Apple TV Sound bar issue

[biggiet4jets]

Alright everyone, I have a question. I have a 4th generation 32GB Apple TV hooked up to my tv with an hdmi port. I also have my PS4 and Nintendo switch hooked up to my tv as well through hdmi ports. I have a soundbar hooked up to my tv through a digital optical cable. My soundbar works when I play my PS4, my switch and I can even hear the clicks going through the menu on the Apple TV.

The problem is that when I click on an app, let’s say Netflix, there is no sound. I’ll go back to the menu and hear clicks, I’ll go into another video app and no sound. I’ll go into ESPN and there’s sound. Not sure what the issue is or what I have to do but I don’t have his problem when the tv volume is turned back on within the tv audio settings. I usually keep this off and the soundbar works like I said with my PS4, Switch and the clicks on the menu and select apps.

If anyone has a suggestion or a fix I’d greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

 

[waw74]

Try turning off "best audio" (something like that, I'm not home) in the main audio settings, and setting it to dolby digital

your sound bar may not handle the other stream format.

 

[jav6454]

Does your TV and Sounbar support HDMI Arc? You can connect your AppleTV to your Sounbar and your Soundbar to your TV via the Arc connection.

 

[biggiet4jets]

Unfortunately my soundbar doesn’t support arc becuase I definitely would have done that I’m still looking into the problem so will update when I find a solution.

 

[priitv8]

Does your TV and Sounbar support HDMI Arc? You can connect your AppleTV to your Sounbar and your Soundbar to your TV via the Arc connection.

If you connect your aTV directly to soundbar, you will not need the ARC at all!
Sound will go directly into amp inside the soundbar, picture will exit from soundbar to tv and be displayed there.
ARC is only needed, if sound needs to go from tv into soundbar (any sources connected to tv's HDMI ports, and all internal things like tuner or apps in the smart-tv).

 

[jav6454]

If you connect your aTV directly to soundbar, you will not need the ARC at all!
Sound will go directly into amp inside the soundbar, picture will exit from soundbar to tv and be displayed there.
ARC is only needed, if sound needs to go from tv into soundbar (any sources connected to tv's HDMI ports, and all internal things like tuner or apps in the smart-tv).

True, but the ARC allows turning the TV on when you wake up for AppleTV. At least that happens to me.

 

[priitv8]

True, but the ARC allows turning the TV on when you wake up for AppleTV. At least that happens to me.

That shall happen irrespective where things are connected. HDMI-CEC is a single-wire bus, throughout the whole system, as can be seen here.
And ARC has nothing to do with it. Apart from being enabled via CEC itself.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Samsung UN40MU6290 UHD HDR TV
Samsung HW-M360 Sound Bar
AppleTV 4Gen
DirecTV HR24 DVR
Logitech Harmony 650 universal remote

No issues here... AppleTV and DirecTV DVR are connected to the tv via HDMI... sound bar connected to the tv via digital optical cable. All sound from all devices is routed correctly though the sound bar.

As I understand it, the purpose of ARC (Audio Return Channel) is to route the audio from a receiver back to the TV via HDMI. If you are simply routing the sound from the TV itself (including any sound coming from a connected device), the sound bar is just an external speaker.

ARC is not an issue (or function that I need) in my set up.

 

[priitv8]

As I understand it, the purpose of ARC (Audio Return Channel) is to route the audio from a receiver back to the TV via HDMI. If you are simply routing the sound from the TV itself (including any sound coming from a connected device), the sound bar is just an external speaker.

What would be the need for that? I mean to route sound from AVR to the TV? The external audio setup is there to upgrade the mediocre sound of a TV, not vice versa.
HDMI is a unidirectional interface (in contrast to a bidirectional one). So all HDMI connectors on a TV are inputs, that's also why TV is called a HDMI sink. Signal travels over HDMI from whatever device (source) to TV for display. ARC is the return path within that HDMI cable to carry only the sound back to external audio system.
On the AVR you have bunch of inputs to connect your signal sources to. There is normally one HDMI output, that you them connect to the TV for display of the image. Sound from AVR-connected sources is routed within AVR to the speakers, so only image needs to be output.
Only if your signal comes from TV (tuners, apps or connected to it's own HDMI inputs), will you need the audio to travel back to external audio system. But as you recall, we have only HDMI inputs on the tv set. No HDMI output.
ARC is here exactly for that.
Granted, your set may have some special outputs, like optical (TOSLINK) or even analog (RCA) to send sounds back to AVR.
HDMI-ARC just makes it easier via a single cable connected to otherwise inbound port.

