Audio forced to transcode from E-AC3 5.1 (Atmos) to AAC on Samsung Q90 TV

Plex Players Smart TVs
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Server Version#: 1.25.1.5286 (windows 10)
Player Version#:

I am not sure if this is a recent issue, or just one I haven’t noticed before, but my plex server is transcoding E-AC3 audio tracks to AAC when playing to my Samsung Q90 TV. The Q90 is connected to a Q950T soundbar (via HDMI, e-ARC disabled as it just doesn’t work on Samsung TVs).

File in question in an mkv with x264 video (which is direct streaming because of the audio) with an “E-AC-3 JOC” audio track (i.e. DD+ with Atmos). TV is using the Dolby Digital + setting for the HDMI output (supports Atmos from Netflix etc with no issues) and the soundbar bar is Atmos compatible, so should have no issues with processing an E-AC3 stream (with or without Atmos).

Does plex app not support pass through for Atmos tracks?

Edit:

Just tried an EAC3 file without Atmos and it worked (i.e. no transcode), and a different file with Atmos and it didn’t transcode.

Audio profiles look the same in mediainfo, so not sure why it would transcode one and not the other?

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That soundbar supports pretty much all common formats but I think HDMI eArc is required for Atmos support.

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Hi

Atmos works on some films and not on others.

eARC is only required for full fat Atmos with True HD etc, not required for Dolby Digital + with Atmos.

It could be a bandwidth issue on ARC but it shouldn’t be

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Do you have a MediaInfo or XML reference for a file that did play Atmos and one that didn’t? Could be a clue there.

You might also try restarting Plex, then play one file that works and one that doesn’t then wait a minute and then grab the logs from the server. That might give some insight as well. Troubleshooting | Plex Support

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