Hello,
I have posted about this before but got no responses from the DEV’s on the subject and I was excited about the opportunity to be a beta tester for this Android app on my new Sony 4K TV in hopes this issues would be resolved, but alas the issue is still present.
Here is the issue I am experiencing with PLEX and ONLY PLEX on this TV. When I open the PLEX app and go to my TV Shows and select something that has surround sound on it and select play I only get 2 channels of sound if I play the same video using PMP on my computer I get surround sound this is very frustrating!
Let me tell you about the setup I have to help you understand.
Sony XBR-55X900C (4K)
Pioneer VSX-LX101 receiver (4K support)
The TV is connected to the Pioneer receiver via optical (not ARC).
Current version of PLEX android app from Google Play
Here is what I have tried so far to test the setup
- Changed all settings in Sony TV for different types of audio support - Still had stereo sound (no surround)
- Looked at all settings in PLEX, but all there is only pass through (disable, or auto)
- I then exit out of PLEX and open the video app that is installed by default and select the PLEX server (DLNA) and open a file with surround sound and it plays video and surround sound audio perfectly.
- I installed Emby server and the Emby app and guess what it plays audio with surround sound as well
- I installed Kodi and set it all up (no Plex plugin) and it plays surround sound audio as well.
I have read that the DEV’s seem to think this is a TV issue, but I am here to tell you it is NOT a TV issue since every other app I tried plays the surround sound fine. Is there something I am missing with this app or is this just truly a PLEX issue? I am willing to try different things and change settings or even provide logs if required, but I believe this issue needs to be resolved.
Any help or chime in from the DEV’s would be great.
Thanks
@Wolfie02 said:
Hello,
I have posted about this before but got no responses from the DEV’s on the subject and I was excited about the opportunity to be a beta tester for this Android app on my new Sony 4K TV in hopes this issues would be resolved, but alas the issue is still present.
Here is the issue I am experiencing with PLEX and ONLY PLEX on this TV. When I open the PLEX app and go to my TV Shows and select something that has surround sound on it and select play I only get 2 channels of sound if I play the same video using PMP on my computer I get surround sound this is very frustrating!
Let me tell you about the setup I have to help you understand.
Sony XBR-55X900C (4K)
Pioneer VSX-LX101 receiver (4K support)
The TV is connected to the Pioneer receiver via optical (not ARC).
Current version of PLEX android app from Google Play
Here is what I have tried so far to test the setup
- Changed all settings in Sony TV for different types of audio support - Still had stereo sound (no surround)
- Looked at all settings in PLEX, but all there is only pass through (disable, or auto)
- I then exit out of PLEX and open the video app that is installed by default and select the PLEX server (DLNA) and open a file with surround sound and it plays video and surround sound audio perfectly.
- I installed Emby server and the Emby app and guess what it plays audio with surround sound as well
- I installed Kodi and set it all up (no Plex plugin) and it plays surround sound audio as well.
I have read that the DEV’s seem to think this is a TV issue, but I am here to tell you it is NOT a TV issue since every other app I tried plays the surround sound fine. Is there something I am missing with this app or is this just truly a PLEX issue? I am willing to try different things and change settings or even provide logs if required, but I believe this issue needs to be resolved.
Any help or chime in from the DEV’s would be great.
Thanks
Optical is most likely your issue. You can’t pass multichannel audio via opitcal. Well it’s more likely that the Plex client app does not have the ability to utilize output of 5.1 multichannel audio via optical as the majority of signals sent this way are PCM 2.0, a restriction the TV imposes. You’ll probably need to switch to HDMI for this to work. Always provide logs.
@danjames92 if you are saying the Plex app cannot do multi channel audio via optical cable correct I agree. As I stated in my post I know this works I have verified with three other apps that are not Plex. Is there a plan to add this support in any future upgrades that can be enabled for TV’s that support this option? If I upload logs what do you want and how do I attach?
@Wolfie02 said:
@danjames92 if you are saying the Plex app cannot do multi channel audio via optical cable correct I agree. As I stated in my post I know this works I have verified with three other apps that are not Plex. Is there a plan to add this support in any future upgrades that can be enabled for TV’s that support this option? If I upload logs what do you want and how do I attach?
I think it’s a limitation of the platform that can’t be worked around. I don’t believe Plex have access to the api’s necessary to make it work whereas the built in app Sony provide do. Plus think about how many different models and api’s there probably are to get this to work across every television out there. I think it’s most likely impractical and a waste of time given the amount of devices that now support HDMI.
@danjames92
What do you mean by “limitation of the platform” are you saying that Plex android app is limited and will never work this way or a limitation or the TV?
If Emby can do this and Kodi can do this and Plex DLNA through a built in media player can do this why can’t the Plex app do this. I tried using the ARC from the TV to my receiver, but still only got 2 channel. So my opinion is this is a Plex app issue and I think it should work. I am not a programmer and I appreciate the work that is being done, but this is frustrating to me.
I am open to try different things to see if it could work if anyone has any ideas.
@Wolfie02 said:
@danjames92
What do you mean by “limitation of the platform” are you saying that Plex android app is limited and will never work this way or a limitation or the TV?
If Emby can do this and Kodi can do this and Plex DLNA through a built in media player can do this why can’t the Plex app do this. I tried using the ARC from the TV to my receiver, but still only got 2 channel. So my opinion is this is a Plex app issue and I think it should work. I am not a programmer and I appreciate the work that is being done, but this is frustrating to me.
I am open to try different things to see if it could work if anyone has any ideas.
Limitation of the tv’s afaik. Why are you not using HDMI? Your amp has HDMI output so why not use it?
Ok let me take a step back and regroup. The TV has android built into it and the plex app is installed on the TV I have connected the TV to the receiver using an optical cable. This same setup works for Emby and Kodi and Plex DLNA, but not the plex app itself.
So what does having HDMI output on the receiver have to do with this issue? As I stated previously I also tried using the ARC (audio return channel) on the TV and the receiver (this is HDMI) and received the same 2 channel results. My question still remains if the other applications I mentioned work in my setup (optical) and the Plex Android app is the only one that does not then the issue is with the Plex android app period it has nothing to do with optical, HDMI, etc…
I know I was told to basically stop wasting my time that this is never going to happen **danjames92 **stated “I think it’s most likely impractical and a waste of time given the amount of devices that now support HDMI.” More and more people are buying smart TV’s and while some will only use the built in speakers (only needs 2 channel) there are a lot of us who want to use these new TV’s with a receiver to give us better sound. If Plex’s competition is providing support for this option I would think it would benefit Plex to have this capability as well, but maybe I am a dreamer…
Any of the DEV’s want to chime in here?
@IanDBird
Ok this explanation makes more sense to me and I appreciate the feedback! I understand your limitations and do not want to break anyone else setup. I really appreciate the work that is being done overall on Plex!
What are the other vendors like Kodi and Emby using for the media player? Their’s works ok maybe this is something Plex could think about using as well?
I am beta testing this Android TV Plex app if this is not the correct location to post this type of question where should I have posted this so I will know for future issues.
Thanks
