Plex app on Sony X900H TV and 4K HDR or DV MKV file playback

Plex Media Server
,
1

Server Version#:1.22.3
Player Version#:latest version from Google Play App Store for Sony TV

I have ripped my collection of 4K UHD movies (MKV files using MakeMKV version 1.16.3) to QNAP 453be NAS running Plex Server. I have Plex app from the Google Play Store installed on my Sony X900H TV. The TV HDMI3 port is connected to the AVR Denon X-3300W (which supports 4K HDR and DV). All the AV components (TV and AVR are hardwired to the home network via Cat6 cables)

A few observations, when I stream the movies

  1. On the TV, the display shows that it HD (and not 4K / HDR or DV).
  2. On the AVR, the audio is DD Surround.
  3. I think that I have streaming direct-play (no transcoding)

What am I missing?
How can I get 4K HDR/DV and also lossless audio (DTS:X or Atmos)?
How can I verify that QNAP is not transcoding from 4K to HD?

All the HDMI cables are from Monoprice and Premium Certified.

2

Get a Nvidia Shield Pro and connect it to your Denon receiver.
Shield ← HDMI → Denon ← HDMI → TV

You’re running into the limitations of using Plex TV based apps and also your audio equipment.

You can get HDR video using the Plex app.

You cannot get lossless audio such as TrueHD and dts:X.

When playing media using the Plex app, choose an audio track that does not transcode (avoid TrueHD). Also, avoid SSA/ASS subtitles, as they can force a video transcode. PGS & SRT subtitles should be OK.

Longer Answer:

The TV does not support TrueHD (including TrueHD + Atmos). Therefore, Plex will transcode it to a supported format.

The Denon supports HDMI-ARC, not HDMI-eARC. Therefore, the TV cannot pass lossless audio such as TrueHD, TrueHD + Atmos, dts-HD, or dts:X to the receiver. You are limited to Dolby Digital/Dolby Digital Plus/dts at 5.1 channels or less and PCM 2.0 audio. Dolby Digital Plus + Atmos is supported, so you can get Atmos audio from streaming services such as Netflix.

Even if the Denon supported HDMI-eARC, you would still be out of luck. TV manufacturers do not support passing lossless audio from TV apps over HDMI-eARC.

The only solution to have both HDR video and lossless audio is the Shield connected to your Denon.

Note that audio passthrough was recently added to the Xbox. See Audio Passthrough support on Xbox beta for details.

Regarding Dolby Vision:

Dolby Vision on any platform is still very much a work in progress. Not all profiles are supported on all devices. Search the forum for “Sony Dolby Vision” for additional info.

Try playing one of your 4K HDR rips using the Plex app on the TV, but make sure you choose an audio format that direct plays - Dolby Digital 5.1 or dts 5.1.

Movies released on Blu-ray with TrueHD audio also have a Dolby Digital version of the audio track. If the DD audio track is not present, re-rip the disc with MakeMKV.

This thread has a lot of good info on 4K and Plex:
[INFO] Plex, 4k, transcoding, and you - aka the rules of 4k

Plex Dashboard → Now Playing

The AVR’s network connection has no bearing on Plex.

The TV’s Ethernet port is 100 Mbps. Many 4K HDR movies burst above 100 Mbps, resulting in buffering when using the Plex app on the TV.

If you’ve a strong 5 GHz 802.11ac signal where the TV is located, you may have better performance (less buffering) via WiFi than via an Ethernet cable.

1 Like
3

FordGuy61.

I cannot thank you enough for a very good, detailed and helpful information.

4

Thanks FordGuy61 for providing so much detail. However, it was somewhat based on a wrong assumption for this specific case. Per rtings.com this specific Sony X900H model should support both eArc and passthrough of lossless audio, including TrueHD/Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. See the “Audio Passthrough” section of this page. Make sure you are on the latest update of your Sony android system. If it is still transcoded, it should not be due to the audio format.

5

Tunghsu,

FordGuy61 was talking about ARC for my Denon X3300W not eARC for Sony.

6

Hi. Currently, there is no TV on the market that will passthrough Lossless audio from the Internal apps installed on the actual TV itself.

However “most” of the TV’s WILL passthrough Lossless audio from an external source plugged into any one of the TV’s HDMI ports.

I have a Sony X950H, and indeed it will NOT pass the lossless audio through to my AVR from the Internal Plex app. This is a fact that I simply accept, and therefore I choose to use either the Nvidia Shield 2019 Pro or my HTPC.

Unfortunately there is no debate about this… It is simply a fact.

So to reiterate… NO TV will pass lossless audio through from ANY of the internal apps installed on the TV itself, and that includes the Plex app.

7

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