madVR Envy Core MK2 Video Processor

madVR Envy Core MK2 Video Processor with 8K Ready HDMI 2.1

Elevate your home theatre with the madVR Envy Core MK2, featuring 8K-ready HDMI 2.1, AI-driven HDR dynamic tone mapping, and advanced upscaling for pristine 4K/8K images. Its compact 2U design, NVIDIA GPU, and flexible aspect ratio and subtitle management make it perfect for projectors, flat panels, and custom installations. An optional Premium Pack adds dynamic subtitle overlay, AI artefact reduction, unlimited profiles, and extended warranty, offering pro-level performance without breaking the budget. 

For home cinema enthusiasts and videophiles seeking the perfect balance of performance, features and value, the Envy Core MK2 stands out as the “sweet‑spot” model in the madVR line‑up. It delivers the full Envy premium processing engine - including HDR DTM, advanced aspect ratio control and AI upscaling - while adding modern connectivity and gaming support.

Whether you’re upgrading a projector‑based home theatre, installing a high‑end flat panel system, or building a dual‑purpose cinema‑gaming room, the Core MK2 ensures your system is ready for 8K, 4K120, HDR and beyond.

Auto Aspect Ratio Management and Geometry Control

Envy detects every single aspect ratio and instantly adjusts the image to exactly fit your screen, regardless of its Aspect Ratio and the Aspect Ratio of the movie, even as it changes back and forth. The unrivalled auto AR control finally rids you of those pesky black bars once and for all. The Envy Core also features advanced geometry correction, fitting curved screens, advanced architectural installations, and more. madVR Envy Core resolves a lot of issues that arise from using a 16:9 aspect ratio projectors mated with Cinemascope screen and provides a seamless cinematic experience with no black bars, screen blanking during aspect ratio changeover, lens position changeover etc.

4K Upscaling and Sharpening

Envy Core uses proprietary machine learning algorithms to provide unrivalled 4K upscaling and anamorphic stretch. It also provides the highest quality chroma upscaling (4:2:0->4:4:4) and can automatically reverse certain damaging chroma upscaling used by source players to then perfectly apply its superior chroma upscaling.  With add-on Core Mk2 premium pack, you can upscale the content to 5K and 8K resolutions suitable for Barco cinemascope and JVC 8K projectors.

Highly Accurate Calibrations

Envy Core enables incredibly accurate calibrations by supporting massive 256-point 3D LUTs, and 4,096 point 1D LUTs, without any loss of measurement data and precision, unlike with other processors. This translates to 16.7 million points of accuracy, compared to less than 5,000 points with others. Envy integrates with calibration products including ColourSpace, Calman, and more.

Image Enhancements

Envy Core provides the highest quality algorithms to remove compression artifacts and mosquito noise, as well as de-banding to remove 8-bit banding artifacts. Many other favourite tweaks for image enhancements are also available to remove or add grain, sharpen edges, remove ringing, and more.

Subtitle Handling and Profiles

Tired of cutoff subtitles with your scoped screen? madVR’s subtitle handing dynamically resizes your image to fit subtitles only when needed, maximizing your picture size. And the new profile system provides the most powerful yet easy to use settings management you’ve ever seen in any product before it.

4K and HDMI 2.1 Support

The Envy Core supports 4K HDMI 2.1 output, with full 48 Gbps HDCP 2.3 support. This makes Envy the first and only stand-alone video processor to offer these advanced capabilities. This modern-day hardware platform ensures you’ll enjoy the Envy Core for many years to come.

Dynamic Subtitle Overlay

Dynamic Subtitle Overlay (DSO) is an advanced feature in madVR Envy video processors that automatically adjusts subtitles in real time for optimal readability without affecting the main video or aspect ratio. It intelligently repositions subtitles to avoid obstructing important on-screen action, applies subtle background dimming for better contrast, and works seamlessly with Blu-ray, streaming, and broadcast content, including both hardcoded subtitles and closed captions. By keeping the cinematic composition intact, DSO ensures a clean, unobstructed viewing experience, making dialogue and text easy to read even in complex scenes. Available with Core mk2 premium pack add-on.

Non-Linear Stretch (NLS+)

Want to remove those pesky black bars on your 2.35 screen when watching 16:9 content? madVR’s NLS+ is the first non-linear stretch algorithm to combine horizontal expansion with vertical compression. This innovation (yet another madVR Labs industry first) “shares the load” for the stretch both horizontally and vertically, resulting in a more natural looking image than possible otherwise.

Simple to Install and Use

Set up is so simple that it takes just five minutes. No experience is required. Just plug the HDMI output from your AVR into the Envy Core, and send the Envy’s HDMI output to your display. Need support? With your permission, your dealer can remotely connect to your Envy, see its video output in real-time, and operate it just like they were in the room with you.

madVR Envy Core Mk2 Premium Pack Add-On

madVR Labs took a smart approach in designing the Core, balancing features and price. While there are advanced features some users may want, including everything upfront would have made the Core less affordable. To address this, madVR Labs offers the Core Mk2 Premium Pack as an optional upgrade, unlocking additional capabilities for advanced users. Key features added by the Premium Pack include 5K & 8K upscaling, dynamic subtitle overlay, automatic JVC and Sony lens memory activation over IP, AI-based artefact and noise reduction, advanced test patterns, unlimited profiles, and an extended warranty from 2 to 4 years.

Beyond regular firmware updates, the Premium Pack will also gain access to new advanced features in the future. For budget-conscious buyers, the Core with the Premium Pack offers most of what the Pro provides, making it a compelling choice without missing much. For those who want every detail, it’s best to consult your dealer or review a side-by-side comparison.

The Envy Core Mk2’s compact, lightweight design makes it highly versatile for media rooms and home theatres. Paired with the NVIDIA 5060 GPU and the powerful Envy processing engine, the Core Mk2 sets a new benchmark for price-to-performance in video processors. For many users, this combination is more than enough, making the Core Mk2 an excellent option if the Pro or Extreme models are beyond your budget. While the Envy is packed with features that could take hours to cover, these highlights are especially relevant for enthusiasts who enjoy fine-tuning their systems.

Our Review

The madVR Envy Core MK2 is the kind of upgrade that instantly makes your home theatre feel sharper, smoother and more cinematic. With its 8K-ready HDMI 2.1 and AI-driven HDR tone mapping, it delivers breathtaking image quality that makes every scene pop with clarity and depth. Its compact 2U chassis houses serious power, including an NVIDIA GPU and madVR’s renowned processing engine, offering everything from automatic aspect ratio management to precision geometry correction and AI upscaling that takes even modest content to pristine 4K or 8K levels. Setup is refreshingly simple, yet the results feel like a professional calibration session, with the Envy’s colour accuracy, noise reduction and subtitle management creating a seamless, polished viewing experience. For cinephiles and gamers alike, the Core MK2 hits that perfect sweet spot between cutting-edge tech and real-world value - proof that you don’t have to go all-in on the flagship model to enjoy the best of what madVR has to offer.