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Losing sound with APTV 4k....

Chevysales

Chevysales

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 30, 2019
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No sound (intermittent) with just Samsung 65" Q90... which btw worked fine since 2017 with previous APTV 4th gen which I moved upstairs and still works fine.

But this new 32gb Xmas gift with the Siri Remote will when turned on lately 9 out of 10 times have no sound.

The first time I noticed it happening volume control went to 100 on screen and stayed there but with no sound. I sometimes use it with my OG HomePod too. All connects as it should on screen but with no sound.

Nothing worse than putting on a concert or movie switching to Atv and nothing but a picture... :(

When I click remote I can see the Atv white light flashing as it receives signal from Siri remote.

Of course once switching back to set top box Comcast/Xfinity the sound works fine with other inputs.

It may be from last Atv update just not sure when it started. As this worked on Xmas setup fine.
But IMO its either the Siri Remote or the latest tvOS update that's the issue. It worked fine when first hooked up at Xmas.

I've tried switching HDMI cable from a cheap one to an AudioQuest directional one with no difference.
Waste of $ at Best Buy.

Only way I get it to pick up sound again either thru TV speakers or OG HomePod which I use on some movies/concerts is unpairing and repairing, or doing full reset of TV.

Google shows others with same issue, enough that there are instances of it and also web pages that have one do the usual things. All of which I've tried.

I was hoping maybe someone here had come across same issue or has some more insight into it.
All the flowchart fixes I've tried before posting here.

Thanks of all responses join advance.
 
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I too occasionally lose sound on my 2nd gen ATV4K, which is connected to my AVR using HDMI. The behavior is peculiar--I first notice the lack of sound when I don't hear any navigation clicks. Then, when I launch Netflix, the beginning "N" Netflix logo and associated sound causes the ATV sound to kick in. If I launch one of the other streaming apps like Amazon or HBO Max, the sound doesn't kick in. If I can't get the sound to work, a reset of the ATV usually fixes the problem.

I have posted about this issue in other forums, but have not received any useful feedback. The issue is minor, so I am not overly concerned. I am running the beta versions of TVos, and I don't recall this issue being present on earlier betas, so it may be a software bug.
 
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Chevysales said:
No sounder just Samsung Q90... which btw worked fine since 2017 with previous APTV 4th gen which I moved upstairs and still works fine.

But this new 32gb Xmas gift with the Siri Remote will when turned on lately 9 out of 10 times have no sound.

The first time I noticed it happening volume control went to 100 on screen and stayed there but with no sound.

When I click remote I can see the APtv white light flashing as it receives signal from remote.

Of course once switching back to set top box Comcast/Xfinity the sound works fine with other inputs.

It may be from last APtv update just not sure when it started.
But IMO its definitely the Siri Remote that's the issue.
I've tried switching HDMI cable from a cheap one to an AudioQuest one with no difference.

Only way I get it to pick up sound again either thru TV speakers or OG HomePod is unpairing and repairing, or doing full reset of TV.

Google shows this is pretty common at least common enough that there are lots of instances of it and also web pages that have one do the usual things.

I was hoping maybe someone here had a bit more insight on this?

tia
Click to expand...
This sounds like the audio settings on your TV are not set to output the proper sound to the external audio system. They usually have 3 or 4 settings, and you have to find the best one that is compatible with your audio system and also compatible with the audio type. For example, it might work with Dolby Digital but not with Atmos. Once you find the best setting that works with everything you should be okay.

When I set up my ATV 4K 2017 to use with my Sony Bravia and Sony soundbar, my TV had three options for audio out: Auto 1, Auto 2, and PCM. I found that PCM worked with nearly everything, as did Auto 2, but Auto 1 wouldn’t work with my ATV 4K. So you might just need to experiment to find the best audio out setting for your home theater setup.
 
w5jck said:
This sounds like the audio settings on your TV are not set to output the proper sound to the external audio system. They usually have 3 or 4 settings, and you have to find the best one that is compatible with your audio system and also compatible with the audio type. For example, it might work with Dolby Digital but not with Atmos. Once you find the best setting that works with everything you should be okay.

When I set up my ATV 4K 2017 to use with my Sony Bravia and Sony soundbar, my TV had three options for audio out: Auto 1, Auto 2, and PCM. I found that PCM worked with nearly everything, as did Auto 2, but Auto 1 wouldn’t work with my ATV 4K. So you might just need to experiment to find the best audio out setting for your home theater setup.
Click to expand...
No. I double checked those to make sure Samsung software does a check when you change sound outputs and won't allow the change if its not compatible with speakers. Like my setup won't do 5.1 since I don't have the speakers. Only Stereo. In older ones I recall an auto setting but don't see it on newer Sammy's.

