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 Briansyddall,

    Briansyddall Briansyddall Dec 9, 2015 12:24 PM in response to rbarnard6
    Level 6 (8,672 points)
    Apple Watch
    Dec 9, 2015 12:24 PM in response to rbarnard6

    Hi

    ATV  4 my Opitcal lead goes from my TV  to my sound bar then the sound goes from

    Atv 4 via HDMI lead it works very well .

    Cheers

    Brian

  • by charlidson,

    charlidson charlidson Dec 16, 2015 12:50 PM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2015 12:50 PM in response to planochoi

    I have had my Apple TV for a month now and still cant get sound out of it. On discovering it didn't have an optical out I bought a HDMI-HDMI adapter/splitter with an optical out. I then bought an optical to RCA adapter and plugged it all together with new leads to my projector and old school stereo. I got a picture but no sound. After much hair pulling and conducting various tests with other equipment I worked out the HDMI-HDMI adpter/splitter didnt output S/PDIF signal.

    So I bought another HDMI-HDMI adapter/splitter which had an optical out and RCA. Well the picture worked but the sound was terrible, only mid range. After half an hour the picture would then cut out.

    Can anyone recommend a decent HDMI splitter that is cheaper than buying a HDMI amplifier. 

  • by DeRochier,

    DeRochier DeRochier Dec 18, 2015 4:25 PM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 18, 2015 4:25 PM in response to planochoi

    I just bought the fourth generation Apple TV today and was extremely disappointed that they removed the optical audio connection. I was expecting to be able to just swap out my third generation box for the new one. What a lame move on Apple's part. I'm returning my fourth generation Apple TV.

  • by walk0080,

    walk0080 walk0080 Dec 18, 2015 4:34 PM in response to DeRochier
    Level 1 (29 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 18, 2015 4:34 PM in response to DeRochier

    Ummm - read the box or Apple website before buying a product next time maybe? There is no optical audio out listed, therefore it is not included.

     

    It is old tech, being phased out on other devices as well. Be an informative buyer, look at alternates (HDMI - Optical adapter) or upgrade your devices and sell/donate the old ones. Technology moves and sometimes you can't continue using older devices.

  • by cuellm,

    cuellm cuellm Dec 25, 2015 10:12 AM in response to DeRochier
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2015 10:12 AM in response to DeRochier

    I have had the same bad experience.  This new Apple TV version and the updated My Music App have taken a wrong turn.  As an audiophile who uses the latest technologies, I am seriously considering de-coupling from itunes music in favor of HiRes file downloads, and dedicated music server.  It is my impression that Apple is forcing its community to adopt to less flexible platforms whilst also limiting users control of its owned content.  I have already decided not to use the iCloud for my photo or music libraries.  The old apple TV allowed me to both control and access those libraries from my home hard drives, with sound played directed to my home hifi systems.  I have read several responses on this feed that indicate Apple user opinions may no longer be important to Apple designers or developers.  Or that we users are deft to their superior technology assumptions.  I am sure that Steve Jobs had a different plan in mind when he focused on improving the sound quality of his products and iTunes for a HiFi community.  god bless.

  • by John Kraft,

    John Kraft John Kraft Dec 25, 2015 10:45 AM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Dec 25, 2015 10:45 AM in response to planochoi

    I'm so unimpressed with the new Apple TV...  Siri doesn't control a thing and the lack of optical out is crazy. First time ever I may be returning an Apple product to the store.  Ba humbug.   PS The UI and experience reminds me of first generation Wii.

  • by John Kraft,

    John Kraft John Kraft Dec 25, 2015 12:43 PM in response to John Kraft
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Dec 25, 2015 12:43 PM in response to John Kraft

    Realized I may sound like the people a hundred years ago that complained about the loss of the floppy drive.  I'm trying to keep an open mind about this. Will read through thread for ideas. Sigh.

  • by Dave Calhoun2,

    Dave Calhoun2 Dave Calhoun2 Dec 25, 2015 7:26 PM in response to John Kraft
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 25, 2015 7:26 PM in response to John Kraft

    I completely agree about Siri being almost useless on the ATV4. Hopefully that will change in the future but for now I could not recommend the ATV4 to people. I've been recommending the ATV3 unless people really need the app store.

  • by Fred Davenport,

    Fred Davenport Fred Davenport Dec 26, 2015 7:21 AM in response to Briansyddall
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 26, 2015 7:21 AM in response to Briansyddall

    My Samsung TV has no audio out port. Are Apple and Samsung that stupid?

  • by walk0080,

    walk0080 walk0080 Dec 26, 2015 9:20 AM in response to Fred Davenport
    Level 1 (29 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 26, 2015 9:20 AM in response to Fred Davenport

    Fred Davenport wrote:

     

    My Samsung TV has no audio out port. Are Apple and Samsung that stupid?

    Nope they are not stupid - they are removing old analogue technology as it costs money to include it when most new devices support digital audio. You want new HD or UHD TVs but still analogue audio outputs... hmmm... Time to get over it and upgrade your hardware or move on and stay with an AT3. What a bunch of cry babies on this forum! :-P

  • by Dave Calhoun2,

    Dave Calhoun2 Dave Calhoun2 Dec 26, 2015 9:34 AM in response to walk0080
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 26, 2015 9:34 AM in response to walk0080

    Do you mean no optical audio output or no analog audio output? Maybe neither? Regardless I agree it is frustrating for those of us who do not want surround sound receivers which is what HDMI pretty much forces us towards.

  • by walk0080,

    walk0080 walk0080 Dec 26, 2015 9:40 AM in response to Dave Calhoun2
    Level 1 (29 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 26, 2015 9:40 AM in response to Dave Calhoun2

    Dave Calhoun2 wrote:

     

    Do you mean no optical audio output or no analog audio output? Maybe neither? Regardless I agree it is frustrating for those of us who do not want surround sound receivers which is what HDMI pretty much forces us towards.

    I was referring to both analogue audio out and optical audio out. Both of them require additional hardware and ports (i.e. DAC / Optical) and seem to be getting phased out. My several year old HD Plasma TV from Samsung does not have analogue audio outs either.

     

    In any case, definitely check out the HDMI audio extractors available online. May be what you are looking for to continue using your existing gear. My old receiver died years ago saving me the pain now!

  • by John Kraft,

    John Kraft John Kraft Dec 26, 2015 10:17 AM in response to planochoi
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Dec 26, 2015 10:17 AM in response to planochoi

    Naive question but can I run optical directly from the HD TV to the sound system and select that input? 

  • by lkrupp,

    lkrupp lkrupp Dec 26, 2015 11:03 AM in response to John Kraft
    Level 5 (4,184 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 26, 2015 11:03 AM in response to John Kraft

    John Kraft wrote:

     

    Naive question but can I run optical directly from the HD TV to the sound system and select that input?

     

    Absolutely, yes.

  • by John Kraft,

    John Kraft John Kraft Dec 26, 2015 11:16 AM in response to walk0080
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Dec 26, 2015 11:16 AM in response to walk0080

    I get the removal of optical... I used to work at Apple (not a retail store BTW but Infinite Loop) and I totally get this recurring dynamic of old tech being phased out and the peripheral heartache it causes for some that "won't let go"...  The work around or advancement is easy enough.  And Siri is almost kinda working. One just has to get a sense for its limitations. The UI itself does feel a little clunky and genuinely reminds me of some of the Wii interactions - first gen. But there again over time it will be fine.  The integration/access to Apple Music is a big plus and searching for tunes via voice vs. entered text is a nice plus.

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