The Weirdest Streaming Product I've Ever Reviewed: My Experience with the Cooler Master StreamEnjin

As I sat in front of my streaming setup, waiting for the new Cooler Master StreamEnjinn to arrive, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and curiosity. This tiny little streaming PC promised a great value, and as the Stream Professor, I've reviewed nearly every capture card on the market to help you get the most out of your streams. So, when my French brand account first tweeted teasers of this product, many of you inquired, and then their PR reached out about review, I knew it was a great opportunity.

The StreamEnjin arrived and promptly sat there for a tiny bit as most products do. I've always got a million things on my plate, after all. But I was excited to review this. A video mixer and streaming box that you control with an iPad? Seemed fun, if not limiting on potential buyers. The StreamEnjin - which is deliberately spelled weird - is a tiny little streaming PC, effectively. It features 3 HDMI inputs: 1 for up to 4K60 video, 2 for up to 1080p60 video - with real-time passthrough on the 4K input and a program monitor view output as well, allowing you to view the full stream layout.

It has gigabit ethernet for broadcasting out to the world, a USB 3.0 port for recording to USB hard drives, and... RCA and quarter-inch audio inputs. Not XLR, quarter-inch. You likely need to run your microphone through an existing pre-amp or mixer to use it with this box. Weird choice. But it's small, lightweight, and even has a handle built into the stand! The front of the device features your control for the stream. Audio dials, scene switching buttons, streaming control, a... fader? More on that later.

As I proceeded to use and test this thing, however, the excitement came crumbling down. This thing is not great. Man, where do I even start? Let's start with the HDMI inputs. I said three, right? Well, it's actually just two. You have the 4K input - which seems to be the one meant for your gameplay since it's the only one with passthrough. It supports up to 4K60 video, but that's about where the good news ends.

The 2nd HDMI input is limited to 1080p30, and no more than 6mbps. This limitation becomes apparent when I tried connecting different sources to my network, changing resolutions and bitrates, and even experimenting with different wired points of connection. The device cannot maintain a constant bitrate for some reason, and it cannot maintain a solid framerate whatsoever.

I'm targeting 60 FPS? Forget about it! The stutters and hitches are frequent, and I'm not just talking about the occasional flicker - this is a full-on experience where your stream drops out or becomes completely unwatchable. And don't even get me started on when I tried to target 30 FPS. It's a joke. This device cannot maintain a consistent framerate, no matter what settings I chose.

My first couple of waves of testing also showed that the output bitrate fluctuated all over the place - and streaming services work best with consistent, constant bitrate. So, I reduced it to 6mbps in case Twitch was telling it to slow down or something. Still fluctuating. Okay, let's give 1080p30 a go too, I guess.

The result? What is this mess? The device cannot maintain a constant bitrate for some reason, and it cannot maintain a solid framerate whatsoever. If I'm targeting 60, sure as heck it is not hitting that with random hitches and stutters frequently showing up. And if I target 30, it's not even close. This is just bad. Plain and simple, bad.

Running their app, albeit both the app and full of weird typos and language things, is mostly straightforward. You can configure your scenes, swap inputs, add super basic PNG graphic overlays, crop, and resize sources, and so on. Then you connect to Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook - or enter your custom RTMP server details because neither Twitch nor YouTube login would even load in my case.

And here's where we run into another limitation. This device can only stream up to 1080p30. No 1080p60. Not a huge deal, I thought to myself. 720p60 at 8mbps to Twitch should look great, right? Right? Uhhhh what is this mess?

During my first couple of waves of testing, I noticed that the output bitrate fluctuated all over the place - and streaming services work best with consistent, constant bitrate. So, I reduced it to 6mbps in case Twitch was telling it to slow down or something.

Wait, I'm sorry, what?! The output bitrate still fluctuates. I tried different sources, two different wired points of connection, different resolutions and bitrates. This device cannot maintain a constant bitrate for some reason, and it cannot maintain a solid framerate whatsoever.

If I'm targeting 60 FPS sure as heck is not hitting that with random hitches and stutters frequently showing up, and if I target 30 it's not even close. The device simply cannot keep up with the demands of modern streaming services. It's a shame, really. This thing had so much potential.