The settings are correct as far as I can tell on the Atv and in actual TV.

I’ve run two previous Apple TV generations without any issue. I liked those remotes too maybe I got so used to them compared to this Siri. (Only thing I like better was talking my password instead of the terrible sliding all over screen choosing letters).
I’ve gone through every single setting multiple times. Actually hoping it was there but no luck.
Samsung has 2 settings along with standard HDMI and aArc HDMI. I’ve went through those.

I’d bet my house this is related to newer Siri Remote and/or recent update.

Nothing works for years then just stops like this. None of my settings changed from previous ones.
Especially in light of the fact both Samsung and Comcast remotes control sound issue free.

Anyhow I’ll keep playing with it while cross fingers.

Thanks for the responses folks it’s appreciated.
 
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AustinJerry said:
I too occasionally lose sound on my 2nd gen ATV4K, which is connected to my AVR using HDMI. The behavior is peculiar--I first notice the lack of sound when I don't hear any navigation clicks. Then, when I launch Netflix, the beginning "N" Netflix logo and associated sound causes the ATV sound to kick in. If I launch one of the other streaming apps like Amazon or HBO Max, the sound doesn't kick in. If I can't get the sound to work, a reset of the ATV usually fixes the problem.

I have posted about this issue in other forums, but have not received any useful feedback. The issue is minor, so I am not overly concerned. I am running the beta versions of TVos, and I don't recall this issue being present on earlier betas, so it may be a software bug.
Click to expand...
I'm leaning more towards software myself. Mine was fine when hooked up at Xmas I just am not sure when this happened which would have helped me figuring it out.
 
I would like to revert from the beta SW I am currently using to the latest non-beta version to see if the issue is resolved, but I have looked for instructions on how to do this and have found nothing that works. If anyone can point me to a working procedure, that would be appreciated.
 
AustinJerry said:
I would like to revert from the beta SW I am currently using to the latest non-beta version to see if the issue is resolved, but I have looked for instructions on how to do this and have found nothing that works. If anyone can point me to a working procedure, that would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Funny you say that as I would love to revert to software it came with. I found nothing in that regard.
Good luck
 
Chevysales said:
No. I double checked those to make sure Samsung software does a check when you change sound outputs and won't allow the change if its not compatible with speakers. Like my setup won't do 5.1 since I don't have the speakers. Only Stereo. In older ones I recall an auto setting but don't see it on newer Sammy's.

The settings are correct as far as I can tell on the Atv and in actual TV.

I’ve run two previous Apple TV generations without any issue. I liked those remotes too maybe I got so used to them compared to this Siri. (Only thing I like better was talking my password instead of the terrible sliding all over screen choosing letters).
I’ve gone through every single setting multiple times. Actually hoping it was there but no luck.
Samsung has 2 settings along with standard HDMI and aArc HDMI. I’ve went through those.

I’d bet my house this is related to newer Siri Remote and/or recent update.

Nothing works for years then just stops like this. None of my settings changed from previous ones.
Especially in light of the fact both Samsung and Comcast remotes control sound issue free.

Anyhow I’ll keep playing with it while cross fingers.

Thanks for the responses folks it’s appreciated.
Click to expand...
You are missing the point. There are three devices involved. Assuming you installed the speaker system to be controlled by your TV, then the streaming device sends the audio signal to the TV which in turn sends it to the audio system. So TV audio settings that work with a Fire TV sent to the TV then sent to the audio system might not work with a ATV 4K sending the audio to the TV which then sends it to the audio system. The TV settings MUST be compatible with the streaming box and the audio system. Don't blame the remote...
 
w5jck said:
You are missing the point. There are three devices involved. Assuming you installed the speaker system to be controlled by your TV, then the streaming device sends the audio signal to the TV which in turn sends it to the audio system. So TV audio settings that work with a Fire TV sent to the TV then sent to the audio system might not work with a ATV 4K sending the audio to the TV which then sends it to the audio system. The TV settings MUST be compatible with the streaming box and the audio system. Don't blame the remote...
Click to expand...
What speaker system…. I’m using the built in speaker from the Q90. No soundbar or external speakers. No Fire TV either.
Occasionally I stream thru the original large Homepod but do that in addition to tv speaker. Of course it’s compatible. It’s basic stereo sound. Nothing more.
Both had no issues with both 3rd Gen and 4th Gen Apple TV’s until this new Siri Remote.

It could be latest update too. It’s either one or the other imo.
 
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AustinJerry said:
So you listen to multi-channel audio in stereo? That sounds like an extreme solution to an issue that can usually be cleared by simply re-starting the device.
Click to expand...
One quickly tires of restarting a device just to get audio. And since Apple and Samsung are in an eternal tiff, this is not likely to get fixed anytime soon. It’s been happening for years …
 
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