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ARC crashes my TV

fwmireault

fwmireault

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jul 4, 2019
2,293
9,729
Montréal, Canada
Hi everyone,

I searched a little bit on this issue but didn't find exactly the same thing so I start a thread hoping to find some help. I bought a few months ago the new Apple TV 4K (2nd gen), that I use with my stereo pair OG HomePods and my Vizio V555-G1 TV. I have only an other input source, which is my Nintendo Switch, no sound bar or anything like that. So far I love this setup, except one issue regarding ARC on Apple TV.

I have this strange issue where enabling Audio Return Channel is lagging my TV, making it unusable. The video/audio signal will just start rebooting, again and again (only the audio and video signal, not the Apple TV itself). Sometimes, it will reboot 2-3 times before being stable and the ARC feature will work. But most of the times, the video signal will just flicker indefinitely, until I unplug everything and wait a few minutes. I thought at first that it was an issue with my HDMI cable, and I bought the recommended high-speed Belkin one with no difference. I tested different video resolutions, with the same issue. But the moment I disable ARC, everything works fine instantly. Audio output with HomePods works well, as long as ARC isn't enabled.

I tried to contact Apple with this issue, and the Geniuses seem to be aware of this issue, but not exactly the cause nor the solutions. I sent a few bug reports on the evaluation app when I was on tvOS beta this summer, but I had this issue before jumping to the beta. I am on the most recent public version of tvOS, and the most recent software update of my TV, but this is still unsolved. I also wondered if the problem was my TV, but I read similar situations with ARC where the common denominator was the Apple TV, not the TV model, so I don't believe it's that.

It's not a dealbreaker, for now I can just disable ARC and use my homePods on my Apple TV and my TV speakers on my nintendo switch, it's just annoying because this feature was part of the reasons I upgraded to the most recent Apple TV. I know ARC feature is still technically in beta testing, but I don't think it's an expected bug even for a beta feature.

Are you aware of anything that may be the cause of that? Is there a fix that I can do on my side?

Thank you very much!
 
Perhaps a language barrier, but I’m having a bit of trouble understanding what is connected to what, and how. So let me just say that the idea behind using HDMI-ARC is to allow the TV to be the hub (so to speak) to control which streaming device it is using at any given time, and to allow those streaming devices to control the ON/OFF and VOL of the TV through their own remotes. In such a setup, typically the TV's HDMI-ARC port will be connected directly to the sound system, and all the streaming/gaming devices will be connected to the non-HDMI-ARC ports on the TV. That is how the TV controls what is playing as well as the sound system.

However, you are not using a sound system as such, you are using a pair of HomePods connected directly to your Apple TV. In such a setup, the TV has no idea that those HomePods are even connected, or even exist. So no wonder you are having difficulties. I'm pretty sure that using HomePods for a sound system for anything but the Apple TV is going to be problematic. Apple did not give them an HDMI port, so they cannot be connected to the TV for sound system usage. Apple screwed the pooch on this. They will work with the Apple TV of course, but they will be a PITA when trying to use them for the TV or other streaming devices.

It sounds like you connected the Apple TV to the TV's HDMI-ARC port, in which case the TV is probably struggling to figure out how the use the Apple TV for sound. No wonder it is screwing up. Your Apple TV is sitting in the connection chain between the TV and the HomePods, and the TV cannot understand how to control the HomePods, it doesn't even know they exists. The HomePods would need to connect directly to the TV for this to work, but Apple didn't design them to work that way, so it won't.
 
Last edited:
w5jck said:
Your Apple TV is sitting in the connection chain between the TV and the HomePods, and the TV cannot understand how to control the HomePods, it doesn't even know they exists. The HomePods would need to connect directly to the TV for this to work, but Apple didn't design them to work that way, so it won't.
Click to expand...

you've apparently missed a feature of the updated version of the aTV 4K,
It can receive audio from the TV over ARC, and forward it on to homepods. The TV doesn't have to know how to control the hompods, It simply sends commands over HDMI-CEC to the appleTV, and the appleTV controls the hompoeds. In much the same way than an appleTV can control a sound bar

Use HDMI ARC or eARC with your Apple TV 4K - Apple Support

With HDMI ARC or eARC turned on, your Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and later) can receive high-quality audio from a supported TV, then play that audio through your HomePod or HomePod mini speakers.
support.apple.com support.apple.com


You also seem to have misunderstood the difference between HDMI-ARC (audio return channel), and HDMI-CEC (consumer electronics control)

passing the volume, power, and other commands is HDMI-CEC. which allows commands to be sent over the HDMI cable
it has nothing to do with audio, it's only control

passing audio "backwards" down an HDMI cable, is HDMI-ARC
it has no control aspect, it only allows audio to travel out of an Input on your device.

Most of the time if a TV supports one, it will support the other


To the OP,
sorry, not sure what would help, my only suggestion would have been a new cable
Do you have the same problem when using the TV as a source (antenna, or onboard app) instead of the switch?

Does the switch have any options regarding audio output?
 
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waw74 said:
you've apparently missed a feature of the updated version of the aTV 4K,
It can receive audio from the TV over ARC, and forward it on to homepods. The TV doesn't have to know how to control the hompods, It simply sends commands over HDMI-CEC to the appleTV, and the appleTV controls the hompoeds. In much the same way than an appleTV can control a sound bar

Use HDMI ARC or eARC with your Apple TV 4K - Apple Support

With HDMI ARC or eARC turned on, your Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and later) can receive high-quality audio from a supported TV, then play that audio through your HomePod or HomePod mini speakers.
support.apple.com support.apple.com


You also seem to have misunderstood the difference between HDMI-ARC (audio return channel), and HDMI-CEC (consumer electronics control)

passing the volume, power, and other commands is HDMI-CEC. which allows commands to be sent over the HDMI cable
it has nothing to do with audio, it's only control

passing audio "backwards" down an HDMI cable, is HDMI-ARC
it has no control aspect, it only allows audio to travel out of an Input on your device.

Most of the time if a TV supports one, it will support the other


To the OP,
sorry, not sure what would help, my only suggestion would have been a new cable
Do you have the same problem when using the TV as a source (antenna, or onboard app) instead of the switch?

Does the switch have any options regarding audio output?
Click to expand...
Yeah I tried other inputs without success, it seems to be related to the Apple TV itself. Thank you for taking the time, I know it’s a niche issue
 
fwmireault said:
Thanks for the thread, I hope it will be fixed soon but not holding my breath
Click to expand...
Recently picked up an OLED for the bedroom. It kept shutting off and it was like.. WTH? turned of the HDMI control for everything and it stopped. I suspected it was the ATV, but couldn’t determine if that or the TV. No doubt some sort of glitch. TV is an LG. Not a big deal, but freaked me out with a new TV.
 
OverTheHill said:
Recently picked up an OLED for the bedroom. It kept shutting off and it was like.. WTH? turned of the HDMI control for everything and it stopped. I suspected it was the ATV, but couldn’t determine if that or the TV. No doubt some sort of glitch. TV is an LG. Not a big deal, but freaked me out with a new TV.
Click to expand...
I have a LG Old and Apple TV with no issues. How is yours set up?
 
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