[BUG] Audio Loss during Direct Play to HomePod (Apple TV + Plex)

Plex Players Smart TVs
1

Server Version#: 1.41.6.9685
Player Version#: Latest Apple TV app

Device: Apple TV 4K (tvOS 17.4)
Audio Output: HomePod stereo pair via AirPlay 2
Source: Plex Server (Synology DS723+, DSM 7.2.2-72806 Update 3)
File Types: .mkv files with H.265 video and AC3 5.1 audio (640 kbps)
Plex Server Version: 1.41.6.9685 (manually installed, modified .spk package)
Plex Client Version: Latest Apple TV app (App Store)

Problem Description

When streaming media via Direct Play on Plex Client for Apple TV, with audio output to a HomePod stereo pair via AirPlay 2:

  • Playback starts normally
  • Audio drops after approximately 1–2 minutes while video continues playing
  • Happens consistently across different TVs and different HomePod pairs

What Was Verified

:white_check_mark: The issue does not occur when:

  • Playing the same file using Infuse Pro on Apple TV (5.1 audio plays flawlessly to HomePods)
  • Streaming the file via Plex Web Client or Plex app on PC
  • Switching audio output to built-in TV speakers or AirPods

:white_check_mark: The file:

  • Contains only one video track (H.265/HEVC)
  • Contains only one audio track (AC3 5.1 @ 640kbps)
  • Container: MKV (muxed via ffmpeg)
  • Plex Dashboard confirms Direct Play for both video and audio

Conclusion

The issue seems to be specifically related to Plex Client on Apple TV when:

  • Performing Direct Play of an MKV file
  • Outputting 5.1 AC3 audio over AirPlay 2 to a HomePod stereo pair

It is highly likely that Plex is handling the audio stream in a way that causes the HomePod or AirPlay session to desynchronize or terminate the audio channel, while video continues.

Request

Could you please:

  • Confirm if this scenario is known?
  • Indicate whether a fix is planned in future Plex Client releases?
  • Suggest any temporary workarounds without switching to alternative players like Infuse?

Thank you!

4 Likes
2

I can confirm I am also impacted by this issue.

if this can be of any help, heres the details for a failing file:

Part:
  Stream:
    - _id: '91023'
      _streamType: '1'
      _default: '1'
      _codec: hevc
      _index: '0'
      _bitrate: '21336'
      _DOVIBLCompatID: '1'
      _DOVIBLPresent: '1'
      _DOVIELPresent: '0'
      _DOVILevel: '6'
      _DOVIPresent: '1'
      _DOVIProfile: '8'
      _DOVIRPUPresent: '1'
      _DOVIVersion: '1.0'
      _bitDepth: '10'
      _chromaLocation: left
      _chromaSubsampling: '4:2:0'
      _codedHeight: '2160'
      _codedWidth: '3840'
      _colorPrimaries: bt2020
      _colorRange: tv
      _colorSpace: bt2020nc
      _colorTrc: smpte2084
      _frameRate: '23.976'
      _height: '2160'
      _level: '153'
      _profile: main 10
      _refFrames: '1'
      _requiredBandwidths: '22074,22024,21941,21881,21823,21764,21740,21740'
      _width: '3840'
      _displayTitle: 4K DoVi/HDR10
      _extendedDisplayTitle: 4K DoVi/HDR10 (HEVC Main 10)
    - _id: '91024'
      _streamType: '2'
      _selected: '1'
      _default: '1'
      _codec: eac3
      _index: '1'
      _channels: '6'
      _bitrate: '256'
      _language: French
      _languageTag: fr
      _languageCode: fra
      _audioChannelLayout: 5.1(side)
      _requiredBandwidths: '256,256,256,256,256,256,256,256'
      _samplingRate: '48000'
      _title: French
      _displayTitle: French (EAC3 5.1)
      _extendedDisplayTitle: French (French EAC3 5.1)
    - _id: '91025'
      _streamType: '2'
      _codec: eac3
      _index: '2'
      _channels: '6'
      _bitrate: '640'
      _language: English
      _languageTag: en
      _languageCode: eng
      _audioChannelLayout: 5.1(side)
      _requiredBandwidths: '640,640,640,640,640,640,640,640'
      _samplingRate: '48000'
      _title: English
      _displayTitle: English (EAC3 5.1)
      _extendedDisplayTitle: English (EAC3 5.1)
    - _id: '91026'
      _streamType: '3'
      _canAutoSync: '0'
      _selected: '1'
      _default: '1'
      _forced: '1'
      _codec: srt
      _index: '3'
      _language: French
      _languageTag: fr
      _languageCode: fra
      _requiredBandwidths: '1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1'
      _title: French (France) (forced)
      _displayTitle: French Forced
      _extendedDisplayTitle: French (France) (forced) (French SRT)
    - _id: '91027'
      _streamType: '3'
      _canAutoSync: '0'
      _codec: srt
      _index: '4'
      _bitrate: '0'
      _language: French
      _languageTag: fr
      _languageCode: fra
      _requiredBandwidths: '1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1'
      _title: French (France)
      _displayTitle: French
      _extendedDisplayTitle: French (France) (French SRT)
  _accessible: '1'
  _exists: '1'
  _id: '76318'
  _key: /library/parts/76318/1744609960/file.mkv
  _duration: '3525280'
  _size: '9797986283'
  _container: mkv
  _deepAnalysisVersion: '6'
  _indexes: sd
  _requiredBandwidths: '22970,22920,22837,22777,22719,22660,22635,22635'
  _videoProfile: main 10
1 Like
3