The only other review available on this device at the time of creating this review also shows the same framerate issues, only the reviewer brushes it off as " minor" or whatever. I'd say that's an understatement.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enWait... what?Why is this happening?I'm sorry, this thing costs HOW MUCH?!Yep.It's official.This is the weirdest streaming product I haveEVER reviewed.And what's worse - it's not even Cooler Master'sfault, because they didn't make the darn thing.But we'll get to that in a minute.We need to go back.Let's go way back.A couple weeks ago, I was given the opportunityto review the new Cooler Master StreamEnjinas it neared its launch.One of their French brand accounts first tweetedteasers of this thing, many of you inquired,and then their PR reached out about review.Perfect timing, seemed like a great opportunity.This streaming PC alternative promises a greatvalue.After all, I'm the Stream Professor - I'vereviewed nearly every capture card on themarket to help you get the most out of yourstreams, you should hit the subscribe andnotification buttons so you can stay informed.The StreamEnjin arrived and promptly.. sathere for a tiny bit as most products do.I've always got a million things on my plate,after all.But I was excited to review this.A video mixer and streaming box that you controlwith an iPad?Seems fun, if not limiting on potential buyers.The StreamEnjin - which is deliberately spelled...weird - is a tiny little streaming PC, effectively.It features 3 HDMI inputs: 1 for up to 4K60video, 2 for up to 1080p60 video - with arealtime passthrough on the 4K input and aprogram monitor view output as well, allowingyou to view the full stream layout.It has gigabit ethernet for broadcasting outto the world, a USB 3.0 port for recordingto USB hard drives, and...RCA and quarter-inch audio inputs.Not XLR, quarter-inch.You likely need to run your microphone throughan existing pre-amp or mixer to use it withthis box.Weird choice.But it's small, lightweight, and even hasa handle built into the stand!The front of the device features your controlfor the stream.Audio dials, scene switching buttons, streamingcontrol, a... fader?More on that later.And transition buttons.This thing looks like a mini-Tricaster orsomething and seems really awesome.As I proceeded to use and test thing thing,however, the excitement came crumbling andcrashing down.This thing is not great.Man, where do I even start?Let's start with the HDMI inputs.I said three, right?Well, it's actually just two.You have the 4K input - which seems to bethe one meant for your gameplay since it'sthe only one with passthrough.It supports up to 4k 60hz, SDR only.It does support 1440p60, but nothing above60hz at any resolution.Okay, that's workable.The second inputs are 1080p only - thoughthey don't have the EDID to tell cameras thatso if your camera is set to 4k/1080p autolike my a6400 is, it just won't even detecta monitor is connected.You have to manually set it down to 1080p.Not a huge deal.BUT the big deal is that 1080p inputs A andB are not actually both usable.At any point in time you can only ever addone or the other to your stream layouts.You have to go in and manually choose whichinput is being used AND there's a notice thatissues are caused if you have both connectedwith active signals at all!Why is the second one even here?The mystery goes deeper as we look at thatlone fader on there.The fader itself, the feeling of sliding itup and down, the lines marking the arbitraryprogress in one direction or another: Allof this identically resembles an audio faderor slider on a mixer or even the GoXLR.But it's not.This is for transitions.This is ACTUALLY a T-Bar, but Cooler Masterdecided to swap off the T-Bar of the productthey're rebranding here to an audio fader.I would imagine this may have been a decisionto make it feel more familiar to game streamerswho have never used real broadcast gear, buta weird decision regardless.Let's set this bad boy up and start streaming,then.My first goal was to get a measure for quality.You download an iOS app to control this viayour iPad.I used my iPad Pro 2020, but there's compatibilityfor a range of iPads, though lightning oneswill need to buy a special adapter.In fact, the USB C to USB A cable includedis apparently super special for this purposeto allow the StreamEnjin to connect as a USBattachment device (rather than like pluggingyour iPad into your computer) and other USBcables won't work, and this won't work forother purposes.Good thing CoolerMaster did absolutely nothingto make this cable distinctive or stand outfrom every other USB C to A cable you