Plex HTPC, switching audio output issue

Plex Players Desktop Players
1

Server Version#: 1.40.1.8227
Player Version#: 2.58.0.1076-38e019da

Hi all,

I’m trying to switch over to Plex HTPC from the old Plex Media Player. I have two audio output devices: a receiver that does DD/DD+/TrueHD/Atmos/DTS/DTS-X and a pair of USB headphones. What I’m having trouble with on HTPC is switching audio outputs like I could when using PMP, in a way that is convenient for me.

With PMP, I just had to switch my audio output in Windows. When I set it to headphones, the audio comes out my headphones. When I switch it to my receiver, I get the audio from my receiver, including all codecs that are passed through. My PMP settings:

  • Device type: HDMI
  • Channels: 7.1
  • Device: Autoselect device
  • All passthrough options enabled

With HTPC, if I set the HTPC audio device as autoselect, like I had in PMP, I lose the options I need (HDMI, 7.1, all passthrough codecs) and the output to my receiver is just stereo. If I set the HTPC audio device as my receiver, I get all the options I need and the audio works correctly. When I want to use my headphones, if I leave the HTPC audio device as my receiver and I switch the Windows audio device to my headphones, the audio still plays on my receiver (ok, this does make sense). If I set the HTPC device to my headphones, playback won’t even start. I have to switch the Windows output device to the headphones and switch HTPC to autoselect.

Any suggestions here?

Thanks!

ae_zero

2

Not sure if it will help you but I at least found a away to automate changing Windows audio settings, but still not Plex HTPC audio settings. See: Plex HTPC losing audio device settings - #10 by dancb2

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Hi dancb2!

That’s actually a big help. I also replied to it with the location of Plex audio settings.

What I’m thinking would solve it is:

  • Create two desktop shortcuts for Plex: one for headphones and one for the receiver (and add an additional button to start Plex on my Harmony remote)
  • The headphones shortcut will go to batch file that will do three things:
    1. It will use your solution to change the Windows audio device to my headphones.
    1. It will swap the plexmediaplayer.conf file out with one that has my headphones config.
    1. Start Plex
  • The shortcut for the receiver will do all of that, but for my receiver.
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