Plex Client App is using client’s OS codecs. I plan to use Yamaha AVR, Apple TV and smart TV.
As you know Apple TV and smart TVs use not enough audio-video codecs specially when you want to watch 4K movies with TrueHD, DTS:X, DTS-HDMA etc. audio. Apple TV has no audio passthrough, I think.
Good Yamaha AVR has extensive audio-video codecs available.
If I connect Apple TV to the AVR and the AVR to the TV, will I be able to avoid transcoding? Ethernet will be connected to the Apple TV and used Plex App over there.
(version with no Apple TV)
If I connect the AVR to the TV, will I be able to avoid transcoding? Ethernet will be connected to the smart TV and used Plex App over there.
1 - No. The Apple TV still needs to be able to pass-through.
2 - There is no Plex client for your AVR. If you use the DLNA client on the AVR and access the Plex DLNA server, you can access the content, but that’s still likely to end up transcoding. Making a custom profile may help.
If you want passthrough for TrueHD/+Atmos and dts-HD/:X audio when watching 4K HDR video you’ll need to get a Nvidia Shield Pro. It is the only Plex client that plays 4K HDR video and passes those audio formats. Do not purchase the non-Pro “tube” model. It has problems with high bit-rate media such as 4K HDR rips.
The AppleTV 4K does not passthrough TrueHD or dts audio. This is an Apple restriction.
The Plex SmartTV apps cannot passthrough lossless audio such as TrueHD or dts-HD, even when connected to an AVR via HDMI-eARC. The TV manufacturers do not support the capability. The restriction applies to all apps, not just Plex.
FYI, the xbox one plex app can pass through truehd/atmos/dts/hd/ma. The link is at the top of the 4k faq.
Still, shield is still currently the better experience IMO, xbox seems to still have issues randomly getting video/audio out of sync (a quick 10 sec rewind fixes it).
Neither are perfect, and shield is cheaper if you don’t already have an xbox.
