iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Use your Onn device as a Plex Android TV client: leave Direct Play and Direct Stream enabled, keep H.264 Maximum Level at Plex’s default of 4.1, set local quality high, and choose a remote quality that your upload and download connection can sustain. Change subtitle burn, audio passthrough, refresh-rate switching, or quality only when a specific playback symptom points to that setting.
Plex’s Android TV documentation applies to the app platform, not every Onn generation. The exact result also depends on your Plex Media Server, media file, network, television, soundbar or receiver, and the connection between them.
Start with this baseline
Open Plex on the Onn box, go to its Settings, and use the following as a starting profile. These are not universal “best settings”; they are the least disruptive choices for a typical home network.
| Setting | Starting choice | Change it when | What the choice affects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home streaming quality | High or Original quality when the home network is reliable | Local playback pauses, the server cannot keep up, or Wi-Fi is weak | How much data the server sends inside your home |
| Remote streaming quality | A value your internet connection can sustain | Playback buffers away from home or the server repeatedly changes quality | Internet bandwidth used by the stream |
| Direct Play | Enabled | Only as a diagnostic test when a compatible file still fails | Whether a fully compatible file is sent without conversion |
| Direct Stream | Enabled | Rarely; test it only when container handling appears to be the problem | Whether compatible audio and video are repackaged without changing video quality |
| Burn Subtitles | Automatic | A subtitle choice is causing a video transcode or buffering | Whether subtitles are rendered into the picture by the server |
| Passthrough | Match the capabilities of the connected TV or audio system | There is silence, an unsupported-format message, or unwanted stereo output | Whether multichannel audio is sent to the downstream device unchanged |
| Refresh Rate Switch | On if your display chain handles mode changes cleanly | Motion judder is visible, or mode changes cause audio/display glitches | Whether the display refresh rate follows the video’s frame rate |
| H.264 Maximum Level | 4.1, Plex’s recommended default | Only for a specific compatibility investigation | The maximum H.264 level the client accepts |
| Allow Insecure Connections | Never | A secure-connection failure requires a deliberate fallback | Connection security, not playback performance |
Before changing several options at once, note the file, audio track, subtitle track, whether you are at home or remote, and the playback decision shown by Plex. One change at a time makes the cause easier to identify.
#1 Best Overall
- 4K Ultra HD Resolution: Enjoy your TV in stunning resolution Ultra HD ers four times the resolution of Full HD for greater clarity and detail
- Android TV: With the Android TV operating system you will have access to the best content, download the infinity of applications available through the Google Play Store!
- Voice remote control: Just press the Google Assistant button and ask it to find, play and control content
- Chromecast Built-in: Easily cast movies, shows, and photos from your Android or iOS device to your Android TV
- Easy Setup: Access your Google account and configure the device, language and Wi-Fi network
Set video quality for the network you actually use
Home streaming
Plex separates Home (local) streaming from Remote streaming. On a strong wired or wireless home network, local quality can usually remain high or at the file’s original quality. A high local setting does not guarantee smooth playback: a crowded 2.4 GHz network, marginal signal, overloaded server, or unusually large file can still pause.
If a local file buffers, first check whether the server is transcoding and whether the Onn box is connected to the intended network. Lowering local quality reduces the data rate, but it also asks the server to create a lower-quality stream when the original cannot be delivered. That can move the bottleneck from the network to the server’s processor.
Remote streaming
Remote quality must fit the internet connection on both ends, especially the server’s upload capacity. A setting that is fine at home may be too demanding when you are watching from another network. Plex warns that selecting a remote quality above the available connection can produce slow starts and frequent pauses.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Use the highest remote value that remains stable rather than choosing a number because it sounds ideal. If playback begins smoothly and then stalls, the sustained upload rate, competing traffic, or a server-side quality change is more likely than a problem with the Onn display.
Rank #2
- Ask to control your TV with your voice, and quickly cast your photos, videos, music and more from your phone, tablet, or PC to your TV with Chromecast built in
- Built-in Virtual Assistant – just press the mic button on the remote to get what you want
- Built-in content and entertainment including YouTube, Play Movies & TV, and more
- Support for thousands of Apps on the Play Store
- 2K resolution TV streaming
Automatic quality adjustment
Supported Plex apps can automatically adjust quality, but Plex states that this feature requires a server capable of transcoding. It is therefore not a way to avoid server work. If the server cannot transcode the file, automatic adjustment cannot create a lower-bitrate version when the connection weakens.
