Sharp TV is unable to play certain files over DLNA

Plex Players Smart TVs
1

Hi all,

I’ve recently got a Sharp ‘Smart’ TV. I’ve been running Plex Media Server for many years and never had this issue with any other device.

The new TV has the ability to play video using DLNA using it’s built in player. The TV finds the PMS and I can see the media on it.

But when I try to play certain video files from the PMS the TV just says ‘Decoding’ and seems to never finish and never start playing. I have tried lots of files and almost all have problems playing. They either never start playing or they take about 40 seconds to start playing. This is very annoying as the files are all low quality video files taken from PAL DVDs.

When this happens I can see from the PMS Activity Dashboard that the file is being sent to the TV over DLNA. I can also see from the Windows Server, that the PMS is installed on, that when this happens the network usage is constantly at about 70Mpbs.

If I compare this to my LG TV then that plays these files without a problem, plays over DLNA and only uses about 1 to 2 Mbps network usage.

I have done lots of testing to try to identify what is causing this problem. I have worked out so far that the problem is caused by the audio part of the video file.

I reconverted a video file without any audio tracks. The file starts playing over DLNA within about 2 seconds.

I then reconverted some other video files and can see that if the file has an audio track, in either AC3 or AAC, at a bitrate of 160 kbps then the file will not play on the Sharp TV. However, if I use a bitrate of 192 kbps for the audio tracks then the video files start playing within 2 or 3 seconds and play perfectly.

I’d like to be able to play my extensive libraries on this new TV but it looks like I am going to have to reconvert my files. I’d like to try to avoid this if I can.

Has anyone else had this problem or know of how I can fix this problem without having to reconvert all these files. Maybe this new TV just can’t play these files.

I will get the mediainfo from the files that cause this problem and upload them.

Thanks,

Chris

Server Version#: Version 1.21.1.3876

2

This is the mediainfo for a file that will not play:

Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 198 MiB
Duration : 22 min 44 s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 1 217 kb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2020-12-31 12:32:50
Tagged date : UTC 2020-12-31 12:32:50
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.7 2017040900

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L3.1
Format settings : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 22 min 44 s
Bit rate : 1 051 kb/s
Width : 700 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.296
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.104
Stream size : 171 MiB (86%)
Writing library : x264 core 148 r2708 86b7198
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=30 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=21.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=14000 / vbv_bufsize=14000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2020-12-31 12:32:50
Tagged date : UTC 2020-12-31 12:32:50
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601
Menus : 3
Codec configuration box : avcC

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC LC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID : mp4a-40-2
Duration : 22 min 44 s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 160 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 26.1 MiB (13%)
Title : Stereo / Stereo
Language : English
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1
Encoded date : UTC 2020-12-31 12:32:50
Tagged date : UTC 2020-12-31 12:32:50
Menus : 3

Menu
ID : 3
Codec ID : text
Duration : 22 min 44 s
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2020-12-31 12:32:50
Tagged date : UTC 2020-12-31 12:32:50
Bit rate mode : CBR
Menu For : 1,2
00:00:00.000 : Chapter 1
00:02:42.720 : Chapter 2
00:09:57.160 : Chapter 3
00:17:41.760 : Chapter 4
00:22:14.760 : Chapter 5
Bit rate mode : Constant

3

This is another that will not play but this time the audio is AC3:

Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 217 MiB
Duration : 21 min 38 s
Overall bit rate : 1 403 kb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2021-01-02 13:16:59
Tagged date : UTC 2021-01-02 13:16:59
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.7 2017040900

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L3.1
Format settings : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 21 min 38 s
Bit rate : 1 239 kb/s
Width : 700 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.296
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.123
Stream size : 192 MiB (88%)
Writing library : x264 core 148 r2708 86b7198
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=30 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=21.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=14000 / vbv_bufsize=14000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2021-01-02 13:16:59
Tagged date : UTC 2021-01-02 13:16:59
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601
Menus : 3
Codec configuration box : avcC

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital
Codec ID : ac-3
Duration : 21 min 37 s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 160 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 24.8 MiB (11%)
Title : Stereo / Stereo
Language : English
Service kind : Complete Main
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1
Encoded date : UTC 2021-01-02 13:16:59
Tagged date : UTC 2021-01-02 13:16:59
Menus : 3

Menu
ID : 3
Codec ID : text
Duration : 21 min 38 s
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2021-01-02 13:16:59
Tagged date : UTC 2021-01-02 13:16:59
Bit rate mode : CBR
Menu For : 1,2
00:00:00.000 : Chapter 1
00:02:35.320 : Chapter 2
00:08:00.680 : Chapter 3
00:20:54.880 : Chapter 4
Bit rate mode : Constant

4

And this is the mediainfo for a file that plays fine when the audio is a bitrate of 192 kbps:

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4
File size : 435 MiB
Duration : 28 min 54 s
Overall bit rate : 2 103 kb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2017-04-29T06:30:17Z
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.7 2017040900
Writing library : Lavf57.7.2

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.1
Format settings : CABAC / 8 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference : 8 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 28 min 54 s
Bit rate : 1 869 kb/s
Width : 704 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 50.000 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.092
Stream size : 386 MiB (89%)
Writing library : x264 core 148 r2708 86b7198
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=8 / deblock=1:-1:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=9 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.15 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-3 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=500 / keyint_min=50 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Default : Yes
Forced : No
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601
Duration_Source : General_Duration

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 28 min 54 s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 39.7 MiB (9%)
Title : Stereo
Language : English
Service kind : Complete Main
Default : Yes
Forced : No
Duration_Source : General_Duration

Menu
00:00:00.000 : :Chapter 1
00:06:49.760 : :Chapter 2
00:13:22.560 : :Chapter 3
00:20:06.400 : :Chapter 4

5

I’ve just finished lots of testing with differing file types, audio types and bitrates. I’ve found that the TV can only play files correctly in the following formats:

MKV with a single AC-3 audio track with a constant bit rate of 192 kbps. Any other bitrate constant or variable will not play the file.
MP4 with a single AAC audio track with a constant or variable bit rate of 192 kbps.
MP4 with a single AAC audio track with a variable bit rate of 92 kbps.
MP4 with a single AAC audio track with a constant bit rate of 104 kbps.

If either an MKV or MP4 have multiple audio tracks then the video will not play or will play but constantly shows a ‘Decoding’ message in the middle of the screen.

If the video has an audio track of 160 kbps it will also not play and just shows a blank screen saying ‘decoding’ and never starts to play the video.

This problem also only happens when playing the files using DLNA. If I play the files from a USB memory stick then they all play fine. So I guess the DLNA player on this TV is limited to what it can play.

6

Plex server doesn’t perform any Sharp-specific transformations on files when delivering them per DLNA.
Which means that your TV gets the files just “as they are”. If it cannot handle that, it the TV’s fault, not Plex’s.

I recommend you to get a device with a “proper” Plex client, which you can connect to the TV’s HDMI input. e.g. Fire TV, Apple TV, nVidia Shield etc Category : Player Apps and Platforms | Plex Support

7

Thanks OttoKerner for the advice. I thought that was the case as my LG TV has no problems playing things from Plex server and I can see from the dashboard that the files are not being transcoded either. It’s clearly a problem with the way the TV plays media from DLNA. It seems that it can only play certain bitrates which is odd. I have a huge library of videos that won’t play on this TV and I’m looking at remuxing them with a compatible bit rate or buying some external device. It just seems a shame as I’ve got the TV because it is supposed to be a smart TV.

8

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