Apple TV 4K initial impressions

[triangletechie]

I had a weird issue with my 64 gb version. It works perfect on wifi, but not when I have it wired to my modem/router. It shows a network connection, but none of my movies would load up. and some of my apps wouldn't load any videos. Once I unplugged the ethernet cable and switched to wifi, everything works normal. I also have a new 32 gb 4K version and it did the same thing.

I have ATT fiber internet and have never had issues with any wired connections before. I may switch to another ethernet cable and test it again.

 

[megatron2000]

I had a weird issue with my 64 gb version. It works perfect on wifi, but not when I have it wired to my modem/router. It shows a network connection, but none of my movies would load up. and some of my apps wouldn't load any videos. Once I unplugged the ethernet cable and switched to wifi, everything works normal. I also have a new 32 gb 4K version and it did the same thing.

I have ATT fiber internet and have never had issues with any wired connections before. I may switch to another ethernet cable and test it again.

Is your wireless and wired connection emminating from the same router?

 

[Banglazed]

I finally jump onto the bandwagon and got the 4K Apple TV! So far, everything seems great. The quality is amazing out of the box and connected it to internet using Ethernet. Even though I'm not getting 4K on YouTube but the video quality is still great.

 

[richpjr]

Hooked mine up today and have been pretty happy with it in the couple of hours I played around with it. I have it going through my Denon receiver to my TV and am getting DV at 60hz. Was very happy to see that Apple finally put a gigabit Ethernet port on it so I can take advantage of the bandwidth I am paying for without it throttling down. If they come out with Atmos as has been discussed, I'll be very happy with it.

 

[Track40]

What denon receiver do you have?? I have the AVR-S720W and I can’t for the life of me get the ATV4K to output any signal through the Denon... however, if I connect the ATV4K directly to my 4K LG tv, it works fine.

I have tried setting the video settings to 1080/60 SDR, HDR, and still the receiver won’t pass the signal to the tv.

I’m pulling my hair out. I don’t get it.

When I am directly connected to the TV, the HDMI cable tests out fine. So I don’t think that’s it, and I can’t find any magic HDMI Settings on the denon

Hooked mine up today and have been pretty happy with it in the couple of hours I played around with it. I have it going through my Denon receiver to my TV and am getting DV at 60hz. Was very happy to see that Apple finally put a gigabit Ethernet port on it so I can take advantage of the bandwidth I am paying for without it throttling down. If they come out with Atmos as has been discussed, I'll be very happy with it.

 

[richpjr]

What denon receiver do you have?? I have the AVR-S720W and I can’t for the life of me get the ATV4K to output any signal through the Denon... however, if I connect the ATV4K directly to my 4K LG tv, it works fine.

I have tried setting the video settings to 1080/60 SDR, HDR, and still the receiver won’t pass the signal to the tv.

I’m pulling my hair out. I don’t get it.

When I am directly connected to the TV, the HDMI cable tests out fine. So I don’t think that’s it, and I can’t find any magic HDMI Settings on the denon

I have a X2300W - it is passing through DV at 60hz

 

[Track40]

I have a X2300W - it is passing through DV at 60hz

I don’t understand wtf is going wrong.

Why would it work fine at any resolution when connected to the tv directly, yet when passing through the denon, the denon reports “no signal”.

Is there a way to connect it directly to the tv and have the tv pass the audio back to the denon?

 

[vipergts2207]

I don’t understand wtf is going wrong.

Why would it work fine at any resolution when connected to the tv directly, yet when passing through the denon, the denon reports “no signal”.

Is there a way to connect it directly to the tv and have the tv pass the audio back to the denon?

Yes, just use ARC or an optical cable to feed the audio. Now I realize this is probably a stupid suggestion, but are you sure both the TV and receiver are on the correct input? I only ask because a few weeks ago I replaced my hard drive in my PS4 and when I tried to turn it back on I got no signal. I kept swapping hard drives for probably 30 minutes, assuming that was the issue, before I realized I absent mindedly had the wrong input selected on the TV.

 

[bopajuice]

I've just plugged my Apple TV 4K into my Sony 43XD8305 TV using an AmazonBasics HDMI2.0 1m cable, on wired Ethernet (on 200Mb cable Internet).

Out of the box setup is insanely great, just waved my unlocked iPhone near the AppleTV and I got prompted to enter a pairing code and then my separate iCloud/iTunes account details were set up automatically. Nice.

I got prompted if I want to enable a feature that sounds like it will sync all my of app choices between my two Apple TVs. Nice.

