I run Plex on Synology 918+. After 7 years, I bought a Sony Bravia 8 II and will buy a Denon X3800h so that my TV and receiver are connected with eARC. The devices handle all available formats, so playback should be direct.
I found out that I still can’t play DTS HD or trueHD and that the Plex application on the TV is to blame.
I have an XBOX one X, which is connected to the TV. I heard that Plex can also be used on the Xbox and that these lossless formats should work. But I’m afraid that it wouldn’t be as comfortable as now, when I can control everything except the Xbox with the TV remote.
Another option is the slightly outdated Nvidia Shield Pro, which is basically no longer sold. I would like to ask whether the shield should be connected to the receiver or the TV and whether everything can be controlled with the TV remote. So I turn on the TV, on the main plex. I turn on Plex, select a movie and play it. The receiver and shield turn on by themselves. Is my reasoning correct, does anyone else have this?
Is there any other option in 2026 than buying a 2019 device?
Shield works great, have very few issues with playback though some movies still transcode audio.
You should if possible connect shield to the receiver and you should be able to play anything ‘Direct’.
I got an issue with that part so Shield is connected to TV which is connected to receiver.
It works for most format, but not all DTS formats
The Plex app on TVs cannot passthrough TrueHD due to TV manufacturer restrictions. Whether or not DTS formats are supported varies by manufacturer. If DTS-HD is supported, HDMI-eARC is required to pass it to attached audio equipment.
The Nvidia Shield Pro is still being manufactured and supported by Nvidia. My 2015 Shield Pro still receives software updates from Nvidia.
My setup:
Nvidia Shield Pro → Denon AVR-X4300H → LG B7 OLED
I use the Nvidia Shield remote. It turns on the receiver and tv, switches to the correct HDMI ports, and controls the volume on the receiver.
I primarily use the Plex client and YouTube TV app on the Shield.
The only time I use the LG remote is to watch OTA TV when the Internet is out (or YTTV has a carriage dispute with ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC).
it is extremely rare for anything to transcode when using the Plex client on the Shield. I cannot remember the last time anything transcoded unless I forced it (AV1 video will transcode, as it is not supported by the Shield).
I’ve already looked at the Zidoo Z9x 8k and the Homatics Box R 4K PLUS Android TV, which are more modern and still selling. Are they reasonable options?
Some are buying the Ugoos AM6B+ and loading CoreELEC + Kodi + PM4K plugin. From reading other posts, it handles Dolby Vision profile 7 video better than other streaming boxes/sticks.
