Faithful playback of a large local media library in 8K, with direct access to UHD Blu-ray menus and intact Dolby Vision metadata: that is the promise of the Z30 Pro, which extends Zidoo’s 8K generation by adding a 3.5-inch SATA hard drive bay to the technical foundation of the Z9X 8K. A configuration designed for those who have built up a substantial digital film library and want to play it back in its original format, without recompression or interruption.
Aluminium chassis and LED front panel
The aluminium alloy enclosure follows the understated lines of the brand’s previous players. Square format (197 x 197 x 64.8 mm) weighing 1.4 kg. The front panel features a bright LED display with adjustable intensity, showing the current resolution, frame rate, or playback time. The aluminium dissipates heat from the components during extended 8K playback, eliminating the need for a noisy fan. The hard drive bay is concealed on the side of the unit, accessible without disassembly.
Amlogic S928X-K chip and AI processing
The Z30 Pro is built around the new Amlogic S928X-K integrated circuit manufactured on a 12 nm process. The penta-core architecture combines four high-performance Cortex-A76 cores with a power-optimised Cortex-A55, alongside a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU for native 4K interface rendering. The processor integrates a 3.2 TOPS neural processing unit dedicated to AI-based image optimisation, paired with Amlogic’s eighth-generation TruLife engine. On the memory side, 6 GB of DDR4 and 64 GB of eMMC storage support Android 11 and navigation through large libraries. Note: the version of Android supplied is standard, without the Google Play Store, and installing third-party applications requires APK files.
HDR10+, Dolby Vision and VS10 engine
The Z30 Pro outputs via HDMI 2.1a up to 8K at 60 Hz with 12-bit depth over the BT.2020 colour space. HDR support covers HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision. The latter is handled across all profiles (4, 5, 6, 7 and 8), including dual-layer profiles 4 and 7 with base layer and RPU, enabling playback of BD-ISO, MKV and MP4 files in MEL and FEL. Two Dolby Vision output modes are available: LLDV (Player Led), where the player handles tone mapping, and Standard Mode (TV Led), which delegates this processing to the television. The maximum resolution in Dolby Vision is capped at 4K 60 Hz.
The proprietary VS10 engine holds a special place. It applies tone mapping across all content, including SDR sources, with customisable profiles. SDR-to-HDR conversion, HDR-to-SDR conversion for non-compatible televisions, frame-by-frame adjustment of HDR10+ metadata: the processing adapts to the content rather than applying a uniform setting. Static HDR10 metadata (MaxCLL and MaxFALL) is analysed with precision to reproduce deep blacks and controlled highlights.
Blu-ray playback and advanced subtitles
DVD, Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray ISO files are played back with their original menus, giving access to bonus features, alternative soundtracks and chapters. The player handles complex MPLS structures and seamless branching, which matters for certain multi-branch discs where failed concatenations produce micro-interruptions. Automatic frame rate switching covers 23.976, 24, 25, 30, 50, 59.94 and 60 Hz cadences, with an algorithm that anticipates the change to avoid a visible jump at the start of a film.
The subtitle system accepts ASS and SUP/PGS formats, embedded or external, with special effects. Position, size, colour, font, time offset of up to ten minutes, outline, shadow: the settings go well beyond the bare minimum. Two subtitle tracks can be displayed simultaneously (useful for language learning), and forced subtitles from MKV files and Blu-rays are supported. Automatic downloading from the network rounds out the feature set.
Audio chain and high-resolution playback
On the audio side, the Z30 Pro transmits Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bitstream to a compatible amplifier via HDMI, without recompression. For stereo systems or traditional 5.1/7.1 configurations, an intelligent downmix preserves the spatial imaging. Optical (S/PDIF) and coaxial outputs support legacy amplifiers, and an analogue stereo RCA output allows direct connection to a preamplifier or Hi-Fi integrated amplifier.
Lossless music playback relies on the Music Player 8.0 interface, developed by Eversolo (Zidoo’s sister brand dedicated to Hi-Fi). Support covers DSD up to DSD512, PCM 768 kHz/32-bit, SACD ISO, DSF, DFF, WAV, FLAC, APE and ALAC files. Integrated online services include Tidal Connect (Hi-Res up to 192/24), Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, Qobuz Connect, DLNA, Squeeze Connect and UPnP. Streaming services remain accessible at startup without requiring a television, turning the player into a network audio source controllable from a smartphone. A gapless mode, gain adjustment, and automatic retrieval of artwork and lyrics complete the package.
Internal hard drive bay and network playback
The feature that sets the Z30 Pro apart from the Z9X 8K is its internal SATA 3.0 bay, accessible from the side. It accommodates a 3.5-inch hard drive (not included) of up to 16 TB according to official specifications, with user reports confirming operation up to 24 TB. That means several hundred UHD Blu-rays on a single medium, with the ability to swap the drive to expand capacity. An external CD-ROM drive can be connected via USB to play original CDs and rip them.
For networking, SMB v1/v2/v3, NFS, UPnP/DLNA and WebDAV protocols cover the main home server types, whether a NAS, a Windows PC, a Mac or a Linux system. An integrated SMB server turns the Z30 Pro into a source for other devices on the network. Direct mounting of OneDrive, Dropbox and other WebDAV cloud services further expands the accessible catalogue. Plex, Emby and Jellyfin libraries are recognised, avoiding the need to duplicate a catalogue already organised on a dedicated server.
