Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

I'm having problems with random audio drops /popping with the new 2021 Apple TV 4k using the Netflix app and HBO Max app with Dolby Atmos shows. I had this with the original tvOS and now with tvOS 15.0. It is connected to a Denon X4400Hx. I tried a bunch of things with no success. Not sure if there is a hardware or software problem. At the beginning of the Matrix when the WB logo is coming up and there were small audio drops; I replicated this twice, but now it's working. Super annoyed and I'm worried about a pop blowing out a tweeter.


Is anyone one else having this problem?

Posted on Sep 22, 2021 12:48 AM

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Posted on Mar 5, 2022 6:18 PM

[TLDR] try changing your ATV4K Settings > Video and Audio > VIDEO: Match Content = Off to see if it reduces or eliminates this Dolby Atmos issue (even though such a video setting seems unrelated to an Atmos audio problem). Read on to learn the genesis of my theory.

So I just participated in a thread where the OP's issue was Dolby Vision-related, and the fix/workaround was to set the ATV4K's default Video Format to 4K Dolby Vision, and to set the Match Content Range and Frame Rate settings to Off. Doing so prevented the OP's LG TV from switching video modes in the middle of a Dolby Vision-encoded program.


I was reminded of this thread and it occurred to me that when dynamic range shifts between [Dolby Vision-encoded] scene changes cause the ATV4K (with the Match Content settings switched On) to make a TV switch video modes in the middle of a program, these same video stream events could easily cause burps in the [Atmos-encoded] audio stream playback (with varying effects depending on the AV components in use).


That's the theory. Perhaps this ATV4K Match Content behavior during Dolby Vision-encoded content playback might be the aggravating factor/trigger for [some of] the Atmos-related problems described in this thread.


Anyway, I scanned this thread and didn't find references to the ATV4K's Match Content settings, so I made this post to see if it makes any difference for all y'all :-).


PS - I have the older Apple TV 4K, an Atmos-capable Sony soundbar, and a cheaper LG TV that's merely 4K HDR10-capable (without Dolby Vision - so I couldn't test my own theory :-). FWIW, I've never had Atmos-related issues, so that sort of supports my theory because I've never experienced these Dolby Vision-induced video mode changes that might trigger them.

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647 replies

May 31, 2022 7:11 AM in response to theringnebula

The fact is... none of the users on this forum should have to be wasting their time guessing about ways to make an expensive product do what they paid for.. The Dolby Quality Control (QC) is exhaustive. So when any Dolby certified product is played on Apple TV or any other platform, there should be none of this audio-dropping nonsense.


I sent my AppleTV back and got a full refund. And I suggest a lot of you do the same.


Something's completely wrong, and Apple need to fix it.

May 31, 2022 9:39 PM in response to ZimFromIRK

Its tough to wrap our heads around - but the issue isn't "muh bandwidths"


the issue is "how is the ATV handling data incoming on the wired ethernet connection"


this could be - how it caches the data, how it purges the cache.


it also could be - is the wired ethernet controller sharing a lane with some other device/function and its interrupting it.


keep reporting it to Apple. there is zero reason why this thing should be doing this - but keep reporting it and sharing the info about it.


I called Apple support today and escalated a ticket - supposed to get a follow up call Thursday.

Jun 3, 2022 3:53 AM in response to nodine

"How's that 1080 HDR working for you?"


When I tested DtS forced to 1080p@50Hz, the DV and Atmos looked and sounded great.


But if you could have made it all the way through to the end of my last post (it wasn't even one of my longer ones), you would have read that I don't use my WiFi or forced 1080p workarounds, as I have other streaming options that don't have the Atmos dropouts, including a Gen 1 ATV4K. I also shared what workarounds I would use based on my seating distance, if I didn't have those other streaming options. Sigh....

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Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

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