TVOS 17 No 5.1 sound on many audio tracks

[Zayatoshi]

Hello everybody. I'M on apple tv 4k 2022.
Since the 1st Beta (TvOS 17), it has a sound problem with 5.1 audio tracks.
On almost all 5.1 audio tracks on movies, when playing the track, the sound disappears.
This problem is present on all Prime Video / Netflix / Apple TV applications.
In the settings I am in auto mode at the sound level. The problem disappears if I go back to stereo mode.
If I go back to 5.1 ATmos auto, no more sound on 5.1 tracks.
I have several people who have the same problem as me under TvOS 17.
I restart the Apple TV, the sound is present for a few seconds, then disappears after a few seconds when playing a 5.1 track.
Same problem whether through the tv speaker or the sound bar.
Have you seen similar issues with TvOS 17 and loss of sound on 5.1 tracks?

 

[mallbritton]

Well, this is a beta OS. You should expect some problems. Be sure and report the issue to Apple.

 

[ccontreras]

I have the same problem on 2 apple TVs (different configuration... SONOS beam or ONKYO amplifier)
Until beta 4 (tvOS beta 4 (21J5318f) it worked fine for me.
Unfortunately it cannot be downgraded to tvOS16. I had to buy another Apple TV... and sell the one that is failing

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I believe you could have reset to factory and then updated to the latest non-beta version to fix the problem until the official release arrives.

OP, you should be able to do exactly this to resolve the issue. Don't play with betas unless you are willing to face beta tester issues. Beta work uncovers stuff like this and then (hopefully) fixes it for the official releases.

 

[Audit13]

The non-beta of tvOS 17 releases on September 18 (https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/12/tvos-17-homepod-software-17/) and, hopefully, this will resolve the issue.

 

[ccontreras]

I believe you could have reset to factory and then updated to the latest non-beta version to fix the problem until the official release arrives.

OP, you should be able to do exactly this to resolve the issue. Don't play with betas unless you are willing to face beta tester issues. Beta work uncovers stuff like this and then (hopefully) fixes it for the official releases.

Hello, thank you for the recommendation. I made several attempts to restore to factory mode without positive results, I even took it to an Apple technical service, the answer is that it is not possible to downgrade these models.

 

[gerdav]

I assume the public release has come out with everything else today, I have had no update and the get beta releases option has disappeared, otherwise this issue is still very much present in the public release, if this is the public release then looking at the date of the first post the issue is three months old and it’s not exactly a small issue imo then it’s pretty disgusting they have released it to the public in this state.

 

[bep5500]

I assume the public release has come out with everything else today, I have had no update and the get beta releases option has disappeared, otherwise this issue is still very much present in the public release, if this is the public release then looking at the date of the first post the issue is three months old and it’s not exactly a small issue imo then it’s pretty disgusting they have released it to the public in this state.

Yep same problem here! I actually wasn’t aware of the issue until the update today… now I learn it’s been a problem for months! Really not happy let’s hope now it’s out in the wild more voices can get behind the problem

 

[DillingerX]

my sonos arc is not working like it used to, i have to send the sound via airplay and i lose a lot of controls.

not sure if a sonos issue or apple but its annoying

 

[melapple]

No such issue after updating my 2015 Apple TV HD to TVOS 17 if owners of this model are on the fence about updating

 

[AustinJerry]

I am running tvOS 17.0 (21J354). If you re talking about 5.1 Spatial Audio tracks, my experience is not the same. I have a processor (Monolith HTP-1) that allows me to selectively mute or unmute any of the channels in my 7.1 setup. When I mute all channels except the side surrounds and play Spatial Audio tracks, there are definitely sounds coming from the side speakers.

Perhaps I am not understanding your issue?

 

[gerdav]

I am running tvOS 17.0 (21J354). If you re talking about 5.1 Spatial Audio tracks, my experience is not the same. I have a processor (Monolith HTP-1) that allows me to selectively mute or unmute any of the channels in my 7.1 setup. When I mute all channels except the side surrounds and play Spatial Audio tracks, there are definitely sounds coming from the side speakers.

Perhaps I am not understanding your issue?

If you have the audio format set to auto and Dolby Atmos turned on any 5.1 audio will be outputted in stereo, Atmos audio will play fine, this is across all apps, Apple TV, Netflix, Prime, Disney etc etc, if you change the format from auto to Dolby Digital 5.1 the 5.1 audio will then play fine but this setting disables Atmos, you essentially have to keep faffing about with the audio output based on what your watching programme to programme.

 

[jezzastern]

If you have the audio format set to auto and Dolby Atmos turned on any 5.1 audio will be outputted in stereo, Atmos audio will play fine, this is across all apps, Apple TV, Netflix, Prime, Disney etc etc, if you change the format from auto to Dolby Digital 5.1 the 5.1 audio will then play fine but this setting disables Atmos, you essentially have to keep faffing about with the audio output based on what your watching programme to programme.

That is not my experience. I have just updated to tvOS 17 from a non beta tvOS 16.x. Audio format is set to Auto with Dolby Atmos available. Dolby Atmos plays as Dolby Atmos when available, and 5.1 audio is output as 5.1, not stereo.

Also, with reference to the original poster, all 5.1 audio plays normally on my system. However, I have never installed tvOS betas on my Apple TV.

 

[gerdav]

That is not my experience. I have just updated to tvOS 17 from a non beta tvOS 16.x. Audio format is set to Auto with Dolby Atmos available. Dolby Atmos plays as Dolby Atmos when available, and 5.1 audio is output as 5.1, not stereo.

Also, with reference to the original poster, all 5.1 audio plays normally on my system. However, I have never installed tvOS betas on my Apple TV.

I only installed it last week after the release date was announced expecting to be installing the final release candidate, for me there is no update showing for either the public release or the public beta, if this makes any difference mine is a 2022 128gb with wifi and Ethernet.

 

[Galatian]

Kinda had a similar problem. First Gen Apple TV 4K connected to an AVR an 5.1 System. Netflix would only play in stereo. Switched the audio from auto to manual 5.1, tried it again and still no luck. Switched it yet back again to Auto and somehow it now correctly plays 5.1.

 

[ccontreras]

Have you already solved the audio problems? Or did they install the new beta 17.1?

 

[gerdav]

I just installed the 17.1 beta and it’s still broken, I have tried changing from auto to Dolby digital and back again and it will work correctly for around 30-60 seconds, then a little crack will come out of the sound system and it it goes back to stereo, as before Atmos content works fine.

At this point either quite literally no one has reported the issue and Apple are unaware of it, or it’s frankly sheer incompetence, either way I have just submitted feedback on it.

 

[ccontreras]

The strangest thing in my case was that the audio problems were solved (first post)
it's very strange. Anyway, these days the firmware of my Samsung Q80 TV was updated and there were also updates to the SONOS beam 2.

I was testing the previous apple tv with tvOS17 and I saw no audio problems... without making any HDMI cable changes or anything extra.

But I don't trust it and I will continue using my new model Apple TV (2022) with 16.6