Keep Direct Play and Direct Stream enabled
What Direct Play does
Direct Play sends the original file to the Onn box when the video, audio, container, and other required properties are compatible. There is no video conversion, so the server uses little processing and the client receives the source quality. This is normally the most efficient path, but compatibility is determined by the complete file and the connected equipment, not by the file extension alone.
What Direct Stream does
Direct Stream keeps compatible audio and video streams but repackages them into a container the client can read. Plex describes this as using little processing without reducing video quality. It is different from a full video transcode: the streams remain unchanged, while the wrapper around them changes.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhy disabling Direct Play is usually the wrong first fix
Plex recommends leaving Direct Play and Direct Stream enabled for most people. Turning Direct Play off forces conversion even when the file could have played directly. That increases server load, can introduce buffering, and may reduce quality. Use it as a controlled troubleshooting test only when a particular file fails despite appearing compatible; if disabling it fixes playback, inspect the server’s transcode reason instead of keeping the option off permanently.
Rank #3
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
Subtitles: the setting most likely to trigger a video transcode
Understand the Burn Subtitles choices
The Android TV Plex client offers Always, Automatic, and Only image formats for Burn Subtitles. Automatic is the default. Plex says it burns image-based formats such as VOBSUB and PGS, along with complex ASS/SSA subtitles, when the client cannot render them directly.
Burning means the server draws each subtitle into the video image. Because the picture itself changes, Plex may need a full video transcode even when the underlying video would otherwise Direct Play. That extra work can explain why a file plays normally until subtitles are selected.
A practical subtitle test
- Start the same video without subtitles and watch the playback decision in the Plex dashboard.
- Enable the desired subtitle track and check whether the decision changes to a video transcode.
- Try a text-based subtitle track in a format the client can render, if one is available.
- If the problem is limited to image or complex subtitles, compare Automatic with Only image formats. Do not assume either option prevents every burn-in case.
- If the server struggles, select a simpler subtitle format or leave subtitles off for that file; keep the setting that works for your library rather than changing global quality blindly.
Subtitle readability and server capacity are competing priorities. A format that looks best may be the one that requires the most server processing.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Fix missing or incompatible audio with passthrough decisions
What passthrough means
Plex uses Passthrough to present multichannel audio streams as-is to the connected playback chain. The correct choice depends on whether the Onn box is connected directly to the TV, to an AV receiver, or to a soundbar, and on which codecs that downstream device accepts. A television that cannot decode a particular stream may produce silence even though the Plex video is working.
Rank #4
- Enjoy nextlevel streaming at an affordable price with the onn Google TV 4K Pro Streaming Devicewith Gemini This powerhouse streaming device delivers uncompromising performance and stunning visualstransforming your TV into a premium entertainment hub
- Immerse yourself in vivid colorssharp contrastand cinematic quality with stunning 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Vision
- Experience theaterqualitymultidimensional sound with immersive Dolby Atmos Audio
- Powerful performance with 3GB of RAMis 50% more than the 4K Plus modelfor super smooth app performancefast navigationand seamless multitasking
- Enjoy incredibly smoothbufferfree streaming and gaming with blazingfast WiFi 6 Connectivity or use the optional Ethernet Port for the feastestreliable connectivity
Audio boost is a separate control. Plex describes it as applying when audio is both transcoded and downmixed from surround sound to stereo. It is not a general fix for a passthrough codec that the TV or receiver cannot decode.
If DTS produces silence
A Plex forum thread titled “Onn. 4k Plus device does not play DTS,” posted in August 2025, contains user reports of a device- and setup-specific DTS problem. One participant reported success with an optical passthrough selection while leaving DTS deselected; another suggested disabling passthrough so the server would transcode the audio. These are anecdotal workarounds, not a Plex-certified fix for every Onn model.
Use this order when DTS is silent:
- Confirm which Onn generation you have and whether the TV, soundbar, receiver, and cable path support DTS.
- Test the same file with a different audio track, such as stereo or AC-3, if the file provides one.
- Test passthrough with only the formats your downstream device explicitly supports.
- If the device still cannot decode DTS, temporarily disable passthrough and let the server transcode the audio.
- Check the Plex dashboard to verify that only audio is being transcoded when possible; a video transcode points to an additional compatibility issue.
