Server Version#: 1.24.5.5173
Client Version#: 5.27.2
Platform Version 5.5
I am not able to play 4K files through Plex without it taking a long time to load and without buffering every few seconds. I tried with the TV by Ethernet and by 5G wifi and with the laptop that I use as a server also in both options. My internet is 300/100. The TV is a Samsung Q80T and the laptop is an i7-8750H 2.20GHz and 16 RAM.
My sets on server:
Plex Web—Quality
Internet Streaming and Home Streaming in maximum and just “Play smaller videos at original quality” enabled
Plex Web—Debug
Debug Level disabled
Direct Play and Direct Stream enabled
Use alternate streaming protocol for video playback disabled
Transcoder
Transcoder quality auomatic
Background transcoding x264 preset very fast
Disable video stream transcoding enabled
Maximum simultaneous video transcode unlimited
When I try to play a mkv, in Dashboard says:
Plex for Samsung — TV 2020
Buffering—1:05:44 / 2:02:50
Local (192.168.0.20)—161 Mbps
Video
4K (HEVC Main 10 HDR)
Direct Stream
Audio
Inglés (TRUEHD 7.1)
AAC—Transcode
In the TV I have Direct Play and Direct Stream enabled and original quality.
For a bitrate that high you are going to have a hard time with anything other than a hardwired Shield or using the Windows app on a computer hardwired with a 1Gbps connection. Plex web cannot play HEVC files as basically no browser has the codec support for it. Your TV likely has a 100Mbps ethernet port because TV manufacturers suck, and Wi-Fi is unlikely to have a reliable enough connection to support a massive bitrate like that. If super high bitrate lossless content like that is what you are trying to do with Plex it is probably in your best interest to invest in an Nvidia Shield Pro (2019) (make sure its NOT the tube one) and hardwire it to the server.
Please provide the XML info for the movie. Save the web page as a text file or zip it, then attach it to the thread. The forum does not support .xml attachments.
Connect your laptop via wired, 1 Gbps Ethernet.
If possible, connect the TV via 5 GHz WiFi. The TV Ethernet port is limited to 100 Mbps. 5 GHz WiFi may provide a faster connection.
When you play the movie, choose the Dolby Digital / AC3 audio track if possible. The TV cannot direct play TrueHD audio, so Plex has to transcode it.
So, my only solution is play that kind of mkv with a Nvidia Shield Pro connected to my soundbar by HDMI and the soundbar (samsung Q70T) connected to the TV by HDMI eARC so I may play real audio and video? My internet connection is much less than 1Gbps, I have 300Mbps of download and 100 of upload. Would that be enought with the Nvidia Shield Pro? That’s is the kind of regular internet connections here in Spain.
XML.txt (41.0 KB)
Here’s the XML. My internet connection is much less than 1Gbps, I have 300Mbps of download and 100 of upload. The TV is connected via 5GHz WiFi. I wanna play mkv with Atmos, not AC3, that’s why I bought a soundbar (Samsung Q70T), besides, I think my TV does support Atmos: Samsung Q80/Q80T QLED Review (QN49Q80TAFXZA, QN50Q80TAFXZA, QN55Q80TAFXZA, QN65Q80TAFXZA, QN75Q80TAFXZA, QN85Q80TAFXZA) - RTINGS.com
ARC
Yes (HDMI 3)
eARC support
Yes
Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
Yes
DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
No
5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
Yes
5.1 DTS via ARC
No
5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
Yes
5.1 DTS via Optical
No
Maybe the Plex TV app doesn’t support it and I have to buy a Nvidia Shield…
Yes I believe that is your best solution as the Nvidia Shield has far and away the best codec support of any Plex client out there, plus it has excellent horsepower under the hood just make sure you don’t get the tube version. As for your connection we are talking about your home network better know as your intranet. The speeds you are looking for are from your ISP and are your connection the internet outside the home. 1Gbps home network speeds are actually fairly common in the consumer space now. 2.5Gbps is even beginning to gain a foothold. These speeds have nothing to do with the speeds provided to you by your ISP. An Nvidia Shield hooked up via 1Gbps ethernet and eARC will chew through any 4K content I have seen with absolutely 0 issue.
Your TV and soundbar both support eARC and should have no problem with your content given a capable client is used to deliver it. The best way to accomplish this imo would be Shield connected to TV, TV connected to soundbar through eARC. Then hook up your Shield directly to the router or whatever your server is hooked up to via ethernet.
Ok, so, I need a Nvidia Shield like this one?
About my internet the speed I think I already understood. I have 300 Mbps from my ISP, but in the local network the speed is higher and is close to at least 1Gbps, but how can I verify that? And on the other hand, if I select AC-3 audio instead of lossless and direct streaming of 4K video, it should work without buffering all the time, right? How can I configure Plex to broadcast over the intranet?
