Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

Hope you have better luck than I did…sounds like you are following the exact same path I was on LOL. I also had to call back and reopen my case after I had the same issues with a replacement unit. They then shipped me an approved HDMI cable (Belkin).

When the new Belkin cable didnt help, I called back and was told to bring in my AVR so they could test it :-)

Thats when I gave up and returned the 2nd ATV4K to BestBuy. I think I must have talked to 3 or 4 different “Senior Advisors” in the several months i spent trying to fix the dropouts trying to get them to look at this discussion :-(

I will send them my old receiver if they pay shipping. I live no where near an Apple store so that’s an even bigger pain. I should have just ordered a Gen 1 on Woot a few days ago just to be done with this. I have to say, the Onkyo I had was way worse than my Denon I have now, the Onkyo was obviously an older atmos model TXNR676 vs a X3700h. Would just be nice to enjoy atmos on a $200 streaming device

I was so close to pulling the trigger on the Gen 1 during that Woot deal, but the thought of spending another $100 for an older Apple device because the new model isn't working correctly didn't sit right with me.

According to my advisor, engineering is now aware and are working with Netflix on the issue. I know on my end Netflix is the worst offender, I don’t think I have had a drop outside of the Netflix app. Hopefully this is the case and they actually did find something in the logs. Either way I sent them an hours worth of logs that have some serious cut outs. They said an update to Netflix should fix it soon. Fingers crossed.

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. To be honest, I haven't noticed any Atmos

issues on the last couple betas while watching DV + Atmos content on Netflix,

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

I tried turning off the Match Content settings and it didn't make any difference. Watched the first episode of Vikings Valhalla and the audio went off every 5-10 mins.

Then I restarted the ATV and could watch the second episode without the problem.

And the issue came back again on the third episode...

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.

Have been following this thread for a few months (also having the popping/muting issue with gen 2 ATV4k, but not gen 1).

Throwing this out there to see if others are interested in testing a theory. Prior to watching Atmos content, try doing a full restart on the unit (not just the Siri remote power button, which only puts unit to sleep). Either select "restart" via the System menu, unplug power, or hold down the "back" and "TV" button on the Siri remote for a few seconds. This seems to eliminate the issue for me, or at least greatly reduce the frequency of occurrence.

Completely unacceptable this issue continues to plague Apple TV Atmos users for this long. Apple will not even respond any longer to my nearly 4-month-old support ticket and requests for status updates.

Posting on this thread too. Sound seems to hesitate 5-15s before starting when starting most programs on most apps. All updated OS + fast cables. Rewinding the program once sound starts shows no issue. Currently, testing turning off ATMOS sound.

I am having the same issue as everyone else.

Dropouts and cracking only when watching Netflix via ATV 4K 2nd Gen with Dolby Atmos content. I’ve had to resort to watching Netflix via Sky again!

I picked up the ATV to enhance my viewing and sound pleasure, It is a shame that the ATV 4K is the weakest link in my setup!

Apple, please sort this problem.

Many thanks,

Keir

That seems like a loaded question, but yes, I have updated, as I am sure most here have. I will say that I haven't noticed the Atmos problem lately, probably since installing the15.4 b.e.t.a.s, though I may not have been testing enough, or with more problematic content. I used to get the problem on ATV+, but I have had no recent problems watching the latest season of Servant. Netflix shows such as Lost in Space and The Witcher had been problematic, but I don't recall any issues watching the first 10 episodes of Black Summer. Which takes me back to your 'loaded' question -- do you know something about 15.4 you aren't telling?

Nothing loaded about my question at all. I’m just a user like everyone else with no special knowledge. I merely posted links for Apple’s security notes and release notes for tvOS 15.4. I have never believed this was an issue for the Apple TV 4K 2021 or tvOS because the vast majority of users simply aren’t experiencing these issues. The number of individual users posting here is quite small compared to the overall user base. The original pages of this thread were specifically about Denon receivers, Netflix, and the Apple TV 4K 2021. Now it’s blossomed into many directions and complaints. That’s a sure sign of indeterminate causation. Fact is, no one can prove one way or the other what the cause of their problem might be. And if the issue clears up for some then who’s to say what happened or who did what. Device and software support departments are very adept at pointing the finger at the other guy, including Apple.

So like any conspiracy theory, believe what you want.

Fair enough. Regarding the vast majority of users not experiencing the Atmos issue, I would say that the vast majority of users do not have Atmos setups, and the majority of those that do use Atmos would tend do blame something else, such as their ISP, before they would suspect their expensive Apple streamer.

I have both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 ATV4K units, and the Gen 1 has never had the Atmos problem, while the Gen 2 (and it's replacement) have consistently exhibited the problem, in exactly the same setup. Since only Atmos is affected -- not picture or other audio formats -- it seems there is something different about the Gen 2 hardware that the software didn't take into account, occasionally causing timing issues or corruption of the Dolby MAT 2.0 Atmos data stream, but that is just conjecture.

Well, believe what you want, it’s a free country, but it’s very clear now that Apple’s engineers don’t think there’s a problem. And I trust Apple’s engineers more than anonymous conjectures on the internet.

lkrupp wrote:

Well, believe what you want, it’s a free country, but it’s very clear now that Apple’s engineers don’t think there’s a problem. And I trust Apple’s engineers more than anonymous conjectures on the internet.

I gotta say I'm a bit confused about how this little flame war got ignited and has been given oxygen...

Unlike @img60, I didn't see lkrupp's 15.4 query as a loaded question (I'm also curious if anyone has experienced these apparent gen2 Atmos troubles after updating to v15.4 and a reboot). Unlike @lkrupp, I see no reason to classify these reports as conjecture and I take @img60's gen1 vs. gen2; so-far-so-good on 15.4 report at face value. @Golfergb - we're all standing by for more commentary from the peanut gallery :-).