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Paco II

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 13, 2009
2,288
706
I'd like to be able to watch a show on my Apple TV (HD), but listen to the audio through bluetooth headphones connected to my iPhone. I don't want to connect the headphones directly to the Apple TV. This is a feature I've come to love in the Roku stick I've got. Is there a way to do this with the Apple TV?
 

Paco II

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 13, 2009
2,288
706
For that iPhone would need to be AirPlay 2 receiver.
So far it is not.
Where is the value of that solution?

It’s fantastic actually. To easily be able to send audio to headphones via the phone has saved my marriage Very unfortunate I can’t do this with my Apple TV.
 

Paco II

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 13, 2009
2,288
706

Because being connected to my phone gives me the flexibility to walk around the house, as well as avoids the hassle of having to manually connect to them every time. Trust me, having done this with Roku, it’s fantastic.
 

Paco II

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 13, 2009
2,288
706
Hmm, sounds like you are talking about wired headphones?
I have no problem pairing the bluetooth wireless headphones (either AirPods or Sony's) directly to aTV. That is why I do not see the need to have the phone as a middleman in this equation.

Because connecting them is a hassle. When I turn them on they auto connect to my phone. Having to go into Apple TV Bluetooth settings every time to connect is a PITA. Trust me, Roku’s feature is awesome. It sounds like Apple TV won’t do this. Too bad.
 

Nwtmac

macrumors newbie
Mar 10, 2023
4
3
I would actually like this feature because it’s the easiest way I know to have audio from the AppleTV and from a call going through my headphones at the same time. This is useful for watching something together with someone long distance. It is possible to do with a Mac, but it would be much more convenient to do with an iPhone, as is possible with a roku.
 

bozzykid

macrumors 68020
Aug 11, 2009
2,479
535
Because connecting them is a hassle. When I turn them on they auto connect to my phone. Having to go into Apple TV Bluetooth settings every time to connect is a PITA. Trust me, Roku’s feature is awesome. It sounds like Apple TV won’t do this. Too bad.
Get a pair of bluetooth headphones just for the Apple TV. They will auto connect every time.
 

coinserv

macrumors newbie
Jul 15, 2023
1
0
My hearing aids will only connect to my iPhone. I can hear my ROKU tv using my ROKU APP, why can't I do this with Apple TV? Come on Apple catch up!!
 

bozzykid

macrumors 68020
Aug 11, 2009
2,479
535
My hearing aids will only connect to my iPhone. I can hear my ROKU tv using my ROKU APP, why can't I do this with Apple TV? Come on Apple catch up!!
Roku created a clunky way of listening with headphones because they didn't include bluetooth in most of their devices (and they want to push their app). There is about a 0 percent chance Apple will add this feature since Apple TV devices natively have bluetooth.
 

HobeSoundDarryl

macrumors G5
The simplest solution for you: Watch whatever you want to watch and listen that way on the Roku you already have.

The simplest workaround for when you want to use the AppleTV instead: Presumably this is not something you want ALL of the time- just some of the time. So in that "some," airplay whatever you want to watch from your phone to AppleTV. Since your phone will be the source of what you are watching, the buds you have will work and take phone calls too. Bonus with this is that if you are out of sight of your TV as you are roaming around and you hear something that makes you want to see the video too, you can watch it on your phone vs. going back to the TV room.

If this is a frequent want, post #10 is probably next best option for when you want to use AppleTV instead of Roku.

If your AppleTV is pushing audio through an AV Receiver, you can probably connect buds to the receiver to facilitate this want. If no receiver, there are bluetooth transmitter devices for relatively cheap: AppleTV to Transmitter, synch buds to transmitter. However, both of these 2 options face the same issue of having to choose to which device you want buds linked (phone vs. receiver/transmitter) unless you get some dedicated buds/phones for this option (#10 again).
 
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