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Personally.. As HDMI keeps getting improved/updated, and Optical Audio stays the same, I think that technology is becoming obsolete. My Samsung receiver is about 5 years old (& far from being "State of the art") and it processes 5.1 Surround through HDMI just fine. In short, I really don't think that Optical is "The Standard" any more.

So, if HDMI is a better audio port, then give us two HDMI ports. Oh, I already said that:

Then why doesn't the ATV4 have two HDMI ports?

what set type box has two hdmi's? or anything besides a tv and receivers? i use my matrix splitter to use my Apple TV in two rooms.

Why the heck would it? My current ATV(3) runs into my receiver, and then I have HDMI going from my receiver to my TV.

Why would you need two HDMI outputs? Heck even most receivers only on have one hdmi output. Most receivers now a days have multiple inputs and one output.

We seem to be looping. If HDMI is a better audio port, then, there should be two HDMI outputs, one for the TV, one for the receiver or audio system interface. (goto post above.)
 
As others have mentioned, most people run one HDMI cable from the source device (blu-ray, Apple TV, Game System, Computer, cable/satellite box, etc) to their AV receiver, and then one cable from the AV receiver to the TV.

The only source devices I have really seen with 2 HDMI outputs other than computers are 3D Blu-Ray players. These came about because many people had AV receivers they were using like I listed above, but those receivers were not compatible with the 3D signal. So manufacturers made Blu-Ray players with one HDMI port that would go straight to the 3D tv, and one HDMI port that was used for just audio to the AV receiver. I myself had to do this when I first got my 3D TV because my Denon AVR-3808 did not support 3D. I have since updated my AV receiver to one that supports the 3D format so I am back to just using one HDMI out on the Blu-Ray player.

As far as sending audio to multiple rooms, look into AV receivers with zone 2 and zone 3 output like mine has.
 
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If you guys just run the Apple TV to your tv, and then send the sound to receiver over hdmi/toslink it should sound good.
My brand new 60" Samsung TV does not have any audio outputs. Not even headphones. This is increasingly common among bargain priced flat screens. Using an TV 3 I was forced into using the TVs built-in speakers, as the Bose sound system I have to use with the previous 40" TV, does not have an HDMI, or optical input. However I was able to buy a $10 DAC to take the optical out of the TV and into the line in.

Apple's solution is to require me to buy a new receiver for use with the tv 4. I would argue that the optical out is as common and universally used in home theater setups as the headphone jack is to mobile devices, which is still widely supported by Apple.
 
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Optical audio out is starting to go away on many devices. The costs of including it are pretty high for what it is (because of patents and the circuitry) and it isn't used all that much anymore with people switching to HDMI.
 
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So, if HDMI is a better audio port, then give us two HDMI ports. Oh, I already said that:









We seem to be looping. If HDMI is a better audio port, then, there should be two HDMI outputs, one for the TV, one for the receiver or audio system interface. (goto post above.)

You don't seem to understand. My 3rd Gen ATV's HDMI goes to my Receiver AND my TV's HDMI(in) comes from my receiver. Most receivers have an HDMI(out) for the primary purpose of feeding the TV. Certainly any decent receiver does.

A second HDMI on the ATV would be something extra that most people would never use.. Just like the Optical Audio Out.
 
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Optical audio out is starting to go away on many devices. The costs of including it are pretty high for what it is (because of patents and the circuitry) and it isn't used all that much anymore with people switching to HDMI.

A second HDMI on the ATV would be something extra that most people would never use.. Just like the Optical Audio Out.

And yet, the TiVO Bolt, a new product, just came out with both analog and S/PDIF audio out.
This review describes it as the best cable DVR out there.

I don't plan to buy one, BTW-- I'm not about to spend $15/mo. on TiVO's service.
 
My house will be receiving municipal 1Gb/s internet in the next month or two. After that happens I'll be updating my AV system to include more streaming and less Comcast boxes. I'll be updating to an ATV4 and also getting the TiVo Bolt. Of the two, I am honestly much more excited about the Bolt. At $299, free service for a year and $12 a month after that it seems like an excellent value to me.
 
My house will be receiving municipal 1Gb/s internet in the next month or two. After that happens I'll be updating my AV system to include more streaming and less Comcast boxes. I'll be updating to an ATV4 and also getting the TiVo Bolt. Of the two, I am honestly much more excited about the Bolt. At $299, free service for a year and $12 a month after that it seems like an excellent value to me.
 
My house will be receiving municipal 1Gb/s internet in the next month or two. After that happens I'll be updating my AV system to include more streaming and less Comcast boxes. I'll be updating to an ATV4 and also getting the TiVo Bolt. Of the two, I am honestly much more excited about the Bolt. At $299, free service for a year and $12 a month after that it seems like an excellent value to me.
I am interested in the BOLT as well. Mainly because they say there will be a App for the FIRE TV so maybe an App for the ATV. I.E. No need for the TIVO MINI. If they do that I will consider putting one somewhere in the house and simply use ATV to access it. But it will depend on how well it worked with the App. My goal is all video thru my ATV throughout the house.
 
My ATV3 outputs are HDMI to my projector, next to the ATV and a long TOS link optical cable to my hifi, which is on the other side of the room, with the projector screen. I don't need or have conventional TV. The lack of optical audio out on the ATV4 is going to be a real nuisance for me.
 
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My ATV3 outputs are HDMI to my projector, next to the ATV and a long TOS link optical cable to my hifi, which is on the other side of the room, with the projector screen. I don't need or have conventional TV. The lack of optical audio out on the ATV4 is going to be a real nuisance for me.

Does your Receiver not have a "HDMI Out"? I guarantee that there are more Receivers being built these days with HDMI Out, then those with Optical.

Whether you are running an HDMI cable across the room from your Receiver to your Projector, or running an Optical across the room.. Your still running a cable across the room.
 
To be honest, I was happy to hear that we were getting Dolby Digital Plus and 7.1. These are still upgrades to the current Apple TV. I am hoping Apple and the studios start updating the existing iTunes library with Plus 7.1 audio.

And who knows. The next 4K Apple TV may very well include lossless audio. That also might align with all the past rumors of Apple going ALAC for iTunes music.
 
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