I posted a test file in the other thread on this topic but thought I’d throw up for reference here as well: PLEX on Roku audio issues since latest Roku Ultra update
Also some Roku Community posts on the issue:
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Same issue. Very frustrating. Will try to disable direct play as a stopgap. Glad I’m not alone at least.
Another test file for checking: TestFile2.mkv (dropbox link)
MediaInfo: TestFile2.txt (3.8 KB)
This file has very minimal delay compared to my previous test file.
I have a support ticket in with Roku and linked the two threads discussing this issue so providing details here may help Roku Support as well. I recommend anybody having the issue report it to Roku not just as a Plex issue but as a Roku Media Player issue since that’s their product to support in-house (though they did take my Plex info as well).
Just an additional note (since there are multiple forum posts) that turning off Direct Play but leaving Direct Stream enabled has been working for me as a work-around for this bug. Saw this suggestion posted by someone else either here or on roku/reddit threads on this bug.
No transcoding is triggered for me but I do get a little audio hiccup initially if I skip intro on a show right away (guessing server is catching up to the repackaging).
More info about Direct Play vs Direct stream here: https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250387-streaming-media-direct-play-and-direct-stream/
Just a small note that Roku released a minor revision update to Ultra and TV (looks like yesterday 2020-12-10) but that did not fix this audio bug for me.
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I have a TCL 65S421 and software level 9.4.0 build 4200-30 and am having the same issues. If I disable direct play it seems to fix it.
I have a 55 inch TCL S425 running Roku and am having the same issue. Sound delay on direct play; direct stream fixes it
Same exact issue as everyone else on same Roku version on TCL Roku 55 inch TV. Out of sync audio with AC3, EAC3. Fixed by disabling direct play.
It’s mentioned in other threads, but be sure to report this to Roku and mention the problem exists in their Roku Media Player app as well. They aren’t responsible for Plex, but are responsible for the RMP app. Feel free to test it yourself of course and be sure it’s installed when they pull logs.
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I noticed a change recently and did some new tests with mixed results: PLEX on Roku audio issues since latest Roku Ultra update
Looks like my Ultra is working now (both Plex and Roku Media Player) but not my TCL TV - though no indications of any updates on the Roku OS and since RMP is fixed too I don’t think it’s attributed to the recent Plex server update. Anybody else able to test?
Roku support got back to me, unprompted and weeks after their last response, that they are still looking into the reports about these audio issues.
I haven’t seen if anybody else had a chance to test STB vs TV setup? My Ultra seems to be working but TCL TV still delayed with Direct Play enabled (one report in other forum that TCL TV is not working for them either). Any other testers?
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I spent literal hours on the phone with TCL support before they just threw their hands in the air and said I needed to factory reset my TV. Even though the same files were working on my Roku 4. I do want to help, but I am not going to wipe my TV of all settings because they had a bad update and refuse to admit it. So unfortunately my tech support journey with TCL has come to an end on this issue.
Yeah… TCL don’t do much with software side like this and contacting Roku directly can be more productive - or at least less frustrating. I’m hoping there is a fix that is just background testing for now and TCL will get it eventually.
Can we please get some kind of update on this issue from Plex? As your customers, even if its an issue with Roku’s firmware… you must have been able to confirm this issue and have contacted Roku’s dev team by now. If we at least know you’ve done that… we won’t have to continue to pursue it with you. Please respond and let us know
I’m sorry I don’t have better news to share, but we have filed an issue with Roku for them to investigate. The issue is not specifically related to Plex as you can reproduce using the Roku Media Player or the Roku Stream Tester. The only workaround right now is to disable Direct Play, which I know is not ideal.