Do not select every passthrough format simply because the Onn app lists it. The final decoder in the chain determines whether the resulting bitstream is usable.
Recommended Free Tools
Use Refresh Rate Switch for judder, not buffering
Refresh Rate Switch can change the display refresh rate to match, or approximate, the video’s frame rate. When a display is fixed at a mismatched rate, motion can appear uneven or show repeated frames; matching the rate can reduce that judder.
Best Value
- Memory storage capacity: 8 GB
This setting does not repair a weak network, an overloaded server, or subtitle-induced transcoding. Enable it when motion is visibly uneven while the stream itself is otherwise stable. If changing refresh modes causes a black screen, delayed audio, repeated HDMI handshakes, or other transition problems, turn it off and investigate the television and receiver chain. Some displays handle mode changes more reliably than others.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Leave advanced compatibility and security settings conservative
H.264 Maximum Level
Plex’s Android TV guidance says: “We recommend leaving this set to the default level of 4.1.” That recommendation refers specifically to H.264 Maximum Level. A higher value is available to test for a particular file, but Plex warns that playback issues may result. Do not raise it as a blanket performance upgrade; change it only while diagnosing a known level-compatibility failure, then return to 4.1 if it does not solve that file.
Allow Insecure Connections
Allow Insecure Connections controls whether Plex can fall back to an insecure connection when a secure connection fails. The choices are Never, On same network, and Always, with Never as the default. This is a security and connectivity control, not a speed setting. Change it only for a specific connection problem, understand which networks are affected, and restore the strictest setting that works.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTroubleshoot by symptom
Buffering at home
- Check whether the stream is Direct Playing, Direct Streaming, or transcoding in the Plex dashboard.
- Disable subtitles temporarily; image-based and complex subtitles can trigger a full video transcode.
- Confirm that the Onn box has a stable network connection and that another device is not consuming the available bandwidth.
- If the server is transcoding, inspect its processor load and the transcode reason before lowering quality.
- Try a lower local quality only after confirming that the network, not the server, is the limiting factor.
Buffering away from home
- Lower the remote quality to a value the server’s upload connection can sustain.
- Check whether automatic quality is enabled and whether the server supports transcoding.
- Compare a low-bitrate file with a high-bitrate file; if only the latter stalls, the connection ceiling is likely being exceeded.
- Do not disable Direct Play as a first response, because forced conversion can increase server load.
Subtitles cause pauses
- Replay without subtitles to establish a baseline.
- Try a text-based track or a different subtitle format.
- Compare the Burn Subtitles options and watch the server’s playback decision after each change.
- Keep the option that balances readable subtitles with a transcode your server can sustain.
Video is smooth but there is no sound
- Identify the active audio codec and whether the TV, receiver, or soundbar supports it.
- Try another audio track in the file.
- Adjust passthrough to match the downstream device rather than enabling every format.
- For DTS on an Onn 4K Plus device, treat the forum-reported optical selection or passthrough-off workarounds as experiments, not guarantees.
Motion looks jerky but the stream does not buffer
- Enable Refresh Rate Switch and replay the same scene.
- If HDMI devices repeatedly change modes or audio drops during the switch, turn it off.
- Keep network and transcoding tests separate; refresh matching addresses frame-rate timing, not bandwidth.
A repeatable setup and diagnostic sequence
- Record the Onn model or generation, Plex app version, server location, TV connection, and audio equipment.
- Set Direct Play and Direct Stream on, H.264 Maximum Level to 4.1, Burn Subtitles to Automatic, and Allow Insecure Connections to Never.
- Choose high local quality and a conservative remote quality appropriate for the connection you use most.
- Play a known-compatible file without subtitles and note the Plex dashboard decision.
- Add subtitles, switch audio tracks, and test a high-bitrate file separately so each compatibility variable is isolated.
- Change only the setting connected to the symptom, then retest the identical scene or file.
- Return any temporary workaround—such as disabled passthrough, forced transcoding, or insecure connections—to the baseline when the cause is understood.
What the evidence can and cannot establish
Plex’s Android TV settings guidance is the authoritative starting point for the app’s controls, but it does not certify every Onn hardware revision or every audio chain. The DTS reports are user experiences from one forum discussion, and they do not establish a universal Onn limitation or guaranteed fix. Your media encoding, server capabilities, network conditions, app version, display, and audio equipment can change the result of every setting above.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