The TV was immediately reporting that the screen mode was 4K. Nice. Then the Apple TV offered me the option to try and enable HDR, which failed and it reverted back to SDR. Not nice. Turns out my stupid TV only supports HDR on two of its three HDMI inputs. Switched it over to another input, went back to the relevant Settings menu to enable HDR again, but it had already auto-negotiated it. Nice.

There's also a menu option to switch from 4:2:0 to 4:2:2, but I don't know if it's going to let me switch back easily if it doesn't work with my cable/TV, and I'm not even sure how useful that is, since AFAIK 4K movies are encoded at 4:2:0. I don't even really understand what the difference is, but one is a bigger number, so when I'm feeling a bit braver, I'll give that a go

Fired up the iTunes Movies app, I'd already checked out the 4K HDR movie list in iTunes on my Mac yesterday, and I saw that the most recent movie purchase I'd made, which supports 4K HDR, was Alien Convenant, so I chose that, and jumped to the scene when they're walking through the corn field. Realised immediately that Ridley Scott's choice of colour grading was so muted and earthy that I would never see anything from HDR, so I popped back out and enabled the screensaver mode, which looks incredible.

Netflix app works just fine with 4K HDR (tried a bit of Narcos). Didn't bother trying YouTube because of the stupid VP9 codec situation, or Amazon's app because it doesn't exist yet.

All in all, seems pretty great. HDMI-CEC works perfectly as it did with the 4th gen Apple TV, but on the whole, TVs are awful rubbish in terms of their features, UX, and documentation. I wish Apple would make an actual TV.

One open question I have, is that some 4K HDR movies in iTunes show badges for 4K and HDR, while others show badges for 4K and Dolby Vision. I don't yet know whether the latter means they support HDR10 *and* Dolby Vision, or just Dolby Vision. My TV only supports HDR10, but since the AppleTV seems to always be outputting 4K HDR10, I'm really not sure how I'm supposed to tell (and honestly, for all the hype about HDR, I actually think it makes a pretty minimal difference unless you're in very optimised watching conditions).

So, there is my quick summary of stuff I've done with it so far

Boy you guys are an optimistic bunch. Activation was the same with the old Apple TV 4. Nothing new.

I’d really like to know how the new Apple TV looks better on a 1080 set than the old one. Has the video processor been improved?

 

[Track40]

Yes, just use ARC or an optical cable to feed the audio. Now I realize this is probably a stupid suggestion, but are you sure both the TV and receiver are on the correct input? I only ask because a few weeks ago I replaced my hard drive in my PS4 and when I tried to turn it back on I got no signal. I kept swapping hard drives for probably 30 minutes, assuming that was the issue, before I realized I absent mindedly had the wrong input selected on the TV.

Yeah, they’re on the same input. But check this out... I just plugged in my 5 year old Plasma, which I’ve been using all along with the Denon here in my Den (I just moved the LG4K into the Den tonight from somewhere else), and the Apple TV4K is now passing the signal perfectly from to the Denon which is going to the Plasma.

Super WTF.

The Apple TV is set to 1080P SDR YCbCr

Now why would the plasma be fine connected to the Denon, and play the ATV signal, but when I have the LG4K connected to the Denon it will play the Comcast and BluRay sources but not the ATV? Yet, if I plug the ATV directly into another input in the LG, it works fine at any resolution??

I’m totally stumped.

I was about to say it’s a bad cable or it’s nust not liking the Denon. But that doesn’t seem to be the case since the Plasma is now the monitor connected to the Denon and it’s playing fine. And yes, the Denon has HDMI 2.2 ports and supports UHD 4K.

 

[mmm1345]

My experience has been very disappointing so far. I’m connecting to an LG C7 and when using any video setting above 1080p SDR the picture goes haywire with flickering and discoloration then eventually goes black.

Admittedly, I’m using a cheap hdmi cable that is over six years old. I’ve been putting off upgrading it because it’s snakes behind a wall. I’ve ordered a new cable that will be here Sunday, hopefully that gets everything fixed.

You have a $2,500 Oled but using a 6 yr old hdmi cable and complaining about a messed up picture? Seriously???? Get a proper Hdmi cable.
Old cables don't work with 4k/hdr.
[doublepost=1506155061][/doublepost]

I don’t understand wtf is going wrong.

Why would it work fine at any resolution when connected to the tv directly, yet when passing through the denon, the denon reports “no signal”.

Is there a way to connect it directly to the tv and have the tv pass the audio back to the denon?

it could be your Denom diesn't support Dolby Vision. Try changing your HDR Settings to Hdr.

