Apple TV 4K with AirPods Max: a noticeable improvement to sound quality?

[ISignedUpToAskThis]

Due to my home having thin walls, I mostly watch movies using headphones, so I'm always looking to improve my watching experience.

I've heard/read that using an Apple TV 4K box as a main "hub", if using it with AirPods Max, would improve sound quality due to the optimisation - better codec compatibility over Bluetooth, better Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio compatibility etc.

• Anyone who uses Apple TV 4K with AirPods Max - is this true?
• If there is improvement, is this just with the Apple TV app, or do you notice improvements to sound quality with this setup even when using apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime etc within Apple TV?

Previously had a set of AirPods Max (without Apple TV 4K) and they were good, if a little quiet. I always felt I wanted "more".

At the moment I use a set of Focal Bathys - which are excellent connected to my LG C4 (without Apple TV), and even without Spatial Audio they sound great.

My options I'm considering are:

• AirPods Max + Apple TV 4K
• Keep the Focal Bathys
• Dali IO-12 (meant to be better than the Bathys and have a wider soundstage)

Thanks

 

[Edd70]

Can't speak to AirPods being optimized for the ATV but we do use the ATV as an entertainment hub, all TV and virtually all music. My AP Max, AP Pro 2, and Beats Studio Pro sound delightful with it.

The AP Max is the headphone of choice for me and my first pair died a couple of months ago. To try something different, I bought the Sony XM6, very well reviewed as best in class by a few sources. I could not make them sound as good as the AP Max no matter what I did with the EQ. Additionally, they don't connect as quick and easy as the Apple audio hardware which became genuinely annoying.

So I made the difficult decision to return the Sonys and bought replacement AP Max at the Black Friday price. That's crazy because they haven't been properly updated in 5 years but they work best for us.

I personally think any smart TV OS shouldn't be used (because the ATV is way better) and god knows what the privacy issues are with any of them. My LG TV has the data cable disconnected and WiFi off. I've connected to update a couple of times but that's it.