planochoi

Q: New Apple TV--Missing optical connection

I noticed that new Apple TV is missing an optical connection for audio.   As one can see from the various user questions and Airplay forums, it is clear that Airplay is not reliable.  From my personal experience with Airplay compatible devices, OEM manufactures have implemented Airplay with various reliability.  The only sure way to connect to a hi-fidelity audio system was using Toshlink optical wire.  The current AppleTV allows an optical link which assures 100% sound fidelity which is critical to listening to the best sounds from Itune and other audio and video streaming services without any disruptions due to various issues associated with Airplay.    My first question is how does Apple going to assure that Airplay compliant devices will not cause connection issues?  The second question is that is there a way to connect audio system to the new AppleTV without using Airplay?   

Posted on Sep 11, 2015 1:58 AM

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Q: New Apple TV--Missing optical connection

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  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 11, 2015 2:50 AM in response to planochoi
    Level 10 (103,368 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 11, 2015 2:50 AM in response to planochoi

    You can connect audio systems by HDMI, if your audio system doesn't support HDMI you can purchase an adapter.

  • by planochoi,

    planochoi planochoi Sep 11, 2015 3:52 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 3:52 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston, thank you for your reply.   New AppleTV has only one HDMI connection, how do you connect TV and audio system at the same time?  Buying a third party HDMI spliter which costs of upper of $50.  Also, most of Airplay speakers do not come with HDMI inputs.  Do you have any other suggestion?

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 11, 2015 4:11 AM in response to planochoi
    Level 10 (103,368 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 11, 2015 4:11 AM in response to planochoi

    I'm not in the US but I've seen third party audio extractors for as little as £ 5.00. Basically they split the HDMI from the Apple TV into HDMI and optical (or other audio port types), I have no idea how well these work.

  • by planochoi,

    planochoi planochoi Sep 11, 2015 4:12 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 4:12 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston, thank you for your quick reply.   New AppleTV has only one HDMI connection, how do you connect TV and audio system at the same time?  Buying a third party HDMI spliter costs over $50.  Also, most of Airplay speakers do not come with HDMI inputs.  Do you have any other suggestion?

     

    BTW, the only 100% sure way to connect Airplay was using AppleTV and connect to audio system using optical link.  I do believe all Apple manufactured devices are Airplay compliant without connection issues, but OEM devices were found to be very unreliable.  I have tested almost all of the Airplay speakers including Boss, B&W, Sono, and others.  Just read all the forum write-ups all over internet.  Only sure way to connect via Airplay was using AppleTV using an optical connection.  However, without an optical connection on New AppleTV, it will be a very unreliable set-up, unless New AppleTV solves all of the wireless connection issues with OEM devices. 

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 11, 2015 4:17 AM in response to planochoi
    Level 10 (103,368 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 11, 2015 4:17 AM in response to planochoi

    If the adaptors are expensive then you may well be getting into the territory of it being better to spend a bit more on a new audio system that does support HDMI.

  • by Alley_Cat,

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat Sep 11, 2015 4:19 AM in response to planochoi
    Level 6 (19,578 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 4:19 AM in response to planochoi

    Airplay often fails to be reliable when the LAN cannot support the additional wi-fi bandwidth (or due to poor connecrtivity speeds due to location) for the extra  Airplay path.  Using wired connections (ethernet) makes it far more reliable in experience but many find no issues with wi-fi.

     

    A convoluted solution but you could potentially use the existing AppleTV as an Airplay speaker for the new one to output to and then use the optical from that to the speaker.  Some found in the past an AppleTV not connected to a display might fail to play audio but things changed often from one firmware version to another. An Airport Express would be another thing to consider and use the optical out on that, though a tad expensive just for that.

  • by Alley_Cat,

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat Sep 11, 2015 4:22 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 6 (19,578 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 4:22 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Yes, and even some of the cheaper AV amps have great feature sets.  You get a lot more for your money these days.

