Uncompressed Audio Support for native Plex App Fire TV Cube 3 Gen

[blazeth2]

Hello dear developers.

With the current Fire TV Cube 3. Gen (newest Firmware installed), the native Plex App doesn’t pass-through uncompressed audio like Dolby Atmos True HD 7.1, DTS-HD, DTS:X.

Only with Kodi Nexus App 20.2 + Version & 3 Party AddOn Composite and Kodi Audio Configuration set to AudioTrack (RAW), Android IEC packer my Front Dolby Speakers working correctly.

Then also Plex Server does not converting to Opus (compressed audio and PCM active). Then, Audio (Dolby Atmos True HD 7.1) is also Direct Play (native pass-through).

Into the Fire TV and LG TV Settings, all Audio settings setup to pass-through and Bitstream.

The Fire TV Cube 3 Gen Test App also support native Dolby Atmos True HD 7.1.

Please give us support for Direct Play Dolby Atmos True HD 7.1, DTS-HD and DTS:X into the native Plex Apps for Android / Amazon Fire TV.

Please tell me, if you want Plex (debug) logs or other informations for supporting uncompressed audio formats.

Screens:

Direct Play onto native Plex App (Opus convert):

Direct Play onto Kodi App with 3 Party AddOn Composite with described settings (native pass-through and FDL and FDR working):

The Fire TV Cube 3 Gen Test App for Dolby Atmos True HD Result (it’s an plex app issue, not hardware or os issue):

Thanks and regards

Matthias

[FordGuy61]

The Cube v3 should passthrough TrueHD audio. For DTS, it should passthrough only the lossy core (an Amazon restriction).

Is the Cube connected directly to the receiver?

In the Plex app on the Cube, make sure Passthrough = HDMI.

@blazeth2

Direct Play onto Kodi App with 3 Party AddOn Composite with described settings (native pass-through and FDL and FDR working):

That’s stereo. Look at the input signal.

@blazeth2

The Fire TV Cube 3 Gen Test App for Dolby Atmos True HD Result (it’s an plex app issue, not hardware or os issue):

Look at the signal. That is Dolby Digital Plus Atmos, not TrueHD Atmos.

[blazeth2]

Thanks for your help.

Yeah, the Cube is connected directly to the AVR (TV EARC to AVR ARC, AVR Media Player hmi in to Cube HDMI out).

Model is AVR-X3500H (next month the AVR-X4800H arrives, than I want to test via windows htpc plex app too for support ALLM, VRR).

Also into Plex App onto the cube, HDMI pass-through is checked.

It’s correct, to set audio settings onto the TV ( LG OLED77C17LB) to earc activated , audio input format to bitstream and digital audio format to automatic or manually to bitstream?

Into the Cube the settings for audio, the surround-sound is set to “best available”.
Into cube video settings are set to adjust to original bitrate, color depth to 10 bits, color format to automatic, dynamic range settings to adaptiv, and super resolution setting to on.

But into plex app, plex app still converting dolby atmos true hd to opus (message: truehd is not supported on to this device).

Actually plex App repeatedly freeze and close, if I played an dolby atmos true hd movie and want to navigate (pause or stop playback), or show playback infos).

Yeah you are right about Stereo Input Signal, but no opus transcoding was active…and FDLs was active via Kodi 22.2 and 3 Party AddOn.

Yeah, you also right about Fire TV Dolby Atmos Test Audio Screen (Dolby Atmos / Dolby Digital Dolby Vision Only).

Also you right, that the Cube 3 Gen has only DTS core base support (my fault).

Maybe the shield pro (2019) or an HTPC is still the only option for supporting (all) uncompressed audio formats?

Onto Amazon Developers (Device Specifications: Fire TV Cube | Amazon Fire TV) there are only this data exist:

• AC3 (Dolby Digital)/ EAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus) /Atmos(DDP+JOC)/AC4(Atmos)/Dolby TrueHD(Atmos)

Maybe plex team get / offer a new / great business for an plex playback device with all enthusiastic features we all want / wish (cooperation with an oem hardware vendor ^^).

Thanks again for your support and help…

Regards

Matthias

[FordGuy61]

Thanks for the info.

Your settings on the Cube & in Plex app are correct.

The TV eARC settings do not matter when using the Cube, as that is for audio from TV apps back to the Denon.

This looks like a problem with the Plex app on the Cube. It should not say “TrueHD is not supported…”

A Plex employee will probably need to get involved.

I’ve the FireStick 4K, which does not support TrueHD, so cannot replicate your setup.

FYI, on FDLs active on stereo input, that might be the Denon applying audio processing. I’ve a 4300 & 5.1.2 setup. When I use All Channel Stereo it plays stereo out of all the speakers, not just FL & FR.

[blazeth2]

Thanks again for your reply and your informations (for example, that the AVR audio processing engine mixed the stereo signal to the FDLs, while using kodi & 3 Party AddOn Composite).

