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 R C-R,

    R C-R R C-R Nov 5, 2015 3:24 PM in response to RealisticExpectations
    Level 6 (17,685 points)
    Nov 5, 2015 3:24 PM in response to RealisticExpectations

    RealisticExpectations wrote:

    Thats why this new box supports 4k, H.265 and 7.1 surround sound.

    As others have said, Apple's specs for the ATV 4 do not mention support for 4K video; nor do they say anything about H.265 support.

  • by Kilroywasher,

    Kilroywasher Kilroywasher Nov 5, 2015 3:26 PM in response to MAcSE1984
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 5, 2015 3:26 PM in response to MAcSE1984

    I did something similar to this only to discover that some hdmi cables are directional. Sadly my cable had been routed backwards. That was an expensive lesson ;/

  • by MAcSE1984,

    MAcSE1984 MAcSE1984 Nov 5, 2015 3:53 PM in response to R C-R
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 5, 2015 3:53 PM in response to R C-R

    I guess I wasn't clear. Sorry.  I am using the same port for the ATV4.  The Bose System takes all 4 of my HDMI inputs and the 50 foot HDMI runs from the Boise to the TV.  One bonus is that the Bose remote can handle the HDMI switching.  Not as good as  a Logitech, but useful enough and radio - not IR.

     

    The problem is getting Audio only out of the ATV 4 and into my older (non HDMI) amp/receiver for Airplay.  Thus the problem of losing the optical jack.  Thanks

  • by akt1012,

    akt1012 akt1012 Nov 5, 2015 5:15 PM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 5, 2015 5:15 PM in response to planochoi

    Well...if you have a setup like mine, 10 year old BOSE home theater speakers with RCA Connectors. What I have decided to do is to buy one of these Composite AV to HDMI Converters (http://www.jaycar.com.au/Sight-%26-Sound---Home/AV-Switchers-%26-Converters/Conv erters/Composite-AV-to-HDMI-Converter/p/…) Hopefully it will work well.

  • by the42mac,

    the42mac the42mac Nov 5, 2015 5:31 PM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 5, 2015 5:31 PM in response to planochoi

    Hello all,

     

    I too was dismayed by the omission of the optical port from the new Apple Tv.  I'd like to post a solution I found to those who may have been in my situation;  TV with HDMI but no optical port, Sound Bar with optical & radio jack but no HDMI, and new Apple TV (4th Gen.) with no optical.  Basically I had no way to run sound from the Apple TV to speakers without optical or HDMI.  I too was referred to an HDMI audio extractor/ converter.  I realized that my sound bar/ speakers had a radio plug port.  The solution was a simple, affordable RCA to Mini Cable $24.00 at my local Best Buy. *(Connects your portable CD/MP3 player, smartphone, or tablet to your home stereo receiver or multimedia speakers). See photo.  I plugged the radio jack into the radio port on my soundbar speakers and the red/ white RCA ends into my TV's audio(out) and BANG!  Awesome surround sound again from my soundbar/ speakers!  I avoided entirely a HDMI adaptor and optical altogether with no loss in sound quality.  As a matter of fact, the sound coming from the new Apple TV and speakers are better than previously experienced!  This should work for those who have a TV with RCA ports and sound systems with standard radio jack ports.  Hope this helps someone.  Cheers!

     

    RCA to Mini Cable.jpg

  • by R C-R,

    R C-R R C-R Nov 5, 2015 6:24 PM in response to MAcSE1984
    Level 6 (17,685 points)
    Nov 5, 2015 6:24 PM in response to MAcSE1984

    MAcSE1984 wrote:

    The problem is getting Audio only out of the ATV 4 and into my older (non HDMI) amp/receiver for Airplay.  Thus the problem of losing the optical jack.  Thanks

    I guess I am still missing something. I don't see why you can't just substitute the ATV 4 run through an HDMI passthrough adaptor with an optical audio output for the ATV 3, or one with analog audio outputs if you prefer to run the audio directly into one of the amp/receiver's analog stereo inputs.

