I just love the plex interface but want to mainly direct play on either a tv or Mac book pro so no quality is lost. I have No other devices that would need transcoding to. Is there any point using Plex? Is plex a suitable tool if you just want a straight media player with a great ui ? Some of my 1080p files may need a bit of transcoding but vlc would play all but no nice plex library interface.
duplicate post
Hi thanks for taking the time to look. they are different questions. This one is about how good is plex as a media player for just a direct play setu if your not interested in transcoding. The other question is about the differences between using a Nas server and Mac client as opposed to server and client both on the same Mac. (A good fully optimized Nas like a WD mycloud pro 2100) and how if affects what gets transcoded and the quality of transcodes like cpu based transcoding (on a Mac or high end NAS) vs hardware optimized transcode like on my Nas.
If you use either PMP or OpenPHT as client, you can avoid transcoding 99% of the time.
So, I’d say yes.
If you’re using the right player, you never have to transcode, and if the device you use can’t play the content natively, it’ll transcode it so whats the harm. For the ultimate in direct-playability you’ll want a PC or Mac as your client device. A step below that is Roku/Apple TV Gen 4. They play almost everything although Apple TV can’t output DTS so that’s probably a deal breaker for you.
Ok thanks guys. So Il use PHT on MacBook Pro as I’m just wanting direct play to either a tv or Mac.
But then why not also use the Mac to run the plex media server as well? Wouldn’t PMS on the Mac do a better job of any occasional transcoding than most NAS (unless it’s really top end Nas).
Most Nas that transcode plex do optimized hardware transcode rather than cpu transcode which is not as good quality (apparently),that’s another reason I’d run pms on the Mac rather than on a Nas.
I think the main point of having plex server on a Nas is so it frees up your computer from needing to be local and running but that’s about it. So as soon as you add PHT on a Mac into the equation, pms on a Nas becomes redundant?
I used a Mac Mini as both server and client (one of my clients). I don’t use it much for the client any more, I use an ATV now (and my son uses the Vizio TV app), but it is nice to know that I can always fall back to the Mac Mini if I need to. My Mac stays on 24/7.
I think the main point of having plex server on a Nas is so it frees up your computer from needing to be local and running but that’s about it. So as soon as you add PHT on a Mac into the equation, pms on a Nas becomes redundant?
No, you still need the server component. Just becasue you add PHT (plex Home Theater, the client) to the Mac does not negate the need for the Plex Media Server.
Hi rsava,
Thanks, Yes ATV 4 looks like a good solution for plex on a tv. Do you know- if I want only direct play on the ATV does it make any difference what Nas I use as the server ? I’m thinking any Nas that supports plex will do the same job if it’s direct play I need?
@cyc66 said:
A step below that is Roku/Apple TV Gen 4.
I disagree. The ATV4 is much worse in file/codec compatibility than the Roku. The ATV is more in line with the other iDevices (i.e. plays only what is available through iTunes, not more).
Champion in DirectPlayability when it comes to readily built “boxes” is the nVidia Shield.
If you are not into Anime or 4K, a Raspberry Pi 3 would do a great job too.
A new contender in the field of “tinkerer” devices is the Odroid C2 (4K, HEVC, whatnot…)
Hi rsava. Sorry, I may not have been clear, I’m talking about using PHT to watch movies directly on the Mac (or mirrored to a tv using Apple TV)
Yep I know you still need a server component when you use PHT. I’m saying - why not also run the plex server on the same Mac? In my comment I outline why I think the server will run better on the same Mac as pht.
I am also Looking into good direct play options from standalone devices so thanks Ottokerner I will look at nvidia sheild.
it seems Raspberry Pi 3 only installs the Plex media Server (not a client) - so It is not involved in the direct play options in the plex client.?
@seangreensean said:
Hi rsava. Sorry, I may not have been clear, I’m talking about using PHT to watch movies directly on the Mac (or mirrored to a tv using Apple TV)Yep I know you still need a server component when you use PHT. I’m saying - why not also run the plex server on the same Mac? In my comment I outline why I think the server will run better on the same Mac as pht.
I am also Looking into good direct play options from standalone devices so thanks Ottokerner I will look at nvidia sheild.
No problem running the PMS and PHT/PMP on the same Mac. As stated, I used to do that on a Mini.
I do believe the direct play winner right now is the Shield. As @OttoKerner says about the ATV4, I also believe it is worse than a Roku in the file/codec compatibility. The ATV4 has potential, and right now those are my two main devices (until something else comes along that I want to mess with/have 
) and they are definitely not the device killers I had hoped for.
Hi thanks , so if you are aiming for direct play, and you get a client capable of that across a range of file types (e.g. PTV4, Nvidia Sheild, Ras pi 3, Odroid C2, Plex home theatre…) does it matter which type of NAS serves the files as long as the NAS can run PMS?? Doest the Nas used for PMS make any difference in this case?
@seangreensean said:
it seems Raspberry Pi 3 only installs the Plex media Server (not a client) - so It is not involved in the direct play options in the plex client.?
Raspberry Pi 3 is foremost a client. You simply use Rasplex on it.
You may install Plex Server on it too, but that will be the same restricted experience as with a weak NAS, so not recommended (and not officially supported).