“A Plex employee will probably need to get involved.” - > This would be nice and effective (maybe for all users, using cube 3 Gen, I was searching a lot t of his use case into a lot of hifi forums and test magazines, but nowhere was an an exactly statement for this).

Please tell me, if I am able to send logs or anything else.

Into 12 days, I refund the Cube 3 Gen with this situation and than waiting for next avr and try the plex htpc app.

Regards Matthias

[FordGuy61]

The new AVR won’t make a difference in how the Cube or Plex HTPC behaves. You could try HTPC now.

TBH, if you want lossless audio (TrueHD + Atmos, DTS-HD, DTS:X) and HDR10 & Dolby Vision, consider a Nvidia Shield Pro (not the tube).

I’ve the Shield 2015 Pro as my main Plex client. It pre-dates Dolby Vision support, but direct plays everything I throw at it.

Shield Pro → Denon 4300 → LG B7 OLED

My “torture test” video is the 4K HDR 60fps version of Gemini Man. It runs above 100 Mbps for almost the entire movie. The Shield never blinks when playing it.

Re: Plex HTPC, see Dolby TrueHD passthrough - modified mpv build . Plex Desktop & Plex HTPC use mpv.io as their underlying playback engine. The thread mentions some work to improve TrueHD playback.

[blazeth2]

Yeah, but with my htpc setup / my use case is also gaming: the current avr-x3500h doesn’t pass-through bitsream (Dolby Atmos True HD or other sourround sound formats) with the buyed atmos codec (windows store), because for 120 Hz gaming (steam big picture mode) I need an AVR with ALLM, VRR Support (that’s the reason to buy the AVR-X4800H next month, for the moment the Direc feature doesn’t flash me as an reason to buy the AVR).

For the moment (workaround for 120 Hz gaming), I am connecting the AMD 6800 directly to the TV (earc).
So I haven’t Sourround Sound onto the htpc.

The htpc is using also (temporarily) as plex server, if I had enough money into the future for an QNAP TV NAS with Intel Quick Sync Support and a lot of storage avaible (actually, my 12 TB SSDs are full into the HTPC).

The Nvidia Shield Pro (2019) has other issues (read into forums), like no more Google YouTube certification, no HLG Support (must read again for an exactly statement), not really an good feature update support by manufacture etc…

It would be nice, if we / plex team have a chance, to analyse the root cause with the Cube 3 Gen and Dolby Atmos True HD (maybe it’s only an Amazon marketing “accident” ^^).

PS. A lot of movie files have 88 GB / high frame and sound bitrate / sampling rate (MKV pass-through of my buyed Blu Ray Discs) and via direct play, I had seen more than 134 MBps / 365 MBps.
That’s the reason(s) , why I really love the plex server and plex player apps (and buyed premium for support the great work of plex team / devs).

For us enthusiasts, these is the only option for high quality 1:1 direct streaming / playing (some publishers of blu rays, announcement for hires the sales. There soon no other options for me / us for this).

I am avaible for provide debug logs of the plex server or install debug apps / sideloading attacks onto the Cube 3 Gen for analysis (with help of the plex team).

Good night of my side and hopefully we hear more next time…

Again big thanks for your time and effort.

Regards

Matthias

[blazeth2]

PS. Now onto 00:13 o clock (german time zone) the Cube 3 Gen updates (automatically) a new firmware (before, iam searching manually two times for updates, but there was no updates found).

Maybe just a big coincidence?

New Firmware version is now: Fire OS 7.6.1.3 (PS7613/3701)

Than after this update , the cube found (I am searched now again manually) the next Update Firmware Fire OS 7.6.4.6 (PS7646.3550N/3550) is ready for install.

Than next try for manually update search, the Cube found the next update (but two times there was only updates for the the the new amazon pro remote, now the back light of the remote keys working).

But now, Dolby Atmos True HD 7.1 is working!

(saw 101 MBps / 367 MBps Bandwidth with 4K HDR / Dolby Atmos TrueHD 7.1).

Next days I am testing other sound formats.

But for this moment, the problem is fixed by amazon firmware.

OMG, sorry , but this is now a clearly statement also for other Amazon Fire TV Cube 3 Gen consumers and Plex users!

Short test’s for other sound formats:

DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 7.1 also working (but laggy / not really usable or enjoying, maybe because of only core license of the codec provided by Amazon? Or it’s the known bug, that I read onto Amazon pages, that is still an issue and the amazon support does still not responding / working for fixing on this? Only workaround maybe, to switch manually into fire tv cube settings to Dolby Digital Plus / Dolby Digital? You can see that the Cube does not pass the input signal to the AVR / HDMI chain correctly…):

After switched to manually to DTS Plus or to DTS into the Cube audio settings, still laggy with DTS-HD MA, but input signal shows only for a short time DTS (while short time playing and not laggy).

