Actual Stream Resolution over AirPlay

[Kestrel452]

I currently own a 2nd gen Apple TV, and thinking about upgrading to a 3rd gen for my 4k TV.

Reason being, TV's are generally much better at upscaling 1080p to 4k than with only 720p video data. The 2nd gen Apple TV, as many already know, only outputs 720p maximum.

If I upgrade to a 3rd gen Apple TV, will I see the benefits of it's support of 1080p even when using AirPlay for Amazon Prime Instant Video on my iPhone 6 or iPad Air 2? I'm clueless as to how AirPlay through the Amazon Prime Instant Video app works. I'm not sure if it actually directs the AppleTV to fetch the data itself and stream it directly; or if the iDevice uptakes the stream -> sends it back to your WiFi router -> and then gets picked up by the Apple TV from the router.

Basically, are you getting clear 1080p video when AirPlay'ing amazon prime video from your iPhone/iPad onto your Apple TV (assuming your Internet is fast enough)?

 

[Kestrel452]

*bump*

 

[waw74]

1st... 11 hours till bump??
your post would have still been on the front page, and it's not like this is staffed help desk, people come on here when they have the time.

the aTV can connect directly to the source, so the iOS device only sends the location to the aTV.
a lot of it depends on the content provider, and how they decide to implement streaming.
and it's very hard to tell what resolution is actually being sent.

you could always go aTV4 and hope amazon comes out with an app.

Is your TV smart? there's a good chance amazon does have an app for that, That's what i've wound up doing

 

[iphonetravel]

I personally would never recommend using AirPlay and Amazon prime as you will miss out on surround sound support. That alone means I personally use a Fire TV or built in app to use Amazon Prime of you have access to the relevant hardware or app.

 

[sofakng]

Does AirPlay never support surround sound, or is it only the Amazon app?

 

[iphonetravel]

Does AirPlay never support surround sound, or is it only the Amazon app?

It's the Amazon app. Apple happily stream 5.1 DD.

I'm still yet to see real evidence of DD+ yet, but that's a topic not for this thread.

 

[d21mike]

I used AirPlay for Amazon Prime to watch a full season of some show not too long ago and it worked fine for me. I am hoping they come our with a App for the ATV 4. Since then I got a VIZIO 4K 70" and I use the TV's Amazon App. My 4K TV has both Netflix and Amazon so if I really want to watch 4K content I would use those. When I first got it I tested Netflix 4K against my ATV 3 1080p version of the same movie and could not tell the difference. But that could just be me. With so little content and I could not tell the difference I decided to save the $4 per month.

 

[iphonetravel]

I used AirPlay for Amazon Prime to watch a full season of some show not too long ago and it worked fine for me. I am hoping they come our with a App for the ATV 4. Since then I got a VIZIO 4K 70" and I use the TV's Amazon App. My 4K TV has both Netflix and Amazon so if I really want to watch 4K content I would use those. When I first got it I tested Netflix 4K against my ATV 3 1080p version of the same movie and could not tell the difference. But that could just be me. With so little content and I could not tell the difference I decided to save the $4 per month.

I think you made the right move. 4K at 15Mbps is unlikely to be significantly better unless you push for higher frame rates which will require more than 15Mbps in respect to bandwidth - you really need 30 Mbps to push for 60fps.

Hopefully in the next 2-3 years, the 4K playing field will be more clear with more content and broadband providers able to feed our insatiable desire for more bandwidth.