 

[dwaite]

Alright everyone, I have a question. I have a 4th generation 32GB Apple TV hooked up to my tv with an hdmi port. I also have my PS4 and Nintendo switch hooked up to my tv as well through hdmi ports. I have a soundbar hooked up to my tv through a digital optical cable. My soundbar works when I play my PS4, my switch and I can even hear the clicks going through the menu on the Apple TV.

The problem is that when I click on an app, let’s say Netflix, there is no sound. I’ll go back to the menu and hear clicks, I’ll go into another video app and no sound. I’ll go into ESPN and there’s sound. Not sure what the issue is or what I have to do but I don’t have his problem when the tv volume is turned back on within the tv audio settings. I usually keep this off and the soundbar works like I said with my PS4, Switch and the clicks on the menu and select apps.

If anyone has a suggestion or a fix I’d greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

I struggled with this over the holidays at my parents' house

Generally this means that the Apple TV is saying "I have this great surround/dolby armor sound available", and your TV is advertising that it supports that (possibly because it has support for its own integrated speakers). Once the sound arrives, the TV chokes because the sound bar cannot handle it. It refuses to play audio at all.

If it is a 2.1 sound bar, you can force the Apple TV to use stereo in settings. A better solution would be to hunt down the relevant setting in your TV to force it to use stereo. Otherwise, you'll probably find that an odd game or DVD will lose sound, and have to hunt settings down again.

If you have a sound bar capable of surround or atmos, then it is unfortunately likely a compatibility issue with the optical link. Most digital signals use HDCP, and part of the licensing is that if a digital connection can't be negotiated, the signal must be no better than (basically) DVD video and CD audio quality. There isn't a standard for HDCP over optical link (AFAICT), so that really only can work if the TV and sound bar are the same brand.

For going above stereo, the sound bars typically use HDMI. The setups here either use ARC (audio return channel) to act like your existing optical plug, or you wind up plugging all the devices into the sound bar and have a single cable for the TV. I can't argue the benefits of one approach vs the other.

 

[Msheetz]

Does your TV and Sounbar support HDMI Arc? You can connect your AppleTV to your Sounbar and your Soundbar to your TV via the Arc connection.

[doublepost=1522250360][/doublepost]I have done that too but I cannot for some reason turn off the tv it turns off my sound bar and Apple TV but not the tv !!! Any suggestions ??

 

[priitv8]

[doublepost=1522250360][/doublepost]I have done that too but I cannot for some reason turn off the tv it turns off my sound bar and Apple TV but not the tv !!! Any suggestions ??

Try using the TV remote. Generic idea of CEC is that TV is the "root" device and it's remote the master-remote.

 

[Msheetz]

I believe I tried that and it wouldn’t turn off the Apple TV! I did set my Apple TV to “sleep” after 15 min tho. Not bad but kinda wanted that seemless transision.

 

[ltb7]

Samsung UN40MU6290 UHD HDR TV
Samsung HW-M360 Sound Bar
AppleTV 4Gen
DirecTV HR24 DVR
Logitech Harmony 650 universal remote

No issues here... AppleTV and DirecTV DVR are connected to the tv via HDMI... sound bar connected to the tv via digital optical cable. All sound from all devices is routed correctly though the sound bar.

As I understand it, the purpose of ARC (Audio Return Channel) is to route the audio from a receiver back to the TV via HDMI. If you are simply routing the sound from the TV itself (including any sound coming from a connected device), the sound bar is just an external speaker.

ARC is not an issue (or function that I need) in my set up.

how did you set up your logitech 650? I have done every troubleshooting tip and can’t get the required software to recognize the remote 650 plugged into MacBook air (running latest software) but when I look under USB the computer, it lists the device?!?

any help much appreciated! going nuts!

 

[AZhappyjack]

how did you set up your logitech 650? I have done every troubleshooting tip and can’t get the required software to recognize the remote 650 plugged into MacBook air (running latest software) but when I look under USB the computer, it lists the device?!?

any help much appreciated! going nuts!

Can't say at this point... I just tried to launch the MyHarmony app and it just hangs... can't get it to load at all... but I am sure that I just added the sounder as an audio component.

 

[ltb7]

Can't say at this point... I just tried to launch the MyHarmony app and it just hangs... can't get it to load at all... but I am sure that I just added the sounder as an audio component.

how frustrating, thanks for getting back to me - called logitech this am after endless hours last night and they deemed remote as defective, ended up buying a $20 old school apple tv remote to get my ATV sorted as only one in stock today + decided to forgo the whole one remote system - Logitech actually advised me to get the newest model (665 i believe) instead of 650, said cost less and more up to date, ah well! thx!

 

[ToServeMan]

I had the same issue on my 2nd Generation Apple TV. I had to go into the Audio & Video settings and change Audio Output from Auto to 16 bit. Not sure if it applies to 4th Gen.