Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

Hmmm.... Perhaps you could convince your contact at Dolby to put some pressure on Apple to resolve the Gen 2 ATV4K Atmos problem. It would be in Dolby's interest to do so, since it isn't helping Dolby's reputation to have Atmos in an unwatchable state. Most Apple customers are going to blame Dolby and never accept that there could be a problem with an Apple product.

It is quite hypocritical of Apple to expect perfection from their content providers, yet be completely okay with selling a product that makes Atmos content unwatchable. I wouldn't be so angry about if Apple were open about the issue and what they doing about it, rather than ignoring the problem entirely and worse -- trying to pass the blame to our equipment. And as a content provider, you have every reason to be incredibly disappointed, if not furious with Ample.

And congrats on the movie -- it looks interesting and I plan to watch it.

In the "for what it's worth department"...

The audio dropouts seem to be different now as they seem to ebb and flow (sound/no sound every second or so) versus going completely gone (no sound until stopping/starting the Netflix streaming again). This new ebb and flow bit started after the last software update so it didn't stop the issue but the update did change the issue.

The exact reason I purchase overpriced Apple products is precisely for the reason they never let stuff like this happen. I'll have to rethink future purchases now. This is 100% unacceptable. Shocking actually.

Same problem here. Joining this thread as a support group and to hopefully hear some good news soon.

I did read today that Netflix was rolling out a new app update for TVOS, but since the issue is not just with Netflix I’m not getting my hopes up it will fix the audio drop outs with Atmos.

I'm reading that recently the Netflix app has been updated to use Apple TV's internal player.

Does that improve anything?

Seems reading above that 15.6 latest beta + manually updating apps did not resolve it.

Not sure if that Netflix app version is already life.

Btw, I'm making some noise to the various hifi news outlets. Perhaps that can stir things up.

I need to start listing which program and service you actually had a problem with. I watched the number of shows with Atmos lately and there hasn't been an issue. The last issue was with Netflix and space Force.

My biggest issue right now is the constant crashing of everything. When I turn the TV off and back on again. Seems like every app especially HBO Max is always crashed and then you got to start it and then you got to connect and even with this new version you just get the three carouselling little dots and it never connects and you got to exit and try again and then possibly reboot. I thought apples garbage was supposed to just work.

I checked the Netflix version and it seems to be the most recent version from April.

So I'm assuming that is the update that uses the internal ATV player.

Well, I'm on latest official FW release and Netflix "drive to survive" was still the same mess.

Also played AppleTV+ Atmos (fireball, comet docu) and that didn't take long either to start stuttering.

Not with voice-over but, only with music.

Though Netflix is still much much worse and more often.

Why is Android 12 with auto frame rate taking so long to roll out? Save us!

Btw, HBO Max on ATV showed frame rate issues. Seems to be following Prime with auto frame rate intermittently broken.

Don't waste your time calling Apple support, whilst I'm sure this issue is being worked on, Apple's front line customer services are clueless.

I guess we either wait and trust Apple or get shot of the Apple TV

Thank you for the update. Probably the most credible report I've seen that Apple is aware of the problem, since I don't believe anything coming from Apple customer support. Too bad Dolby doesn't force Apple to remove Atmos support until they fix it, since that might be the motivation Apple needs -- bad press that one of the newest and most premium streamers doesn't support Dolby Atmos.

It would be nice if we knew whether or not a fix is in the works, or if a fix is even possible due to hardware limitations. If the latter, I would stop wasting my time testing the latest tvOS releases and move on. I can move the Gen 2 to a non Atmos setup and just use the Gen 1 in my main setup.

I have noticed that when i unplug the apple TV and let it rest for a couple of second and plug it again it solve the problem for at least a couple of hour. The stuttering get back when i stop using the Apple TV and i go back again to use it.

This problem just shows how even a massive company like Apple can't resolve issues quickly, I've ditched my Apple TV now and won't be going back anytime soon, it's basically an unsupported device now if this issue is anything to go by.

So disappointed with Apple right now.

Why on earth is this problem marked as fixed?? The reply that is marked “solved” is just someone who says the problem goes away for a few hours if he/she reboots…

That cannot hardly be considered a resolution….

Of course it isn’t a solution, but it is likely as close as we will get, unless you want to add disabling Atmos, since Apple apparently has no intention of actually fixing the problem. This issue has been present the day the ATV4K Gen 2 was released, though it got significantly worse with the release of tvOS 15.x.

A lot of people here believe that an Apple product can’t possibly have such a major defect. Look at all the posts where people replaced their HDMI cables, believing that a cheap or faulty HDMI cable could specifically target Atmos audio, while leaving other audio formats and video completely free of artifacts. That just defies logic.

Agreed! I cannot make it through an hour episode of “The Witcher” on Netflix in Atmos without the audio randomly cutting out. When it happened the first time I was unplugging and replugging cables, restarting the TV, Apple TV and AV Receiver. After trying everything, only a quick restart alleviates the issue at least until the following viewing the next day. Beyond annoying. Please Apple, FIX THIS!!!

So sorry...I was very excited. It was the first time I went a full Atmos Netflix show without the issue. Half way through I was going to comment on here but thought I should wait "to be sure". Ah, crap.

You know, I just changed my DNS from automatic to manual and others had noted they actually put in their router/modem numbers. The other thread is Amazon Prime app shows "no internet connection" or something close to that. Maybe mirroring what others have done? Maybe I was just a little luckier?

Sorry for the false hope. I will report back either way.

The cable is in my case not the problem. I use Avinity HDMI 2.1 cables 48 Gbit/s and the only device that had this Dolby Atmos problem is the Apple TV 4K. It occurs only when watching a Dolby Atmos film or serie on Netflix. HBOMax and Apple TV don't have this sound drop out problem.