gadgetvirtuoso

Q: 4th Gen Apple TV Audio stops working

I have two of the new 4th Gen Apple TV, one 32GB and one 64GB models. Both are kept up to date and both have the same issue. Periodically the audio will stop working until the unit is restarted. Both are connected via HDMI, one to a Sony TV, the other to a Toshiba TV. The strange part about it is the audio will be working for for hours or days then suddenly stop working. A couple weeks ago I watched several TV episodes without a problem then the audio stopped working in the middle of an episode. I've tried several HDMI cables and changing the inputs on the TV without success. It doesn't matter what you're doing or what app you're using; the audio doesn't work.

Apple TV

Posted on May 24, 2016 2:48 PM

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Q: 4th Gen Apple TV Audio stops working

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  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall May 24, 2016 3:41 PM in response to gadgetvirtuoso
    Level 4 (2,942 points)
    Apple TV
    May 24, 2016 3:41 PM in response to gadgetvirtuoso

    That's definitely not normal. Does the audio just go to the TV speakers, or is there more to the puzzle, bluetooth speakers maybe?

    What is the audio output setting? Best, Dolby 5.1, Stereo, what?

    Is Reduce Loud Sounds turned off?

    Have you tried changing the Audio Mode to 16 bit?

    You might find some suggestions here Get help with audio, video, or power on Apple TV - Apple Support

  • by gadgetvirtuoso,

    gadgetvirtuoso gadgetvirtuoso May 24, 2016 9:27 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple TV
    May 24, 2016 9:27 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    It is just the audio from the Apple TV to the TV. When it happened this evening the Apple TV was set to 16 bit and best available on the Surround Sound setting. Until today it wasn't been set to 16 bit and still done it. Toggling any of the audio settings makes no difference. I hate to do it but completely resetting the unit seems like the next step. I don't want to do it because I have no reason to believe it would solve the problem.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill May 25, 2016 3:03 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso
    Level 10 (103,375 points)
    Apple TV
    May 25, 2016 3:03 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso

    Have you tried restarting the TV instead of the Apple TV when this happens.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall May 25, 2016 3:14 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso
    Level 4 (2,942 points)
    Apple TV
    May 25, 2016 3:14 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso

    Could it be that TV sound is muted, or volume turned down? Try adjusting it using the TV remote when this happens. Try disabling the volume control on the Siri remote, to be sure it's not acting up.

  • by gadgetvirtuoso,

    gadgetvirtuoso gadgetvirtuoso May 25, 2016 8:19 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple TV
    May 25, 2016 8:19 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Switching or connecting another device to the same input proves it's not the TV. The same thing happens on two different units on two different TVs.

  • by gadgetvirtuoso,

    gadgetvirtuoso gadgetvirtuoso May 25, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple TV
    May 25, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Diana.McCall

    Definitely not, switching to another input and you'll hear audio without any problems.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill May 26, 2016 1:23 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso
    Level 10 (103,375 points)
    Apple TV
    May 26, 2016 1:23 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso

    gadgetvirtuoso wrote:

     

    Switching or connecting another device to the same input proves it's not the TV.

    It doesn't.

     

    Switching to another input uses a different port, connecting another device, temporarily disconnects the input.

     

    It may well be the Apple TV in the end, but your trouble shooting procedure has holes in it and doesn't prove anything because of this.

  • by gadgetvirtuoso,

    gadgetvirtuoso gadgetvirtuoso May 26, 2016 8:48 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple TV
    May 26, 2016 8:48 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston Churchill wrote:

     

    gadgetvirtuoso wrote:

     

    Switching or connecting another device to the same input proves it's not the TV.

    It doesn't.

     

    Switching to another input uses a different port, connecting another device, temporarily disconnects the input.

     

    It may well be the Apple TV in the end, but your trouble shooting procedure has holes in it and doesn't prove anything because of this.