 

[Donfor39]

Honestly? No, I don't think it's worth the upgrade, assuming you already have a regular Apple TV 4th Gen.

I don’t currently use Apple t.v. Since I sold Apple t.v. Think it was 2.
Apple t.v. 2 U.I. Went dark and unmmodern via previous Samsung 32” 720 lcd -non 4k.

My latest upgrade decision is being based on Sony 43” 4K -non HDR t.v.

Is 8 or 10 bit a setting via 4K Apple t.v.

Some reports are positive, others are very concerning.

I’m not sure though I could check Sony setttings today -SDR -don’t think I’ve seen this setting.

What I do know is I’ve been running Sky Q UHD via Sony for almost 2 years.-10 bit 4K.

Watched UHD Underworld last night-was much better than I thought it would be.

1st stage of upgrade plan is complete in a few weeks, I’ve cancelled Sky movies subs.

2nd stage-purchase Apple 4k t.v.

There seems to be conflicting reports of current 4K Apple t.v. Owners not getting movies in 4K -which leaves me trying to determine if I will acheive 4k movie rentals via Sony t.v.

I have previously watched house if cards via Sony t.v./Netflix -h.o.c’s was certainly 4K

 

[JEboomin]

You have a $2,500 Oled but using a 6 yr old hdmi cable and complaining about a messed up picture? Seriously???? Get a proper Hdmi cable.
Old cables don't work with 4k/hdr.

$2200 OLED to be exact. I’m not complaining just sharing my experience up to this point. I even stated that I have a new cable on the way.

 

[guitarguy316]

Make sure your denon firmware is up to date. They have sent updates for dv and hdr on the 2016 models. Secondly get high speed premium certified hdmi cables everywhere in your chain to AVR and then out to tv.

 

[mmm1345]

$2200 OLED to be exact. I’m not complaining just sharing my experience up to this point. I even stated that I have a new cable on the way.

Nice deal! My 55 was $2,600 but it went on sale a few weeks later at $2,200 so I got refunded the difference. In the future I'll have to remember to buy TVs during my Bday month, with the Labor Day sale and the store Bday discount, I can "clean up."
[doublepost=1506163977][/doublepost]

Make sure your denon firmware is up to date. They have sent updates for dv and hdr on the 2016 models. Secondly get high speed premium certified hdmi cables everywhere in your chain to AVR and then out to tv.

Are you sure your Denon can pass through DV?

 

[triangletechie]

Is your wireless and wired connection emminating from the same router?

I'm using the modem/router combo that ATT provided. They are sending me a replacement. I was having ethernet failure with other devices.

 

[high3r]

Does the Photos app display pictures taken with iPhone 7 and upwards in P3 (i.e. wide gamut) color on appropriate TV's? It would be evident if said iPhones capture in P3 but I'm not sure about it now seeing all the hassles with the new box.

 

[darez1981]

I don’t currently use Apple t.v. Since I sold Apple t.v. Think it was 2.
Apple t.v. 2 U.I. Went dark and unmmodern via previous Samsung 32” 720 lcd -non 4k.

My latest upgrade decision is being based on Sony 43” 4K -non HDR t.v.

Is 8 or 10 bit a setting via 4K Apple t.v.

Some reports are positive, others are very concerning.

I’m not sure though I could check Sony setttings today -SDR -don’t think I’ve seen this setting.

What I do know is I’ve been running Sky Q UHD via Sony for almost 2 years.-10 bit 4K.

Watched UHD Underworld last night-was much better than I thought it would be.

1st stage of upgrade plan is complete in a few weeks, I’ve cancelled Sky movies subs.

2nd stage-purchase Apple 4k t.v.

There seems to be conflicting reports of current 4K Apple t.v. Owners not getting movies in 4K -which leaves me trying to determine if I will acheive 4k movie rentals via Sony t.v.

I have previously watched house if cards via Sony t.v./Netflix -h.o.c’s was certainly 4K

Do you think AppleTV4k is able to convert hdr to sdr tv?

Basically what a Panasonic UHD player is able to do Today.

I have atv4k since day-one launch. I’m really impressive of 4K quality in sdr compared to NetFlix 4K.

Movie watched:
1) pacif rim (shot in 2k)
2) collateral beauty (I don’t know)

And yes the screensaver are superb in terms of video quality.

Some scenes in collateral beauty are ... just wow.

I’m thinking about VPR owners, maybe has sense remap HDR to SDR.

D.

 

[Donfor39]

Do you think AppleTV4k is able to convert hdr to sdr tv?

