So, after noticing that I got no 5.1 from the Plex app on my Android TV, I did some searching and it appears this problem exists across all Android-based devices. Sure enough, I tried it on my Fire TV stick and same issue. It also seems this problem has been around for ages with no signs of being fixed.
So, if I want to access Plex on my set with proper sound, what’s my best option? A Roku or some other device?
If you have a remote that supports mouse control on your Android device you can run the app in non-TV mode and then go into SETTINGS, then ADVANCED and then PLAYER. You will see an option called “Optional Audio Support”. UNCHECK AC3 and EAC3 and then click OK. The app will then work fine, including LIVE TV. You will get sound. The app is just more difficult to navigate on an Android TV box unless you have a remote that supports a mouse. Why in the HELL they don’t make this option available in TV mode I’ll never know. I, as well as others, have complained about the sound problem in Android TV devices for quite some time and I have NEVER seen anyone from PLEX address this issue. Clearly the app has the ability to get around this problem, but it’s only available in non-TV mode.
Ok, I learned something surprising today. As described in the previous message, the only way I have been able to get the Plex Android TV app to give me sound on my Android Box is to use it in NON-TV (mobile) mode. By putting it in mobile mode you can follow the steps I laid out in the previous message and UNCHECK AC3 and EAC3 support. What I didn’t realize was, once I had done this you can put the app BACK INTO TV MODE (Settings -> Experience -> Application Layout, select TV). When it switches the interface to TV mode IT REMEMBERS THE AC3 settings and it will transcode from AC3 to AAC. Didn’t expect that! I’ve been using the Android App now in TV mode for a couple of days and it’s working pretty good.
So for those of you who can’t get sound in TV mode, put the app in Mobile mode and disable AC3, then put the app back into TV mode and you should get sound, although Plex will have to transcode the media, be it a file or live TV.
By the way, it sure would have been nice if someone from Plex could have let us know about this workaround. Would have saved me a LOT of frustration.
I will take this a step further…when will we have one Android app that covers us. I have posted a long thread on how I have a Fire TV device and a Minix device. Both are “Android” devices but they both have different revisions of the Android app posted to their respective app stores. This needs to get rectified, so we can have a better frame of reference to troubleshoot issues of real importance!
How do I run the Plex app in non-TV mode? I can’t find anywhere in the app where to switch