mightown, so if you ever get it mixed up...GOOD LUCK!Unfortunately, despite taking wall power,this device cannot charge the iPad while connectedeither, so expect your battery to drop quick.The slot for the iPad is really small.No case can be used with it - not even thebasic thin folio cover - but it doesn't godeep enough to hold the iPad well, so if youeven bump into it, your iPad is flying forwardout of it.Ouch.Running their app, albeit both the app andmanual full of weird typos and language things,is mostly straightforward.You can configure your scenes, swap inputs,add super basic PNG graphic overlays, cropand resize sources, and so on.Then you connect to Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook- or enter your custom RTMP server detailsbecause neither Twitch nor YouTube login wouldeven load in my case - and set your resolutionand bitrate.And here's where we run into another limitation.This device can only stream up to 1080p 30FPS.No 1080p60.Weird.Not a huge deal, 720p60 at 8mbps to Twitchshould look great, right?Right?Uhhhhwhat is this mess?During my first couple waves of testing, Inoticed that the output bitrate fluctuatedall over the place - and streaming serviceswork best with consistent, constant bitrate.So I reduced it to 6mbps in case Twitch wastelling it to slow down or something.Still fluctuating.Okay, let's give 1080p30 a go too, I guess.Wait, I'm sorry, WHAT?!I tried different sources, two different wiredpoints of connecting to my network, differentresolutions and bitrates.This device cannot maintain a constant bitratefor some reason, and it cannot maintain asolid framerate whatsoever.If I'm targeting 60 it sure as heck is nothitting that with random hitches and stuttersfrequently showing up, and if I target 30,it's not even close.This is just bad.Plain and simple, bad.The only other review available on this deviceat the time of creating this review also showcasesthe same framerate, only the reviewer brushesit off as \"more than good enough\".Sorry but no.It's not.At all.I reached out to Cooler Master to confirmthat they know this is a problem and willupdate here should they have anything usefulto add.Beyond that, the control to customize scenesfelt really slow and limiting, playback issuper laggy and choppy in the previews, andthe transition... fader thing is not accuratein timing.You CAN leave a transition halfway done, likea proper t-bar, but the change is very muchdelayed to your physical movement, so goodluck if you're trying to be precise with itsomehow.It was at this point that I just had to giveup on the StreamEnjin.Especially after checking the price and seeingthat Cooler Master has this brick listed forNINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT DOLLARS?!EXCUSE ME?Virtually any streaming PC you could buildfor this price could wipe the floor with performanceand quality here.You could probably make it pretty small, too- though obviously not THIS small.Okay, now that the bombshell as been dropped,let's reveal what's behind the smoke and mirrors:Cooler Master didn't design or originallymanufacture this product.In fact, they're not even the first to askme to review it.I was asked to review this product at leastTWICE before Cooler Master asked me to: Firstin January of 2020 by ATEN calling it theStreamLive HD UC9020 and selling for $990.Secondly in October of 2020 by IOGEAR callingit the Upstream Pro and selling for $650.I do believe someone else reached out to mein late 2019 or early 2020 with the same thingas well, as I distinctly remember decliningas I didn't yet have an iPad to use with it.These models still have a proper T-Bar fortransitions, as it should be.They have their different logos - Cooler Masterjust went with the glowing outline of theirlogo here in this massive wasted space - butare otherwise the EXACT same product.While some like to really go after companiesfor this kind of thing - I generally am lenientabout a company making their first entry intoa product category a product designed by someoneelse.This is something they can learn from andgauge market interest on.But this... this was a mess.The StreamEnjin had the potential - for thosewith an iPad, at least - to replace the needfor a streaming PC and provide an easy-to-controlvideo mixer for streamers at home or at events,but fails to really deliver on usability inany category.The bright side is that this thing costs athousand bucks so it's unlikely anyone willactually be able or willing to take the riskand get burned by this thing.Product links are in the description belowas always.Consider watching this video on my new favoriteaudio interface and remember: Be Kind, Rewind.\n"