Just some observations:
It is almost 2yrs since this thread was first posted.
Here are some observed factoids from this thread:
- Apple TV Plex Client player does not support EAC3-Atmos playback.
- Apple TV Infuse Client player DOES support EAC3-Atmos playback.
- It appears Plex’s inability to support EAC-3 Atmos playback is not Plex Media Server related, but rather Plex Apple TV client related.
- It appears the root cause of the Apple TV client not able to support EAC-3 Atmos playback is a money/business (i.e., license) issue, and not a technical issue. (i.e., since Infuse Apple TV client supports EAC-3 Atmos playback via Plex Media Server, this is direct proof that: A.) A Plex Media Server in-ability is not root cause, B.) Root cause is directly related to Plex’s Apple TV client implementation.)
Some speculated observations:
- This particular issue (and it’s prioritized metric for remediation within Plex), appears to support the observation / example that User Content experience is now de-prioritized within Plex, in favor of focus on 3rd Party/ Commercial Streaming engagement.
- Factually/historically, it appears the reason for Plex’s initial existence/inception is/was about User Content experience. This is certainly the motivating factor as to why folks run Plex Media Server in the first place: For User Content libraries and/or DVR function. This market need is what is responsible for Plex’s creation.
- People who run Plex Media Server, do so primarily to engage and experience in their User Content libraries.
- For those legacy/initial Plex Subscriber Users, while Aggregation (3rd Party streaming), may be viewed as a valuable feature, it is an “added value” feature, and would be perceived as a “non-core” feature when prioritizing development against User Content experience.
- Plex appears to have depreciated the priority of “Core” function (User Content experience), in favor of 3rd Party engagement solutions, many of whom have agendas that would appear to be mutually-exclusive and in-conflict of supporting Plex User Content experience.
- (Fact: Comcast required Plex to REMOVE all User Content function from the Comcast/Xfinity Plex client, thereby allowing only 3rd Party / commercial streaming function. Personally, my opinion is to ask “what is the point (and more importantly the “value” to the Plex end-user) of such a Plex client that does not allow User-content access/streaming?”)
- Since the last few Apple TV client updates, I have to reset my home page about every 3 or 4 days to rid the 3rd Party commercial streaming options from my Plex Home Page. I find Plex changing this without my explicit consent or request to be intrusive, and unwelcome.
- Plex has commented that most Plex Client Users don’t run a Plex Media Server, and therefore streaming content is most prevalent.). However, while this may statistically be true from statistical observation, I suspect that the narrative in this regard may be being propagandized by Plex in order to depreciate the “User Content” conversation in Plex subscribers minds. It would be good to understand (and for Plex to be transparent in their comments about) the “Streaming” statistical analysis distinction between Streaming from somebody else’s Plex Media Server User Content (from Friend & Family User Content Libraries) versus Streaming from “3rd Party” or Commercial Streaming Services (including Plex’s own offerings). AFAIKS, that is the real stat that matters, and depreciates whether or not a particular Plex Client user is (or is not) also running their own Plex Media Server for User Content or DVR purposes. It is one thing to claim most Plex Client users stream, versus claiming most Plex Client users stream from non-Plex Media Servers. Certainly, most Plex Media Server users stream firstly from their User Content Libraries as well as their connected network users Plex Media Server libraries. Secondly, those Plex Media Server users may stream additional content from 3rd Party/Commercial streaming services, including Plex’s own offerings.
I suppose the point of the observations is that it paints a picture of Plex (IMHO) veering “off-mission” whenever they de-prioritize development for “Core” function (End-User Content Playback experience) over 3rd Party Commercial Streaming services. It is great to have these 3rd Party aggregation features included in Plex, but not at the expense of Plex’s Core Mission functions for End-User Content Playback.
I believe, that to any reasonable person, Plex Apple TV Client inability (after almost 2yrs of the 1st report in this thread) to support EAC3-Atmos passthru/playback would appear to be another example that raises questions about Plex’s continued support of, and commitment to, their initial Core Mission for Playback, Management…Organization and Viewing of End User Content. IMHO, without this Core focus, there is simply no real reason for Plex’s continued existence…at least for those of us who first subscribed to Plex specifically in order to have a solution for our User Content.
Please, no offense is intended…this is just my own considered analysis presented here for others (including Plex) to consider.
In the end, I’ve selected to use Infuse Apple TV client for Plex Media Server User Content playback, and have depreciated any 3rd Party aggregation content from all of my Plex Client User Interfaces. For my home, Plex is about being able to enjoy my content libraries without being dependent on an Internet connection, with the experience availability being akin to watching a Blu-Ray or perhaps a “Video/Media Jukebox” type application. That is the reason I implemented running a Plex Media Server in the first place…
