Hello,
I have an unlimited mobile connection and I connect to my Plex Server via VPN.
I also have a high quality playback setup for underway, so I naturally want the best possible quality.
However, observing my data transfer on my firewall, it doesn’t correspond to the file sizes transferred, which brings me to a conclusion that Plex is doing some kind of transcoding.
On the Plex server itself, under Transcoder I see no settings pertaining to music. I am using Video Transcoding of course, since the bandwidth isn’t enough to transfer such high files. But FLAC does work, since I was using Flacbox a long time. But now switching to Plex, because I have my library managed there.
If I look into settings on my mobile phone, under Quality (sorry, translating german settings):
I have turned of automatic quality, set limit cellular quality to off, remote streaming 8Mbit, 1080hd, and under Music “Remote-Streaming” - Original.
Doesn’t this mean there should be no transcoding?
To my knowledge there also isn’t any sync and also no remote access without VPN.
Which Plex client type is in use? Most of them have different preferences for remote connections vs. local/home connections.
Your use case is then mostly a matter of raising the bandwidth limits for remote connections in the preferences of your server and your various apps.
Maybe I was unclear. I want NO access to my Plex server from outside, none whatsoever.
And please don’t call VPN “shenanigans” because that is nowadays almost the only secure way to externally access an internal network. So, that out of the way…
Plex is used on the iOS, the App from AppStore.
If you tell me what to exactly set where, I’d be thankful. As of now, I see no options to change it so that I can original file playback.
And as I said, it’s not a bandwidth problem, since I can play everything without a fuss and without transcoding in the Flacbox (basically an SMB access via VPN).
Any help here? Honestly, if Plex isn’t able to deliver me original files (mind you, I’d rather have pauses between tracks and highest possible quality, than fast switching and reduced quality), then this might be “it”. I have PlexPass just for the music feature. And yes, I hear it when directly comparing flacbox with Plex playback (same song).
I also discovered that in Status → Playing Now, if I play via iPhone, connected via Wireguard, it says 128kbit, and if I play via Web, 1-2Mbit.
No words… 128kbit. No wonder I hear the difference.
Obviously web is playing full bitrate, iphone transcoded.
Also visible in ntopng when observing the transfer in real time from Wireguard IP to Plex-Server…
Anyway, what do I do to get 1-2Mbit transfer to iPhone over Wireguard/OpenVPN VPN?
