15.5.1 caused the issue to start for me. It was fine until i updated. That will teach me to update.
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Some Apple TV Users Complain of Dolby Atmos Audio Issues
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I've had the Atmos issue since I installed the height speakers about 6 months ago. Not sure what TV OS version it was.
I would have just returned the ATV 4K 2nd gen and bought an Nvidia Shield instead. Unfortunately I was out of the return window.
Don't get me wrong, but if the cable connection (Ethernet or Wifi) is responsible for the glitches, it should happened at every ATMOS/Vision Movie - at A+, Disney+ and Netflix. I only have the problems @netflix. And it's a different between ATMOS+Vision+4K (more glitches) or only ATMOS+Vision (almost no glitches)...
I think that netflix compressing mode/stream for the HDMI is buggy. If there is any failure between ATV and Dolby Encoder, we get the glitches - the HDMI stream is interrupted.
From my point of view, netflix is responsible for that.
I think that netflix compressing mode/stream for the HDMI is buggy. If there is any failure between ATV and Dolby Encoder, we get the glitches - the HDMI stream is interrupted.
From my point of view, netflix is responsible for that.
It does happen: had a tough time with "Severance" and "The Essex Serpent" on AppleTV+, "Encanto" on Disney+, and any number of movies on HBO Max. I switched from wired ethernet to wireless for "The Essex Serpent" and that cut the interruptions down from every few minutes to twice an episode, which to me was worth the tradeoff.
I have been watching "Stranger Things" on Netflix and the interruptions were intolerable until I switched to wifi and religiously reboot the AppleTV before each episode. That reboot in particular helps a lot and I watched the last episode without any glitches.
Turning off Atmos in the AppleTV settings in favor of 5.1 also fixes the problem. But what's the point of Atmos then? I could use the GoogleTV Netflix built into my TV over eARC, which works very well -- but it doesn't deliver Atmos. That's how I watched "Severance" using the GoogleTV AppleTV+ app before I knew about the reboot and wifi trick. I'm not willing to go to 1080p because that means giving up HDR as well.
If you're not encountering the problem, maybe you have slower internet (mine is 200/20), or a receiver/Atmos sound bar that's not as sensitive as the Denon 8500HA.
Agreed that Stranger Things was intolerable - switched to my Xbox and not one drop out with Atmos.
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You're right. To turn off the feature isn't the right way. Either way, from a technical point of view the internet connection doesn't make sense. But you have also the problems AT+, so that's new for me.
My theory is, if you reduce the band of the HDMI stream, it should work better (deactivate ATMOS for example). Have you try to turn off the dolby vision ? Or switching from HDMI 4:2:2 to 4:2:0 or to changed the HDMI cable? Anything which is reducing the quality of the picture but not the sound! Have you made the Apple HDMI test?
My setting comes close to your. AT+4K -> Yamaha RX-A3050 but I try to use a very good and short as possible HDMI cable. I never hat problems with AT+ - only netflix and stranger things was extrem! My internet speed is nearly 1Gbit and the ATV is cable connected.
My equipment cabinet is a good distance from the TV, with in-wall cables so the HDMI cable is an 18gbps cable installed in 2017 that's 35 feet long (horrors), cost only about $35 at Amazon, and has no trouble sending 4k with Dolby Vision to the TV. But that doesn't really matter since the HDMI cable between the AppleTV 4K and the Denon 8500HA is what counts for audio and that's a 48ghz cable; the Denon is pushing video over the cable to the TV, and audio to a separate amp and also directly to the in-ceiling speakers. I have video processing on the Denon turned off, for whatever that's worth. The setup easily passes the AppleTV's built-in video test and Dolby Vision is enabled. 4K BluRays follow the same path without any trouble. However, I do think I'm stuck at 4:2:0 because of the in-wall HDMI cable -- it's in conduit so I could replace it, but that's a pain and I don't think it would help.
It's important to note that the first-gen AppleTV 4K had no trouble with any of this but it was stuck at TVOS 14.7. I'd switch back the 2021 AppleTV 4k and let it update just to see if the problem was fixed but I always had to go back to the 2019 box. I kept using that until several months ago when it mysteriously managed to upgrade to 15.5 despite being set to not automatically do it, and sure enough, it now also has the problem. This sure seems to point to a software issue.
I did manage to watch "Resident Evil: Welcome To Racoon City" this evening in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos -- it was an 99 cent impulse rental from the Apple Store a few weeks ago and about to expire. Terrific Atmos sound, Dolby Vision was excellent and no dropouts and I forgot to reboot before starting it. Not even close to a good movie, but it is what it is and it was a nice workout for my system.
It's not the HDMI cable. I use 48gbps cables which are 3 feet long.
