I recently bought a Chromecast with Google TV and i encounter some problems with many 4K films. (i bought it for the 4K …)
In short terms, when i try a 4K movie:
Always smooth when i cast from the Plex App using my smartphone (Pixel 3a)
Always stuttered when i use the Plex app from the Chromecast
18 movies tested !
On most of them, the plex server do not transcode anything (no CPU load at all - no instance of transcoder)
System on Debian with i5 / 8Gb RAM / Crucial SSD 128Go (15% used)
Disk on a NAS, Gigabite network, no disk load
I’m having the same problems with a variety of content. I recently opened another thread but no feedback. I’d love to get this sorted out because the CCWGT is legit but the Plex app is more or less unusable.
On paper:
Either model will passthrough TrueHD/Atmos and dts-HD/:X audio.
The Pro model can be used as a Plex Media Server. The Tube model cannot. Other than that, the capabilities are the same as far as Plex is concerned.
In practice:
Users with the tube model have reported problems, such as audio drop outs, with high bit-rate media. The same media plays OK with the Pro model. Search the forum with “Shield tube” or similar terms to see the reports.
The problems seems to be related to the RAM differences between the models: The tube model has 2 GB RAM; The Pro model has 3 GB RAM.
Plex seems to be fixing the problems with the app on the tube model, as the number of posts regarding tube specific problems seems to be reducing.
So, I won’t say don’t get the tube model, but be aware there may be some lingering issues running the Plex app on it.
Note: The software image loaded during manufacturing may not have the latest updates. So, no matter which version you purchase, load the latest Nvidia updates if any are available. The updates fixed some problems common to all Shield models. Then download any Plex app updates via the Google Play Store.
But i am really surprised by them. In my opinion (that i think the good one) if the Google TV (or other devices) is/are approved to support the “HEVC/h.265, HDR …” the MUST have the hardware capabilities and not the “minimal compute capability” to do it.
So Google TV is just good for watching Netflix (or others …) in terrible 4K quality.
Please… I just want to watch 4k hdr movies. I am also getting the stuttering issues mentioned earlier. All 4k hdr hevc content is literally unwatchable.
No, I just wanted to know if this new chromecast can direct play / stream pgs subtitles in general.
Given that you have a mkv with pgs, if subs transcoding is indeed not required by this new Google chromecast
The new CC with Google TV uses the regular Plex for Android app, which does support playing PGS subtitles without needing to burn them in. It’s not guaranteed that burning in will not be needed, there are still other factors that can affect it.
Does this support both FEL and MEL versions of Dolby Vision single layer? I currently have a firestick which only supports the MEL format, so I’m curious if this is a worthy upgrade.
That I don’t know. Check out Newest Beta Dolby Vision Issue, this may have already been discussed, if not someone there might be able to answer since it’s a discussion on DV.
I am also getting the stuttering issues mentioned earlier. All 4k hdr hevc content is literally unwatchable.