I can also confirm that I am experiencing the Audio Drop from my HomePod 2 Stereo Pair while playing a video. The audio stops but the video continues to play. The only way to get the audio back is to back out of the video itself to the PLEX app, reselect the video, the sound will return for 2-10 minutes and will drop out again.

1 Like
4

This happens with Audio EAC3 5.1, if that helps, the files has not other audio versions available. I too would like to know if PLEX is working to resolve this issue. I am running the latest versions of TVos 18.5 on the Apple TV and HomePods.

1 Like
5

I’ve had this problem recently. A simple fix seems to be forcing a transcode

6

uhhh searcing from a very old reddit post I found this back 1y ago

  • I think I found something that fixed it. In the Plex Apple TV app, go to settings. There is a setting called “Use old audio engine”. I enabled this and all my problem content seems to be fine now *

indeed I remember having done that a while back and it was running fine. however it seems a recent plex update reset all my settings ! even the stream over internet quality was not set to Maximal…

still the issue is still valid for plex to fix the « new » audio codec

1 Like
7

Had the same issue yesterday. Using the old video player fixed it temporarily. Still bug worth fixing IMO.

1 Like
8

Same problem here, same set up. The on,y solution I have ever found is to use the legacy audio setting. That then brings a delay in audio video sync when pausing or unpausing. In that the video stops, but the audio plays on for a couple of seconds, and when restarting, the video starts but the audio takes a couple of seconds to jump in.

This has been around for so long, it’s about time Plex recognised it and fixed it.

2 Likes
9

Same problem here.

10

no, unfortunatelly. Only case you’ll transcode audio to 2.0 in another formats it may help. When you want keep good sound - should use another software until Plex will fix smt

11

I also am experiencing this issue, is this being worked on?

12

Also having this issue.

13

Apple TV 4k (2nd Gen) + HomePod Stereo Paid (2nd Gen) can confirm the issue. Audio drops right after one minute of direct playback.

  • tvOS 18.5 [22L572]
  • Plex Media Player 8.45 (9684)

No issue when playing it on webOS via eArc.
AC3 Stereo, AC3 5.1, EAC3 5.1 - no matter, it just stop playing audio right after 60 seconds of playback.
4K Video or 720p - no matter, sound still bugging.

When it started? With the TVOS 18.5 update, approximately.

Issue is not present when using the old audio engine.

Please, we need fix :folded_hands:

1 Like
14

I have the same issue. The only solution is to enable the old audio engine in the Plex settings …

1 Like
15

Same issue for me.

16

same issue but without homepods (regular tv speakers). switching back to the old audio engine fixes it

17

I can confirm I am having the exact same issue as described.

18

Same here, it happens with 4k video and 1080p video.

19

Adding my $0.02 here as well. This has been going on for ages now and I can’t believe it still hasn’t been addressed. Seems to affect certain files but not others. Haven’t found exactly what the failing format has been.

20

Another person here who has been experiencing this for a number of years. Exactly as described above. Come on Plex, squash this bug.