Apple TV and Surround Sound

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Level 1

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Apple TV and Surround Sound

I recently purchased an Apple TV as well as a Samsung Surround Sound System (HT-WS1G) hoping that I could "kill 2 birds with one stone". By running the speakers through my television I thought I could enjoy the benefits of the speaker system through both regular tv as well as apple tv. It turns out that I could not run the optical cord directly to my TV so I had to run it through my HDTV cable box. This works fine for regular TV but the surround sound does not work with my Apple TV. When I use apple TV the sound only comes through the TV speakers as apposed to the surround sound. Does anyone have a way around this?

I considered buying bose speakers for my iMAC but I think I would still have the same problem in that when I use apple tv the sound comes through the TV.

I've spent hours trying to figure this out so any advice would be helpful.

Thanks

iMAC

Posted on Apr 11, 2009 11:48 AM

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Answer 1

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Apr 11, 2009 11:54 AM in response to R4R

is the appletv connected direct to your TV?
if so, then it sounds like your TV is unable to pass thru the DD audio to your sound system.

you would need to run an optical cable form the appletv to your sound system.

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Answer 2

R4R Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 11, 2009 1:38 PM in response to Chenks

Thanks! That worked. I lost the ability to use the speakers through my TV but my primary purpose was to be able to use them through the apple tv.

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Answer 3

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,548 points

Apr 11, 2009 1:47 PM in response to Chenks

Chenks wrote:

if so, then it sounds like your TV is unable to pass thru the DD audio to your sound system.

Very few of them let you relay digital audio from anything but internal tuners and they usually cite copy protection as the reason but it's a stupid limitaion that's usually buried in small print in the manual!

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Answer 4

Squigles

Level 2

405 points

May 9, 2009 2:06 PM in response to R4R

Had a similar problem with my Apple TV and 40" Toshiba.

The normal sound on the TV is poor (no audio out port on it either). Solution ............

Purchased the LG HT321 ...................

Now Apple TV connected via HDMI and the Audio is channelled via the Optical Audio to the LG DVD player. Need to select Au Op as the sound source.

Sound from the TV to the surround system, this required audio to be channelled via a SCART cable. Again TV-Sound needs to be selected.

The DVD unit is also connected to the TV via the HDMI (should there be a DVD rented)!

What a setup 😉

No need for a HI-FI and boy the sound is great 🙂

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