Latest update (8.12.22702) broke AC3 5.1 support on Android TV

Plex Players Smart TVs
1

Server Version#: unchanged since issue started and outdated, but 1.21.2.3918 (BSD)
Player Version#: Android TV 8.12.22702 (73b01953)

Since my Android TV (A JVC smart TV, can include exact model but don’t think it’s relevant) updated to version 8.12.22702 (73b01953, January 26th), I can no longer play any files which use AC3 5.1.
When launching the video (in this case, Stargate SG-1 ripped from DVD), I get the error:
“An error occurred while attempting to play this video. Please check your connection and try again”.
If I quickly change the resolution to 360p (it’s 576p originally), it works fine.
This issue only came about with the version 73b01953.

I also have an issue that AC3 5.1 audio isn’t remuxed into stereo sound, meaning that everything comes from the left channel. This issue was present and a known bug when I searched it up previously. However currently, I can’t play half of my media whether it’s Stargate SG-1, Atlantis or many movies I’ve ripped from blu ray.

If I also instead of quickly changing the resolution, switch to the directors commentary track (which is AC3 2.0), it works fine. I’ve tried tinkering around with the settings but it appears that as long as it’s being transcoded it works fine, Direct Play/Direct Stream however do not.

My TV isn’t connected to a sound system so is stereo. It would be nice if the issue regarding 5.1 not being remuxed would be fixed but much more importantly I’d like to see if the issue regarding this (which I assume is due to the update) is fixed.

My server is outdated (and updating it is a pain due to it being a FreeNAS plugin prior to FreeNAS 12.x) but I don’t believe this to be the issue as sideloading an older version fixed the problem, however I don’t want to use a sideloaded APK and would much rather the Plex on the Google Play store works.

There is no issue when playing 1080i recorded content from Live TV/DVR, nor is there any issue with high bitrate 4K titles, except if they have AC3 5.1 sound, in which case they give the error about network connection.

I checked the server logs and can’t find anything relevant, no errors. A connection is established and immediately terminated. The TV is connected via ethernet and has gigabit speeds to my NAS which is local/not remote.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I’m going to uninstall the sideloaded APK and install the regular release train from the Play store, this does however mean that I’m unable to watch half of my library.

1 Like
2

Same here, Sony Android TV. Plex for kodi works fine however, so it doesn’t look like an firmware or android issue.

1 Like
3

An update, 8.12.2.22745-beta, was published a few hours ago to correct the problem.

1 Like
4

Just tried the arm64v8a version on my JVC Android TV, it no longer crashes with the connection issue errlr but instead leaves me with a spinning wheel, likely until it’ll time out.

Have registered for beta access to new Plex versions I can install through Google Play

5

Update, it was not the arm64v8a version but the arm7a which installed. The arm64v8a refuses to install despite AIDA64 telling it’s arm64v8a architecture

6

I posted this in another thread before I found yours, but I have also found playback errors are coming from 5.1 audio. All my AAC 5.1 have an error on my Chromecast with Android TV but anything that is stereo or mono still works fine. All I have updated is the PMS to 1.21.2.3943.

7

I believe this is an issue that was fixed in 8.12.2.22745-beta (although, I have had no luck with it, the video just hangs instead/buffers indefinitely. No server logs relevant).

Any Plex devs have a rough timeframe from a week to months?

Thanks

8

Same in xiaomi tv 65

1 Like
9

Hey all. I too have been having this issue on my chromecast with google tv devices the past few days. I’ve found that I can bypass this issue and get all videos to play again by casting from the plex app on my phone instead of launching the app and video with the remote on the tv. Hope this helps until they resolve this issue!

1 Like
10

Same here 2x Chromecast With Google TV no longer playing half of my library when it worked fine just the other day.

So I downloaded APK version 8.11.0.22186 and uninstalled the current version and sideloaded the APK I downloaded and it fixed the issue so it is 100% caused by one of the newer updates.

11

I went back to the previous version of PMS and did nothing to help on my Chromecast with Google TV. So I would say it’s not worth the time to try that route unless you want to see for yourself.

Besides the 5.1 audio playback issue, pausing shows are also an annoyance right now. I hit pause but the show keeps playing at like 1 fps. I have to hit pause, then the back button to go the show overview and wait there until I’m ready to play the show and hit resume.

12

@Shnlnd Yeah it seems to be an app issue for sure uninstalling plex and sideloading an old version seems to fix the issue for now.

13

Same problem here since yesterday, xiaomi tv 55

14

Device name: HiSmartTV A4
Plex version: 8.12.2.22756 (07e2b014)

Tried everything I can think of including clearing cache and reinstalling the app, and AC3 still won’t work. It’s been five days now.

Edit: After uninstalling the Plex App, then powering off the TV fully, I was able to see the updated version in the Playstore. AC3 is now working in Plex version: 8.12.3.22809 (232f6ed9).

1 Like
15

Thanks for your post. I have a new Chromecast with Google TV and just updated my app and I am now able to play movies with 5.1 audio again. 8.12.3.22809 seems to be the answer.

Anyone else with the same Chromecast can update by using the included remote, long press on the Plex app. Select more details. On the Play Store page I had an update waiting for me. Installed, didn’t restart anything, and it worked.

16

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.