Apple TV 4K audio not working with auto settings after update

When Apple TV is set to auto audio is sent as multi-channel PCM 5.1 for standard surround and Dolby MAT for Atmos. Both of those require eARC. The underlying format is Dolby Digital Plus, but that still requires a standard ARC port. Optical can process standard Dolby Digital 5.1 but nothing higher.

A Roku doesn't send audio in those higher bandwidth containers and if it is sending it as standard 5.1 then there will be no issue. With Apple TV you have to have that setting to 'convert to Dolby Digital 5.1'.

The only perceivable way that it could have worked before on Auto is if your TV was transcoding the signal to DD 5.1 so that it was still readable by the soundbar. At the end of the day your optical-based soundbar cannot accept anything higher than standard DD 5.1, so you should just leave the Apple TV to convert it to avoid issue.

So it appears AppleTV hdmi diagnostic utility does not always work.

looks like it’s a good idea to swap out hdmi cables And change ports

on the AVR too.

to trouble shoot the problem I found one device that was working

correctly which was my 4k Blu-ray player and swapped the cable connection with

my AppleTV. And that fixed the problem I was having with the appletv

it might be I had one bad cable originally hooked up to the

AppleTV because noticed they were different brands.

but now everything works since confirming all the hdmi cables

are working correctly.

thanks for your help.

As already explained you aren’t going to get Dolby Atmos over optical, it only supports standard Dolby digital. Nothing changed from Apple, the auto setting is working as intended, your TV may have been converting it before and that may the cause of the change.

At any rate, it’s best to convert at the source so having Apple TV do it is the best way to receive sound on that connection.

No other device would be sending Dolby Atmos via optical because it just does not have the bandwidth to transit that format, (optical tops out at around 350kbps and Atmos streams are anywhere from 450-750kbps) they would still be converting it and outputting via DD 5.1.

If you want Dolby Atmos via Apple TV take the optical soundbar out of the equation and just have a receiver or other soundbar that is connected via eARC.

In order to set to auto it will need eARC, optical can only support up to standard Dolby 5.1 so when you force that format then it is able to properly transit the audio.

You are mentioning both an optical based soundbar and an AVR connected via eARC. Not sure why you have both, remove the soundbar as that cannot pass Dolby Atmos.

Okay, so thru the process of Elimination I have narrowed down the problem.

dolby atmos does not work in auto audio settings.

i have to use the 5,1 settings to get Dolby digital to work.

the problem appears to be with the auto audio setting.

i am using all hdmi 2.3 setup and cables.

all my other devices work fine with Dolby atmos

its just the AppleTV does not want to work with Dolby atmos

I don’t know why because it use to work before the

software updates.

Yes, already stated that optical supports DD 5.1 but it can only support that on Apple TV if it’s converted, not on auto.

If you’ve disconnected that and the AVR is not receiving Atmos then it’s either an issue with the AVR or your TV.

You should consult your manuals and support forums for those devices.

Okay, not sure what is going on but like I said it was working before.

i also have a roku ultra 4k and it handles 5.1 dolby digital surround sound fine

over optical.

the appletv 4k does not work anymore with dolby digital

my avr cannot get the dolby digital setting option anymore

using the appletv

my sony 4k bluray player works fine and my avr works fine

the problem seems to be with the apple tv.

sometimes I get no audio over optical

i dont think the problem is with my sound bar because it works

fine with all my other devices in 5.1 dolby digital

i have eArk enabled and checked with the hdmi connection wizard

on the appletv

i have hdmi 2.3 enabled on all my devices

the only thing is I am running an optical cable from my avr to my

soundbar.

i have no hdmi cable on my soundbar

but i dont know why 5.1 dolby digital is working when I use my

soundbar with my other devices but will not work with the appletv

the AppleTV reads that Dolby Atmos is available.

but when I use my AppleTV with my Dolby Atmos speaker setup

dolby digital will not work.

dolby digital will not work with my 5.1 sound bar setup

and

dolby digital will not work with my 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker setup either.

something is wrong with the AppleTV were it is not sending a Dolby digital

signal to my AVR.

all my other devices work fine.

Okay, not sure what is going on.

i am using eArk, hdmi 2.3 settings and cables, I am using cec

my AVR is not using pcm do I need this enabled ?

my Sony 4k Blu-ray player can play Dolby Atmos movies

so I know my AVR and speakers, and Blu-ray player are working correctly

my Roku ultra 4k can play 5.1 Dolby digital thru my sound bar with optical connection

the AppleTV can also play 5.1 to my soundbar with optical if I set the Apple TV to use 5.1

but when I try to use Dolby Atmos thru my 5,1.2 Atmos speakers using the AppleTV it does not

work. I only get 2.1 out of the appletv

i don’t think my AVR setup is wrong because it works fine with my other devices

i dont think my hdmi cables are bad because video works fine it’s just the audio

settings not working on the appletv. Also I ran the AppleTV hdmi test and it did not

find anything wrong with my setup.

so I can’t get Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos to work with the appletv

when I use the AppleTV my AVR is not getting a Dolby Digital signal

Yes, my soundbar only supports Dolby digital 5.1 which is supported on optical connection.

and it is working fine.

but I disconnected it anyways to see if that would change anything

with the AppleTV and nothing changed.

when I use the AppleTV auto audio setting I get no sound

when I switch to 5.1 settings on AppleTV I get no 5.1 speaker output

i only get stereo sound output

I think the problem is my AVR is not receiving a Dolby digital signal

with auto audio setting.

and with 5.1 settings on AppleTV my AVR is only producing stereo sound.

Okay, I switched ports and cables and I think it’s working now.

but my AVR only reads the signal is Dolby digital surround

do you know of any content I can watch with the appletv

that is Dolby Atmos ?

Make sure Apple TV is set to auto and isn’t still on convert to 5.1

If you have an Apple TV subscription then all content is in Atmos

For other services a title will have the badge if it’s available in Atmos, but you need to make sure you are on the highest subscription tier to have access.