Apple TV 4 + AirPort Express = optical audio?

[Surf Monkey]

Okay, feel free to set me straight if this has come up before and it won't work, but I was looking at my theater system and thinking...

Until I upgrade my receiver I have to pass optical audio to it. AirPlay (as I understand it) will send a 5.1 digital optical stream. I have an AirPort Express hooked up to my reciever, so shouldn't I be able to set the ATV4's speakers to the Express and send the 5.1 stream to my reciever that way?

Could this problem be that easy to fix??

 

[waw74]

i don't think it would do 5.1 that way, but not sure.

you could use one of these from monoprice, or something similar from pretty much any electronics store.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Tried it. AirPlay only passes PCM. Oh well. Knew it was too simple to work.

 

[seadragon]

Hey SM, I too had an older receiver without HDMI. I tried doing exactly what you're asking about. ATV airplay to AE connected to receiver via the optical cable. Unfortunately, I could only get 2 channels from it no matter what I tried.

In the end, I upgraded my receiver which was something I was going to do anyways at some point. The new ATV just pushed me over the line to do it.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Hey SM, I too had an older receiver without HDMI. I tried doing exactly what you're asking about. ATV airplay to AE connected to receiver via the optical cable. Unfortunately, I could only get 2 channels from it no matter what I tried.

In the end, I upgraded my receiver which was something I was going to do anyways at some point. The new ATV just pushed me over the line to do it.

We have the exact same story only with the steps flipped. My 8 year old Onkyo receiver has been acting up lately and I've been looking for an excuse to upgrade it. So I have a 2015 model on the way, but it won't get here until Thursday. I was just toying with the idea of some kind of temporary fix when this notion hit me, but nope. PCM stereo only.

 

[wrens]

Hey SM, I too had an older receiver without HDMI. I tried doing exactly what you're asking about. ATV airplay to AE connected to receiver via the optical cable. Unfortunately, I could only get 2 channels from it no matter what I tried.

In the end, I upgraded my receiver which was something I was going to do anyways at some point. The new ATV just pushed me over the line to do it.

here is my go around a HMDI splitter from Monoprice.
http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=10251

 

[campyguy]

You want options?! I got your options right here!

http://www.imore.com/how-hook-fourth-generation-apple-tv-optical-audio-speakers

Sorry, NYer here - couldn't resist the regression. I saw that post iMore yesterday. FWIW, I have the ViewHD adapter that's linked to in the post - it works really, really well. It's not a "splitter", which are often junk IMHO. FWIW $31 is way cheaper than an hour of therapy!

I also use a pair of Sony HW700DS Wireless Headphones, with a HDMI in/3 out plus optical in the front end. The Japanese import version. So worth the money it'll make you cry if you've purchased BT headphones.