     

    In effect, passthrough adaptors just add the missing optical output and/or an analog audio output that isn't on ATV 3's to begin with.

  • by gsenser,

    gsenser gsenser Nov 6, 2015 11:31 PM in response to Neropug
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 6, 2015 11:31 PM in response to Neropug

    Great help. Thank you!!!

  • by Briansyddall,

    Briansyddall Briansyddall Nov 6, 2015 11:44 PM in response to gsenser
    Level 6 (8,672 points)
    Apple Watch
    Nov 6, 2015 11:44 PM in response to gsenser

    Hi

    All you need to do is connect Optical cable from your tv to your sound bar sound will go from

    Atv 4 using  HDMI lead.

    Cheers

    Brian

  • by carsonfromca,

    carsonfromca carsonfromca Nov 8, 2015 6:22 PM in response to Neropug
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 8, 2015 6:22 PM in response to Neropug

    Hi Neropug,

    I've been tearing my hair out trying to solve the missing optical audio cable input on the new Apple TV.  I did exactly as your comment described.

    1. The Apple TV HDMI cable was connected to my TV.

    2. Fortunately, my TV has an optical audio input.  So, I took the dangling optical audio cable from the old Apple TV and connected it to the TV's optical audio input.  Voila!  Full on audio just like before.

     

    Thank you!!!

    Carson

  • by R C-R,

    R C-R R C-R Nov 8, 2015 8:02 PM in response to R C-R
    Level 6 (17,685 points)
    Nov 8, 2015 8:02 PM in response to R C-R

    I wrote:

    In effect, passthrough adaptors just add the missing optical output and/or an analog audio output that isn't on ATV 3's to begin with.

    That should read ATV 4's, not ATV 3's. Sorry for any confusion that might have caused.

  • by walk0080,

    walk0080 walk0080 Nov 9, 2015 6:45 AM in response to R C-R
    Level 1 (29 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 9, 2015 6:45 AM in response to R C-R

    FYI Many (Maybe all of them - I am not 100% sure - hopefully someone else has a recommendation) HDMI to Optical Audio adapters do not support 5.1 or 7.1 sound... Just PCM stereo. That might be OK for headphones or a stereo setup, but not a 5.1 or 7.1 system.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Nov 9, 2015 7:09 AM in response to walk0080
    Level 10 (103,845 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 9, 2015 7:09 AM in response to walk0080

    I've not seen any that don't support DD. By the way, none of them will support 7.1 because optical doesn't support 7.1, which is why I believe there is no optical output on the Apple TV now.

  • by R C-R,

    R C-R R C-R Nov 9, 2015 8:03 AM in response to walk0080
    Level 6 (17,685 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 8:03 AM in response to walk0080

    walk0080 wrote:

    FYI Many (Maybe all of them - I am not 100% sure - hopefully someone else has a recommendation) HDMI to Optical Audio adapters do not support 5.1 or 7.1 sound... Just PCM stereo. That might be OK for headphones or a stereo setup, but not a 5.1 or 7.1 system.

    Back on page 1 of this discussion I posted links to several that do support 5.1 optical output. As Winston (among others) pointed out, none of them support 7.1 optical output because TOSLINK itself does not.

  • by BigPhil55,

    BigPhil55 BigPhil55 Nov 28, 2015 1:53 PM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 28, 2015 1:53 PM in response to planochoi

    After reading everyone's posts and ready to return my ATV4 I looked at my Blu-Ray player. I have an Oppo Blu-Ray player and noticed it had and extra HDMI input in back. My player is connected to my receiver via Toslink. I connected my ATV HDMI output to my Blu-Ray HDMI extra input and it worked. Sounds better than before.

  • by rbarnard6,

    rbarnard6 rbarnard6 Dec 9, 2015 10:58 AM in response to perbra
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2015 10:58 AM in response to perbra

    I Will take back this disappointment as well as it has no optical out, I to say thanks a lot apple you just lost a sell, I happen to like my old stereo.

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