Here is the hardware I am using:
Plex Media Sever: Synology NAS DiskStation DS415+
Plex Client: OpenElec + PHT on Intel NUC5i5RYK
Media: Its mainly BluRay Straight rips (remuxed into MKV Container using MakeMKV) retaining full resolution.
Network Speed: Gigabit (wired) - PHT has wired (gigabit access) to PMS
Receiver: Pioneer SC-81 (capable to decoding DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD)
What do I want to accomplish: To play full resolution BluRay Rips with losses audio bit streamed to my receiver. Having the ability to transcode for mobile devices is not what I am looking for.
I have been using Mac Mini (2011 - Core i5) with PHT with PMS being on the network with no issues. The setup worked flawlessly. However, since OS X does not support bit streaming of lossless audio (DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD) I wanted to give OpenElec + PHT a try on a Intel NUC. I purchased the 5th Gen Intel NUC5i5RYK.
I installed the latest Intel+Pioneer OpenElec build.
I could switch my OS platform if anyone here thinks that it would work better in my situation. I have already tried Windows 8.1, Windows 7 SP1, Ubuntu, Fedora - the results were worse than OpenElec.
Also, if anyone here feels that there is a better Hardware/OS Platform would work better for my scenario please let me know.
The Issue: The see a really annoying flickering/shuttering (especially during the time when subtitle turned on). Can someone help me with this?
Did you have any joy with this? I too have the same kind of setup. I purchased a chrome box but have never managed to get Dolby TrueHD etc to work. I have an NUC 5i5RYK which was being used as a desktop machine but no longer need and was thinking of using it for PHT. Be nice to get something that actually works and gives lossless audio.
It worked with Kodi (OpenELEC generic build). I had to abandon Plex. Dolby True HD and DTS-HD both work on Kodi and Plex (OpenELEC+Plex Build), its matter of enabling passthrough in the settings but with Plex, the video flickers when subtitles are turned ON. There are no issues with Kodi so far. I like Plex better but its unusable until someone fixes this problem
@suhailece said:
It worked with Kodi (OpenELEC generic build). I had to abandon Plex. Dolby True HD and DTS-HD both work on Kodi and Plex (OpenELEC+Plex Build), its matter of enabling passthrough in the settings but with Plex, the video flickers when subtitles are turned ON. There are no issues with Kodi so far. I like Plex better but its unusable until someone fixes this problem
Interesting. Glad you posted here. You and I are in the exact same situation. In my case, I’ve bought a second refurbished 2014 Mac Mini dual core to be my new playback box. I’ve installed OpenELEC and Kodi and PlexBMC add-on, but not happy with Kodi - it’s not as slick as Plex. If I could get Plex going on this box, it would be great. I don’t use subtitles, so that problem might not impact me, but I can also let you know if my hardware works differently.
How do I install Plex on OpenELEC and boot to Plex?
Go to this link you should be able to download the OpenElec + Plex builds appropriate to your hardware - http://plexrpms.markwalker.dk/OpenELEC/3.2/
Thanks, I saw that, but are the various versions explained anywhere? What is fusion vs generic vs Intel and why is there a special version for Intel and Pioneer?
The intel + Pioneer is specific to if you are using a Pioneer receiver - its something about Pioneer’s 48KHz audio passthrough, generic is “catch all” for all hardware. In your case, since Mac Mini is Intel based machine either Intel or Intel + Pioneer will work.
Thanks but I’ve given up on PHT… To many issues and slow to update. Kodi is much better for me… Perfect 23.976 playback with full HD-Audio support including Atmos and video levels support to avoid clipping black and whites and smoother gradients. It really is better than PHT in almost every way.
I agree which is why I switched to Kodi myself. However, I prefer the interface of PHT its slick. I also like the setup of Plex, it has a server (which I can run on Synology NAS and maintain my library) and run any number of Plex Home Theater clients and not worry about updating the library and every machine). But with Kodi its not the same. Also, Plex doesn’t actually officially support Linux platform so we can’t expect it run smoothly on OpenElec. I heard somewhere on the forums that Plex is actually working on their own version of Standalone client just like how the OpenElec is for Kodi. If that is true lets wait and see what they come up with.
@suhailece said:
I agree which is why I switched to Kodi myself. However, I prefer the interface of PHT its slick. I also like the setup of Plex, it has a server (which I can run on Synology NAS and maintain my library) and run any number of Plex Home Theater clients and not worry about updating the library and every machine). But with Kodi its not the same. Also, Plex doesn’t actually officially support Linux platform so we can’t expect it run smoothly on OpenElec. I heard somewhere on the forums that Plex is actually working on their own version of Standalone client just like how the OpenElec is for Kodi. If that is true lets wait and see what they come up with.
Yeah, but combine Plex Server with Kodi on OpenElec via PlexBMC and you have the ultimate solution. That what I’m doing. Best server + best player. And the Titan Skin for Kodi is amazing.
Yes PlexBMC on Kodi is also a good idea. I didn’t know about the “Titan” Skin, I checked it out this weekend, like you said its amazing thanks for letting me know. Are you running OpenElec + Kodi or are you running on Kodi on Mac OS X? Did you set it up as dual boot or a standalone OpenElec + Kodi?
As you probably know, OS X is not an option if you want HD Audio. So I installed OpenElec with Kodi on my Mac Mini. Single boot. It’s exclusively a Kodi device. I looked at cheaper NUCs and stuff, but I love my Apple hardware, so got the base 2014 Mini refurbished for this task.
I also like the Amber skin for Kodi with PlexBMC… It offers the same vertical menu bar option that PHT has if you want familiar. But Titan has so many cool ways to view your media. I’m honestly not committed to either skin at the moment. Just trying them out.
Thats right Amber is pretty cool too. I am now struggling with 3D BluRays. I have a few MVC encoded 3D bluRays such as the Hobbit Trilogy. I am trying to figure out a simple clean way to play them, Kodi doesn’t actually support the MVC 3D (it does all other simpler formats like the Side-by-Side, Top-and-Bottom 3D formats). Have you run into this problem? I would like to play MVC 3D in its native format to retain full resolution and not convert it. For now I am just storing the movies in .ISO files
Sorry, I’m not a big fan of 3D so I don’t have any 3D content.
Wow, this thread makes me sad. I too have many issues with getting PHT running smoothly on my Intel NUC using OpenELEC builds. Stuttering video playback, audio handshake issues with my receiver…
I love the PHT UI, but am now considering switching to Kodi and some form of PlexBMC capable skin, or something. I may even just get rid of the NUC and go with a new Apple TV, losing my HD audio in the process, but hopefully getting something that actually works reliably 
To be fair, PHT wasn’t officially supported on Linux platform. While I prefer the UI of Plex over Kodi any day, there is few things I like about Kodi that Plex does not yet support, such as ability to group movies into sets. Ability to customize your library once you get familiar with .nfo files.
Yeah, I could care less about features. My primary goals with my HTPC were:
- Awesome user experience and integration with Plex via using PHT.
- Flawless performance direct playing BD rips with HD audio.
So far, I am succeeding on #1 and failing on #2.
Yeah, unfortunately with best of my knowledge one software/platform can’t do both. For #1 its Plex and for #2 my experience so far has been Kodi.
hey guys, have to ask… is this project dead? the last commit on the page was from May. i know i can build myself, but i’m lazy 
i had a build server setup at one point for this but lost it when my raid crashed last year.
Same question… seems like at the very least, its lost serious momentum
