I have a QNAP TS-451x which I purchased for this use case: Copy movies from my primary storage to this NAS and use it as a media server at a 2nd home. This QNAP’s HDMI port would feed directly into an AV receiver which then feeds a TV screen. I was hoping to use my phone or tablet to select a movie from my library on Plex and then play it.
I’ve watched videos about how to enable that port (using HD Station) and can see that app’s menu via the HDMI output, but Plex isn’t one of the options. And in Plex, the only output options listed are “Cast…” and “Sonos…”
Is this use case reasonable? I’m not sure why it’s not more intuitive, which makes me think that this isn’t how Plex is supposed to work. I’m a complete newb when it comes to both QNAP and Plex.
AFAIK the QNAP itself cannot be used as a player. It used to, but only with an app that was based on a years-old and long deprecated fork of Plex Home Theater (R.I.P.).
The choice of client depends a lot on your material and your quality expectations.
If you want to play the latest 4K HDR movies with all the latest surround sound formats, you want a nVidia Shield Pro.
If your expectations are not that high, a Fire TV, an Apple TV, a Roku, or one of the myriads of other “Android TV” boxes might do it for you.
Got it, thank you, Otto. Everything I have is still just 1080 material. Time to get me booted up on an Android TV box. I guess the advantage here is I could enable multiple screens using multiple boxes.
While I continue copying movies over (a long process), do I need to be converting / transcoding formats? I ask because I believe there are two options there: transcode externally or let the QNAP do it internally. I am under the impression that the QNAP doesn’t have the horsepower to transcode on the fly.
That all depends on the hardware which eventually will act as player.
If you pick a file format which can be played directly, you’ll have no troubles even if the NAS doesn’t have enough horsepower to transcode.
If you later want to access remotely, that is another can of worms. Bandwidth restrictions often mean that you then suddenly again will have to transcode.
But there is always the option to set up a mini PC-type of device with a strong CPU, which can act as the Plex server and use the NAS only for media storage.
you could use a vm or linux station to do that. control via smartphone works well also with kodi or vlc. i did that before i builded a proper streaming server using my old desktop cpu and ram with a node 202 mini itx case. it soon will be upgraded from a 6700k to a 9900k and 32gb 3600… its good use for old parts.
There is a way for you to use your Qnap as a standalone server/player as you are describing.
You can get the last released version of Plex Media Player (PMP) from the Qnapclub Store , and it will work with Qnap’s HD Station. The only caveat is that this is a third-party port of the software and not supported by Plex.
Once installed, you will be able to play your files directly from the server, no streaming device necessary. You can also use your phone as the remote in this scenario.
Just to close out this thread, I ordered an Android TV and was watching movies within about 5 minutes. This is definitely MUCH easier than trying to use the QNAP box as the HDMI source.
