM: ok

    My Honest Review

    First of all, I’m a big fan of Formuler. I’ve previously owned both the Z10 PM and the Z11 PM, and I was very satisfied with them. I use the box the same way most people probably do — mainly for watching TV and MOL.

    In terms of hardware, the new box doesn’t really bring improvements for the average TV viewer (apart from more storage for recordings, which could already be solved easily with a cheap USB stick). Through this source, there is very little content available in Dolby Vision or Atmos, so for most users it doesn’t really add any value.

    What did get me excited, however, was the new remote. With backlighting, a “find my remote” feature, and what seemed to be better ergonomics, I thought it would be worth upgrading for that alone. Unfortunately, the remote has turned out to be a real disappointment for me. It’s big and bulky, making it far from ergonomic. Apart from the channel +/- buttons, the most frequently used button has been hidden on the side, and it requires quite a firm press. While you can configure the main volume buttons to control your own equipment, this only works when the remote is in TV mode, which is not convenient.

    In my opinion, Formuler really missed the mark here. I truly hope to see a quick update to the new remote, and I count on the strength of this forum to help push this as a priority.

    Quote from jostie2000

    My Honest Review

    First of all, I’m a big fan of Formuler. I’ve previously owned both the Z10 PM and the Z11 PM, and I was very satisfied with them. I use the box the same way most people probably do — mainly for watching TV and MOL.

    In terms of hardware, the new box doesn’t really bring improvements for the average TV viewer (apart from more storage for recordings, which could already be solved easily with a cheap USB stick). Through this source, there is very little content available in Dolby Vision or Atmos, so for most users it doesn’t really add any value.

    What did get me excited, however, was the new remote. With backlighting, a “find my remote” feature, and what seemed to be better ergonomics, I thought it would be worth upgrading for that alone. Unfortunately, the remote has turned out to be a real disappointment for me. It’s big and bulky, making it far from ergonomic. Apart from the channel +/- buttons, the most frequently used button has been hidden on the side, and it requires quite a firm press. While you can configure the main volume buttons to control your own equipment, this only works when the remote is in TV mode, which is not convenient.

    In my opinion, Formuler really missed the mark here. I truly hope to see a quick update to the new remote, and I count on the strength of this forum to help push this as a priority.

    Maybe an update to the remote software will be able to swap the volume buttons around?

    Quote from Lucky133

    For the tester: i know sky uk or usa main has with an event dolby atmos sound.

    Saw it one time with my z11.

    Dolby vision can you only test in the vod section i think.

    no channel so far i know broadcast with dolby vision. (Note: your tv must have dolby vision support, for the people who dont know it.

    Yes for sure I m talking about vod for Dolby vision and Atmos true HD.

    I m waiting the full test from Myst13 in order to know if this Z12 is a Z11 PM2 or not .

    Can ,those who have a TV set which enables QMS,test the feature on Z12 Ultra?

    Quote from henkie

    Can ,those who have a TV set which enables QMS,test the feature on Z12 Ultra?

    I just received it, but I’ll have to go to work :grinning_squinting_face:

    I have an LG G3, so it’s compatible with QMS. I’ll test it on MOL3 and see if it works on other applications like Amazon Prime, RTL play, RTBF Auvio (legal streaming apps in my country) as it does on the Xiaomi 3rd Gen, for example.

    Because on some so-called QMS compatible boxes, it only works partially (Rocktek GX1, Mecool SK2, etc.).

    But the downside of the LG G3 is that it accepts passthrough for HD audio formats, except that it sends DTS in... DTS-HD on the various boxes I’ve tested.

    So I’ll need to do some trials with the box connected to the TV for QMS and to the amplifier for the audio formats.

    Quote from henkie

    Can ,those who have a TV set which enables QMS,test the feature on Z12 Ultra?

    QMS works, read my messages above. Here's a video from going 50->60fps pal->ntsc with qms on the z12 https://streamable.com/ulhl8s.

    If your setup (avr, tv or cables) don't support qms, in the formuler's display settings you'll see the usual frame rate options. If it does support it, you'll see three options "Auto", "4K-QMS 23-60Hz", "1080-QMS 23-60Hz"

    Quote from dedelere

    Yes for sure I m talking about vod for Dolby vision and Atmos true HD.

    I m waiting the full test from Myst13 in order to know if this Z12 is a Z11 PM2 or not .

    A quick test just for you before my job: save your money :winking_face:

    On MOL3, if you have automatic selected in the system sound settings on Android, trueHD and trueHD Atmos are decoded into PCM.

    If passthrough is selected in the sound system settings, there is no sound at all.

    No change in behavior with the Z11 on this point.

    Dolby Vision is okay with MOL3 VOD.


    I didn't have time to test the rest, but others have already done so.

    Many thanks Myst13 so this is what I was expected , for the sound nothing new compare to the Z11 as the hardware is the same ....

    So to summarize paying 189 eur for Dolby vision support and QMS , knowing that now most of Dolby vision movies has HDR10+ layer included which is already working with my Z11 PM.

    I ve bought new TV in 2025 and the QMS feature is not available so for my case I will also not buy this new Formuler box Z12" ultra " and I think for a majority of Z11 owners it will be same .

    But for Z8/Z10 owners they will lost the true HD audio passthrough mode but get Dolby vision so honestly I don't know who will be interested by this new Z12 box especially at this price! I have not talked about the new remote control but it seems it is a big miss if I read some comments about it ( too big , volume buttons , . .)

    I m however a Formuler fan since many years and a Z7 , Z8 and Z11owner but for this time I will pass ...

    Quote from Roadrunner

    Only getting 1 day on epg ? And 1 day backwards too? Also don’t see the option to change to alternative epg to see if that fixes it?

    Option to change to alternate only available on MAC connection,by changing to MAC protocol you will get-in mol3-5 to 7days of guide (grid) epg.

    Quote from Roadrunner

    Used to get 7 days forward and backward on z11 pro max


    No good 1 day back for using catch up. And no good really for 1 day ahead for recording

    On what connection protocol are you on your Z12Ultra?

    Is it different from connection protocol on z11?