Connecting Apple TV to Stereo without Optical Audio Compatibility

pslavish · Dec 15, 2012, 01:47 PM

I have a Sony Stereo Receiver which doesn't have an optical audio port.

Currently my stereo is connected to the cable box, which is connected to the TV via HDMI. Apple TV is connected as well via HDMI, but I can't get stereo sound through my speakers.

Is there any way to configure the setup so I can get sound coming through my receiver/speakers when using the Apple TV (without optical audio)? I do have an optical audio chord though, which I can use if necessary.

JGRE · Dec 15, 2012, 03:33 PM

You do not need an optical connection, HDMI audio should work fine. Check your amps' settings, if the input is set to optical or analog instead of HDMI audio.
There are no settings on the ATV site as far as I know.

To what is your ATV connected directly, amp or TV?

pslavish · Dec 15, 2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGRE

You do not need an optical connection, HDMI audio should work fine. Check your amps' settings, if the input is set to optical or analog instead of HDMI audio.
There are no settings on the ATV site as far as I know.

To what is your ATV connected directly, amp or TV?

Apple TV is connected via HDMI to my TV>TV is connected to Cable Box>Cable Box is connected to Amp

zhenya · Dec 15, 2012, 08:13 PM

No, there is no path from your ATV to your tv to your cable box to your stereo. You need an amplifier with a digital input.

vinhvien · Dec 15, 2012, 09:37 PM

im using gen 3 & can not connect

From A Buick 8 · Dec 15, 2012, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pslavish

Apple TV is connected via HDMI to my TV>TV is connected to Cable Box>Cable Box is connected to Amp

Does the TV have an audio out connection, if so that should work to send sound to the amp

QWERTYMac7 · Dec 16, 2012, 08:27 AM

I use this: FiiO D3 Digital to Analog Audio Converter ($19.91 @ Amazon). It works well and plays through my receiver via RCA plugs.

If you order one, don't forget an optical cable!

Hope this helps!

tdhurst · Dec 16, 2012, 09:45 AM

I use a converter for my headphones, which are analog only.

Digital audio to converter, analog to headphones.

Around $20-30 on Amazon.

See what ports you have available and then find a converter. Mine works great.

APlotdevice · Dec 17, 2012, 07:23 PM

Could you tell us exactly what kind of input options are available on your reciever?

JGRE · 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pslavish

Apple TV is connected via HDMI to my TV>TV is connected to Cable Box>Cable Box is connected to Amp

Zhenya is right, if your amp is connected to your cable box, nothing is connecting you ATV to your amp.
So you need to make sure that there is a HDMI connection going from your TV (audio output) to your amp. Better would be to have everything run through your amp, and your amp to your TV, this would be the standard home-cinema set-up. If your amp has no digital intput, you still can use the analog output from your TV to the amp, this will give you some less quality audio.

duneriderltr450 · Dec 19, 2012, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pslavish

I have a Sony Stereo Receiver which doesn't have an optical audio port.

Currently my stereo is connected to the cable box, which is connected to the TV via HDMI. Apple TV is connected as well via HDMI, but I can't get stereo sound through my speakers.

Is there any way to configure the setup so I can get sound coming through my receiver/speakers when using the Apple TV (without optical audio)? I do have an optical audio chord though, which I can use if necessary.

Does your receiver have a coaxial digital audio input? If you do, you can buy an optical to coaxial converter.

http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-4001...oslink+to+coax

(Not sure about the quality of the item I linked, just a random pick to give you an idea.)

DaveVideo · Dec 22, 2012, 03:22 PM

I just found an HDMI to RCA audio adapter. I'm gonna try to take ATV to TV (w/HDMI) and then audio out of the TV to stereo (HDMI to RCA audio). Will let you know if that works.

brianbunge · Dec 22, 2012, 11:04 PM

I bought a coax/optical digital to analog RCA converter at Radio Shack so I could hook up my daughter's Apple TV to her stereo receiver in her room. It worked great!

CocoaPuffs · 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveVideo

I just found an HDMI to RCA audio adapter. I'm gonna try to take ATV to TV (w/HDMI) and then audio out of the TV to stereo (HDMI to RCA audio). Will let you know if that works.

Why would your TV have audio out via HDMI?

It would be quite weird for the TV manufacturer to expect you to have video-out via HDMI, and equally weird to have audio-out via HDMI.

JAT · Dec 23, 2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveVideo

I just found an HDMI to RCA audio adapter. I'm gonna try to take ATV to TV (w/HDMI) and then audio out of the TV to stereo (HDMI to RCA audio). Will let you know if that works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CocoaPuffs

Why would your TV have audio out via HDMI?

It would be quite weird for the TV manufacturer to expect you to have video-out via HDMI, and equally weird to have audio-out via HDMI.