I've never had the issue with Disney either. Only with the Netflix app and it's totally random. Sometimes I can watch a couple of episodes and it doesn't happen, sometimes it happens every 5 mins.
I've never had the issue with Disney either. Only with the Netflix app and it's totally random. Sometimes I can watch a couple of episodes and it doesn't happen, sometimes it happens every 5 mins.
Has everyone who has experienced the issue talked to Apple Support about it? I spoke with them for almost an hour today. The senior tech analyst took a look at the issue tracker they work off of, and said that only a small handful of people are experiencing a similar issue. If you have this issue contact Apple Support - hopefully the more people that report it will bump it up higher on their list of priorities.
Same here. I use an Apple TV 4K first gen and stereo paired original homepods. It started with 15.5 for me.
I specified because I read some comments saying that the issue only affected the 2021 Apple TV, which is not true.
I had to disable Atmos and go back to caveman 5.1 surround to watch Stranger Things.
At this point I think I will just buy an Nvidia Shield. This is intolerable.
At this point I think I will just buy an Nvidia Shield. This is intolerable.
I had to disable atmos on latest apple 4K running through denon 8300 receiver and 5.1.2 speaker set up watching Netflix interceptor. Has happened on other streams but this was so bad and often I had to shut off atmos on Apple TV (next may try receiver side). Clicks, pops and drop outs w worrisome sounds that sounded like they could hurt drivers since watching at volume (calibrated room).
Only thing stopping me there is I sometimes like to listen via my AirPods or AirPods Max and they just work better with the AppleTV than they would with the Shield.
I’ve posted on this topic string somewhere previously. I wanted to report back to the community with some additional proof that the AppleTV 4k (new version) along with the latest tvOS is the issue with Dolby Atmos playback. Most of us already know this, but my case offers further evidence.
my setup: hard line +300Mbps internet connection to my ATV, a certified hdmi cable (48gbps) from ATV to a Denon AVR x4700h, and then sound to a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker setup.
streaming through AppleTV gives me issues on DA content across the board (AppleTV+, Disney+, Apple Music, Netflix). Like most others with the issue, Netflix is the worst.
I recently got a 4k ultra HD blu ray player with built in Netflix app (Panasonic DP-UB820). I can stream all Netflix content through the Panasonic into my Denon and absolutely zero sound issues. None!
The Panasonic is on the same hard wired internet connection and using the same type of hdmi cable. It’s set for bitstream sound output to my receiver.
So, the AppleTV 4k and current tvOS combination is the difference. It just doesn’t work right.
like others have said, hopefully 16 will work properly.
my setup: hard line +300Mbps internet connection to my ATV, a certified hdmi cable (48gbps) from ATV to a Denon AVR x4700h, and then sound to a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker setup.
streaming through AppleTV gives me issues on DA content across the board (AppleTV+, Disney+, Apple Music, Netflix). Like most others with the issue, Netflix is the worst.
I recently got a 4k ultra HD blu ray player with built in Netflix app (Panasonic DP-UB820). I can stream all Netflix content through the Panasonic into my Denon and absolutely zero sound issues. None!
The Panasonic is on the same hard wired internet connection and using the same type of hdmi cable. It’s set for bitstream sound output to my receiver.
So, the AppleTV 4k and current tvOS combination is the difference. It just doesn’t work right.
like others have said, hopefully 16 will work properly.
Exactly. Not having HDMI audio passthrough is the biggest flaw with the AppleTV. This would most likely solve all the Atmos issues and plenty of other issues such as inconsistent audio sync, apps like Plex having to transcode audio on the Fly, etc.
I'm still using an Nvidia Shield from 2016 just for Plex simply because it has HDMI audio passthrough. I can send any audio codec straight to the receiver (Atmos, DTS-HD, etc) with zero dropouts and perfect sync. Other than lacking DV and Atmos outside of Plex, it's still absolutely flawless.
I'm having the same issues with sound loss. It happens most frequently, for me, on Netflix and the Directv Stream app- sometimes no sound immediately when opening the app and other times it will lose sound seemingly randomly while watching (it seems to lose it most frequently when a commercial break starts and then it just never returns). I've tried everything recommended here and in other threads- updates, reboots, resets, new high quality cables, individually toggling all settings on the tv, ATV4k, and Samsung sound bar. Nothing works, aside from switching to 5.1. When I swap out the ATV4k for a FireTV Cube, all works fine and I experience no issues with Atmos content. As much as I'm an Apple fanboy and much prefer the UI and AirPods pairing over the other offerings, I didn't buy all of the equipment necessary to play Atmos content just to not be able to enjoy it on the most expensive (mainstream) box that is supposed to support it. The fact that Apple isn't even addressing it after months of complaints is frustrating to say the least- making us spend hours browsing the web (unnecessarily buying new cables) and trying to fix it ourselves.