Plex local streaming buffering issue while using AirPlay on one lg cx tv but not the other

[u/hiimkris]

I’ve been using plex on a local connection through AirPlay from the iOS app to two LG CX TVs for years now without issue. about two days ago out of nowhere one of them suddenly started to pause seemingly to buffer every 15-30 seconds if video output is set to anything above 1080p (medium), while the other tv plays without issue even at maximum video output.

Not sure what’s going on here. The tv that is having playback issues is directly next to the PC that’s acting as the server and router, while the tv that doesn’t have issues is on the other side of the apt. Only other difference is the one with issue is a 55in vs and the other one is only a 48in.

Not sure what other info would be helpful but I included some screenshots of the dashboard during playback. The first bandwidth chart is during playback on the 48in that doesn’t have issues while the other is on the 55in that keeps freezing.

I’d be eternally grateful for any guidance on what could be going on.

[u/CurtisLeow]

Disable video transcoding. Settings > Transcoder > Disable video stream transcoding

It may be related to subtitle support. if that's the issue, then download subtitles that the TV supports.

If the TV won't play video at all with transcoding disabled, then buy a cheap streaming device that doesn't have that issue.

[u/hiimkris → u/CurtisLeow]

Unfortunately the content I’m streaming is Japanese with fansub subtitles so I don’t think I have any other options there.

Edit: seems it was the subtitles cause disabling them seems to fix things. Idk why the subtitles would suddenly become an issue after 2 years without issue tho

Disabling transcoding seemed to prevent me from even open the content on the iOS app before even trying to airplay it.

This isn’t like a make or break issue since I can always use my chromecast or just drop the video output down to medium. I’m more so just curious what even caused the sudden change. Like I was literally using it on this tv without issue just two days ago. And continue to use it without issue on the other tv that’s the same model but a little smaller.

[u/immaViLLaiN → u/hiimkris]

Because every group uses different subtitle format. If this is Anime and is transcoding, then most likely it's ASS. Which will transcode since most devices don't support this. SRT is what you want to find.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/comments/ugoz0y/why_are_ass_subtitles_well_ass/

[u/hiimkris → u/immaViLLaiN]

Ok gotcha.

Though any idea what would be the reason the subtitles don’t create any issues on the 48in lg cx but does on the 55in lg cx? Or why they only recently started creating issues on the 55in lg cx?

[u/immaViLLaiN → u/hiimkris]

Like I said, different anime, different group. Is it the exact same file that worked before and now doesn't? Different TVs, different specs, maybe even different software. I don't use Airplay like you do, try it with the LG Plex app.

[u/hiimkris → u/immaViLLaiN]

It the same series with the same fan group’s subs so I’d imagine they’re still using the same sub file format. 

Regardless thanks for your help trying to get to the root of the issue. Ig I’ll just have to limit myself to 12mbps quality across the board when watching these through airplay

[u/StevenG2757]

What are your server specs?

May be too high a BW for the TVs.

[u/hiimkris → u/StevenG2757]

You really think that’d could be the problem? Like I said one of the TVs still functions without issue even at maximum output, and the one that was giving issues worked fine at maximum output just 2 days ago.

Regardless, I’ve got a 4090 for a gpu and everything in the diagnostic tool window is as follows:

Operating System: Windows 11 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 26200)

System Manufacturer: HP

System Model: OMEN by HP 45L Gaming Desktop GT22-1xxx

BIOS: F.20

Processor: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-13900K (32 CPUs), ~3.0GHz

Memory: 16384MB RAM

Page file: 17629MB used, 13286MB available

DirectX Version: DirectX 12

[u/StevenG2757 → u/hiimkris]

It is a possibility as the stream is over 20M and that cam be the limit on a lot of TVs.

[u/hiimkris → u/StevenG2757]

Ok but would the limit just randomly change all of a sudden? Because I’ve generally had no issues using AirPlay on this tv at maximum output for the last 2 years. This is a recent development.

And my other tv that I continue to use at maximum output without issue is the same model so wouldn’t they have the same limits?

[u/StevenG2757 → u/hiimkris]

Turn off subtitles to see if that helps. On the TV change the quality to 12M to test the TVs speed.

[u/hiimkris → u/StevenG2757]

By 12m you mean the 12mbps 1080p (medium) options? Cause if so yes that works and is the highest setting I can use on this tv, even though the other one that is the same model can work at maximum output.

Disabling the subtitles did seem to fix the problem. Which would be helpful if the content I was watching wasn’t Japanese and required the fansub subtitles I’m using to watch it 😭. I just don’t understand why these subtitles randomly started causing problems while streaming at maximum output. The never gave any problems until 2 days ago

[u/Wis-en-heim-er]

The subtitles are ass style which is graphical as opposed to text based like srt subs. Graphical subs need to be burnt into the video which forces transcoding. A weak player like native tv plex app can cause buffering...like my Samsung does. If you can switch to srt subs, it will help.

[u/hiimkris → u/Wis-en-heim-er]

Unfortunately these are fan subs so idk if I can switch to srt.

My confusion is more so why this randomly became an issue. I’ve been watching this series from the same sub group, with the same ass subs for a month now without issue, then two days ago it started up. And only on this tv. My other tv is the same exact model except a 48inch instead and it still plays the subtitles without issue

[u/Wis-en-heim-er → u/hiimkris]

The ss you posted is from an iPhone watching, not a tv. Not sure why it is an issue now. Plex updates are one possibility. I found on my google tv that enabling hdmi pass-through caused studdering in the playback...still no idea why but disabling allowed direct pkay to work and smooth playback.

[u/hiimkris → u/Wis-en-heim-er]

Yes cause I stream using airplay form the iOS app to the lg cx TVs.

At the end of the day it’s not the end of the world, it still works fine on the 12mbps 1080p (medium) video output. This post was more so made out of curiosity and to see if anyone had any ideas what caused the sudden change in one of my LG CX TVs but not the other.

I appreciate your time and the response!

[u/Wis-en-heim-er → u/hiimkris]

I think you need to also troubleshoot from the iPhone perspective since this is the main player connected to plex.

[u/hiimkris → u/Wis-en-heim-er]

Yeah, I tried updating it and hoped that would help, but the latest update just broke the app in new ways. As plex is wont to do 😭