Which method of using emby is superior?

[King_Cronecker 5]

I want to know which is best for watching content on Emby on my TV: through my PC using HDMI or by streaming it on my Chromecast using the Playstore app. I don't have an ethernet connected to my Chromecast, but that is an option if that's a good choice. 

I've heard that there's issues with Windows and HDR. However, I've always been told in all other circumstances that a direct connection is best. I do like using the CC remote over a keyboard. That's not a deal breaker over higher quality, more reliable media playback though. 

I really appreciate any help you can provide. 

[Lessaj 467]

Your computer would likely be faster than a Chromecast in terms of general navigation, and I believe if you use Emby Theater on your PC with HDMI CEC enabled you would be able to control it with your TV remote once Theater is launched but I haven't personally tried it. Also haven't tried connecting it to my TV and using HDR, it's simply too far away to test that, but I think a lot of the problems with HDR in Windows have been resolved, there's a lot of HDR monitors coming out now. Your Chromecast doesn't need to be connected with ethernet but it depends on the bitrate of your media and the speed/signal strength of your wifi to handle it. It also depends on what exact Chromecast it is, in terms of what codecs it supports for playback and if anything has to be transcoded, whereas Theater can direct play basically anything. You'll just have to try both and see what you like more and what compatibility looks like.

[yocker 1248]

Windows and Dolby Vision is still problematic.

If you have a Smart TV with a decent enough processor or a external device like a Nvidia Shield or Apple TV i suggest using those for the ease of use.
Windows PC with Emby Theater will absolutely work but is a bit more work because of Windows HDR support being a bit weird.

[King_Cronecker 5]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I think I'll pick up a Shield Pro. Feels weird buying a 5 year old bit of tech for so much money. From what I hear it's still the best and still will be for a while. 

[Lessaj 467]

Definitely really like my shield pro, plays everything I've thrown at it.

[yocker 1248]

3 hours ago, King_Cronecker said:

Thanks a lot for the advice. I think I'll pick up a Shield Pro. Feels weird buying a 5 year old bit of tech for so much money. From what I hear it's still the best and still will be for a while. 

I personally prefer a smart TV behind a good firewall, only one remote to worry about and settings are directly on TV.
I only hear good things about the Shield (don't have one my self) so should be awesome for your movie needs!

[King_Cronecker 5]

On 13/11/2024 at 23:36, yocker said:

I personally prefer a smart TV behind a good firewall, only one remote to worry about and settings are directly on TV.
I only hear good things about the Shield (don't have one my self) so should be awesome for your movie needs!

I tried the emby app on my 5-year-old LG B8. To my utter astonishment, it's a far superior experience to the Chromecast app. Thanks for the advice. 

[Lessaj 467]

14 hours ago, King_Cronecker said:

I tried the emby app on my 5-year-old LG B8. To my utter astonishment, it's a far superior experience to the Chromecast app. Thanks for the advice. 

I have a C8. In my experience the LG app lacks support for DV and TrueHD audio, even though it would be otherwise supported with a separate device via HDMI like a shield. All my DV HDR hybrid files only ever play as HDR and TrueHD forces a transcode. It can at least only transcode the audio and direct play the video but it direct plays on my shield. Also the wifi is absolute garbage lol, I can't even use 5 Ghz.

[rbjtech 5284]

1 minute ago, Lessaj said:

I have a C8. In my experience the LG app lacks support for DV and TrueHD audio, even though it would be otherwise supported with a separate device via HDMI like a shield. All my DV HDR hybrid files only ever play as HDR and TrueHD forces a transcode. It can at least only transcode the audio and direct play the video but it direct plays on my shield. Also the wifi is absolute garbage lol, I can't even use 5 Ghz.

DV used to work on my C8 but you needed to use the MP4 container.  I even recall THD working as well (not that you could tell from the LG's tiny speakers ..) but it's been a while lol - as since getting the Shield Pro 2019, I haven't used the LG Emby App for any 4K Remux playback in the last 4+ years.

[Lessaj 467]

2 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

DV used to work on my C8 but you needed to use the MP4 container.  I even recall THD working as well (not that you could tell from the LG's tiny speakers ..) but it's been a while lol - as since getting the Shield Pro 2019, I haven't used the LG Emby App for any 4K Remux playback in the last 4+ years.

Yes I think it does need to be MP4 for it to work in LG app now that you mention it, but everything I have is the far superior MKV.  

[rbjtech 5284]

5 minutes ago, Lessaj said:

Yes I think it does need to be MP4 for it to work in LG app now that you mention it, but everything I have is the far superior MKV.  

Sure - as do I - can't stand MP4 

I believe the new LG's support MKV - but I'm not 100% sure what that means in terms of Emby DV support etc.

[wixwonkity 9]

Emby on my Roku Streaming+ Stick is a very nice (and fast) experience.

For $30, it was the easiest way to get everything on my computer to my TV.

[yocker 1248]

Yes, for Dolby Vision to work on LG the container needs to be MP4, been trying to get it to work for ages with a friend who has an LG.
An external player or DLNA might be the answer instead of using money on external hardware, anyone know?