Things to Consider¶
When it comes to choosing a Plex share, there are several factors that you should consider to ensure you get the best streaming experience. It's not just about the number of libraries or the content quality, but also the location of the servers, peering to your location, and how well the service performs during peak times. Additionally, it's important to understand how they handle requests, and if they have any restrictions or limitations. In this guide, we'll go over the key things you should consider when evaluating a Plex share service.
Quantity and Quality¶
To evaluate a Plex share, you can gather information about the library content that is offered. Start by selecting a library and switching from 'Recommended' to 'Library' view. At the top of the screen, you can see the total number of movies and TV shows available. Scroll through the selection to check if the titles you want to watch are available.
To evaluate the quality of the library, hover over the movies that interest you and click on the three dots at the bottom right of the poster. Then select "Get Info" to view details about the file being streamed. Note the video resolution, bitrate, and file size, as higher attributes generally indicate better quality.
It's important to check a variety of old and new titles from different genres to understand the scope of the library. For example, the newest Hollywood blockbuster might be available in 1080p Remux with a 30GB size, but other titles may be low-quality encodes at 1080p and 2GB.
Now that you have evaluated the quantity and quality of the titles in the library, it's important to understand the different types of file quality that may be available. One of the best factors to determine quality is bitrate, which refers to the amount of data used to represent a unit of time in a video or audio file. A higher bitrate generally means better quality, as more data is used to represent the video or audio.Generally, there are three types of file quality: scene encodes, P2P encodes, and remux.
Bitrate¶
Bitrate refers to the amount of data that is transmitted over a specific period of time. In the context of streaming media, bitrate refers to the amount of data that is transmitted per second, and it is typically measured in bits per second (bps).
Bitrate is an important factor that affects the quality of streaming media because it determines how much data is used to represent the video or audio being streamed. Generally, the higher the bitrate, the better the quality of the video or audio. This is because a higher bitrate allows more data to be used to represent the content, resulting in a clearer and more detailed image or sound. However, a higher bitrate also requires more bandwidth to transmit, which can be a limitation for some devices or internet connections. As a result, it's important to balance the bitrate with other factors like resolution and frame rate to ensure that the streaming media is of high quality without being too demanding on bandwidth.
Bitrate is comprised of resolution and quality, as these factors determine the amount of data that is needed to represent the video or audio being streamed.
Resolution¶
Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up an image, and it is typically measured in terms of width and height (e.g. 1920x1080 for Full HD). Higher resolution images require more data to be transmitted, which in turn requires a higher bitrate. For example, a 1080p video will require more bitrate than a 720p video of the same length and frame rate.
Quality¶
Higher bitrate means that more data is used to represent the video or audio being streamed. This increased data allows for more detail to be captured and transmitted, resulting in a clearer and more detailed image or sound. This is particularly important for high-resolution videos or high-quality audio, where the additional detail provided by a higher bitrate can make a significant difference in the overall quality of the media being streamed.
Select the Proper Bitrate
Different devices and internet connections may have different limitations on bitrate. For example, some older devices may not be able to handle high bitrate video, while some internet connections may not have enough bandwidth to support high bitrate streaming. It's important to consider the limitations of your devices and internet connection when choosing the appropriate bitrate for streaming media. In some cases, it may be necessary to choose a lower bitrate to ensure that the media can be streamed smoothly without buffering or interruptions.
Encode Quality¶
When it comes to downloaded video files, there are generally three types of file quality that you may come across: scene encodes, P2P encodes, and remux. Scene encodes and P2P encodes are both types of compressed files that have been encoded by different groups within the online piracy community. Scene encodes are typically released by groups that are part of the warez scene, which is an underground community of pirates who race to release the latest content. P2P encodes, on the other hand, are released by peer-to-peer networks and are often higher in quality than scene encodes. Remux, on the other hand, is a higher quality format that is uncompressed and typically taken from a Blu-ray or other high-quality source.
Scene Encodes (2-6Mbps at 1080p)-
Scene encodes refer to video files that have been compressed using a specific set of encoding standards created by the Scene release groups. These standards ensure that the encoded video file is of a consistent quality and format across all Scene releases, making it easy for users to know what to expect from each release.
Those who are primarily concerned with smaller file sizes and faster downloads may choose scene encodes over P2P and remux. Scene releases are typically available soon after the movie or TV show has been officially released, and the encoding process used by the scene groups usually results in a smaller file size than remux or P2P encodes. However, this often comes at the cost of reduced video and audio quality. Therefore, scene encodes may be appealing to those with slower internet connections or those who don't have a lot of storage space available for large media files. Additionally, those who are less discerning when it comes to video quality may also opt for scene encodes over other options.
