Question about Apple TV

[xJustxMegx]

Hi there,

My parents might get an Apple TV too but I'm wondering about the following.

They're using a home cinemaset for the sound (so no sound via the TV) is this possible with an Apple TV or not?

 

[MacManiac76]

Definitely can be done as long as the home cinema sound receiver has an HDMI input for the Apple TV connection. The receiver will then process the sound from the Apple TV and output it to the connected speakers.

 

[waw74]

depends on what the audio system input is.

The aTV only has HDMI out, usually your TV will have some sort of audio out. That may be a line out. Or what's called an HDMI-ARC port. ARC stands for audio return channel, and it will let you send audio out over one of the HDMI inputs, Your audio gear also has to support ARC.

If the TV doesn't have audio out, then you'll need an audio extractor.
It's a small box with 2 HDMI ports, and some sort of audio out.
You'll run HDMI from the aTV to the box, and then from the box to the TV.
For audio out, you can get RCA (the small round red/white) (it may have an 1/8" jack like old headphones, and then you need a cable to RCA from that), or optical, or coaxial (digital signal, but on a single black RCA jack)
if you search for "HDMI audio extractor" on amazon or google, you'll find plenty of options, just look for one that has ports that match your audio device. You'll also want to make sure you have 2 HDMI cables, and whatever audio cable you need. If your TV supports 4k, HDR, or dolby vision, you'll want to make sure the extractor also supports it.

another option, but less than ideal is an airplay box, you can use airplay to send audio from the aTV over your home network to a box, and then that box has an audio out. The main one I know about is the Belkin sound form connect. It's got a 1/8" jack and optical audio out. Using airplay, you may run into network issues, and you will have to reconnect at a minimum every time you turn on the aTV. It's a couple clicks from anywhere you are in the aTV, So not hard, just annoying. It will also be limited to stereo.

 

[xJustxMegx]

Hi both,

I believe the audioset is connected with HDMI to the TV now, but the Apple TV need that too right?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

• AppleTV HDMI OUT to "cinemaset" HDMI IN AND
• "Cinemaset" HDMI OUT to TV HDMI IN

In other words, you need 2 HDMI ports.

Depending on if TV and "cinemaset" can work with eARC, you might be able to:

• AppleTV HDMI OUT to TV HDMI IN and
• TV eARC HDMI OUT to "cinemaset" HDMI

Be more specific about available ports on both TV and "cinemaset" (take pictures if you can) and we can be of better help. Else, if you know the specific model of them, locate the online versions of the manuals and share a link to them. They will cover what can and can't be done, usually including a diagram of available ports.

Ultimately though, you need a place to route the video & audio HDMI signal from AppleTV that will ultimately get to the TV screen and (whatever) audio/speakers setup.

If "cinemaset" has only the one HDMI port and TV doesn't have eARC, you might want to think about gifting them a better sound system with HDMI "passthrough" or a newer TV with eARC. Else, there are little boxes that "split" HDMI signals so you can:

• AppleTV HDMI OUT to HDMI splitter box
• Splitter box HDMI OUT (video) to TV HDMI IN
• Splitter box HDMI OUT (audio) to "cinemaset" HDMI IN

While the concept of HDMI splitters is very simple and such boxes are relatively cheap, finding one that is fully compatible with AppleTV is difficult. While just about any will work with basic TV and this "cinemaset" audio, other functionality like HDMI-CEC, ATMOS audio, HDR, etc may be impacted with a "middleman" splitter box. Such functionality may not matter or even apply to their setup but- at least- CEC is the one that lets one button turn everything on and off.

And if they currently lean on any apps in the TV (or the TV using over-the-air signals from an antenna or cable), this setup would interrupt flow of audio from TV to speakers in favor or injecting AppleTV. In other words, AppleTV would need to take over for whatever they watch in this splitter setup. If they want to keep using the TV as they do now, you need to preserve the connections of TV to speaker system and thus need AppleTV HDMI signal to be delivered to TV where it will display the video and pass through the audio (which is usually via eARC HDMI port). Look for the (eArc) reference on one of the TV ports as shown in port 2 in this example...

If "cinemaset" is not already connected to that port, you might switch it to the eARC port and then connect AppleTV to one of the other HDMI ports. If this is available with their equipment, you are probably set- no splitter required.