You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Apple TV Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 support

I recently purchased the Apple TV 4K and connected with Sonos Arc home theater system. In Apple TV video/audio setup, I set the Audio HDMI output as auto and I'm able to get Dolby ATMOS for the supported moved. But for Dolby ATMOS non-supported movies, I get Multi-channel PCM 5.1 instead of Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 (the actual audio code of the movies from streaming apps). When I tested with Google Chromecast, I'm able to watch those movies with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. But in Apple TV, I get Multi-channel PCM 5.1, which the sound is not great. If I need to switch to Dolby Digital, I need to change the audio format settings as manual, where I still get Dolby Digital 5.1 only but not the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1.


Hence my question is when Apple can provide the software update to support Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, while I set the audio formal as Auto so Apple TV can automatically support both Dolby ATMOS and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1?


Thanks

Apple TV, tvOS 14

Posted on Jun 13, 2021 8:52 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 13, 2021 10:27 PM

Hi.. Thanks for your reply. Actually when I change the audio HDMI output to manual to "Dolby Digital 5.1", its much more better and bit louder than Multichannel PCM 5.1. Also my question is why I don't get Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 either in Auto or Manual mode (of Audio HDMI output), which is far better than Dolby Digital 5.1. Because only very few movies in streaming apps are Dolby ATMOS supported. Most of movies are in Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. I don't have this problem in Chromecast i.e. I automatically get Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 for Non-ATMOS movies. Hope Apple can provide firmware update to support Dolby Digital Plus 5.1

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 13, 2021 10:27 PM in response to Urquhart1244

Hi.. Thanks for your reply. Actually when I change the audio HDMI output to manual to "Dolby Digital 5.1", its much more better and bit louder than Multichannel PCM 5.1. Also my question is why I don't get Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 either in Auto or Manual mode (of Audio HDMI output), which is far better than Dolby Digital 5.1. Because only very few movies in streaming apps are Dolby ATMOS supported. Most of movies are in Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. I don't have this problem in Chromecast i.e. I automatically get Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 for Non-ATMOS movies. Hope Apple can provide firmware update to support Dolby Digital Plus 5.1

Jun 13, 2021 10:55 PM in response to cvivek23

PCM Multichannel is supposed to be the best quality, losslessly decoded from source (AAC/DD5.1/DD+7.1).

Dolby Digital 5.1 is a fallback option for systems that do not support PCM Multichannel.

Dolby Digital Plus can be fully represented in PCM Multichannel, up to 7.1 channels.


and a bit louder

Verify your settings for audio dynamic range: Reduce Loud Sounds.

Apple TV Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 support

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.