Basically what a Panasonic UHD player is able to do Today.

I have atv4k since day-one launch. I’m really impressive of 4K quality in sdr compared to NetFlix 4K.

Movie watched:
1) pacif rim (shot in 2k)
2) collateral beauty (I don’t know)

And yes the screensaver are superb in terms of video quality.

Some scenes in collateral beauty are ... just wow.

I’m thinking about VPR owners, maybe has sense remap HDR to SDR.

D.

My concern is are there any 4K movie rentals via itunes in U.K. yet.

I understand my Sony 4k t.v. Should acheive Apple t.v. 4K SDR.

 

[darez1981]

I just try to reach out apple technical support at phone 2 times in order to ask about some technical details.

1) First attemp, "I want to make a question regarding HDR to SDR conversion":
Apple hangout the phone.
2) Second attemp, "I want to ask you about HDR movie, basically if the appletv..."
Apple hangout the phone before i was able to complete my question.

I like Apple, maybe they don't want to share technical details.
I have also ask to another guy on YouTube to compare UHD Disk vs AppleTV4k.

Hope to see something on the web - from Apple i don't think I will receive a reply.

D.

 

[cmsj]

Reporting back in after weekend experimentation with HDR and the results are.... confusing.

For those who remember from way back in the thread, I was going to try and figure out if movies that have a Dolby Vision badge in iTunes, also include HDR10 and the answer I have is........ maybe.

Basically the problem is that I can't find any kind of content, be it 4K, HD, SDR, HDR, the basic menus of the ATV, or any app, where turning HDR on my TV off, leaves the image constant. I always see colours being flattened.

It's very hard to eyeball this stuff, but I *think* that the DV movies are also giving HDR10 info, but it also seems pretty likely that the ATV is doing some processing on SDR content, because toggling HDR on my TV still shows the colours go flat and lame when I'm playing something I know for sure is not HDR. It doesn't help that my TV has no options to show detailed signal information, but even if it did, the AppleTV is never changing modes, so it's just outputting a consistent 4K HDR10 signal.

The good news is that DV movies still look great, so that's pretty much the full extent of my caring on the subject, exhausted. I would be interested to read authoritative information about this, so maybe someone like Rene Ritchie can reach out to his little Apple birdies and get the full lowdown on exactly what the ATV is doing.

Edit: I also applied some calibration settings from The Internet, to my TV, before doing these experiments, to make sure I was seeing a reasonably decent picture.

 

[triangletechie]

I have ATT Fiber using their Pace 5268 router. For some reason, I'm having issues with the new 4K model wired connection. It works for about 15 minutes and then no streaming works. It still says connected under network, but nothing loads and the speedtest app doesn't work. Zero issues on wifi.

In fact, I've had ATT since April and have never once had an issue with anything wired until the 4K TV. This happened on a 64 gb model and I had the same issue with the 32 gb model. Could it be something to do with TV OS 11? That's all I can think of. I have an Xbox One S and it was fine last night using ethernet.

 

[Poontaco]

[doublepost=1506607659][/doublepost]

You have a $2,500 Oled but using a 6 yr old hdmi cable and complaining about a messed up picture? Seriously???? Get a proper Hdmi cable.
Old cables don't work with 4k/hdr.
[doublepost=1506155061][/doublepost]

it could be your Denom diesn't support Dolby Vision. Try changing your HDR Settings to Hdr.

People need to stop spreading around this false information.
Almost all of my HDMI cables are 10+ years old. Some are from my cable company. Some are pack-in cables that came with other devices. Some are cheap store brand cables. They all work with 4K 60hz at 4:4:4 or 4K 60hz HDR at 4:2:2.
You do not need certified UHD or two point blah-blah-whatever cables. Just don't buy $.99 cables from china on Amazon.

 

[Donfor39]

[doublepost=1506607659][/doublepost]

People need to stop spreading around this false information.
Almost all of my HDMI cables are 10+ years old. Some are from my cable company. Some are pack-in cables that came with other devices. Some are cheap store brand cables. They all work with 4K 60hz at 4:4:4 or 4K 60hz HDR at 4:2:2.
You do not need certified UHD or two point blah-blah-whatever cables. Just don't buy $.99 cables from china on Amazon.

Another honest reliable post.

Exactly correct avoid high cost hdmi leads.

I’ll be using one of my existing cables when I purchase ap tv 4k

 

[400]

I have had some HDMI cables not pull their weight when I went 4k, however the high speed certified ones I bought rocked up at around £4. Not sure what the US equivalent is.

However, rather than by new ones, I did try my existing first.