    Rather making condescending remarks you could make a suggestion to resolve the issue. Everything suggested so far has been checked, including power cycling the TV. It's less likely that it's the TV since both units have suffered the same problem with two different model TVs.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill May 26, 2016 10:10 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso
    Level 10 (103,375 points)
    Apple TV
    May 26, 2016 10:10 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso

    There's nothing condescending about pointing out your trouble shooting is flawed, I thought you wanted to solve the issue, you aren't going to do that without the truth. However if you have restarted the TV, then whilst you could have said so initially, that would now likely eliminate the TV.

    It's less likely that it's the TV since both units have suffered the same problem with two different model TVs.

    I can understand your conclusion, however I'm quite regular in the Apple TV community and haven't seen this particular issue mentioned before, so hopefully you can understand my conclusion, in that it's likely to be something in your environment rather than the Apple TV.

  • by gadgetvirtuoso,

    gadgetvirtuoso gadgetvirtuoso May 26, 2016 10:37 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple TV
    May 26, 2016 10:37 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston Churchill wrote:

     

    There's nothing condescending about pointing out your trouble shooting is flawed, I thought you wanted to solve the issue, you aren't going to do that without the truth. However if you have restarted the TV, then whilst you could have said so initially, that would now likely eliminate the TV.

    It's less likely that it's the TV since both units have suffered the same problem with two different model TVs.

    I can understand your conclusion, however I'm quite regular in the Apple TV community and haven't seen this particular issue mentioned before, so hopefully you can understand my conclusion, in that it's likely to be something in your environment rather than the Apple TV.

    Agreed, it is a strange behavior and since many people aren't reporting the issue it is more likely something in my environment. That said it occurs on two different makes and models of TV with both a 32GB and 64GB models. I can't reproduce the issue on demand. I spoke with AppleCare last night and finally did a full reset of the 32GB unit as a test. It will probably take a day or two before the issue recurs, if it happens at all.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill May 26, 2016 11:05 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso
    Level 10 (103,375 points)
    Apple TV
    May 26, 2016 11:05 AM in response to gadgetvirtuoso

    Since it seems to take a while to occur, I don't suppose it's practical to test them on another network. assuming they are both on wifi, I don't suppose you could connect either one by ethernet for a few days.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall May 26, 2016 1:01 PM in response to gadgetvirtuoso
    Level 4 (2,942 points)
    Apple TV
    May 26, 2016 1:01 PM in response to gadgetvirtuoso

    Just guessing here, but have you paired any bluetooth headphones or speakers with either ATV? I wonder if one of them is suddenly connecting and stealing the sound. When it happens, you could check whether the audio output is still "AppleTV". I'm trying to find a reason for the intermittent occurrence. Does restarting ATV fix it, or does it stay failed?

  • by gadgetvirtuoso,

    gadgetvirtuoso gadgetvirtuoso May 26, 2016 1:09 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple TV
    May 26, 2016 1:09 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    Diana.McCall wrote:

     

    Just guessing here, but have you paired any bluetooth headphones or speakers with either ATV? I wonder if one of them is suddenly connecting and stealing the sound. When it happens, you could check whether the audio output is still "AppleTV". I'm trying to find a reason for the intermittent occurrence. Does restarting ATV fix it, or does it stay failed?

    Neither ATV have been paired with a bluetooth speaker or anything, other than the included remote. Restarting the ATV fixes the problem until it occurs the next time. To me it acts like a failed audio driver if it were a computer.

  • by gadgetvirtuoso,

    gadgetvirtuoso gadgetvirtuoso Jun 9, 2016 1:23 PM in response to gadgetvirtuoso
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 9, 2016 1:23 PM in response to gadgetvirtuoso

    After other issues started popping up: apps occasionally freezing, content in the Movies wouldn't load or the video would freeze in Netflix while the audio continued I did a full reset and update on the 64GB ATV as well. The very next day the ATV had the audio issue once again. The other ATV is in the bedroom so gets a lot less use but hasn't had the issue recur since it was reset per AppleCare's suggestion. No progress being made here at all.

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