Interestingly Weird: 4K HDR on a 1080p Tv!

[dewan]

Server Version#: 1.14.1
Player Version#: 2.29

Hello all,

Here’s what’s happening…

HTPC: Core i5 4670
GPU: GTC 950 2GB
OS: Windows 10 Home
Connected to Denon AVR-X1200W to a 2014 1080p LG Tv HDMI ARC port

Installed and configured Plex server
Installed PMP and configured Direct Play and Direct Stream enabled

Media: Blue Planet II 4K HDR

Theoretically, the video is supposed to be washed out as the Tv is 1080p with no HDR whatsoever.

Surprisingly, The picture quality is almost as good as on any 4K HDR Tv!

Why!? Plex server is Tone mapping it down to good quality SDR?
Reminder, Direct Play is enabled on the player. Transcoding is 100% disabled on Plex server and while playing I’ve checked and confirmed that no transcoding going on.

What’s happening?

The fun doesn’t end there… I’ll share after I get some replies

[dewan]

any idea! anyone?

[Achilles]

PMP uses mpv as the backend player. You are getting tone mapping via mpv with Direct Play.

[dewan]

Thanks Achilles.

So, the next question would be, when I play the same HDR movie on a 4K HDR Tv, will it passthrough the HDR content to the Tv to handle the HDR decoding/Tone mapping or Pre- Tone it down to SDR? How can I verify?

[DaveBinM]

PMP can’t currently pass through HDR metadata, so it would be tone mapped to SDR when using PMP, even on a 4K HDR TV.

[dewan]

Thanks Dave. So, for now until PMP comes with HDR support it’s bye bye Plex altogether. Welcome back MPC-HC with MadVR!