Does anyone know if Apple TV 4K (1st gen) supports Spatial Audio via Airpods Pro on tvOS 15?
Thanks
tek
Thanks
tek
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Spatial Audio - Apple TV 4K 1st Gen
- Thread starter teknikal90
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I believe it does. I was watching a movie this week and immediately noticed the familiar spatial audio effect. It shocked me because I usually use my AirPods 2s (more comfy) and the sound was night and day different.
Now I’m torn between using my more comfortable AirPods 2s or better sounding AirPods Pro’s.
My 2017 ATV is on tvOS 15.
Now I’m torn between using my more comfortable AirPods 2s or better sounding AirPods Pro’s.
My 2017 ATV is on tvOS 15.
I don't know about tvOS 15, but here is what I do know about tvOS 14. Spatial audio is supported on my ATV 4K 1st gen via BT headsets, including my Amazon Echo Buds 2nd gen. If these 3rd party headsets support it, surely the AirPods Pro do. And if it is already supported on tvOS 14, surely it will be supported on tvOS 15. BTW, it sounds awesome!
Are you sure you are not mistaken? Apple clearly lists this as Coming this Fall. You have Immersive Audio Dolby Atmos available and selected under Settings>Audio Formant in tvOS 14?
EDIT: Also I just tested my B&W P7 and they don't work with Dolby Atmos on the ATV. The ATV doesn't offer an Always On option the way iOS 14/15 does. So it ONLY works with Apple AirPods. Pic 3 B&W P7's, Pic 4 AirPods Max with Dolby Atmos working. So you must be mistaken about tvOS 14 and 3ed party BT phones.
Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K. Our best audio and video quality. Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. Works seamlessly with Apple devices, services, and smart home.
www.apple.com
Last edited:
It should. I have it working on the 1st gen with AirPods Max, although the spatial audio introduces lip sync issues that make tv/movies unwatchable, at least to me.
Actually it does work via the Apple Music app on many devices including the ATV 4K 1st gen. However, I don't think it works yet with video streaming apps on ATV. To be clear, I’m talking about Spatial Audio only, not the head position feature. Those are two different things. So you can test out Spatial Audio via Apple Music on your devices now.
I wouldn't get too excited yet though, as it will take a while before a lot of video content will contain it. There are some songs that do.
Spatial Audio is Apple's nomenclature for Dolby Atmos. So Dolby Atmos=Spatial Audio (different names BUT the same thing) and you are not getting Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos. Not sure what you believe you are hearing but it is just the standard stereo track UNLESS it says Dolby Atmos which is not available in tvOS14.
Apple makes it sound like Dolby Atmos is a feature of Spatial Audio but that is just Apple spin. Here is a link to Apple's press release that will help explain it.
Apple Music announces Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio
The next generation of sound on Apple Music is coming to subscribers June 2021 at no additional cost.
www.apple.com
Head Tracking is a panning feature that is added and can be used in 2 channel stereo, 5.1 DD or Dolby Atmos. Head Tracking is available on most Apps in tvOS 15 I have tested except Youtube and Music.
Also here is from Coming This Fall to 4K Apple TV. As you can see Apple list Spatial Audio as coming this fall (tvOS15) and only lists Apple AirPods.
Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K. Our best audio and video quality. Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. Works seamlessly with Apple devices, services, and smart home.
www.apple.com
Last edited:
Also Apple states it is coming to Apple 4K and dosn't just say the current Sirir remote model (see post above). Why not just down load thew Beta and start enjoying Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio now? It is rock stable.
Open Apple Music and search for “Made for Spatial Audio“ and go to that page. You will see the quote below. Again, I’m talking about Spatial Audio in songs formatted for it within the Apple Music app on the ATV 4K. I do know what I’m talking about, but you don’t seem to know what you are talking about. Try it for yourself!
Yep. The Dolby Atmos tracks certainly work in TVOS 14. I’ve been enjoying it since release and I’ve used both Sony OTH cans and cheap Anker buds and Dolby Atmos was surely working with both so Apple headphones are not needed. I switched it off and on to be sure I was hearing a difference.
Edit: I also think the guy you’re replying to was specifically talking about Dolby tracks/spatial audio in movies/TV shows, not necessarily Apple Music. I don’t think that is working.
.
Last edited:
I pointed out rather clearly what I was referring to, but he apparently didn’t read closely enough. I agree, the Dolby Atmos for movies/TV shows won’t be available until tvOS 15, but you can certainly get a preview of what Spatial Audio will sound like via headphones and Apple Music right now. I wouldn’t hold my breath on finding a lot of movies and tv shows that use it though, that will take time…
As I understand it, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos are 2 completely different things, although Apple likes to use them terms in same sentence often.
Dolby Atmos is an immersive audio format from Dolby Labs, that adds height layer (read: speakers) to the already well-known 5.1 or 7.1 floor-level speakers. You need to install anywhere from 2 to 6 speakers into your ceiling to enjoy the format fully. A poor-mans alternative is Atmos-enabled speakers (i.e. using ceiling reflection instead of drilling holes).
The fact, that Atmos also replaces channel-based sound localization with object-based, does not have that profound impact on the listener.
This immersive audio format has been available on AppleTV 4K for some years now, but it required an Atmos-capable AVR or soundbar to be decoded + ceiling speakers to be useable.
Lately, Apple enabled the same format also for music (in Apple Music Atmos tracks).
Spatial audio is a digital signal processing technique that creates the illusion of 7 floor + 4 ceiling speakers from only 2 loudspeakers inside the headphones. It is achieved by using the Head-Related Transfer Function.
To sum up - in my understanding - immersive audio has been available to everyone who has Atmos capable AVR/Soundbar for quite some time now. Latest addition is Atmos in music tracks.
