Plain and Simple what is required for Streaming 4K Media from your PLEX

Plex Media Server
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Products:
Samsung QN82Q60RAFXZA 2160P 82” QLED TV
Synology DS920+
Macbook Pro 2018 with minimum specs

Background:
I bought the Samsung 4K TV and started downloading 4K movies. For a while I just ran my Plex Server on my Macbook and finally just got a NAS so I can expand storage and not have to run my Mac when I want to watch movies. I always thought because my Macbook is decently powerful it let me stream 4K media from my server fine (to my TV, computer, other peoples TVs, etc.). Now I have the NAS it seems streaming my 4K media actually works better. No lag at all when doing subtitles and rewinding/fast forwarding, etc. When I stream a 4K movie I check my Plex Dashboard and it shows I am streaming a 4K file, no transcoding, streaming subtitles and streaming 5.1 audio. I have been reading too much about this transcoding and it’s confusing me a bit. It seems you cant really watch 4K unless you have a super powerful setup, so now I am confused If I am even watching 4K when I stream it from my server or if I am missing something. My TV is hardwired through 1Gbit Ethernet also so connection is never an issue, same with my NAS, though I have streamed on other TVs/computers that are not hard wired and stream content fine still.

Question:
I would like to know plain and simple: If I have a 4K media file (that is .avi or .mkv or .mp4) that uses 5.1 audio and subtitles and I am streaming it on my 4K TV (or macbook, or another TV that isn’t 4k, etc.) am I getting the 4K quality without transcoding. I have read that the device you are streaming the media on must understand the media format in order to play 4K. Is this considered “Direct Playing” if my 4K TV supports the 4K media and audio files formats then it simply streams the 4K no problem and this isn’s very intensive on my NAS processor? If so how do I even find out those types of details on devices if they can support streaming my 4K files? Is the Transcoding only needed if I am for example using a super old TV/computer/phone and try streaming the content and they do no support the format the media is being streamed in then my NAS would have to transcode it and send in a support format, which is what everyone says to avoid because this is super processor intensive?

  • Do you NEED to transcode 4K media in your Plex library in order to watch them on your devices?
  • What are the common file formats that will most likely be supported on most devices (.mp4 / .avi / .mkv) and not need Trancoding?
  • How to find out the accepted formats for devices?
  • How to tell if I am really streaming 4K from my server (via Plex or TV)?
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A long thread with good information on Plex & 4K: [INFO] Plex, 4k, transcoding, and you - aka the rules of 4k

If you plan to run Plex Media Server on the DS920+:

No. You do not want to transcode 4K media. You want to direct play or direct stream media.

The CPU in either the MacBook or NAS is not strong enough to transcode 4K in real time, so you will experience buffering. Reference: What kind of CPU do I need for my Server?

Transcoding destroys any HDR information in the file. Plex transcodes all video to H.264, which does not support HDR.

You do not have a Plex Pass, so you cannot take advantage of hardware accelerated transcoding (using the graphics processor of the Intel CPU in your MacBook or NAS).

Plex Dashboard → Now Playing will show you if the media is direct playing, direct streaming, or transcoding. You want direct playing or direct streaming.

MKV or MP4. AVI is an older format.

Unfortunately, there is no one location to find out the capabilities and limitations for all Plex clients. You have to read the device specifications and ask on the forums.

From the datasheet for your Samsung, notice that it does not support TrueHD or dts audio formats. Selecting either audio format in the Plex client results in Plex transcoding the audio.

The supported audio formats are important given the limitations of the Samsung Plex client:

  • Enabling image based subtitles, PGS or VOBSUB, forces a video transcode by the Plex server.
  • Enabling ASS subtitles with font/position/etc information forces a video transcode by the Plex server.
  • If the audio is transcoding, enabling subtitles of any type forces a video transcode by the Plex server.
  • If the audio is not transcoding, then SRT (text) subtitles will direct play (not force a video transcode).

What it boils down to is when you are using the Samsung Plex app, especially when watching 4K or any HDR material:

  • Do not enable PGS/VOBSUB/ASS subtitles.
  • If you use SRT subtitles, do not use TrueHD or dts audio (including dts-HD/dts:X).

There are other limitations of the Samsung Plex app of which you should be aware:

  • Media with HEVC/H.265 video is limited to 80 Mbps.
  • Media with AVC/H.264 video is limited to 60 Mbps.
  • All media can have no more than 35 30 tracks (video + audio + subtitle).
    Exceeding any of the above can result in video or audio transcodes.

The TV’s Ethernet port is most likely a 100 Mbps port. No known TVs have 1 Gbps Ethernet ports. This will be important if you are streaming high bit rate 4K media, which may burst above 100 Mbps. If this happens, you may notice buffering even when the media is direct playing.

If you’ve a strong 802.11ac 5 GHZ signal at the TV, you may have better results connecting the TV via WiFi instead of wired Ethernet.

Some additional information:

Plex Documentation
→ SmartTVs & Tivo → What Media Formats are Supported
→ Direct Play, Direct Stream, Transcoding

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Plain and Simple - buy a Nvidia Shield, non-tube model. Hook that to the enternet instead of your TV.

Problem solved.

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