Yes that is the Shield you would want. That device should be able to play anything you throw at it without issue and you won’t have to give up your lossless audio. You definitely have the right idea with the network info. You shouldn’t need to confirm it as your ISP is providing more than 100Mbps which leads me to believe their hardware is running 1Gbps ports, and unless your router is older then dirt or the absolute bargain basement special will also have 1Gbps ports. If all your devices are connected via 1Gbps ports then that is what your home network will operate at. You can confirm this by checking the specs page for your modem and router and other devices. They should tell you right in the specs what speeds the ports operate at.
Your Internet connection speed does not matter for playing files locally.
You want to connect your server to your local network via a wired Ethernet connection. This will be much more reliable than using WiFi.
The connection should be at 1 Gbps, not 100 Mbps. You can verify this in Windows. With Windows 10: Settings → Network & Internet → Properties. The Link Speed should say 1000/1000 Mbps.
If the connection is at 100 Mbps, then you will need to check your cabling, router/switch ports, and server port to find out why that is happening.
You didn’t mention the soundbar in your previous post.
The Plex app on Samsung TVs does not direct play TrueHD + Atmos audio. It cannot passthrough TrueHD audio to an attached soundbar. Choosing that audio stream results in Plex Media Server transcoding the audio to another format (as you mention in your first post). Atmos information is discarded during the transcode.
I suggested using the AC3 stream as it direct plays. This is preferable to a transcoded TrueHD stream.
Note that the Plex Samsung app also has limited subtitle support. Enabling PGS or VOBSUB subtitles results in a video transcode (and loss of HDR if playing a HDR video).
As others have mentioned, you want the Nvidia Shield Pro. Do not purchase the non-Pro Shield, as it has problems with high bit-rate media such as 4K HDR video.
You want to connect the Shield to the soundbar, not the TV. Per your post above, the TV does not passthrough dts audio. If you connect the Shield to the TV, any dts audio format will be transcoded.
Maybe I am incorrect but my understanding of eARC is that it totally bypasses the guts of the TV on the way to whatever device that audio is headed to. My television definitely behaves like that. My Shield is plugged into the TV and my A/V Receiver is connected to the TV through eARC. This allows signals to pass unmolested to the receiver. If it didn’t eARC would kind of be worthless.
In most A/V groups the preference is to use the TV as the hub because TV input switching is usually handled better then on audio focused devices like soundbars and receivers.
Edit: I do see where it says that DTS:X and DTS HD-MA are not passed through via eARC but I almost wonder if that is a typo as like I said earlier my understanding is that eARC completely bypasses the TV internals on its way to the connected audio device provided it also is eARC compatible. Also even if it was the case that DTS:X and MA HD couldn’t passthrough wouldn’t it send the DTS core instead of transcoding it?
This can’t be true if manufacturers have the ability to block certain audio codecs and in some cases has to be enabled by firmware updates to the TV as mine required. I did find where Samsung and LG are doing that. The idea for eARC was to pass uncompressed audio without the manufacturers screwing with it, but they are literally blocking it as the capability for 8 channel uncompressed audio is baked into the standard, so they are going out of their way to prevent DTS HD-MA and such from being passed through. At least in the case of Samsung though they do absolutely allow the passthrough of TrueHD on OP’s TV. It seems like the whole thing is more complicated than it appears at the surface.
I will concede though that I was wrong about it being a typo. This all just confirms my dislike of Samsung though. LG isn’t far behind.
I think we’re saying the same thing in different ways.
Here’s how I view it:
HDMI-eARC is an interface standard. In order to put the HDMI-eARC label on a device, it has to meet the standard as defined by the licensing body (see hdmi.org). This includes the ability to handle multi-channel lossless audio such as TrueHD, dts-HD, and PCM.
However, certain TV manufacturers, such as LG & Samsung, block access to the HDMI-eARC interface for dts audio formats.
As a result:
The interface on the TV is HMDI-eARC compliant.
The TV manufacturer can put the HDMI-eARC labeling/logo/etc in their documentation, on the TV box, etc.
The TV will still not pass dts audio formats due to restrictions by the TV manufacturer before the audio ever gets to the HDMI-eARC interface.
It is like border control. A truck with approved cargo (Dolby audio) can proceed down the road (HDMI-eARC) without restrictions. The exact same truck with prohibited cargo (dts audio) cannot proceed down the exact same road (HDMI-eARC) because the border agent (LG, Samsung) won’t let it pass, even though the road can handle the load.
I have the laptop via WiFi right now and in the link speed is “link speed (receive / transmit) 702/866 (Mbps)”. I guess that if I use ethernet would be 1Gbps. Thanks for all the info, I’ll buy a nvidia shield when I can.
It has no sense, but Samsung blocks DTS. Just allows passthrough of TrueHD by HDMI and if you sets that on settings. That’s why I didn’t aunderstand why my plex player on the TV was transcoding atmos when my TV allows passthrough, but I suppose is a problem of the plex app
