Glad to hear it’s acknowledged and being worked on. Thanks for the update.
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I can confirm those findings. Kodi has no issues whatsoever with these files. And Kodi also doesn’t exhibit the freezing video on start on certain files or lip sync issues I’ve had (so far anyway). I’ll post on those threads as well.
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Tried this last night, forgot to report.
I installed the Plex add-on and enabled pass-thru for the audio. Logged into my Plex account and everything just worked.
Unbelievable that the add-on for Kodi works but the native app has issues. I get that it’s based on Exoplayer, but still this borders on hilarious.
EDIT: About 21 minutes in, it stalls a little, but it’s only done it twice, it’s still playing fine after that. Weirdly it’s not stalling during high action sequences. This is why I mentioned there’s also an issue with Plex Media Server before. Even with it direct playing without transcoding using a client that supports the codec natively, the server stalls out on a direct wired gigabit connection. I still have it playing on my end while I type this and besides the 2 stalls, it’s been fine. I’ll let the whole movie play and edit this as I go (or post a new reply). After it stalls and comes back, it’s not losing sync. It’s like it’s buffering. @BigWheel @Achilles.
EDIT 2: 30 minutes in, the stalling has gotten increasingly worse now. I’m watching iStat menus and it’s almost stopping sending entirely. CPU usage has been extremely low throughout playback (as expected playing back on an nVidia Shield as it doesn’t need to transcode). As I’m typing this, it’s back to normal, but it will stall again I’m sure. Now it’s sending around 12-15 mb/s (96mbps - 120mbps) which should be normal. When it stops, it crawls to 1mb/s (0.125mbps).
I’m using PlexKodiConnect and while setting up the skin properly was a major PIA, it’s mostly worked fine. I had it just up and kick me out of a movie once, but that’s it. Hopefully it won’t happen again.
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Update:
I got a new hotfix image from nVidia as some of you have. I actually purchased a 2019 Shield Pro yesterday and just tested now.
It works and plays fine, sort of… BUT This isn’t solved yet
Remember the issue I mentioned about Plex Media Server just randomly stopping the sending of data? That’s the only thing left now. Now Plex plays the file like VLC does and like the Plex addon in Kodi does. Runs fine and then the server just stops sending data. Now all my other UHD rips with Atmos play flawlessly but this is a strange phenomenon.
Kudos to @NV_SHIELD for addressing this very quickly and supporting their platform as best they can.
Let’s solve this, and thank you to the Plex team for looking into this as much as they have.
@itsdjbuddha - I got a new hotfix image from nVidia as some of you have. I actually purchased a 2019 Shield Pro yesterday and just tested now.
There aren’t any new hot fix images from nVidia for the 2019 Shield Pro. They were all rolled into the last release on 2/26/20. Is that what you meant? Cause I’ve been watching their forums hoping a new hot fix would pop up to try and mitigate these issues.
Sorry not a released hot fix, nVidia messaged me directly and applied an update using my serial number
Seriously? How can I get in on that? I was going to sign up for the hot fix beta again, but they haven’t set anything up. Grrrrrrr…
They messaged me directly here on the Plex forum
I was informed that if I install the update when it deploys that I won’t have access to Disney Plus (which I don’t have anyway).
Well that’s odd. That’s what they about the last round of hot fixes. @NV_SHIELD is who reached out? Maybe I’ll Pm them and see if I can try this too. I’ve all but given up On Plex on the Shield with all the issues I’m seeing.
Yes … it was @NV_SHIELD who reached out.
Like I said above, it solves the issue to a degree, but Plex Media Server randomly stop sending data while the file is playing. When it plays, it lasts about 15-20 minutes on my end (playing smoothly)… but then it goes from sending high bandwidth to almost nothing. The workaround is to stop the file and play it again and let it run another 15-20 minutes before it happens again, or to scan through the file. It’s weird all my 4K UHD Atmos rips are playing flawlessly but both the 1080p / 4K versions of Akira exhibit this issue and only with the 192 kHz track playing. Which I suspect is a server issue with the way it’s sending the file.
What’s also troubling about what I wrote above is that it’s not transcoding anything. It’s playing direct, so this makes no sense whatsoever. My CPU usage hovers around 1-2% while playing back, both when the stream is running correctly and when it starts buffering out. I’ll re-iterate, I am directly connected to gigabit ethernet, so it’s not a connection issue on my end.
Thanks. I PMd them.
That issue with the server may be something I experienced when I installed Kodi and tested. A 4K movie was playing fine and then it just up and quit without warning. Starting again worked. That issue I didn’t see in Plex though so I don’t know what to think. It’s very frustrating. 
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Okie dokie… so I got the test update and tested Akira. That file plays fine. Then I tried My Fair Lady and that one the audio is stuttering from the beginning.
Can you check that on your setup from my sample you tried earlier?
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I’ll give it a shot later tonight or tomorrow, work is insane at the moment, but I will for sure.
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Sorry about the delay on this, work is insane, I’ll test ASAP.
This is an exoplayer issue that Emby and Plex both share. I have validated with Nvidia, when using Gallery or KODI for playback, all titles that employ 96/192kHz sampling rates play fine on 2015/2017/2019 (sans tube) Shield Pros.
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But why does the server stop sending even if I use another player (including Kodi)? The latest beta image I’m running seemed to resolve the client/ player side, the server just stops sending data at random. It could still be Exoplayer causing the issue- but then Kodi would work so I’m confused.
Is the stream stopping randomly?
Yeah, I noted it above, here are the posts related to this:
I’m using iStat Menus to monitor what’s happening with network activity and CPU use and can replicate this easily using Kodi/VLC.
To summarize:
Before the nVidia fix was sent to me, Kodi/VLC played the file correctly when the stream was running, but would exhibit this stopping of sending data issue after 15-20 minutes of play, also I ruled out that machine as an issue- I have a 10-Core i9 w/ 128 gigs of RAM as my workstation running Mojave as my work computer and can replicate the same issue using that machine vs my typical Plex machine. Both machines are using no CPU usage essentially as there’s no transcoding happening, and everything hard-wired.
When I installed the update nVidia sent over for my new 2019 Shield Pro, Plex now behaves exactly like Kodi & VLC. When the server ‘wants’ to send data, it plays smooth with no de-sync and looks great, but again, stops randomly because the Plex Media Server just decides to stop sending data after the 15-20 minute time period.
I’m still yet to re-try this file, as I’m still working these days, but I imagine I’m going to at the very least have the same type of issue, I’ll try it once I’m finally free from work.
No worries. I put another sample file of that movie up so the Nvidia guy has the latest one that still shows the issue. I mean it’s the same except for a DD track in the container. The DD track plays fine of course.
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