Dropping frames/stuttering on 4K Samsung TV

[S7ewie]

Having done a quick search of the forums it looks as though there are several others having issues with this but I can't find a solution in those posts so I decided to make my own..

I have JellyFin running on UnRaid, mostly 4K HVEC media. Playback works fine on my PC using the JellyFin app but it's slightly stuttery on my Samsung TV via Chromecast with Google TV, as if it's occasionally dropping frames. It's not hideous but its enough for me to notice and find frustrating.

At first, I thought it was a WiFi issue as I noticed latency between the router and CCwGTV was hovering around 250ms so I bought the Chromecast ethernet adapter which gave me a wired LAN connection and brought latency down to around 5ms but I'm still noticing some occasionally stuttering.

I don't think its a transcoding issue as my TV should be capable of playing this media so I don't think transcoding is happening but I'm not 100% sure. Though seems fine in chrome browser on PC too despite that having to transcode to leaning towards a Chromecast or TV issue?

I've taken a snapshot of my logs below which may or may not help.

Any suggestions?

Code:

[2023-12-31 17:34:36.023 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "S7ewie". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-12-31 17:34:36.023 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-libVLC", Path="/data/movies/How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World (2019)/How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World (2019) [imdbid-tt2386490] - [Bluray-2160p][HDR10][TrueHD Atmos 7.1][x265]-DEFLATE.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/90f72cf6-2567-f857-1e46-f24e50444170/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=truehd&AudioStreamIndex=1&api_key=<token>&Tag=98029ffd6aeb3cb1f42972b10e06fb48"
[2023-12-31 17:34:36.113 +00:00] [INF] [204] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "S7ewie". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2023-12-31 17:34:36.113 +00:00] [INF] [204] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: StreamBuilder.BuildVideoItem( Profile="AndroidTV-ExoPlayer", Path="/data/movies/How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World (2019)/How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World (2019) [imdbid-tt2386490] - [Bluray-2160p][HDR10][TrueHD Atmos 7.1][x265]-DEFLATE.mkv", AudioStreamIndex=null, SubtitleStreamIndex=null ) => ( PlayMethod=DirectPlay, TranscodeReason=0 ) "media:/videos/90f72cf6-2567-f857-1e46-f24e50444170/stream.mkv?MediaSourceId=90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170&Static=true&VideoCodec=hevc&AudioCodec=truehd&AudioStreamIndex=1&api_key=<token>&Tag=98029ffd6aeb3cb1f42972b10e06fb48"
[2023-12-31 17:34:36.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Adding playback tracker : 705438d42e333d5088a9afa6b2ab1670cde75b31-b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06-90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170
[2023-12-31 17:34:36.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.Data.PlaybackTracker: PlaybackTracker : Adding Start Event : 12/31/2023 17:34:36
[2023-12-31 17:34:36.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Creating StartPlaybackTimer Task
[2023-12-31 17:34:36.282 +00:00] [INF] [204] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : Entered
[2023-12-31 17:34:37.217 +00:00] [INF] [51] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Processing playback tracker : "705438d42e333d5088a9afa6b2ab1670cde75b31-b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06-90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: session.RemoteEndPoint : "192.168.20.11"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : event_playing_id    = "90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : event_user_id        = "b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : event_user_id_int    = 1
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : session_playing_id  = "90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : session_user_id      = "b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : play_method          = "DirectPlay"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : e.ClientName        = "Android TV"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : e.DeviceName        = "Bedroom TV"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : ItemName            = "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : ItemId              = "90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : ItemType            = "Movie"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : All matches, playback registered
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Playback tracker found, adding playback info : "705438d42e333d5088a9afa6b2ab1670cde75b31-b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06-90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.282 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Saving playback tracking activity in DB
[2023-12-31 17:34:56.301 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: StartPlaybackTimer : Exited
[2023-12-31 17:34:57.564 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Processing playback tracker : "705438d42e333d5088a9afa6b2ab1670cde75b31-b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06-90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:35:17.587 +00:00] [INF] [236] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Processing playback tracker : "705438d42e333d5088a9afa6b2ab1670cde75b31-b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06-90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:35:37.605 +00:00] [INF] [74] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Processing playback tracker : "705438d42e333d5088a9afa6b2ab1670cde75b31-b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06-90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:35:54.188 +00:00] [INF] [271] Emby.Server.Implementations.Session.SessionManager: Playback stopped reported by app "Android TV" "0.16.2" playing "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World". Stopped at "3915542" ms
[2023-12-31 17:35:54.260 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Playback stop tracker found, processing stop : "705438d42e333d5088a9afa6b2ab1670cde75b31-b557b56a04244a11bbefb65ab51f3f06-90f72cf62567f8571e46f24e50444170"
[2023-12-31 17:35:54.260 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.Data.PlaybackTracker: PlaybackTracker : Adding Stop Event : 12/31/2023 17:35:54
[2023-12-31 17:35:54.260 +00:00] [INF] [139] Jellyfin.Plugin.PlaybackReporting.EventMonitorEntryPoint: Saving playback tracking activity in DB

[Serge K]

what is the internet speed you have?
Try to play using other player.
You also can install Jellyfin client on Samsung TV.

[S7ewie]

150 Mbps though I wouldn't have thought that would be an issue considering media storage and playback devices are all on the same network?

As said in my post I've been using both chrome browser and JellyFin app on my PC and both are playing fine.

Just tried the app on my phone and seems okay too despite being on WiFi and requiring transcoding. There were a couple of jitters but these seemed inconsistent with the stutters on my TV so I'd probably put that down to WiFi latency.

I had issues with the TV app completely stopping at random so I dropped it fairly early. I'll give it another try now.

[Serge K]

https://github.com/jeppevinkel/jellyfin-tizen-builds

i also have samsung tv and i spent 15 min for jellyfin installation

[S7ewie]

Yeah I managed to get the app installed eventually but it just kept stopping during playback. Though I've solved some other issues since then.

Just tried the TV app again, had to fiddle with settings a bit but it seems to be working so the issue must be the Chromecast? I wonder if there are any settings that need adjusting or the Chromecast just isn't powerful enough? Though seems unlikely as it's supposed to be capable of 4k?

[Serge K]

try to VLC player to check your issue

[34626]

I use a Chromecast Ultra and have noticed that the bitrate on my blurays is higher then what it support, so it forced my server to transcode, which may be the reason yours is struggling? When using the Chromecast, does the Jellyfin then start making a transcoding logf ile? Go to the admin panel > logs and then it should be named something with transcode