Well, Dave, that won't work the way you put it, you don't want to do all that messing around for nothing. But TVs can have audio out via HDMI. Here, what TVs should have:

Optical out. Send this back to your receiver for sound.

ARC. If both your TV and receiver have ARC on the HDMI connections (and BOTH must have this feature), the TV will send audio via the same HDMI wire that goes from receiver output to TV input. Note that it may only be one connection on each device that actually says "ARC".

alxtraf · Dec 24, 2012, 02:02 PM

I have HDMI to a Sony Bravia and then a simple mini-plug (headphoes jack) to RCA to a brand new stereo Denon amplifier (yes, after setting up many multi speakers systems I went back to the good-old-two-channel sound). After all, we have only two ears!

tigonsau · Apr 14, 2013, 09:31 AM

Optical out. Send this back to your receiver for sound.

ARC. If both your TV and receiver have ARC on the HDMI connections (and BOTH must have this feature), the TV will send audio via the same HDMI wire that goes from receiver output to TV input. Note that it may only be one connection on each device that actually says "ARC".

Dec 15, 2012, 01:47 PM	#1
pslavish macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2012	Connecting Apple TV to Stereo without Optical Audio Compatibility I have a Sony Stereo Receiver which doesn't have an optical audio port. Currently my stereo is connected to the cable box, which is connected to the TV via HDMI. Apple TV is connected as well via HDMI, but I can't get stereo sound through my speakers. Is there any way to configure the setup so I can get sound coming through my receiver/speakers when using the Apple TV (without optical audio)? I do have an optical audio chord though, which I can use if necessary.
	0

Dec 15, 2012, 03:33 PM	#2
JGRE macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Dutch Mountains	You do not need an optical connection, HDMI audio should work fine. Check your amps' settings, if the input is set to optical or analog instead of HDMI audio. There are no settings on the ATV site as far as I know. To what is your ATV connected directly, amp or TV? __________________ iPhone 4, 2008 iMac 20", iPod Nano, 2011 MBP 13", ATV3, iPad Mini.
	0

Dec 15, 2012, 09:37 PM	#5
vinhvien macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	im using gen 3 & can not connect __________________ Go & Get free all godaddy coupons and siteground coupon at couponpromocode.us !
	0

Dec 16, 2012, 09:45 AM	#8
tdhurst macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, OR	Huh? I use a converter for my headphones, which are analog only. Digital audio to converter, analog to headphones. Around $20-30 on Amazon. See what ports you have available and then find a converter. Mine works great. __________________ Twitter - tdhurst I blog here. 2012 11.6" 2.0ghz i7 MacBook Air, 2.26 C2D Mac Mini, iPhone 4S, Apple TV 3.
	0

Dec 17, 2012, 07:23 PM	#9
APlotdevice macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2011	Could you tell us exactly what kind of input options are available on your reciever? __________________ TV - iPod touch 4 - iPad 1 - Custom HTPC - Numerous Consoles There is something deeply wrong with a society more offended by breasts than by entrails.
	0

Dec 15, 2012, 08:13 PM	#4
zhenya macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2005	No, there is no path from your ATV to your tv to your cable box to your stereo. You need an amplifier with a digital input.
	1

Dec 16, 2012, 08:27 AM	#7
QWERTYMac7 macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012	I use this: FiiO D3 Digital to Analog Audio Converter ($19.91 @ Amazon). It works well and plays through my receiver via RCA plugs. If you order one, don't forget an optical cable! Hope this helps!
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 03:22 PM	#12
DaveVideo macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	I just found an HDMI to RCA audio adapter. I'm gonna try to take ATV to TV (w/HDMI) and then audio out of the TV to stereo (HDMI to RCA audio). Will let you know if that works.
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 11:04 PM	#13
brianbunge macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2011	I bought a coax/optical digital to analog RCA converter at Radio Shack so I could hook up my daughter's Apple TV to her stereo receiver in her room. It worked great!
	0

Dec 24, 2012, 02:02 PM	#16
alxtraf macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	I have HDMI to a Sony Bravia and then a simple mini-plug (headphoes jack) to RCA to a brand new stereo Denon amplifier (yes, after setting up many multi speakers systems I went back to the good-old-two-channel sound). After all, we have only two ears!
	0

Apr 14, 2013, 09:31 AM	#17
tigonsau macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2013	Optical out. Send this back to your receiver for sound. ARC. If both your TV and receiver have ARC on the HDMI connections (and BOTH must have this feature), the TV will send audio via the same HDMI wire that goes from receiver output to TV input. Note that it may only be one connection on each device that actually says "ARC". __________________ godaddy promo code
	0


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