You might be hitting the bandwidth limit for HEVC video.
Samsung apps have a 80 Mbps limit for HEVC media and a 60 Mbps limit for H264 media. It is a Samsung, not Plex, limit. If the limit is exceeded, Plex Media Server will transcode the video to fit under the limit. The limit is for the sum of all tracks in the file, video + audio.
There is also a limit of 30 total tracks in the media file: video + audio + subtitles. If exceeded, Plex Media Server will remux (direct stream) the file.
You can use MKVToolNix to remove unnecessary audio & subtitle tracks. This might get you below the limit.
To verify if you’re hitting the limit:
- Set the Samsung TV to log to server at debug level.
- Set your Plex Server for debug level logging.
- Play the movie for ~30 seconds using the Plex app on the Samsung. Subtitles must be turned off.
- Stop playback. Pull the server log files.
- Look in
Plex Media Server.logfor the appropriate messages.
Sample message for exceeding stream limit:
Nov 03, 2020 11:35:01.525 [0x7f1474ff9700] INFO - [Plex for Samsung] [redacted] Cannot direct play with protocol: http, codec: hevc. Reason: Stream count exceeds 30 streams.
Sample message for exceeding bandwidth limit:
Jun 15, 2020 13:35:42.557 [0x7f60837fe700] DEBUG - Gemini Man - video.bitrate limitation applies: 85622 > 80000
Samsung document showing bitrate limits:
