Apple TV 4K 2022 - Sound cuts out/radio-like interference noise

[AMTYVLE]

I just hooked up my new Apple TV 4K 128GB 2022 model to my Samsung Q90 TV last night, upgraded from last year's Apple TV 4K 2021 model (which has now been moved to my bedroom). Anyway, I've been experiencing sound issues since the new device...sound will cut out for about 3-5 seconds...sometimes it will be silent, other times it will be this really loud radio-like interference noise. I performed a factory reset on the Apple TV this morning but I'm still having the same sound issues. I thought maybe it was the YouTube TV app but am experiencing the issue on Apple TV+ app, Peacock, Paramount +, etc.

I've never experienced this with past Apple TV 4K models, just the new 2022 model. I've seen some threads online about these Apple TV sound issues, but most of those threads are from years ago.

I'm going to do an exchange on this new Apple TV device for the same one...hoping I just got a defective model. If the swapped device is still giving me issues I guess I'l have to buy last year's model. It's a shame because the HDR10+ on the new model is amazing - big difference from previous models.

I've ruled out the HDMI cables, my Samsung TV and my Samsung soundbar as being the problem...since hooking back up last years Apple TV model, the sound issues no longer exist.

 

[AMTYVLE]

Update: I exchanged the Apple TV for the same one yesterday. The returned model was running tvOS 16.1.1. The exchanged model was running tvOS 16 when I unboxed it last night. Kept it on tvOS 16 while watching TV…no sound issues. This morning I wake up and the TV updated to tvOS 16.1.1 and the sound issues are back. Perfect. SMH.

 

[Sebos13]

I have the exact same issue with the 2022 Apple TV 4K and a Q950R Samsung TV. Never had any problem with the 2021 model. It seems to happen every 20 minutes, I have no idea why.

I hope they fix it with the next firmware update...

 

[AMTYVLE]

I have the exact same issue with the 2022 Apple TV 4K and a Q950R Samsung TV. Never had any problem with the 2021 model. It seems to happen every 20 minutes, I have no idea why.

I hope they fix it with the next firmware update...

I replied on your thread but I'm gunna put the same reply here to help others...

I figured out the problem for me - it was the tvOS 16.1.1 update. I returned the Apple TV I bought last week (that was running 16.1.1) with the sound issues. Hooked up a new Apple TV, left it on tvOS 16, just 16....no sound issues whatsoever. Two days later the TV updated itself to 16.1.1....sound issues are back! I wasn't thinking, I should have turned off automatic updates...

So then I enabled Beta updates and downloaded tvOS 16.2 Beta 3...sound issues are still present.

 

[Sebos13]

The problem seems to be gone if I disable eARC in the TV options...
I guess it's the only workaround we have until until Apple fixes the problem.

 

[AMTYVLE]

The problem seems to be gone if I disable eARC in the TV options...
I guess it's the only workaround we have until until Apple fixes the problem.

I just disabled HDR10+ on the new Apple TV and my sound issues went away. I’m still using eARC though. Try that!

 

[Sebos13]

I cannot find an option to disable HDR10+ in the video settings.

I don't have HDR10+ by default, I use the 4K SDR video mode, with matching range and framerate set to ON, as I don't like everything to be HDR by default.
This way, it switches to HDR only when needed (btw, the sound issues happen on both SDR and HDR content).

 

[AMTYVLE]

I cannot find an option to disable HDR10+ in the video settings.

I don't have HDR10+ by default, I use the 4K SDR video mode, with matching range and framerate set to ON, as I don't like everything to be HDR by default.
This way, it switches to HDR only when needed (btw, the sound issues happen on both SDR and HDR content).

Ohhh gotcha. So yah...I disabled the HDR10+ on mine and the sound issues went away....for a few hours, then returned. I now reenabled HDR10+ and then went under Match Content and switched those from OFF to ON. No sound issues yet...It seems to be e a combination of different things with this sound issue. Let's hope someone at Apple owns this TV and is experiencing the same issues - sometimes I feel that's the only way bugs are resolved.

 

[Sebos13]

Updated to tvOS 16.3, the problem is still here... damn you Apple
Only way to prevent those painful noises is to switch to Stereo instead of Auto/Atmos...

 

[Sebos13]

It looks like Samsung's latest firmware (version 1409) fixed the issue for me, I didn't encounter the static noises last night...
It's not available via OTA update, I had to install it via USB.
It needs more testing but it looks promising !

Edit: More testing tonight, problem is still here... damn it.

 

[Sebos13]

It's quite annoying to find out the issue is still not resolved... There is definitely something wrong with framerates matching with the latest Apple TV 4K 2022 and Samsung TV/soundbars, as the problem doesn't occur on the 2021 model.

I have escalated the problem to Apple engineering, I hope they find out what's wrong.

@AMTYVLE , I recorded a quick video of the problem for the Apple support, at least they know what we're dealing with...

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I'm helping a friend with a brand new AppleTV and they are experiencing similar sound issues with their fairly new Samsung smart TV. Since this makes 3 which are connected with different cables and are different televisions, suspicions in tvOS should be growing. I've been working through settings in the TV, the soundbar and in AppleTV to try to alleviate it. I'm basically down to a short list of guesses:

1. bad cable (almost certainly not, but not ruled out).
2. bad HDMI port (probably not, but not yet ruled out by switching the input).
3. tvOS/AppleTV (this thread adds some weight to this possibility).
4. Samsung TV handing of eARC (though it works fine on the TVs apps).

I was about to test 1 & 2 in the next round, then bringing over a spare AppleTV I have to basically rule IN or OUT #3. Then I found this thread... so wondering if this is a problem that can be resolved by anyone OUTSIDE of Apple. Remember when it was "just works" Apple?