Spatial Audio makes all this available to listeners with headphones. I do not know of a method to use it with 2 front speakers, using external amp. Maybe with HomePods it works, but I do not have them, so can not comment.
Last but not least - in my humble opinion, listening to Spatial Audio via AirPod Pro-s is nowhere near the effect I get from my 5.2.4 speaker setup (ie 5 floor-level speakers + 2 subs + 4 height speakers).
Dolby Atmos is an immersive audio format from Dolby Labs, that adds height layer (read: speakers) to the already well-known 5.1 or 7.1 floor-level speakers. You need to install anywhere from 2 to 6 speakers into your ceiling to enjoy the format fully. A poor-mans alternative is Atmos-enabled speakers (i.e. using ceiling reflection instead of drilling holes).
The fact, that Atmos also replaces channel-based sound localization with object-based, does not have that profound impact on the listener.
This immersive audio format has been available on AppleTV 4K for some years now, but it required an Atmos-capable AVR or soundbar to be decoded + ceiling speakers to be useable.
Lately, Apple enabled the same format also for music (in Apple Music Atmos tracks).
Spatial audio is a digital signal processing technique that creates the illusion of 7 floor + 4 ceiling speakers from only 2 loudspeakers inside the headphones. It is achieved by using the Head-Related Transfer Function.
To sum up - in my understanding - immersive audio has been available to everyone who has Atmos capable AVR/Soundbar for quite some time now. Latest addition is Atmos in music tracks.
Spatial Audio makes all this available to listeners with headphones. I do not know of a method to use it with 2 front speakers, using external amp. Maybe with HomePods it works, but I do not have them, so can not comment.
Last but not least - in my humble opinion, listening to Spatial Audio via AirPod Pro-s is nowhere near the effect I get from my 5.2.4 speaker setup (ie 5 floor-level speakers + 2 subs + 4 height speakers).
Last edited:
Nope, same thing. Here you can bypass Apple completely to hear it on any device through any headphones. While Apple calls it Spatial Audio Dolby likes to refer to Atmos as Immersive Audio.
Edit: Apple may at some time in the future come out with it's own codec. However as of now all Spatial Audio are Atmos codec tracks. Switching Spatial Audio on simply enables the Atmos track. Switching off reverts to the AAC (or AALC) track.
Dolby Atmos Visualizer Music - Dolby
The Dolby Atmos Visualizer lets you demo Dolby Atmos Music. Switch between stereo and Dolby Atmos immersive sound to discover new levels of detail and clarity.
www.dolby.com
Dolby Atmos Visualizer Music - Dolby
The Dolby Atmos Visualizer lets you demo Dolby Atmos Music. Switch between stereo and Dolby Atmos immersive sound to discover new levels of detail and clarity.
www.dolby.com
Last edited:
The thing is - you can not hear Dolby Atmos (the kind you get from appleTV movies, tv shows and music) just with the 2 cans of your headphones. Atmos Renderer will not even decode Atmos, if you do not specifically have at least 2 height speakers configured. You'd hear only the basic 5.1 or 7.1 rendering, as in pre-Atmos era.Nope, same thing. Here you can bypass Apple completely to hear it on any device through any headphones. While Apple calls it Spatial Audio Dolby likes to refer to Atmos as Immersive Audio.
Edit: Apple may at some time in the future come out with it's own codec. However as of now all Spatial Audio are Atmos codec tracks. Switching Spatial Audio on simply enables the Atmos track. Switching off reverts to the AAC (or AALC) track.
Dolby Atmos Visualizer Music - Dolby
The Dolby Atmos Visualizer lets you demo Dolby Atmos Music. Switch between stereo and Dolby Atmos immersive sound to discover new levels of detail and clarity.Dolby Atmos Visualizer Music - Dolby
The Dolby Atmos Visualizer lets you demo Dolby Atmos Music. Switch between stereo and Dolby Atmos immersive sound to discover new levels of detail and clarity.
For that, you'd need spatial audio enabled. I.e. digital post-processing to create Atmos-like illusion just from 2 speakers.
I also have not paid attention if appleTV really has special provisions for Dolby Atmos for Headphones (like DTS:X has DTS Headphone:X). I do not find any clues about that.
But I am pretty confident that I have enjoyed Atmos from AppleTV since tvOS 12, long before Spatial Audio was even mentioned in any Apple marketing material.
Apple TV 4K Now Supports Dolby Atmos Audio | Mac Prices Australia
Apple TV 4K now officially supports Dolby Atmos sound technology. Learn what it is and how you can bring you the best cinema experience to your home.
www.macpricesaustralia.com.au
Last edited:
I was watching See from AppleTV+ with my AirPods Pro. With tvOS 15, the spatial audio on my Pros makes quite a difference compared to my AirPod 2s.
On my older AirPods, it was like the same sound being piped into both ears. But with my AirPods Pro, It sounded like there was the sound of rushing water in front of me, birds singing above me, and people walking from left to right along the river. It was amazing.
Plus, I almost had the feeling that I didn’t have any headphones on anymore. It’s really hard to explain. I literally pulled one earphone out to see if my ATV had accidentally started playing through my home theatre system.
On my older AirPods, it was like the same sound being piped into both ears. But with my AirPods Pro, It sounded like there was the sound of rushing water in front of me, birds singing above me, and people walking from left to right along the river. It was amazing.
Plus, I almost had the feeling that I didn’t have any headphones on anymore. It’s really hard to explain. I literally pulled one earphone out to see if my ATV had accidentally started playing through my home theatre system.
Last edited:
Nice! I'll have to try it with the Apple TV when I am not trying to make too much noise with the home theater system hahaha, our media room is directly below the main bedroom.