Server Version#: 1.21.1.3876
Player Version#: 8.11.0
I’ve recently got myself a basic budget Android TV box (X96 Max+) and installed Plex, and it works great except for when I make files available that have EAC3 audio. Normally I process these to AAC to avoid headaches, but I don’t always have time, and normally Plex just does the conversion for me anyway, and this is the case for all other players (web, phone, computer etc.)
But for some reason it doesn’t seem to want to do this on Android TV; it just plays the raw video with no audio through any of the outputs (HDMI or optical).
If I force some kind of conversion by setting a lower resolution in settings, or overriding during playback, then there’s no issue; Plex converts from EAC3 to something else and the audio works fine. What I don’t understand is why it isn’t doing this by default?
I’m guessing Plex tries to detect compatibility and hide this all behind the scenes somewhere, but is there some way I can override the behaviour and just hit a big button somewhere that says “literally none of my connected devices want anything to do with EAC3 so stop trying to use it please”?
The app in general seems a bit thin on options for handling audio; other than audio passthrough settings, it seems much more focused on video. An Audio Format option with choices of “Auto” or “Force AAC” and such seems like it would really help with issues like this, as audio conversion is much easier on a server than video.
I have this same problem using Plex on an budget Sony Android TV (xbr49x800h). In my case, if the file has a high bitrate EAC3 track, the video won’t even play. I also have to trigger a force conversion to get it to play. I believe the problem is that this TV can play EAC3 (@ 640 kb/s or lower for example) but can’t play files with higher DD+ bitrates. If I play it through USB the TV glitches out. Plex can’t detect this EAC3 limitation and since there is no setting to uncheck EAC3 it won’t automatically transcode.
I just started having sound issues this morning which is very odd. Video/mp3 plays on my Sony x90h but no sound at all. It was working fine last night.
What do I need to do to get it working again? I uninstalled and reinstalled the app. So weird.
Edit: When I try to stream from my friends plex I get sound. From my own library no unless I go on the computer.
+2 … also having a x96 max + … with atvxperience (android)…
however, when i play the same video(s) through the plex app installed on Kodi (android), the sound comes through. Thought it was a receiver kind of thing (9.2-setup) but in the other room (without receiver) the same happens.
I remember to have read that it had something to do with direct-streaming but i cannot find that option in the client…
So: plex on kodi works but that version is so… minimalistic
+1 EAC3 5.1 and AAC 5.1 looks problematic by playing Original Quality of the the videos.
If you convert the video manually therefore Audio gets converted to ( AAC 2 Channel most likely) audio plays fine.
I have some problems with eac3 and fire tv stick 4K.
For some files I have to disable hdmi pass through otherwise the movie doesn’t play.
With other files even if I disable it I can’t play the movie.
Hi guys, same problem playing any content with EAC3 audio, with Plex APP on NVIDIA SHIELD (2019). Does anyone knows if this will be fixed anytime soon?
Is Chromecast with Google TV (CCwGT) considered an Android-TV device? Because I just bought one and Plex is great except for decoding E-AC3. It doesn’t support it, it says, and so it transcodes to AAC, which It does for 2 or 3 minutes, and then there is no audio. It does this consistently in the exact place. Desktop experience is flawless.
I’m also having the same issue with Chromecast with GoogleTV. I really hope the developers can implement EAC3 support! It wouldn’t be an issue if it was just transcoding the audio but if you watch with subtitles, it forces video transcode too which breaks everything.
Chromecast with GoogleTV is a very popular device and I’ve seen its users having the same problem with Plex.
An option in the plex settings under audio to force the use of eac3 software decoder instead of the TVs decoder would be nice. Also an option to force use eac3 with higher bitrate even if the tv “returns” it can’t when it can.
Maybe even a new category under settings (for plex pass betas only) like advanced where these and other “tricks” that could be handy when troubleshooting for answers,
I also keep having audio issues with various video files, mainly simple ones in format.
In addition new audio issues appear with video files that were fine before!
And all have the codecs that everyone has mentioned so far, AAC 5.1, AAC stereo, EAC3 5.1 etc.
It’s definitely an android issue, because the same files play fine from the old classic Plex player in my non-Tizen Samsung TV!!!
It’s very disappointing that this keeps going for months now and things only get worse!!!
… also having a x96 max + … with atvxperience (android)…