Poster Wall 4.0 and media library management
The interface automatically retrieves cover art, synopses, cast information and technical details from online databases, with multilingual recognition. Metadata can be saved locally to remain available offline. Poster Wall 4.0 manages collections, custom rankings, integrated trailers and playback resumption. Parental controls, database import and export, compatibility with Kodi’s NFO format, and editing of entries via a web interface from a browser on the same network complete the feature set. One point to bear in mind: the Z30 Pro does not support 3D playback, unlike some older models from the brand.
Connectivity, home automation and control
The rear of the unit brings together an HDMI 2.1a output, an optical Toslink output, a coaxial output, a 3.5 mm mini-jack output, three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an RS-232 port and a SATA connection. Wireless connectivity covers dual-band Wi-Fi 6 MIMO 2T2R and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX HD. For system integration, HDMI CEC, Control4, IP control (TCP/IP) and Wake-on-LAN allow the player to be incorporated into a home automation installation or a dedicated room controlled by a central processor. The Zidoo Controller mobile app for iOS and Android (with landscape modes for iPad and Android tablets) provides full touch control, from browsing the video library to fine-tuning the image engine. The backlit V11 remote control, included as standard, features a learning function to replicate the codes of other remote controls.
Advanced support (Blu-ray and MKV, forced subtitles)
Connectivity and Integration
HDMI CEC
RS232
Control4 compatibility (home automation)
Mobile App: Zidoo Controller (iOS / Android / tablets)
Additional Features
Remote startup (Wake-on-LAN)
Standby and power-on management
Automatic resolution and frame rate switching
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Z30 Pro and the Z9X 8K?
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The Z30 Pro uses the same technical platform as the Z9X 8K (same chip, same memory, same video processing) but adds an internal 3.5-inch SATA hard drive bay, an additional coaxial output and a slightly larger chassis to accommodate the drive. The Z9X 8K remains more compact if storage relies entirely on a NAS or external drives.
Does the unit work without a television for music listening?
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Yes. The integrated streaming services (Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay, Qobuz Connect) are accessible from startup and can be controlled from a smartphone or computer. The front LED display shows the currently playing track. The Z30 Pro can therefore serve as a purely audio network source in a Hi-Fi system, with no screen connected.
Which Dolby Vision profiles are actually supported?
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Profiles 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are supported, including dual-layer profiles 4 and 7 with MEL and FEL (which includes UHD Blu-ray Dolby Vision ISOs). Dolby Vision output reaches a maximum of 4K 60 Hz; beyond that, the signal falls back to HDR10 or HDR10+ depending on the content and the television’s capabilities.
Is 3D supported?
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No. Unlike certain older Zidoo models, the 8K generation, of which the Z30 Pro is a part, no longer supports playback of 3D Blu-rays or 3D MKV files. Users who rely on this format should retain an older player in their setup.
User reviews
Fabio
Exceptional product, it plays virtually all video formats. Even the heaviest ones (4K ISO files of 90GB) are played smoothly and without any hesitation. However, it does need to be configured correctly, so you have to spend some time "squeezing" the best out of all its potential, but in the end the results are guaranteed. Tinkerers like me will be happy. The only downside is that ISOs from old DVDs are not played correctly in terms of aspect ratio, and the audio comes out as simple stereo, but you just need to convert the file to MKV to restore everything properly. I recommend it for those who want absolute quality.
Comment from April 08, 2026 — Experience from March 28, 2026
Automatically translated — Show original (Italian)
Prodotto eccezionale, legge praticamente tutti i formati video. Anche quelli più pesanti, (iso 4k da 90GB), vengono riprodotti in modo fluente e senza incertezze. Deve, però, essere configurato correttamente, quindi bisogna perderci tempo per "spremere" al meglio tutte le sue potenzialità ma alla fine il risultato è garantito. Gli smanettoni come me saranno felici. Unico neo, gli iso dei vecchi dvd, vengono riprodotti non correttamente nell'aspect ratio e nell'audio che esce come semplice stereo, ma basta trasformare il file in MKV per ripristinare tutto correttamente. Lo consiglio per chi vuole la qualità assoluta.
Markus
Very satisfied. Works exactly as it should.
Comment from January 13, 2026 — Experience from January 02, 2026
Automatically translated — Show original (Finnish)
Erittäin tyytyväinen. Toimii niinkuin pitääkin.
Andrea
Excellent product. The only flaw is the supplied remote control, which is not backlit. In the dark, you cannot distinguish the buttons from one another.
Comment from November 06, 2024 — Experience from October 21, 2024
Automatically translated — Show original (Italian)
Ottimo prodotto. L'unico difetto è nel telecomando in dotazione che non è retroilluminato. Al buio non si distinguono i tasti l'uno dall'altro.
Excellent produit. Le seul défaut réside dans la télécommande fournie qui n'est pas rétroéclairée. Dans l'obscurité, vous ne pouvez pas distinguer les touches les unes des autres.
Eco-contribution of €0.30 included in the sale price.
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