Stuttering, Lagging, choppy playback on all devices, multiple homes

[bastionntb 20]

So long story, about a couple months ago, some devices were experiencing a stuttering/laggy/choppy playback. This was mainly noticeable on the Android app, this was not present on Android TV app. Thing is, you could easily fix it, simply change the bitrate to another one. Any other bitrate would work. Even if it was higher than what it started on.

The last was experienced on DirectPlay. I've seen a few threads about it here, but no answers were resulted in the posts. Fast forward, I'm setting up a new server, but now the problems are worse. New server, new storage, etc.

I've tried switching the quality back and forward like I mentioned, and it works sometimes. But it's needing me to do it like 3/4 times for stable playback. I have log debug log files and DirectPlay log file as well attached. Additionally, I did a speed test of the storage. From the server that is hosting Emby, to the mounted storage that is hosting the files, I'm getting 367MiB/s read speed. Which I think should be sufficient enough for playback of a 2Mbps encoded video.

This is now being seen across all devices, which makes me think it's a combination of the previous issue, and something new.

The server is Arch Linux, using Docker compose for the Emby server, on the latest version.

So any help would be appreciated. Here are the rotated log files.

 

Edit: Should also mention that the host has 1GB up and down, so I doubt that is also the issue.

ffmpeg-directstream-e25f0db8-302f-4f1a-a35d-13aec1ae0af3_1.txt embyserver.txt

Edited July 17, 2025 by bastionntb

[bastionntb 20]

Ok, so a little update, I shouldn't have said "All devices" it actually seems to be any device that is using the Emby app for Android. This isn't an issue on Iphone, browser, or other apps it seems, even the Emby for Android TV app works. Just not the Emby for Android. This includes on devices like the Google TV Streamer that uses the Emby for Android app, it also has this issue.

[Luke 42077]

Quote

Edit: Should also mention that the host has 1GB up and down, so I doubt that is also the issue.

Hi, there could be ISP throttling occurring on either side of the connection. Have you looked into this?

[bastionntb 20]

5 minutes ago, Luke said:

Hi, there could be ISP throttling occurring on either side of the connection. Have you looked into this?

I doubt because it's perfectly fine directly streaming on PC in a browser

[bastionntb 20]

So it's definitely something with the Android app. Period. It works on the Emby for Android TV, and on the mobile browser, but is laggy on the Emby for Android app. This is effecting all of my Android folks at the moment, any further assistance would be greatly appreciated!

[ross87 12]

On 7/18/2025 at 3:41 PM, bastionntb said:

So it's definitely something with the Android app. Period. It works on the Emby for Android TV, and on the mobile browser, but is laggy on the Emby for Android app. This is effecting all of my Android folks at the moment, any further assistance would be greatly appreciated!

There is definitely an issue with the Android app. I reported similar behaviour here (using a Fire TV Cube): 

The server is in the same room at the Fire TV cube and was working until the recent update. 

My fire stick on another floor still works, but hasn't updated recently, so is still on the previous app release. 

[TTLucian 6]

I have the same issue with Emby for Android. Choppy playback. The older app Emby for android TV plays without issues but Emby for Android does not. The apps are both installed on the same device, same TV, same server. Tested on MiBox S 2nd gen, MiBox S 3rd gen, FireStick 4k Max. Same problem on all devices! 

Edited October 5, 2025 by TTLucian

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  Is what you are seeing actually frame-judder?  I'm noticing that the content is 25p and the display is at 59.94.

[TTLucian 6]

Switching to 50Hz makes absolutely no difference. Tested on 3 TVs Sony, LG and Samsung. Exactly the same problem on all TVs and devices enumerated above. Emby for TV works fine, Emby for Android doesn't. 

[Luke 42077]

Hi, we'll take a look at it. Thanks.

[s3rgb 2]

I’ve noticed this with Shield Pro as well. Both Shield and server are connected with cables, same LAN, no WAN, no Wi-Fi, Direct Play. For me rewinding back a bit or exiting the playback and then opening the same video again fixes the stuttering. Also, it does not happen every time. Weird issue.

[Guest]

On 7/17/2025 at 6:26 AM, bastionntb said:

So long story, about a couple months ago, some devices were experiencing a stuttering/laggy/choppy playback. This was mainly noticeable on the Android app, this was not present on Android TV app. 

 

On 7/17/2025 at 9:30 AM, bastionntb said:

This isn't an issue on Iphone, browser, or other apps it seems, even the Emby for Android TV app works. Just not the Emby for Android.

 

On 7/18/2025 at 2:41 PM, bastionntb said:

So it's definitely something with the Android app. Period. It works on the Emby for Android TV, and on the mobile browser, but is laggy on the Emby for Android app. 

 

On 7/20/2025 at 7:25 PM, ross87 said:

There is definitely an issue with the Android app. I reported similar behaviour here (using a Fire TV Cube): 

 

On 10/5/2025 at 9:13 PM, TTLucian said:

I have the same issue with Emby for Android. Choppy playback. The older app Emby for android TV plays without issues but Emby for Android does not. 

 

 

7 hours ago, s3rgb said:

I’ve noticed this with Shield Pro as well. Both Shield and server are connected with cables, same LAN, no WAN, no Wi-Fi, Direct Play.

@Luke@ebr

Are you going to figure out basic playback on the android app?  Isn't the entire point of this software to play video files?

 

[Luke 42077]

Hi, we are working on this. Thanks.