Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

I too have had this problem. Just updated software and it has improved to shorter bursts of the audio drop outs but still occurs. Like everyone else, never an issue with the old 4K Apple TV. Obviously an Apple TV issue which should be good news since this means Apple can probably fix it via software update.

For the record: my system is a 7.2.2 layout via Pioneer SC-79. I do have a HDFury AVRKey splitter going from ATV to the Pioneer (audio) and LG OLEDC6 (video). I have always thought one of the glaring omissions from the ATV is no HDMI audio out.

As far as guessing on speaker layouts, etc., as contributing factors to our situation remember there is an awful lot of audio information but no where near as much information as video information and, for all of us, the video hasn't been the issue. Those without Dolby Atmos have not had issues, which is the vast majority of people, so that's likely why few people have investigated this issue.

As we know the old ATV 4K no issues and now issues with the ATV 4K 2021. From what I read the major ATV changes were hardware changes aimed at the video which, again, leads us to software as the goblin for the audio issues.

I have gotten this problem (dropout, followed by chopping audio until it re-synchronizes) with HBO Max -- specifically, "The Matrix Resurrections". Happens nearly every few minutes on Netflix "Drive to Survive" although rebooting the Apple TV lets me go longer (maybe 15 minutes) before it happens. I don't recall having this problem with Disney+ or AppleTV+ but I haven't watched those much recently, so if the problem was introduced by a recent software update, it might not have been triggered.

Hi,

my setup is a bit complicated :) So I have an Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX monitor and a JVC XP-EXT1 sound system with Dolby Atmos. I connected my Apple TV to an HDMI Matrix (https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B083K39RHF/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=296CPVF11CIQL&keywords=MX42HS&qid=1642499724&sprefix=mx42hs%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1) to copy my HDMI signal to both devices. It works very well except for the audio dropouts.

My Apple TV settings are, 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos, and chroma 4:2:0. I tried chroma 4:2:2 but I think I got more often dropouts. My cable length is 0.5 meters to the matrix and 0.25 meters from the matrix to my sound system. I have no issues with my PS5 that is also connected to that matrix. The Playstation has only a 7.1 linear PCM stream as the highest settings you can set. I will try my Xbox Series X with Dolby Atmos soon. I think there is an Apple TV app as well.

But I think it is an Apple TV issue and don't hope that is my sound system.

I got 100% the same problem with a brand new ATV 4K.

NV Shield without any problems using Atmos via eARC or direct on an Denon X8500HA.

Using the ATV 4K Atmos, sound dropouts under Netflix, AppleTV+ and Disney+ :(

Did tested Prime yet.

Alle cable are 100% 48Gb Audioquest and as I wrote, no problems with the NV Shield.

I would like to use the ATV as my main streaming source, because I like AppleTV+ with

his integration form others streaming apps. But with this Atmos problem, I´m not sure

if I should stay with the ATV.

I don´t understand, why Apple does not react on this issue. The forums wourldwide are

full of threads about this issue. When calling the support, they just ask for the standard

questions on cables, internet speed and what ever. We have to push this issue hard to

get any answer from Apple. We need a standard bitstream HDMI Audio Out, I´m sure this

would fix the issue.

No solution as of yet. Hard to say if its hardware or software related on the AppleTV end. I grabbed a Nvidia shield and have ZERO issues playing atmos through that on Netflix. At this point if you want atmos, Apple TV is not the solution.

Unfortunately 15.3 (not released yet) does not fix it yet. It is reduced. Not fixed.

I was not sure it is TV os related as for me Disney plus did not show the issue. But, i see above that also Disney plus has it.

I may have had a very little stuttering on Disney plus. But barely noticeable so there is difference between apps it seems.

Anyway, support indicated Applenis aware of the issue and are working on it.

I wonder if the ever will do passthrough as that would disable their 'compression' option in the pull down menu. That always requires re-encoding i would expect

So I found time to test a movie on my Xbox Series X and have the same issues with my Apple TV. I watched Wolfwalkers on TV+ in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos and had during the movie 3 dropouts and one video dropout. After the first drop out I disabled chroma 4:2:2 to 4:2:0. Then after the next dropout, I changed the bits per pixel from 12 to 10 and disabled the passthrough for sound. But nothing helped :(

But maybe the problem is my setup. I have a PS5 and an Xbox connected on an HDMI switch to choose between both consoles. Then after that switch is another switch to switch the output to my HDMI matrix or LG television. On the HDMI matrix, I connected my sound system (JVC XP-EXT1) and my Asus PG32UQX Monitor.

Now I ordered a HDFury Vrroom that I can remove all my switches. That matrix have 3 output then. 1 output is for audio-only and it will stream a 1024p black picture with Dolby atmos then and the picture to my other 2 devices.

My monitor has HDMI 2.0

My sound system has HDMI 2.1

My current matrix has HDMI 2.0 and the newly ordered HDFury will have HDMI 2.1 with 40 Gbps.

So I don't know where the problem is. Dolby Atmos technology, devices, or setup?

Tell the rep about this group it will save you some time. I was on the phone for 4 hours before I found this page. FYI I ordered a Monoprice 8K Certified Ultra High-Speed HDMI 2.1 Cable - 3 Feet - Black | 48Gbps for the ATV to the receiver, and it seemed to clear up a bit. I ordered another one (ten feet) for the receiver to the TV. Fingers crossed.

That's what I thought. I was thinking that ATV4K to AirPods Pro might be a useful test. AirPods Pro I believe do support Atmos, but I believe the the ATV4K would have to send it differently (no MAT 2.0 where I suspect the problem is). I believe this test should verify the Atmos decoding in the ATV4K is working, but I could be wrong. It could support only Spatial Audio, but I believe it can use Atmos sources.

I tried opening a support case with Apple today and they want me to take it to a service center (Best Buy) for repair. I don't think I will waste my time. I tried to get the Apple rep. to look at this discussion as evidence that there is a larger issue at play, and he said that he could not because:

"There's no outside internet access. It's a potential security breach for our system, and they take that very seriously. So we can access our own system and internal network. We can't access the outside internet at all, because that would risk our own information as well as potentially everyone else's."

Never mind the link was from discussions.apple.com but based on this response, it is not a safe assumption that anyone at Apple is actually reading this thread. If you are seeing this and actually want the issue addressed, please open a support case with Apple to get more visibility into this issue with their developer & engineering department.

In my case the issue seems to be software.

It only happens with Netflix. On the receiver it says "Atmos PCM".

When using other apps (Prime, Disney, etc) the receiver only says "Atmos" and there are no dropouts.

img60 wrote:

Thanks for sharing your theory. I don't believe the DV Match Content and Atmos

issues are related. I have never noticed any video anomalies associated with the

Atmos glitches/dropouts. Also, others have noted that the Atmos issue is also

present in Atmos music streams, so that would be unrelated to DV.

I have both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 ATV4K units (both currently connected to my

Denon AVR so I can test the latest tvOS beta releases) and never had the Atmos

issue on the Gen 1 in the same setup.

Yes... after scanning this thread for "Match Content" references without finding anything and posting my theory/query, I read a bit more deeply and noted the observations pointing to a Gen2-specific bug (making my theory less likely).

[...]

To be honest, I haven't noticed any Atmos

issues on the last couple [b- e - t - a -s] while watching DV + Atmos content on Netflix,

but it could be that I am watching less problematic content.

Well then, fingers crossed for a fixed update :-). Thanks.