After experimenting with these Old Westerns mp4, results if I did change to mkv - Resolved.
If I uninstalled the new Experimental player and installed the previous mp4 will start with Audio - Resolved
If I re installed the latest Experimental Build - Resolved
So my conclusion - I’m confused. 
Have you updated to MacOS 15.2. I have no issue with a Mac Mini M2 pro.
I believe there were reports of Plex Media Server “forgetting” media files with the m4 chips and Sequoia but I don’t know if those have been resolved. Have you tried rebooting the server?
Same thing happen to me with 8.44, I posted logs, they want sample files. I just went back to stable. My server is a Synology ds224+ so it’s nothing to do with the smb mac file issue also mentioned. It’s on the ATV client and not the server.
I just tried the experimental player 8.45 and I’m getting the doom loop when trying to play anything.
logging.zip (1.3 MB)
Video of doom loop:
Your Logs are showing a network error
Same files, same everything, just back to stable player.
logging(2).zip (1.3 MB)
That looks exactly like my problem. Everything works in the stable version.
Exactly the Same behavior i see in Player 8.45 (9616) and 8.44 (9572) and even 8.43 (9470). Maybe it is related to tvOS 18.2? I have the Server running on Synology DS1520+. Updated the Synology to newest 7.2.2 and plex Server to 1.41.9314-72009314 but still the same. Had Synology 7.2.1 and a little older version of Plex Server i don‘t remember exactly. Made no difference.
All files are playing fine in the stable Version. All files are mkv files form MakeMKV.
I have the same issue too.
I have not been able to reproduce that specific issue. Based on the logs, it does seem like the player is failing to connect to the server for playback.
Do y’all have any settings or configuration for your networks that is not the default settings?
And are you able to remotely playback any shared servers?
I’ll try to reproduce the issue to see what we may need to change with how the player opens a connection to the server.
The only thing I think that is different in the network tab is I have “Secure Connections,” set to REQUIRED. The problem goes away as soon as you go back to the app store version. No other changes made.
Don’t have any other shared servers to check.
Your Connections should be.
Save, Restart everything, router, server, Plex Clients, no VPN Running or you will lose remote connection or be restricted to relay.
I have my secure connection set to “required” and am not seeing the issue. I am however running the HEVC transcode beta if plex server.
Ok, all I know some Plex clients require Preferred. Good to know though…
Mixed results on newest beta on two different Apple TV 4K’s, newest gen and gen prior to that.
Older one (WiFi) with newer audio engine on and new render on, playing through TV speakers. Everything seems to play fine.
Newer model (Gigabit Ethernet, tested and confirmed) with newer audio engine/new renderer on, playing through stereo HomePod minis. Nothing plays properly. Video starts like its stuck between fast forward and pause, no audio except for randomly a few seconds of audio will start to skip. Turning the new stuff off, doesn’t fix the previously mentioned issue until you force quit the app.
Newer model playing through TV speakers with new stuff on seems to work fine.
These tests don’t seem to be impacted by what the content is 1080p SDR, 4K HDR Remux, SD.
Any difference in the version of tvOS between the two units? What are they running?
One of the constant themes I’m seeing for users with issues looks to be related to HomePods. Any other apps having issues sending to them?
No, it’s just the Plex app. This has been a long running issue for me. The non-experimental player only works with the HomePod minis if I turn the old audio engine on.
Both players are on the same version of tvOS.
Follow-up. I’m just now reading up on the thermal throttling issue (I feel like this should be stickied somewhere). The newer unit it my tests is quite hot and has a thermal state of serious. I can’t check the older unit tonight. So I guess that explains why 4K HDR Remux files would play for 20 mins and then start skipping + all these HomePod mini issues.
I’m still a bit confused why Infuse can play these files from Plex fine on the excact same device, through the same HomePod minis… but the Plex app can’t. Is the technology being used for the Infuse player that much more efficient? Can’t Plex do that?
Additional follow-up after cooling room, placing ATV on its side.
The issue on the newer model with the HomePod minis enabled actually starts when the thermal state is still at nominal. 7 dropped frames and out of sync audio when the thermal state is nominal. Across all types of media.
