Server Version#: 1.32.8.7639 on docker
Player Version#: Sonos
I have my Sonos hooked up to Plex. There are many HD files in my music library (24 bit at either 96k or 192k). The max rate Sonos can handle is 24 bit / 48kHz so I used ffmpeg to resample a few albums to 24 bit 48kHz. Here is an example output of ffmpeg -i:
Input #0, flac, from ‘01 - Pigs on the Wing 1.flac’:
Metadata:
ALBUM : Animals (Sonos)
album_artist : Pink Floyd
ARTIST : Pink Floyd
ARTISTS : Pink Floyd
COMPOSER : Roger Waters
COPYRIGHT : undefined
DISCTOTAL : 1
TOTALDISCS : 1
disc : 1
ENCODER : Lavf60.3.100
ENGINEER : Brian Humphries, James Guthrie, Joel Plante
GENRE : Rock
ISRC : GBN9Y1100090
LABEL : Pink Floyd Records
DATE : 2021
TITLE : Pigs on the Wing 1
TRACKTOTAL : 5
TOTALTRACKS : 5
track : 1
UPC : 886445613834
Duration: 00:01:24.69, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1544 kb/s
Stream #0:0: Audio: flac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s32 (24 bit)
Stream #0:1: Video: png, rgb24(pc), 1024x1024 [SAR 1:1 DAR 1:1], 90k tbr, 90k tbn (attached pic)
Metadata:
comment : Cover (front)
As you can see, it’s a flac file 48000Hz and 24 bit.
Plex still transcodes the file. Any ideas what I can do to prevent transcode? My CD rips to flac do not transcode. Does Plex automatically transcode anything over 16 bit?
Before you ask, I can confirm my Sonos Port can handle 24 bit at 48KHz. From sonos.com:
“As of this post’s publish date, the following Sonos products are capable of playing 24-bit music at 48 kHz: Roam, Arc, Beam (both generations), Five, Sub (all generations), Move, One, One SL, Port, Amp, SYMFONISK Bookshelf, SYMFONISK Table Lamp, Play:5 (Gen 2), Connect (Gen 2), and Connect:Amp (Gen 2).”
Is there a setting I can update? Is Plex using the lowest common denominator? Better yet, how about transcode for Sonos to 24 bit / 48 kHz flac instead of 320Kbps MP3.
I have a high-end system, and I can hear the difference between the transcoded AAC file and a flac lossless file on a good recording.
On a separate note, I can’t do my normal music listening for high fidelity. Normally, I can use my Plex player from my NVIDIA Shield Pro. The problem is that Plex music playback has been busted and not usable on the Shield for months. See 2 songs playing at the same time - #41 by peterfarrow.
