4K Apple TV audio sync issues?

This is has now been reported across many other support threads. The issue appears to be related to how the audio is encoded and if it is AAC, the audio and video are out of sync after a few minutes of play. I found that all the programs that are in Dolby 5.1 sound have no issues. Anything in stereo is out of sync.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252722595

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252721477

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252710380

I have a huge library of videos (over 1000 shows and movies) and now I can't watch over half of them. I am starting to get concerned that Apple isn't acknowledging the issue. That would lead me to believe that a solution isn't close.

My M1 MacMini is updated to the latest macOS and updates (just ran another one a couple of days ago).

My AppleTV auto updated last week

I run into the same problem watching the videos on my computer.

If I put a copy of the same file on my older MacMini that isn't running Big Sur, I have zero issues and the audio is working just fine.

Any suggestions? Any ETA on a fix? I ordered a new AppleTV last Friday morning but am debating if I should cancel the order since I am already trying to figure out what other options I have to watch my TV library on another system.

Hello h.frommiami,

Thanks for your question. Let's be sure your Apple TV 4K is up-to-date. Here is how you can tell: How to update your Apple TV

Which model iMac are you using and what is the version of macOS that it is running? You can see this at Apple menu  > About This Mac.

Is your Apple TV 4K connected wirelessly to your network? There may be wireless interference if it is. Take a look here as well: Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

We look forward to your response. Let us know if you have any questions.

h.frommiami,

Thank you for your response. Is your iMac capable to update to macOS Big Sur? See here: How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur

Do you use security software or VPN on your network? If so, can you disable them to rule them out? Let's also have you check the firewall on the Mac. You can do this at System Preferences > Security & Privacy and select Firewall. If the firewall is blocking all incoming connections or allowing only essential services, click Firewall Options and edit the settings.

Lastly, we want to check the Home Sharing configuration just to be sure. You sound like you have this all set. Use Home Sharing to share media from a computer to other devices

If you are still having trouble, we'd like to get you in touch with Apple Support for further assistance. Contact them here: Contact Apple Support

This should all get you going down a path of resolution for this.

I would like to just add in here that for me those very same problems exist on two appleTV HD (AppleTV5,3).

I opened a thread for that some time ago. So for me it is 'not' related to the appleTV 4K only it's a common problem since tvOS 14.5.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252722595?answerId=255206943022#255206943022

(please note that I originally wrongly stated in that post that I have two appleTV 4K but I actually only have two appleTV HD ;)

Just in case anyone doesn’t already know this, Apple don’t read these forums so requesting things from them here is pointless. Follow this link to lodge the fault with Apple if you want even a slim chance of your issues being heard by people who can actually fix it.

Also, if we ALL do this each week it could bump it up their priority list after all you know the old saying “the squeaky wheel gets the most grease”.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/apple-tv/

FYI everyone........

Just another friendly reminder to all people in this thread that don't already know this, Apple staff themselves do not monitor these forums as they are just for community support. If you want this issue to reach Apple and have any chance of it being fixed then you should log your feedback via this link below. From what I am hearing in this thread and seeing with my own Apple TV setup, The problem seems to be experienced most with personal media collections. Apple does not have a good track record when it comes to fixing problems with peoples personal media experience as they make zero $$$ from it.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/apple-tv/

I also have this audio problem. Upon updating my AppleTV HD to 14.5 the audio sync and crackling started with home sharing videos from 2012 Mac Mini on Catalina.

I tried everything from switching to another tv, getting new HDMI cables, restarting computer, router, etc. I even tried erasing/restoring the AppleTV but nothing worked. I did get the problem fixed after downgrading back to 14.4. However I have several AppleTV 4K that I cannot do that with. The AppleTV 3's I have continue to work fine and do not have any audio issues playing the same files.

This audio problem is definitely something Apple broke with14.5 and has not fixed with 14.6. Please fix this Apple!

I have left feedback on https://www.apple.com/feedback/apple-tv/

As discussed with Apple TV tech support yesterday, Apple monitor and read through all their online 'feedback' through this portal:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/apple-tv/

PLEASE REPORT FAULT OF 14.5 & 14.6 SOFTWARE UPDATES THAT CAUSED 'HOME SHARING' AUDIO SYNC/SOUND ISSUES THAT WERE NOT ISSUES WITH TVOS 14.4.

I don't believe these community threads reach the Apple engineers as directly as the AppleTV feedback online.

It's a very quick, simple form to fill out before you report the actual fault in 'comments'.

Happy to report and it's without any fanfare that Apple today (20 July 2021) released the official TVOS 14.7 software update to upgrade AppleTV 4K and having tested 'Computers/Home Sharing' streaming from my iMac (High Sierra), the 7 or 8 movies I've tested so far that previously had Audio/Sync issues, now play normal and in sync, no crackle pop sound at beginning, no cutting out after several minutes!

Now maybe my eyes are playing up from all the testing but the picture quality now looks slightly less high resolution...maybe Apple had to play around with how many frames per second to get Audio/Sync fixed when 'Home Sharing'??

And no mention by Apple of fixing this major fault created by their 14.5 update: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207936

What's new in tvOS 14.7? This update includes general performance and stability improvements. That's it!

So Audio/Sync appears to be fixed! Well on my Apple TV anyway.

This is my first Apple Community post I've taken part in and I have to say I'm blown away by the community and the technical knowledge of many out there more so than AppleTV Tech support (I talked to about 6 different consultants) who are sadly are not even given the product for free that they are meant to be trained in giving tech support for.

Apple must love all this FREE market research through community posts they get to fix bugs of their products.

Enjoy all!

So... I was hoping that 14.6 would help, but it didn't. I watched a bunch of Netflix tonight after updating from 14.5, which was fine for an hour or so. Then switched over to HBOMax to watch Last Week Tonight and within a few minutes:

• popping (sounds like brief cutouts at a few Hz)
• audio that goes further and further out of sync

After a few more minutes, it's close to a second out of sync. So, the TV is an OLED CX, and I played around with the audio settings for a bit. I found that - very repeatably - if I choose any other audio mode than "AI Video Pro" this does not happen. If I switch back to this mode, it starts happening right away. So... a workaround for now for me.

If I had to guess, I would say the ATV is trying to do something super clever with its output to make the audio sound good, and the TV is trying to do something super clever with its input to make the audio sound good, and these things are interacting in a bad way.

I have this very same issue with ’two’ 4K appleTVs each connected to a separate TV since newest update. Never ever had this before using it for years. One appleTV is connected by WiFi the other by Ethernet. No other changes were done except updating to 14.5. The audio goes ahead of the video after a few minutes into the movie. I stop the movie and exit the player, then resume playing and soon after the situation is the same. Unwatchable.

I tried reseting the video setting in appleTv settings, changed audio mode from auto to 16bit. Nothing helped.

would very much appreciate ideas too.

There are a number of people who are experiencing audio sync issues after upgrading to 14.5. I had it on my AppleTV 4K. Apple support had me take it in for repair and since it was still under warranty they just replaced it with a new one. My new one has 14.4 installed and I no longer see sync issues with the audio.

I was also experiencing audio popping and crackling on the videos that showed sync issues. I hope that Apple can get these issues fixed soon. While I'm ok with keeping 14.4 on my AppleTV, I had upgraded my iPad and iPhone devices and now can no longer downgrade them back to 14.4.