Retain playback of multichannel music files in the new Plex

[BobMichael]

The request is to retain the current ability to correctly play back multichannel music files in the new Plex experience. I fear losing this capability among the many improvements in the upcoming changes.

In my case, I have many multichannel FLAC files matched in Plex, and play them gaplessly with the correct channel assignment, through Plex on an Apple TV 4K.

With the rise of Dolby Atmos, there’s a new interest in immersive audio experiences. Plex is the only simple and affordable solution on the market for the playback of immersive, multichannel files, with content matching, remote navigation, gapless playback, and a nice interface.

Please keep what you have today in Plex related to multichannel FLACs in the new Plex experience.

[tom80H]

The new experience apps are focusing entirely on video playback.

There’s a separate suggestion to bring a music player to the big screen apps (e.g. Plexamp for tvOS).

Plexamp for TVOS

Hello Plex team, Please port Plexamp into AppleTV. I have been so amazed at Plexamp as a service on my iOS device, MacOS device, and Windows devices, however, my entire stereo setup at home is based around the AppleTV. I did play around a bit with a headless setup on a different HDMI port, but this removes a lot of the functionality using the remote of the Apple TV which has become second nature. Using the Plex app is very limited in features, and airplay is a poor solution as now you’re phon…

[BobMichael]

So can I take from this that multichannel audio playback through the ATV will be unavailable with the Plex upgrade, at least for a while?

[tom80H]

Not really – I don’t know Plex’s plans and can’t tell you if / how they’ll proceed with music on the Apple TV.

At this point, the new experience is a separate preview app, leaving the regular one in place. And Plex have not yet commented on the future of music on devices which currently don’t have their own Plexamp client.