Hello !
My Sony Android TV is driving me crazy.
Well, it supports DTS natively, but not on 3rd party apps.
But same thing for AC3 > 480kbps.
I could get over it, but it’s not that easy.
Because it’s Android TV, exoplayer cannot display subtitles when video is direct stream. (Thanks again to MovieFan.Plex for the explanation ! 
)
So 90% of my files are fully transcode because the bitrate of the audio tracks are a bit too high on my damn 2015 TV
Sooo, I’m asking, what can I get to direct play everything ?
I saw the Shield TV could do it, but it’s the price of my NAS. Is it possible to get a thing like that a bit cheaper ?
MI Box ?
Roku players/sticks ?
Fire TV ?
I’m a bit lost. Where can I see how Direct Play is supported by these hardwares ?
Thank you !
All those ready-made solutions have shortcomings in their format support.
Pure Plex clients: (no other streaming portals and online services suported)
If it must not be 4K and/or HEVC, you can use a RaspberryPi3
The software can be either RasPlex or PMP embedded.
Supports up to DTS HD (but not DTS HD MA) on this hardware. But it can then convert to 5.1 PCM on board, which the other players cannot (AFAIK). If your AVR supports 5.1 LPCM, you should be good.
If you need 4K and HEVC, then try an OdroidC2
software is OpenPHT (really just the same as RasPlex)
Or you use a full-blown HTPC with HDMI port (v2.1 compatible to allow all the newer surround sound formats). Software would be OpenPHT or PMP.
The closest you will get to “perfect” is the Shield TV but even then there are a few hiccups. BTW: If you do not wish the Plex server on the Shield (and it is highly flawed anyway) the regular Shield will do just fine. The “Pro” is vast overkill for general use and use as a Plex client.
I Think that with the correct codecs installed the Raspberry PI running PMP will also direct most everything. However it is a bit of a pain to get perfectly set up and requires a bit of tinkering as well.
Rokus require transcoding for a lot of things.
Fire TV is a bit better in that regard BUT has a user interface from hell.
Also, with the correct codecs installed, I think a computer (most any of the small computers) will direct play most things.
There are two ways to “best” handle everything:
- Process every file and get them in a form that will direct play on whatever device you want to use
- Get a server with enough power to transcode everything on the fly
I have chosen option 2 and therefore I can chose my client device based on other factors.
@Elijah_Baley said:
There are two ways to “best” handle everything:
- Process every file and get them in a form that will direct play on whatever device you want to use
- Get a server with enough power to transcode everything on the fly
A HTPC would be option
3. get a client which can play everything without the need of transcoding on the server
Thanks for all your replies !
First, I already have a HTPC, but I’m using it for gaming, so the picture quality of my TV is set to play games, and it’s really bad for movies.
I tried PMP with Pi3. I’m disappointed because it would have been the perfect player for me.
Except that I cannot get 5.1 sound.
My config is : PI3 --HDMI-- TV --HDMIARC-- AVR
I think the Pi3 send only PCM. Am I right ?
My TV can’t passthrough PCM 5.1, and I can’t plug the Pi3 directly to the AVR for the same reason as my HTPC.
For Shield : Will I have the same issue, or Shield really send DD and DTS ?
Thanks again
@Link2811 said:
I think the Pi3 send only PCM. Am I right ?
Nope. It sends what you tell it to send. It is definitely able to ‘bitstream’ AC3 and DTS.
You just need to tell it to. https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/181255/rasplex-guide-to-audio-settings-updated/p1#top
and I can’t plug the Pi3 directly to the AVR for the same reason as my HTPC.
What reason was that again?
I am unsure, but I have somewhere in the back of my mind that the ARC can only do basic surround, not all those HD surround formats.
This is how it’s supposed to work: PI3 – HDMI – AVR – HDMIARC – TV
You’re speaking about Rasplex or PMP ? If it doesn’t work with PMP, I will use Rasplex
It’s because my HTPC is plug on my AVR, which is on the HDMI 4 of my tv.
And the profile for HDMI4 is : gaming mode, flashy colours, no cinemotion, etc… It’s good for gaming, not at all for movies !
@Link2811 said:
You’re speaking about Rasplex or PMP ? If it doesn’t work with PMP, I will use Rasplex 
PMP has similar checkboxes, which you need to ‘tick’ for all the format it shall ‘bitstream’ instead of decoding them to LPCM. Settings - Audio
It’s because my HTPC is plug on my AVR, which is on the HDMI 4 of my tv.
How about moving the HTPC to a different HDMI port, directly on the TV?
It’s not just my HTPC, there is 3 consoles too 
I think this is the easiest way for my setup !
Anyway, thanks a lot, i will give it a try and tell you
I’m fighting with PMP, because I can’t passthrough AC3 or DTS. 
No matter what I do, it’s always outputting PCM 5.1
On audio, I’ve tick AC3 and DTS, and I don’t think there is something else to tick.
I just tried with Rasplex and it’s working perfecly.
The thing I understand is that, in PMP, there is no “Enable Passthrough”. No “EAC3” neither.
Maybe it’s a bug in the current release
@Link2811 said:
The thing I understand is that, in PMP, there is no “Enable Passthrough”. No “EAC3” neither.
Settings - Audio - Device Type must be ‘HDMI’, not Basic
Yes, indeed, but no way to get it working.
Is it a possible to download an old build ? I can only download the latest on the download page.
Could this probably apply to your build?
Great, it works perfectly with this fix.
Thanks a lot, you really helped me
