Apple TV volume output - only 16 levels

[ignatius345]

When using the Apple TV with my HomePods, I find that there are only 16 levels of volume accessible with the volume buttons. That is, each press moves it up or down one pretty large chunk (1/16 is over 6% after all), and I often find it's going from a little too quiet to a little too loud with nothing in between. I can get a finer control by using the slider that comes on my iPhone, but that's pretty annoying.

Is this a function of using Apple TV with HomePods, or is this just across the board?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Can the HPs offer volume adjustments at more levels? If so, adapt the approach to use THEIR volume controls instead of AppleTVs.

I think of AppleTV volume as unamplified audio "levels" but set my specific volume by adjusting the Receiver volume to which it is attached (which can be done with the AppleTV remote if desired). The Receiver has very fine level adjustments on a 1-100 scale with each point being 1%.

I don't know if HPs can do the same or if they too are set to 16 levels. But I would guess that since they are doing the signal amplifying, they (presumably) ARE able to offer more volume flexibility too. This is easy enough to test. Hopefully that can work for you.

If not, consider moving the HPs to other rooms for music and get yourself some kind of dedicated home theater setup, be that Receiver-based or perhaps Soundbar-based. Then, their volume controls as amplifiers will give you the fine tuning capability you seek (and the AppleTV remote can be set to control their volume if you want to use AppleTV remote vs. some other remote that can also control AppleTV).

 

[ignatius345]

Also would add this: if I use my AirPods Max with the great physical volume knob it has, I can dial in the sound level on Apple TV with way more precision. Sounds like Apple's approach to volume buttons generally is not well thought out.

 

[tonmischa]

On the Mac, you can use the Alt+Shift+Volume_keys (F11/F12) to adjust the volume more precisely. (64 levels instead of 16)
Maybe there is something similar for the AppleTV?