Sure, did you enable audio passthrough in Xbox audio settings? After that, go to the Xbox insider hub and check for an activity for Plex. I think that’s what kicks off install of the preview app.
Oh ok thanks for the response. I can’t seem to find the audio pass through in the settings however. Do I need to do something specific for it to show up? I saw others have an advanced tab with audio pass through checked but I don’t have that option. Maybe it’s only available to the alpha ring or the beta ring?
Are you talking about the setting in Plex? If so, it’s under the audio setting and there’s an option to check DTS and/or Dolby. You might want to reboot the console to make sure the new Plex version has been installed. And look in the games queue to see if it’s one of the latest apps updated.
This is the system setting needed.
If you don’t have it, then you are not on an Xbox flight that is enabled.
This is the plex settings needed.
You need to be on the insider plex preview app, see the first posts.
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Sadly, no luck with passthrough
No sound with both Atmos TrueHD and DTSX (or DTS-HD MA) tracks for 4K HDR movies
AVR-X4500H reports 5.1 multichannel
Xbox dashboard doesn’t report Passthrough under a clock
E-AC3 passthrough works fine
P.S. DTS-HD MA in SDR FHD movies works
Plex server version
1.23.0.4497
Plex app version
2.71.2.70
Plex app Audio settings
Both TrueHD and DTS are On
Xbox SX
OS version
10.0.19041.7763
Xbox audio settings
Speaker audio 5.1 uncompressed
Allow Passthrough is On
I am in the Omega ring. The Omega OS update and therefore the plex preview have not downloaded for me automatically or made themselves available. It is possible that there is some sort of delay to the roll out? I have not been able to get a good answer on the insider subreddit or twitter. I have a bunch of 4k HDR files with various audio tracks to test. I am genuinely hoping this does what I want it to as I only recently purchased an xbox series x with the intention of replacing my nvidia shield tube for this specific use case.
Did you try 7.1? I don’t know why 7.1 would work, but not 5.1. But. I had bitstream out which gave me no audio, and when I switched to 7.1 it worked. No idea why.
7.1 and 5.1 use PCM out, meaning the xbox is decoding locally (not passing through).
AFAIK, enabling the pass through option (see previous image above), allows the APP to pass through (over riding the local xbox decoding) to let the receiver/soundbar handle the audio decoding.
and unless it has changed since the original post, you must be on the alpha skip-ahead flight.
TLDR summary:
- be on alpha skip-ahead flight
- have plex insider preview installed
- have an AVR or soundbar capable of decoding truehd/dts directly attached to xbox (at least for troubleshooting purpose)
- enable pass through in xbox system audio settings
- enable truehd and/or dts in plex preview app audio settings
- don’t use PGS subtitles (will cause transcoding, and thus pass through to fail)
As per this blog post Xbox Insider Release Notes - Omega (2104.210501-0000) - Xbox Wire audio passthrough is available for Alpha Skip ahead, Alpha, Delta and Omega.
My issue is that I am in Omega but my console says it is up to date but it is still running the build from April 24th. No idea why.
It’s available all the way up to Omega now.
If it’s decoding locally with 7.1 and 5.1 then why does it show the passthrough icon? It seems to be working for me as I’m able to skip around a movie (FF, skip to a chapter, etc), in a split second. It’s never been that smooth before. Literally…NEVER. 
I tried bitstream out and I got no sound. Are you getting sound with bitstream out? What receiver do you have?
mine is bitstream out (as per my image above), my receiver is a yamaha rxv583 from a few years ago now with 5.1.2 atmos.
I’m using some newer hdmi 2.1 8k 48gb cables (this was done before pass through though my receiver is only 2.0)
I just tested it again after another restart, and ALL options work for me. 5.1, 7.1, and bitstream (any of the 4 choices), all seem to passthrough. I left it at bitstream out and Dolby Digital. If audio passthrough is checked it now seems to completely ignore the selection. Not sure why it didn’t do that before.
@W0lfm0n It’s possible that it’s only getting rolled out in stages, but I have no idea why I would have gotten it sooner. I usually get the update a week before it hits public release. Maybe another restart? 
Yep same here not quite sure how to download that build! If anybody is in the Omega ring and can share how they got the update that would be much appreciated!
Most likely ms does different staging for different xbox types and locales, especially the lower rings (which get fewer and slower updates).
If after restarting (not shut down) the xbox doesn’t show the new update ready in the insider app, then your only option is to wait.
Yeah possibly. Usually when that’s the case their blog says “new updates for some users in the omega ring” however this update just says “new updates for users in the omega ring”. Potentially with the availability of Xbox series x increasing and more people getting them and joining the insider program they have segregated out the newer users as our insider feedback is less constructive.
Now that the Xbox update is out for everyone will the Plex app be updated soon? Currently can’t find it on the insider app to test out the audio passthrough.
I’ve gotten the XBox update (on my Series X) and Plex update and it’s working on some content.
- Dolby TrueHD, EAC3 and DTS-HD MA pass through. Plex dashboard shows it as Direct Play.
- DTS-HD plays NO sound. Plex dashboard shows it as Direct Play.
- The XBox converts AAC files to Dolby Atmos (which is the default output I have selected on the XBox). Plex dashboard shows it as Direct Play.
The plex update you received, was it part of the insider program or have plex updated the release app to support passthrough?
The public release that just went out includes support. Please note that there is no longer a setting within the Plex app to enable passthrough, it’s automatic now. You’ll also need to have updated your console to the May Update.
Just got this system + plex app update (public release). Dolby stuff seems to work fine however most of my DTS(x) content doesn’t get picked up by the reciever (it stays on PCM and no sound). I did find one DTS-X movie that worked so it’s not everything.
