Does Plex on Sony google TV not play Dolby Atmos? I tried playing a move with Dolby Atmos but server shows that audio is being transcoded from Dolby atmos to something else. I have a Dolby Atmos compatible soundbar. When I use Plex on my Nvidea Shield, it plays Dolby Atmos with no issues (same movie).
Are any subtitles involved?
Also if that’s a full Atmos HD file then no.
No smart TV is able to pass thru full Atmos in tv based apps even with e-arc as far as I’m aware.
No subtitles but I find it a bit surprising given that I am able to stream atmos on Netflix but not Plex
There are two forms of Atmos for home theaters.
Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 + Atmos: The version used by streaming services such as Netflix. If supported by the TV, the Plex app will direct play this format and can pass this to any audio equipment attached via HDMI-ARC or HDMI-eARC.
TrueHD 7.1 + Atmos: The version found on Blu-ray discs. No known TV supports decoding TrueHD audio or passing it via HDMI-eARC to attached audio equipment. This is a TV, not Plex, limitation. If you play a TrueHD audio track using the Plex app on an Android TV, it will be transcoded by the Plex Media Server to a compatible format, then passed to any audio equipment attached via HDMI-ARC/-eARC. Any Atmos information is lost in the process.
FYI, the Plex app will not pass dts-HD MA audio either. It passes the dts (lossy) core.
Note that the above applies to TV based apps.
You TV may passthrough audio from devices attached to HDMI inputs. The capability varies by manufacturer and model. For example, LG TVs will pass TrueHD audio but block all dts audio formats. rtings.com tests audio passthrough from attached devices. Check the review of your TV to see what is supported.
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Thank you for the reply. That makes a lot of sense now. I will just stick with my nvidia shield when using Plex.
Is it better to connect the nvidia shield to the soundbar directly or to the tv? Tv is connected to the soundbar via eArc.
Personal preference: If the soundbar can pass 4K HDR video, then connect the Shield to the soundbar. It takes TV audio settings out of the equation.
However… If the TV passes TrueHD + Atmos and dts/dts-HD/dts:X from external devices, it is not a problem to connect the Shield to the TV. This is sometimes desired due to physical location or other such issues.
Check rtings.com. They test audio passthrough for HDMI attached devices (Shield, Blu-ray player, etc). If they reviewed your TV the info should be available.
FWIW, I think Sony passes all audio formats over eARC, but not 100% certain. Samsung & LG definitely do not. It is easy enough to test. Connect the Shield to the TV and play a movie with TrueHD + Atmos and another with dts-HD 5.1 or 7.1 audio. See what the soundbar receives.
Thank you to response. Much appreciated.
I’m also having issues getting TrueHD Atmos to pass through from my Hisesnse Android TV Plex app to my AVR. I had read about the difference between Atmos from Netflix apps, which while it shows on the AVR as Atmos, may actually be DD+ w/ Atmos. Versus what I’m trying to play through Plex App is TrueHD + Atmos.
However, rtings.com says my hisense tv is capable of passing through, specifically, TrueHD with Atmos:
Hisense U7G Review (55U7G, 65U7G, 75U7G) - RTINGS.com
“Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC” is what it specifically says. I’m using the eARC HDMI port on the TV. I have an HDMI 2.1 certified cable. I’m getting forms of Atmos from other sources, just not Plex. The T.V. is correctly set to eARC audio output with Pass Through.
And I can get TrueHD Atmos when going direct from my PC to my AVR. So it seems the point of failure is the Plex App on the TV?
No known TV supports passing TrueHD from TV based apps to attached audio equipment. It applies to all apps, not just Plex. It is a TV, not Plex, limitation.
This is for devices attached to an HDMI input on the TV, not for TV based apps.
There are two forms of Atmos for home theaters: “Streaming Atmos” used by Netflix, et al., which is Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 + Atmos; and “Blu-ray Atmos,” found on Blu-ray discs, which is TrueHD 7.1 + Atmos.
The Plex app on your TV should pass Streaming Atmos over HDMI-ARC or -eARC.
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As I said in my post:
" However, rtings.com says my hisense tv is capable of passing through, specifically, TrueHD with Atmos:
Hisense U7G Review (55U7G, 65U7G, 75U7G) - RTINGS.com
“Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC” is what it specifically says"
I don’t understand this? eARC, audio return channel. The TV app is generating the audio, passing it to the AVR? Are you saying it only works if a device generates the TrueHD signal, passes to the TV, then the TV sends back to the AVR?
I actually said this in my first statement?
Nvidia Shield <–HDMI–> TV <–HDMI-eARC–>Audio equipment
TV based app <–HDMI-eARC–> Audio equipment
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