Switching manually to PCM into the Cube audio settings, no laggs appears and input signal set to PCM (of course):

I am really sure, that before Dolby Atmos True HD 7.1 works (before Firmware Fire OS 7.6.4.6 (PS7646.3550N/3550)) DTS-HD MA was working without problems!

This is an OEM software engineering issue provided by Amazon, right?

Regards

Matthias

[blazeth2]

Perhaps for others relevant still a status update:

Although there was no new firmware for the 3 Gen Amazon Cube.

Can someone from the Plex team please comment on this briefly or there are working on this? The most movies have dts-hd in my libary and cant play 65 % of my content!

Otherwise, the use of resume, chapters and fast forward is currently not possible (DTS-HD movies).

The Plex Player app buffers endlessly or crashes.

Thanks in advance for information / support on this.

Please notice the other threads on to this issue(s):

DTS-HD passthrough not working on new Fire TV Cube (3rd)

Any update on this please? Just to still confirm, the Cube cannot passthrough TrueHD or DTS-HD MA with the Plex app?

Fire TV cube error on resume

Server Version#: 1.32.3.7192 Player Version#:7.6.4.6 <If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled> When ever I stop a video, get out of it and get back into it, resume causes an error (no code). Have to start from begining. Amazon Fire log 06-18 154619.872.txt (381.7 KB)

DTS HD to DTS Core Passthrough does not work properly on Amazon Fire TV Cube 3rd Gen

Server Version#: 1.32.5.7328 Player Version#: 9.28.0.2976 c60290a Good evening, I have an older TV that allows DTS passthrough and a soundbar that can decode DTS. Unfortunately, I currently have to use the Kodi add-on PlexKodiConnect, as a proper passthrough is not possible in the Plex app for Android via HDMI. I will try to describe the problem in more detail: When I play a medium with DTS 5.1 or DTS HD MA 5.1 soundtrack and pass it through to the soundbar, the stream is played via Direct…

Firetv Plex app DTS Problem

Hello, I downloaded and installed Plex on my Fire TV Cube (3rd generation) yesterday. When I play a movie with 1080p resolution and DTS audio quality from a Plex library, the movie stutters every few seconds, but the audio plays normally. I’m wondering what could be causing this issue. I have an AV receiver that directly displays DTS when playing the movie. In the Plex settings, I have also enabled passthrough.

Otherwise I still have to revoke the Cube 3 Gen…

Kind regards

[Markdreid]

Thanks blazeth2. (fire tv cube error on resume) I’m still waiting on a response. (my fire stick works fine, just not the cube)

[blazeth2]

Hello dear plex devs.

I / we have still problems with DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 7.1 Audio.

Movies stops playing with Amazon Cube 3 Gen or / and desync of audio to picture frames or / and audio chain loss to avr / resume after pause / fast forward / capitel play endless buffering etc. since now over one month!

Plex Server @ Windows 11 / Version 4.112.0
Plex App Version 9.27.1.2953 (b55e0e8) (Fire TV OS / Amazon Fire TV Cube 3 Gen with newest Firmware Fire OS 7.6.4.6 (PS7646.3550N/3550) )

Full Network Protocol:
Fire TV 3 Gen Full Network Protocol.txt (4.7 MB)

Please give an notice & support!

King Regards

[aaronwt]

I just don’t use my 3rd gen cubes for lossless DTS audio from Plex. But with Lossless PCM and Dolby True HD they work great. As well as lossy DD and DTS tracks. I still use my Shield TVs for the lossless DTS content. Although my 3rd gen cubes are my primary streamers now. For Plex and almost all other apps.

[blazeth2]

Still no solution there.

I try the Plex HTPC App with an new AVR (Denon X4800H) - but the Plex HTCP App not upmixing to all canals automaticly (5.1 to all 9.1 canals) like the Amazon Cube 3 Gen does.

Whats need the plex devs / amazon fire os devs for support this again (DTS-HD MA)?

@PlexAndroidReleaser: We need support for this please!

[blazeth2]

@PlexAndroidReleaser:

It’s look, that I found an workaround.

Only install and than use last stable Kodi App (sideloading apps) and start the native Android Plex App (of Amazon Fire TV still installed of Amazon Appstore) into Kodi.

Than all sound formats working, DTS-HD, DTS-HD MA, DTS.

But than no Dolby Atmos True HD is working (Kodi can’t and than plex is transcoding ).

Than it’s still an Amazon Firmware Bug right, but maybe only the Amazon Launcher, not the OS?!

Thanks and king regards

[blazeth2]

Okay.

I buyed a Nvidia Shield Pro 2019 now.

Now all working flawless and without any problem, all sound formats working, no lags, instant movie / series / music switching.

I am done with this very bad experience onto the Cube 3 Gen (Amazon Fire TV OS).

It’s a shame for Amazon and this new / performance hardware…