Peer-to-Peer Encodes (4-12Mbps at 1080p)-
P2P (peer-to-peer) encodes, also known as user-generated encodes, are files that have been encoded by individual users or small groups of users, rather than larger release groups like the Scene. P2P encodes are often considered to have better quality than Scene encodes, as they are typically encoded from higher-quality sources, such as Blu-ray discs or web-dl downloads. However, the quality of P2P encodes can vary widely depending on the skill and equipment of the individual or group doing the encoding. Unlike Scene encodes, P2P encodes do not follow a specific set of rules or standards, so the quality and size of the files can vary greatly. P2P encodes are often favored by users who are looking for high-quality releases that may not have been released by the Scene yet, or who are looking for niche or lesser-known content.
People who are looking for a balance between file size and quality may choose P2P encodes over scene or remux files. P2P encodes are typically smaller in size compared to remux files but are of better quality than scene encodes. Additionally, P2P encoders often tweak their settings to achieve the best possible balance between file size and quality, resulting in a file that is optimized for streaming. This makes P2P encodes a popular choice for those who have limited storage space, slower internet speeds, or who simply want to save on bandwidth usage while still enjoying high-quality video playback.
Remux (20-80Mbps at 1080p)- A remux file is a high-quality digital copy of a Blu-ray or UHD Blu-ray disc, which has been created by extracting the original video, audio, and subtitle streams from the disc without any re-encoding. This means that the video quality is exactly the same as the original disc and can be played back at the highest possible bitrate that the disc supports. Additionally, remux files typically include lossless audio tracks such as DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD, which provide the highest quality audio experience. Remux files are considered to be the highest quality releases available for streaming and are highly sought after by movie enthusiasts who want the best possible playback experience, but are also are typically very large in size, which can be a drawback for people with limited storage space or slower internet connections.
Location / Peering¶
When evaluating a Plex share, it's important to take into account the location and upload speed of the server, as well as the quality of your ISP's network. However, even with a high-speed connection, you may not always achieve the advertised speeds due to the complexity of the internet. One way to improve your streaming experience is through the use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
Content Delivery Network
A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a group of servers located in different geographical locations that work together to provide faster and more reliable access to content. CDNs work by caching content on multiple servers and delivering it from the server that is closest to the end user, reducing latency and improving the overall streaming experience. By using a CDN, a Plex share provider can ensure that their content is delivered quickly and reliably to users, regardless of their location or network quality.
To determine the actual speed you can achieve from a server, it's important to get a trial and test it out. One way to test the theoretical maximum of the server is by playing the highest bitrate file available and checking its bitrate information. If you're allowed multiple streams, you can open multiple browser tabs, the Plex app on your phone, and your TV to play multiple movies at the same time, mimicking the maximum use case. Even if you don't plan on watching high bitrate files right away, it's still worth checking if you can, just in case you decide to do so in the future.
To ensure a smooth streaming experience, you should ideally be able to achieve 2x the average bitrate displayed in the file, to account for spikes in network traffic. To get a rough estimate of your speed to the media server, you can visit our speed test page. Remember that the quality of your ISP and server's network, as well as your location, can significantly impact your actual speeds, so it's important to test the server thoroughly before committing to a subscription. Additionally, if the server uses a CDN, it can help improve your streaming experience by delivering content faster and more efficiently.
Peering: What is it?
Peering refers to the way in which different ISPs exchange traffic with one another. It's like trucks carrying goods on different highways to reach their destination. Sometimes, when there is a lot of traffic or a fault in the highway, it can cause congestion and slow down the delivery of the goods. Similarly, when there is a peering issue between two ISPs, it can cause congestion or slow down the delivery of streaming video from the content provider to the viewer. This can result in buffering, poor video quality, or other issues that can make for a frustrating viewing experience.
Time¶
The time of day can also play a significant role in the quality of your streaming experience. Many servers have limited resources, and during peak usage times, such as in the evening, you might experience slow or choppy playback. Conversely, during off-peak hours, you might find that the server performs better, and you can stream high-quality content with ease. This issue can arise if the server is oversold to maximize profits, much like how ISPs oversell their network capacity. The assumption here is that not everyone will be using the server simultaneously, which is often true. However, it may be important to consider when you plan to watch and ensure that you choose a time when the server is not overloaded with other users.