Arcade on Apple TV → AirPlay Speakers = No Sound
In order to watch Apple TV or play Arcade with a projector, and hear sound throughout the room (rather than from behind), I bought Apple-licensed AirPlay 5.1 surround speakers by VIZIO. Audio sounds correct in the major Apple TV apps: Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV. Since upgrading to Apple TV+ and attempting to play games or even watch game trailers on Apple Arcade, I hear no sound.
Tested, no sound:
- Toggling Change Audio between 5.1 and Stereo
- Toggling Audio Bitrate
- Apple-licensed AirPlay (v1), 5.1 surround speakers by VIZIO
- HomePod
- HomePod Mini
Tested, sound:
- AirPods Pro headphones
I spent 59 minutes on the phone with Apple Support, starting in the Arcade dept, then to Apple TV hardware, then back to Arcade. When the case was escalated to a senior support specialist, he informed me that “Arcade hasn’t been optimized for AirPlay speakers.” He said if you’d like this feature, I should write to Apple directly. I’m posting this here for anyone else using a projector, or investing in an AirPlay speaker system so they hopefully don’t go in circles like me, and so folks can weigh in here if you face a similar issue. Thanks.
