So there’s two way I listen to my FLAC library on my PS4:
A DLNA server, using the Media Player app.
Plex app
Now… Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure the later transcodes and/or compresses my audio in some way.
Why doesn’t the Plex app handle files like a DLNA? Thatd be a game changer, the GUI of an app like Plex, and the original file quality you get through DLNA.
I swear it doesnt sound as good, and all my settings are right. I swiched back between media player and plex 1000 times just to check.
Do you have your Plex client set to ‘Direct Play’ for Music? On iPhone for example, this setting is called ‘Original’ quality.
When I do this, and I log into Plex from a web browser as the admin account, I see the ‘now Playing’ section show my client as ‘Direct Play’, which should mean it’s streaming the FLAC file directly without compression.
There does not seem to be a setting for this on the web browser Plex or on the PS4 Plex, only on the iPhone. I think on the browser it’s called something else, but my settings look right. And yes I have ‘Quality’ set to "Original’ on both the web and the ps4 app, but the language makes it look like its for video?
Anyway, in now playing it says:
Transcoding to H264
Transcoding FLAC to AAC
Which I do NOT want. I want NO transcording or compression!
I’m with you there. I’ve spent a good deal of time re-ripping all my CDs from the 90s and 2000s in FLAC, getting rid of all my old mp3 rips! I really want to listen lossless if possible.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a PS4, but if DLNA supports FLAC, I can’t see why Plex wouldn’t, as they usually try to use the built-in audio players. Here is what the PS4 doc says, and it shows FLAC as supported…
Because it’s not a DLNA server, unless I use it through Media Player, but then there’s no fancy gui, just a file list.
The transcoding to H264 thing is there just to show me whats going on if I played a video. I don’t think it has anything to do with the FLAC file I’m playing.
Anyway, I think Plex just compresses, unfortunately. They should really change this.
I really want the app to stop transcoding my FLAC to AAC, I’m frustrated and about to delete it.
One more thing, looks like a release earlier this year included this fix…
All: The music player no longer respects the allow direct play and allow direct stream video player setting.
So looks like maybe the video player settings also might apply to audio / music. Is yours set to direct play / direct stream? otherwise, I’m outta ideas!