     

    Sa this on Amazon:

     

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet®-Converter-Extractor-Digital-Analogue-BLACK/dp/B00H 8T1DJ8

  • by perbra,

    perbra perbra Sep 11, 2015 4:49 AM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 4:49 AM in response to planochoi

    Hi, just a shame that Apple have removed the optical out. With the new Apple TV you have to introduce another box a splitter as very few DAC's have HDMI input. I have been waiting on a update on Apple TV, but I think I pass on this one without digital audio output.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 11, 2015 4:52 AM in response to perbra
    Level 10 (103,368 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 11, 2015 4:52 AM in response to perbra

    It has digital audio output, it just doesn't have an optical port.

  • by planochoi,Helpful

    planochoi planochoi Sep 11, 2015 6:06 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 6:06 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston,  I like your answers.  Yes, I do know money can solve almost all the issues.   The problem I posted is not about putting together another complex audio and video systems.   I love Apple eco-system because of its simplicity, functionality, and design.  The current AppleTV allows me not to fuss with my old audio system by simply connecting AppleTV to any audio system without adapters.  It is simple and elegant, yet without loss of sound fidelity.  HDMI to Optical & HDMI spliter will work, but it is an another fail point and potential point of sound degradation. As you suggested, I could buy an another audio system with HDMI input, but reason I moved to AppleTV was to by-pass the traditional audio system entirely.  I hope Apple can come up with more elegant solution that DO NOT force us buy yet another device.  

  • by Dave Calhoun2,

    Dave Calhoun2 Dave Calhoun2 Sep 12, 2015 1:24 AM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2015 1:24 AM in response to planochoi

    I Am unhappy about the missing optical audio port also. One possible solution is to run the appletc's HDMI port to your TV and then use the TV's optical audio output to a DAC. That is what I plan to do. I Have read that some TVs can pass the audio thru without being turned on but otherwise you would have to turn your TV on to listen to music.

  • by Neropug,

    Neropug Neropug Sep 15, 2015 2:55 PM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2015 2:55 PM in response to planochoi

    I Took the optical audio cable from my Apple TV and plugged it into the back my TV.  The other end is plugged into the amplifier. everythjng  plays thru the amp, including Apple TV

     

    i Wonder if I get the new Apple TV would it work with the new plug in for the optical cable?

  • by Dave Calhoun2,Helpful

    Dave Calhoun2 Dave Calhoun2 Sep 15, 2015 3:38 PM in response to Neropug
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 15, 2015 3:38 PM in response to Neropug

    Neropug I'm not sure I understand how your wiring is routed. If you have a surround receiver your setup should be fairly simply. HDMI from AppleTV to the surround receiver and HDMI to the TV. The optical output is mostly useful for those of us wanting to run audio from the Apple TV to a stereo without turning on the TV which would be impossible with the new AppleTV.

  • by R C-R,

    R C-R R C-R Sep 16, 2015 3:44 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 6 (17,633 points)
    Sep 16, 2015 3:44 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston Churchill wrote:

    I'm not in the US but I've seen third party audio extractors for as little as £ 5.00. Basically they split the HDMI from the Apple TV into HDMI and optical (or other audio port types), I have no idea how well these work.

    Amazon U.S. offers quite a few extractors, most in the $30 to $45 range. Some examples:

     

    J-Tech JTDAT5CH for $30.99. HDMI passthrough + S/PDIF (TOSLINK) + analog L & R. Possible drawback: only supports HDMI 1.3 (the new ATV supports HDMI 1.4)

    J-Tech JTD4KATSW for $35.99. Same features as the above + HDMI 1.4 & ARC (audio return channel support). Probably overkill for most ATV 4 applications but it is only $5 more.

    J-Tech JTD1x2ADT for $34.99. Similar the the first one above but with two identical HDMI outputs. Might be useful in some applications.

     

    There are very similar units from other vendors; I just picked J-Tech because it seems to have a good reputation. I have no experience with any of them.

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