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Hi,

I have a NAS that I set up as part of the main reason I purchased a Sonos system - mixing local files with streaming files on playlists. All was great. 

Now that the newest firmware disabled the old app on my Android (a different topic), every time I play a track from my local library it crashes the app. The songs play on the speaker but the app crashes and will no longer open whilst those songs are in the speaker queue (again, another topic).

I read a way around this was to set up a Plex media server. So I have spent all day (literally) doing this.

Now when I play media through the Plex service on Sonos it plays. But Plex web is showing the transcode from FLAC to 271kbps. 

My question is: how to do I force Plex to NOT transcode my FLAC files (or is it even possible)? I can't see a setting on the Plex site. Transcode setting is "Make my CPU hurt"

I’ve been dealing with this same issue. I built a Plex Media Server on a Raspberry Pi mini computer and use the Plexamp app when playing FLAC files on my mobile, and have been using the Plex for Sonos music service on the Sonos app to play FLAC files at home. Everything works fine for 16bit, but when I play 24bit/48kHz (supposedly supported by Sonos) I can see on my Plex dashboard the audio is being transcoded, all the way down to 296Kbps.

I swear prior to the incredibly awful Sonos app redesign debacle these 24/28 FLAC files would play direct to all my Sonos speakers with no transcoding. I have all the settings in Plex set to the highest quality and still have this issue. I’ve been on the phone with Sonos for hours, have a current ticket open, and finally have a next level tech support call scheduled in a few days to hopefully get some answers (doubtful).

I have gigabit internet and a solid home WiFi mesh system throughout the house. I also have multiple Sonos products wired via Ethernet. I’m not hurting for bandwidth so I don’t know why this is happening.

If I use the Plexamp mobile app and cast to one of my Sonos speakers, the 24/48 FLAC files play without transcoding. This is most certainly a Sonos issue as it only happens when I play these files from the Sonos app.