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Appreciate the help - any extra nudge is appreciated - and acknowledgement of the issue even when it’s not a Plex issue. It’s reassuring that we’re not completely crazy to have Plex Employee confirmation. 
ljunkie,
I thought you would want to know that sometimes, even when I’m doing a full transcode of the audio and the video steam, the audio still drifts out of sync sometimes after initially being fine. This might be related to scrubbing and/or pausing the video. The original video in the particular instance right now that got me to log in here and make this reply to you is h264 w/ AC3 5.1. I have seen this before with other full transcodes of similar h264 videos. Can I be of any help by providing logs of this behavior? I can assure you the source video is not the issue. I’ve checked it directly in Media Player Classic in Win10 and other plex platforms (old samsung app, web in ios safari, etc) and they are in perfect sync. I’m a media perfectionist about audio sync, so I make sure to check my files thoroughly if I get a wisp of trouble. I NEVER had issues with this Roku TCL TV before this damn firmware update to 9.4.x started all this.
I wanted to reach out because if direct stream or full transcoding can’t solve this issue, then its really a platform breaking issue. Please reach out if you want full details from me (roku TV model, firmware version, plex logs, etc). Thanks as always for listening. If only Roku showed ANY interest in this. I’m this close to buying a firestick or an android TV. Sad.
@akkbar What you’re describing is possibly a different audio bug impacting Roku than what this thread is specifically about… similar but different. There are actually two different audio bugs hitting Roku users right now so you might be hitting one or even both - and the fun part is they are related!
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This thread is about an AC3\EAC3 audio delay in MKV files that’s immediate and consistent and is a Roku bug from 9.4 update, not a Plex bug. The work around for now is to turn off Direct Play in the Plex settings on Roku - you can check the post history here or in the linked threads for specifics and details. So far that workaround has been fine for most people while we wait for Roku to fix the bug detailed in this thread. If that’s hitting you, please report it to Roku and refer to Roku Media Player as impacted as well since that’s their product.
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What you’ve described may be the other bug which I’d call audio drift. If your multichannel AC3 audio is transcoding to stereo for playback it may be transcoded to MP3 now instead of AAC and that’s been causing audio drift for many people; meaning it’ll be fine for a bit and then go out of sync and FF/RW will bring it back inline for awhile before drifting further and further out of sync again. That one IS a Plex bug on the server side transcoding and impacting Roku and Chromecast. That was introduced in a recent server update. The work around for that bug is to downgrade your server version or you might be able to fiddle with your Roku audio settings if it’s transcoding to stereo unnecessarily; sometimes the “auto” setting for audio support in Roku doesn’t pick up for connected stereo equipment and you have to force multichannel audio support to avoid transcoding to stereo - that linked thread has details for both options. Of course, if it’s not transcoding to stereo anymore you may now get hit with Bug#1 of AC3 audio delay at which point you’ll need to turn off Direct Play.
Aren’t multiple audio bugs fun!?
I agree that the Roku bugs are frustrating - I looked at alternatives too but I do like Roku as a platform that usually works pretty well so I’m hoping it’ll get sorted soon.
Sorry this is so detailed but I’ve kinda felt like a “Roku audio bug guy” in these forums lately trying to get the bug addressed and help people sort out the workarounds and you presented a good opportunity to detail the two bugs out again for folks coming to these threads. 
I think you are spot on. It is transcoding the audio to mp3. I thought mp3 audio from direct stream/transcoding looked unfamiliar from what I’d seen in the past. As for being too detailed… not at all. I’m grateful you took the time to be as precise. Thanks so much. At least I know what’s going on now. Unfortunately I am using a stereo speaker hooked into the headphone jack on the TV, so original audio passthrough isn’t an option for me. Do you know what windows pms version to roll back to?
Again, thx so much for giving me all this information. Keep it up
You’re welcome!
I believe server you want is 1.21.0.3616 - that’s what a few folks mentioned in that other thread and they had some details for how to roll back as well. I didn’t need to do the rollback myself (I had my own odd reason for running into that bug and was able to work around it) so can’t give you much more than that unfortunately. This is an older post about it but might work for you.
