Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

I wonder then if this issue may be related to the speaker layout; my system is setup as 7.1.4 so I guess there is a lot more Dolby Atmos info being processed than with a 7.1 config like yours. With a 7.1 layout the receiver doesn’t worry about overhead speakers and just assumes all speakers are at ground level. I suppose any info about what needs to go to the overhead height speakers is just ignored.

Having the same issue. Apple Tv 4K 2021, Denon 4300H, LG OLED C1. Audio gets choppy than drops out with Netflix Atmos. Happens about 30 minutes or so into most episodes.

Never had this issue with the Nvidia Shield. Really disappointing.

That is great-thanks for the update. I did notice the Netflix app has not been updated since June 2021 and there have been several tvOS updates since then so perhaps there is an issue there that Netflix needs to address.

Yes i also saw it on Matrix Resurrections on HBO Max;

i've also seen it on the AppleTV+ shows "Invasion" and "For All Mankind", as well us on the movie "Greyhound";

On Netflix's "The Silent Sea" it happens constantly.

I did test with and without Dynamic Color auto.

Wondering now if the auto frame rate could be related. Never tested it without. Always on.

Though I would expect that would actually improve the situation as frame rate is matching actual content.

Never tried switching it off yet though.

So coming from ATV, to Shield 2017, to ATV 4K '21, I now have to wait for Android 12 (auto frame rate in OS) Shield TV? sigh

Netflix seems to be the most plagued app on any platform generally speaking so... it will take a long time for a fix I'm afraid.

I have gone back to my first generation ATV 4K and have no issues. I was able to get another certified open box from BestBuy for my other setup as well and all ok. I have abandoned my 2nd gen until the issue gets resolved. So it has been a costly venture

Thanks I'll try that.

Although other devices than Denon have seen the issue, a lot of them do use Denon... Then again, Denon is a populair brand and front runner on HDMI 2.1

Tv speakers sometimes shows receiver? Hm, never seen that. Perhaps connected via airplay of Denon?

I have only heard the issue with Netflix. Not Disney+

Also not on inFuse, mrmc. But, they never show Atmos on Denon anyway.

Seems also less after power cycling ATV until you switch video or seek. So yeah, TV os is highly suspected.

Just get passthrough in place already Apple

You asked: "I am wondering what is lost when the AppleTV decodes the Dolby signal." It's hard to say what's lost, but tonight, I watched a "Ghosts" episode on HBO Max for a while on the AppleTV 4K. It's a British show and the dialog is often hard to understand because of the accents and slang and so I often turn on the subtitles. I watched about 5 minutes on the AppleTV and then decided to try my new Sony TV with built-in GoogleTV -- both over the Denon 8500HA; the AppleTV is connected to the Media Player HDMI input while the Sony TV was sending audio over eARC. With the TV, the dialog from the center was crystal clear -- no trouble understanding anything and the sound was much more lively. I was shocked at how easy the dialog from the center channel was to understand. I then switched back to the AppleTV and sure enough, the muddy hard-to-understand dialog was still there. My Denon receiver said it was decoding "Dolby Digital Plus" with the Google TV while, with the AppleTv it just said "multi-channel input".

I do have the dialog clarifier function turned on in the receiver's sound menu as a result of previous attempts to get clearer dialog. To me, this pretty much indicates there's not much the Denon can do with the multi-channel input the multi-channel input. Since the TV's built-in GoogleTV supports all the apps that the AppleTV has (including an AppleTV app that has the "up next" list, but only for AppleTV+ and AppleTV channels (for me, the Paramount+ and Showtime bundle), but fortunately also movie purchases and rentals from Apple.

This tells me I'm going to have to abandon my AppleTV 4K 2021 streaming box unless Apple adds an audio passthrough mode because clear audio is very important to me, and the GoogleTV app works really well -- watched a lossless DTS/iMAX movie streamed over Sony's Bravia Core service with stunning sound and never an Atmos glitch in "Drive to Survive". I hope Apple is paying attention.

I think this confirms it for me. Nice to see others with the same issue I have been fighting. Only happens to me in Netflix and they just told me it’s probably the Apple TV. Not sure where to go, might have to try and find an old ATV 4k until they get this fixed. Might have to hop over to a Nvidia Shield.

which Xbox did you buy? i heard the new models (S and X) work the same way as the Apple TV 4K and send uncompressed audio multi-channel PCM signal to the AVR. On the AVR, what do you see on the display when watching Dolby Atmos from your Xbox? Does it say the input is PCM? If PCM works on the Xbox but not on the Apple TV 4K, then that is more proof it is an Apple TV 4K problem.

I suppose admitting to the fact that there are problems with Atmos would generate bad headlines for the Apple TV…likely they are just planning on quietly fixing it in some future version of TV OS (unless it needs a hardware modification).

I read somewhere that the Apple TV has never had a passthrough option since the first Apple TV was introduced.

I asked a support person if anyone at Apple was reading these forums but got no answer…they suggested instead that I bring in my Denon AVR and Apple TV to an authorized support location…obviously something they figured I wouldn’t want to do. I suppose they would have connected 2 or 3 speakers and when the problem didn’t show itself blame my setup somehow. Probably this problem only happens when many speakers possibly including height speakers are connected to the AVR.

I have done the same, though I have both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Apple TV 4K units connected to my Denon AVR so I can easily test the latest tvOS versions on the Gen 2. I don't have much hope that Apple will ever fix the problem. I essentially have a $200 remote control upgrade for my Gen 1 ATV4K.

[Edited by Moderator]

Let the rep know about the group and all that has been discussed here. They are taking it to engineering and getting back to me this weekend. I have full video of this happening repeatedly and sent that in to them as well. I have full 8k high speeds on everything right now. Thought it would alleviate some of the issue, it didn’t.

Once it starts stuttering, keeps coming back every minute or so. Getting more and more frequent. Sometimes display av receiver has all speaker output indicators off and dolby sign off for brief moment.

Then, also the quieter sections keep chopping up.

Completely unwatchable. Perhaps this issue is not on Apple's radar after all. Seems to be getting worse.

The Silent Sea for me after 10-15 minutes stuttering starts.

But also, the framerate seemed off right before the stuttering.

No black screen switching framerate so seems the video playback was also having issues. Restored after the stuttering was gone.

No changes on the AV receiver's display this time

Can someone check the hdmi-firmware version on the gen 1?

Go to settings-info press 'down' once

I'm on 1.136