I have a TCL Roku TV that I’ve been using to stream media via the Plex app for a year and a half with no issues. However, the TV’s software was automatically updated 36 hours ago to their new build.
TCL Roku Update info:
Software version: 9.4.0
Build: 4190
Since the TCL forced update, any video that I’ve played using the Plex Roku app has audio sync issues. It’s driving me crazy.
I’ve tested all other possibilities as to why I’ve been getting sync issues all of a sudden but the ONLY thing that has changed is the TV’s software update.
I feel like I could factory reset the TV to go back to its original software but even then there would be no way to stop it from updating to the latest version without keeping it offline - defeating the purpose of using Plex on it.
It would seem so. Unfortunately with Roku devices (including TVs) there is absolutely no way to roll back a software update. Even with a factory reset, the device will automatically download and install the latest update during the device set up. This sucks. Hopefully either Plex or Roku will work on a fix, though since this doesn’t seem to affect all users… who knows if it’s a priority.
I have a TCL Roku TV too, and was going crazy messing with the audio sync on my soundbar before trying YouTube and seeing that it was the Plex app that was in the wrong. Setting Direct Play to Disabled on the main Settings page seems to be a viable workaround, but hopefully the devs will be able to fix this for the next release.
We are not currently aware of any audio sync issues. It’s a bit out of our hands if this is only happening during direct play. That is, we provide the firmware (player) the file to direct play and it handles the rest, sans the UI. The fact transcoding fixes the audio sync indicates this is most likely related to the 9.4 firmware. With that said, we are definitely eager to replicate this and report the issue to Roku. Can anyone supply at least one file that exhibits this behavior when direct played. Please feel free to PM me a link to obtain the source file.
As I mentioned in the other topic, at least for me, the issue seems to be specific to AC3 audio when direct playing it. Mainly because is the only one that I can passthrough to my setup (aside from AAC wich doesn’t seem to be affected, but I’ll test it further).
In this instance the audio goes slighty out of sync periodically (every few seconds), stutters (probably to try and sync itself) and every few minutes just cuts out for about 1-2 seconds.
I’m on a Roku Streaming Stick +, if that helps.
p.s. I don’t know how to provide you with a sample, but I would be willing to as long as it wouldn’t break any piracy laws.
I was able to record a brief sample from the beginning of one episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The sample is recorded from the 3.5mm jack of my TV, so it’s not the best quality, but you can already hear some issues, there are stutters here and there, these being the most noticeable:
My TCL Roku TV just updated its software and now I am having this same issue. Everything was fine before the Roku update. Turning off Direct Play does help a bit, although it’s still slightly off.
I’m experiencing the same issue as well, on TCL Roku 9.4. Other apps work fine, Plex TV work fine too, only experienced audio delay issues when streaming from my Plex server. Disabling direct play doesn’t help.
I am having the same issues with my TCL 49" 5 series Roku TV as well. Everything that direct plays the audio is out of sync. Switching to transcode does not fix it.
I tried hard to reproduce this yesterday, on both a 1080p and a 4K TCL Roku TV, both on 9.4.
I couldn’t do it. Variety of video and audio codecs, with Direct Play on and Off, with and without additional speakers. I’m usually really sensitive to out-of-sync audio.
Did y’all see @ljunkie’s request for a sample file that exhibits the problem?
Since I am using nvidia shields on my tcl/roku tv, the problem manifests itself before plex is even involved (ie at the android tv system home screen).
To me, this affects the whole roku tv platform, not just the built in apps.
What makes this even weirder, my xbox one x, hdmi syncs up perfectly every time.
Its only the shields (2017 pro/2019 tube) that have hdmi sync problems.
Sorry, but I think it happens with any file that sits on my plex server, I haven’t found a file that works without audio out of sync issue…
This also began occurring since Roku got updated to 9.4. I’m not sure if it’s a Roku issue or a Plex issue. But before we point it at Roku, I was able to watch Netflix, YouTube, etc without the issue. Plex TV also work fine without issue, just not streaming from Plex server.
Additional information for audio delay issues - for my setup it seems to be EAC3 or AC3 in MKV containers. AAC seems fine and AC3 in MP4 container is fine (at least with the files I tested).
All files played audio and video as direct stream\direct play.
Roku TV: TCL 49S405 (7104X) OS 9.4 - 4190-30
Plex for Roku: 6.6.16.6715-c4643204c-Plex
Attaching 3 Media Info files. Two with different delays and one without.
Captain America had zero delay.
The Gentlemen had about a 100-200ms delay - hardly noticeable
John Oliver had about a 500ms delay - very noticeable (like stereotypical dubbed martial arts).
Hopefully this helps track this hiccup down a bit.
I have TCL 50S425 and am experiencing audio sync issues as reported in this thread. Fixes with forced transcoding. I have the Nov 14th firmware update installed as well (as reported by others). Glad I found this. Maddening. Wasted 1 hour of my life trying to fix or figure this out. We need to alert Roku so they know about this, ya?
I have 3 Roku ultra’s all have the same exact sync issue as Manujito has described. This has been going since I got an email from Roku about the update to 9.4. Turning off the direct play on the Roku’s has fixed temporarily the issue. Please fix
I also ran into this issue today on my Roku TV. I was setting up a new soundbar and noticed the delay. Then come to find out the delay is still there if I use the built in speakers. It is exactly as others describe: small delays ranging from 100-500 ms on EAC3 and AC3 audio streams that are direct played.
My AAC and DTS audio streams worked fine with no delay.
Disabling direct play temporarily fixes the issue. Wish I had found this thread before I did all my own troubleshooting thinking my soundbar was a lemon haha. Comforting to know it’s not just me, even if there isn’t a long term fix yet. The temp fix will get me by for now, but I would like to turn direct play back on at some point.