For you two, what happens if you turn off auto-updates and then reset-to-factory? Will that get you an earlier version of tvOS to then work? I'd be tempted to take the spare over, let existing AppleTV set it up as a duplicate with their apps etc, then reset the current one to factory, then let it duplicate the spare to get it back to the app mix it has now... minus the latest tvOS update. That seems like that should work.

 

[Sebos13]

Hi Darryl,

There is no way to get back to the latest working tvOS version (16.1 in our case).
Performing a factory reset will not let you install an older tvOS version

I have done most of the testing but you are welcome to do it again (don't expect much...)

1. I have tested different HDMI cables brands and specs (Apple TV 4K <--> TV and TV <--> soundbar).
2. I have tested all 3 available HDMI ports, including the sole HDMI 2.1 port on my Q950R.
3. I have tested 2 different Apple TV 4K 2022 (64GB wifi model and 128GB Ethernet model).

I don't have any problem with eARC when using the PS5 or XBOX Series X, this rules out a TV / soundbar problem for me.
Also, I didn't have any issue with an Apple TV 4K 2021 (running tvOS 17).

I'm pretty sure it's just an issue with the 2022 Apple TV 4K and Samsung TVs / soundbars.

There are a few available workarounds but I don't find them acceptable :
- Disabling eARC on the TV and using basic ARC works, but you will lose Dolby Atmos.
- Using stereo instead of Auto/Atmos on the Apple TV sound settings... stereo ? really ?!?
- Plugging the Apple TV 4K directly to one of the soundbar HDMI ports (not ideal for me at all as everything is wall-mounted).

I didn't try to disable match frame rate on the Apple TV, but it may work. This is absolutely not an acceptable solution for me, there is no way I can cope with judder and such.

I also tried YCbCr 4:2:0 instead of 4:4:4 to rule out HDMI bandwith issues : it doesn't change anything.

I'm waiting for a feedback from Apple on this, I will let you know (and I will not give up).

Also, I'm pretty sure everything would work if Apple allowed HDMI audio passthrough on the Apple TV, as it is the way it works on both consoles without any issue. Thank you Apple

 

[HDFan]

I have tested different HDMI cables brands and specs (

Are they certified cables?

 

[Sebos13]

I tried Belkin Ultra High Speed cables, AudioQuest Pearl 48 cables and a few others... all certified.
Also, these cables work just fine with the PS5 (at 4K120) and the Xbox Series X on the same TV and soundbar.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Hi Darryl,

There is no way to get back to the latest working tvOS version (16.1 in our case).
Performing a factory reset will not let you install an older tvOS version

I have done most of the testing but you are welcome to do it again (don't expect much...)

1. I have tested different HDMI cables brands and specs (Apple TV 4K <--> TV and TV <--> soundbar).
2. I have tested all 3 available HDMI ports, including the sole HDMI 2.1 port on my Q950R.
3. I have tested 2 different Apple TV 4K 2022 (64GB wifi model and 128GB Ethernet model).

I don't have any problem with eARC when using the PS5 or XBOX Series X, this rules out a TV / soundbar problem for me.
Also, I didn't have any issue with an Apple TV 4K 2021 (running tvOS 17).

I'm pretty sure it's just an issue with the 2022 Apple TV 4K and Samsung TVs / soundbars.

There are a few available workarounds but I don't find them acceptable :
- Disabling eARC on the TV and using basic ARC works, but you will lose Dolby Atmos.
- Using stereo instead of Auto/Atmos on the Apple TV sound settings... stereo ? really ?!?
- Plugging the Apple TV 4K directly to one of the soundbar HDMI ports (not ideal for me at all as everything is wall-mounted).

I didn't try to disable match frame rate on the Apple TV, but it may work. This is absolutely not an acceptable solution for me, there is no way I can cope with judder and such.

I also tried YCbCr 4:2:0 instead of 4:4:4 to rule out HDMI bandwith issues : it doesn't change anything.

I'm waiting for a feedback from Apple on this, I will let you know (and I will not give up).

Also, I'm pretty sure everything would work if Apple allowed HDMI audio passthrough on the Apple TV, as it is the way it works on both consoles without any issue. Thank you Apple

Yes, when I wrote that, I didn't realize how far things were beyond 16.1.

And there is MUCH good info in the rest of your post, so I guess I'll bypass bothering with some of the same.

That leads me to last ditch idea of splitting audio from video so the former never gets to the Samsung. I'm thinking of giving this one a try vs. the more expensive options (though reviews are mixed bag- some say, this is a solution, other say it doesn't work). There must be some irony in having to spend about as much as AppleTV itself to solve an AppleTV problem. Others suggest a much more expensive version of the same is the only answer until Apple fixes this bug.

Along with reviews giving me some caution, I have generally found various little splitter/extractor boxes tend to have trouble with CEC/HDR, etc so I just about hate to try this one. As is, one remote controls it all for my friend... but this audio issue bugs them. A "middle man" box that may fix the audio by keeping it OUT of the TV might then introduce other issues like CEC failures.

 

[Sebos13]

I swapped the 2022 model for a 2021 model yesterday. Same settings, same setup, same TV, same soundbar.

Not a single problem with the 2021 model (running tvOS 17.5 and eARC enabled on the TV).
There's definitely something wrong with the 2022 model...

I wonder if it has anything to do with this :

44.1 kHz audio output (tvOS 17 + 2022 ATV4K 3rd Gen)

Setup ATV 4K 3rd Gen | tvOS 17.0 | Infuse 7.6.1 (Plex) —> Marantz SR7015 —> LG OLED C7 Audio Options ATV/tvOS: Audio Format Auto, Atmos Available | Audio Mode Auto The sample rate information is from the media/playback information of the Marantz SR 7015. Dear Infuse Community, with my...

community.firecore.com