Some Apple TV Users Complain of Dolby Atmos Audio Issues

[MacRumors]

A cluster of Apple TV owners over the last several months have been complaining about several issues when using external speakers with the Apple TV and attempting to listen to Dolby Atmos audio.

A thread on Apple's support forums, which started in September 2021 and has over 25 pages of users sharing complaints, chronicles how users are experiencing issues with their Apple TV and Dolby Atmos. According to users, when listening to Dolby Atmos content, audio will sometimes either completely cut out and go silent, goes out of sync with the videos on the screen, or is choppy and stutters.

While there are some users who are experiencing the issue across Apple TV apps, a large portion of the complaints come from when users use the Netflix app. Some users have found that changing audio settings and disabling Dolby Atmos entirely solves the issues. Apple released tvOS 15.4.1 last month and that update does not seem to have addressed the bugs. Are you experiencing similar issues? Let us know down in the comments.

Article Link: Some Apple TV Users Complain of Dolby Atmos Audio Issues

 

[Sciomar]

I have experienced the sync issues, reminds me of the old Kung Fu movies! Luckily no full cut out issues yet.

 

[WilliamG]

I’ve been experiencing this for months - cutouts and choppiness to audio. I have 2x Apple TV 4K and both do it. One is hooked up to a Denon receiver and the other to a Sony soundbar.

Apple has shown a complete lack of care with the Apple TV for years, so this doesn’t surprise me (it took years for them to enable proper 24.000hz playback instead of playing said media at 23.976hz, causing frame stutter).

Yes, in the meantime switching off Atmos “solves” the problem (even for NON-Atmos content!), but that’s a real shame, of course.

 

[Robert Coggins]

YES this is a nightmare and its not just NETFLIX. Sonos. I have to reboot my APPLE TV just to get audio back.

 

[ZzapDK]

Yes, I have recently started having sound issues where the sound cuts off on external speakers. I figured it was my receiver, so I'm currently considering upgrading that. Perhaps I should wait for a tvOS bugfix instead :-/

 

[Mac4Brains]

Knowing Apple, they will say the devices are fine and it is an issue generated by the users.

 

[B/D]

Same here with a first generation apple tv 4k and original stereo paired homepods as its default audio output. Turning atmos off in the apple tv settings solves everything.

In my case is not just audio cutting out/being choppy, but occasional volume fluctuations while watching content.

Turning Atmos not only fixe every audio issue for Atmos content, but for 5.1 content as well.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I have a Samsung sound bar and I have constant audio drops. Only with the Apple TV. Xbox, PlayStation and Switch are fine.

 

[B/D]

I have a Samsung sound bar and I have constant audio drops. Only with the Apple TV. Xbox, PlayStation and Switch are fine.

Yeah, tvOS 15.3/15.4/15.4.1 its been rough.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Yup, it's been something that I've noticed a lot too. Audio seems to be unbalanced, loudness isn't consistent (like it can be at 50% and fine one episode, then next it's crazy loud so back down to 15%). Doesn't seem to affect specific apps, it's all content as far as I can tell.

Audio can also sound "off", like a speaker is occluded or something. It randomly fades back to normal sometimes too.

 

[PHXKevin]

I have this issue mainly with Netflix and it’s infuriating. I am using fully tested (using an actual HDMI tester) cables and have all of my EDIDs set correctly. The only source I have audio issues with is the Apple TV.

 

[lenard]

Many factors involved here. HDMI cable, the TV its connected to and the use of EARC
For myself I have not had any of those problems and I play Dolby Atmos content all the time.

 

[0920730]

The only issue I've experienced is when I play Apple Music, it cuts off about the first second of the song before it plays.

 

[foldpages]

Noticed this with Netflix and Sonos. Netflix sounds horrible

 

[SpringKid]

I'm very glad I'm not experiencing this, it would drive my crazy. I have the original 4K Apple TV hooked up to a Denon X1600H receiver, in a 5.1.2 Atmos setup.

Is it specific content, or a general issue?

 

[mrdoodle]

It seems to happen on my TV (Sony A8H) a lot, but randomly.

Usually when fast forwarding on 4K content, the audio will drop. I have to exit to the menu and then play again. Sometimes there is no audio when I start playing. Same solution, exit back to menu and play again.

It’s happens around once every ten times.

 

[Colonel Badger]

Yup. Only started recently for me but it was happening in almost every episode of Slow Horses on ATV+.

I'm using latest ATV 4K to Yamaha Receiver

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

WWDC:

• Snow Monterey! (maybe 2 years of snow for this one)
• Snow iOS!
• Snow ipadOS!
• Snow tvOS!
• Etc.

Please Apple, take the time and focus to fix bugs. I miss "just works."

 

[ryantoyota]

Yup, I’ve been getting the audio stutter issues on Dolby Atmos content. Tends to happen about once every half hour or hour of content and lasts about 5–10 seconds each time. Super annoying. I upgraded my HDMI cables thinking perhaps it was a bandwidth issue, but that didn’t fix it. At least it’s better than the super loud audio static issues I was occasionally getting last year.

 

[npmacuser5]

Too many cooks In the kitchen. The TV, sound bar/home theater, HDMI, Apple TV, multiple sound techniques, network and the list goes on. It’s a wonder any sound comes out. As noted, sometimes no sound the result. The old days with wires and simple stereo sound are starting to look good. 🤔

 

[lkrupp]

Nope. Apple TV 4K 2021 -> Denon AVR-S960H (5.1.2) -> Sony XR-65X90J. No drop outs, no sync issues, Atmos plays perfectly all the time, every time.

 

[klojewski]

Yay a thread about it! I thought it was Netflix. I was just testing a new Atmos speaker setup last night. Audio cuts out for about 5 seconds, periodically. I thought Netflix was saving money by only letting one person at a time hear audio

 

[lkrupp]

Too many cooks In the kitchen. The TV, the sound bar/home theater, HDMI, Apple TV, multiple sound techniques, network and the list goes on. It’s a wonder any sound comes out. As noted, sometimes no sound the result. The old days with wires and simple stereo sound are starting to look good. ?

And from personal experience I’m not that impressed with Dolby Atmos. I depends how the sound track has been encoded for Atmos. For the extra gear and cost I’m not sure it’s worth it.

 

[Jdalbo]

A cluster of Apple TV owners over the last several months have been complaining about several issues when using external speakers with the Apple TV and attempting to listen to Dolby Atmos audio.

A thread on Apple's support forums, which started in September 2021 and has over 25 pages of users sharing complaints, chronicles how users are experiencing issues with their Apple TV and Dolby Atmos. According to users, when listening to Dolby Atmos content, audio will sometimes either completely cut out and go silent, goes out of sync with the videos on the screen, or is choppy and stutters.

While there are some users who are experiencing the issue across Apple TV apps, a large portion of the complaints come from when users use the Netflix app. Some users have found that changing audio settings and disabling Dolby Atmos entirely solves the issues. Apple released tvOS 15.4.1 last month and that update does not seem to have addressed the bugs. Are you experiencing similar issues? Let us know down in the comments.

Article Link: Some Apple TV Users Complain of Dolby Atmos Audio Issues

Have 2 of the current 4K units. Use both daily with Atmos and have ZERO issues. Have my ATV running through a 1 year old Yamaha with the top of the line HDMI cables.

 

[RandySolares]

Have the same issues with my 2nd gen APTV 4K but not 1st gen.