Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

I disagree... ;)

the appearance of the issue is too randomly, one day I can watch an episode without any dropout, the other day the problem starts a few minutes later and happens every few minutes. I don't see a way to find any rule it follows.

ATV4K->Yamaha A1080 5.1.2->Sony TV. ATV is hardwired, no ARC/EARC, TV is only monitor

Same issues with stuttering dolby atmos sound here…. Been trying to figure when it happens and why but seems totally random. Again drive to survive good example.

last night installed update of tvos to 15.5… was kind of hoping issues would be solved…. But to my disappointment they still appear.

It only occurs with playing Atmos content from Netflix and not from Disney+ for instance.

i really hope Apple will find a way to solve this very soon, as it is going on for a while now..

The Denon app tells me that DtS is 50Hz. I have the ATV4K set to match Frame Rate, so I don't see why it would double 25Hz to 50Hz. It makes sense that DtS would have been produced at 50Hz due to the fast racing action, and that Netflix would stream that 50Hz version to us. I can't believe that Netflix would compromise the video quality for the very few shows that are 50/60Hz. If DtS were converted to 25Hz, I would expect it to be pretty choppy looking, and it isn't. I believe forcing DtS to 25Hz would still have dropouts, as I believe it is the frame rate and bandwidth of the stream coming into the ATV4K that matters, and for now I believe it is a 50Hz stream. I agree that forcing 25Hz is a worthwhile test and would give us another data point.

I just tried forcing 25Hz out of the ATV4K and the menu/home screens were 25Hz per the Denon app, and noticeably choppy. When I played DtS, the video was smooth and the Denon app said it was 50Hz, which I expected as I have match Frame Rate ON. When I previously tested DtS forced to 1080p 50Hz (match Frame Rate ON), I had no dropouts. Before it was pointed out to me that DtS was 50Hz, I already believed DtS was higher bandwidth than other shows due to the fast action/cuts.

Forcing 60Hz out for a lower frame rate video source will just cause the ATV4K to telecine the video, where it repeats some frames as required to match the NTSC video format frame rate of 30Hz (29.97Hz) or 60Hz (59.94Hz). With match Frame Rate ON, the telecine process is not performed.

I have had some dropouts on ATV+ shows such as Invasion and Foundation, but never on Servant. Again, I believe that is due to video bandwidth, with Servant being relatively low bandwidth -- nothing moves much in that show.

I’m having a similar issue. I can’t tell if it’s related to what others are experiencing or not. I have a Vizio m51a-h6 Soundbar, which is a 5.1 setup with a subwoofer and rear speakers. The sub/rears have been having frequent audio drops but only with my Apple TV (4K Gen 1). I don’t lose center channel audio, though. I tried the suggestion of switching off Atmos or to Dolby 5.1, and those seemed to work for a time but now it’s occurring even with regular 5.1 content. Has this version of this glitch happened similarly for anyone else? I’m still trying to determine the cause of this, and can’t tell if it’s this same glitch or another issue. It does only seems to occur with my Apple TV, though. And it only began in the last week.

Hi All….

just to be curious, i’m also watching Disney+ on the same Atv. And Atmos shows on Disney+ are without any audio issues like wirt Nf on the same Atv.

anyone else to confirm this.??

so that leaves me to believe that the Nf app might have anything to do with it.?

Same for me. Only issue with Atmos is via the Netflix app on the ATV 4K. D+ Atmos work fine for me. I am going to try the installed app on my TV in a bit to see if there are any issues.

I don’t know if it’s related, but I tried to Watch Ghost in the Shell_2045 which shows as bing in both DV and HD but I could only get HD to play via the ATV 4K Netflix app. I am, of course, on the 4K plan. Again will test via the stand alone app in a bit.

I'll just copy from one of my recent posts:

I agree that forcing 1080p isn't for everyone. I even said that seating distance, TV 4K upscaling quality, etc., are all factors. I sit 7 feet from a 75" Sony 940E, so I am in the range where 4K makes a difference over 1080p. If I were 10 feet from the screen, a figure I suspect is a more typical viewing distance, I would not be able to see the difference. There are many TV viewing distance charts online to help people people determine if 4K makes a difference.

I don't see why DV would be resolution specific. My TV indicated that DtS forced to 1080p was DV.

Of course forcing 1080p and using WiFi are workarounds. A real solution can only come from Apple, but I don't suggest holding your breath for one -- people have been complaining about the Atmos problem for well over 6 months.

Not an option for those that purchased outside the return window, which is likely >90% of us. I preordered mine from Apple. It wasn't obvious that there was a problem with Atmos until tvOS 15 came out in September '21, as the dropouts were very infrequent with 14.x. Apple should offer everyone with a Gen 2 a refund, but it would likely take a class action suit for that to happen.

Having the same issue on both Apple TV + and Netflix. Wasn't a problem before but recently noticed that audio cuts out and Yamaha receiver says Decoder Off so it's not always getting audio. I did the update/power down and it looks like Apple TV + is ok but Netfix is still a problem.

WIFI probably works because it is buffering and using different IP packet sizes. Most of the time, if the audio drops out, I can pause, wait X amount of seconds and maybe have it work after unpausing.

There is a lot of theorizing to do behind the issue.

It may boil down to how the ethernet controller is implemented. How does it connect to the CPU? What PCIE lane does it share?

Another point - is that the AppleTV uses a A12 Bionic processor - and this is traditionally implemented with WiFi connectivity. The ATV, iirc, is the only application of the A12 Bionic that has a wired ethernet controller connected.

Apple could probably fix this through firmware/drivers (hopefully?) - but until its done its not done.

[Edited by Moderator]

There is nothing consistent or repetitive about this issue except for it only happens with Dolby Atmos! Number 1 used to be true, but apparently it's happening on some gen 1 devices as well. Your number 2 and 4 are completely useless. It happens regardless if it's wired or wireless and saying it's specifically NETFLIX and a specific show is untrue.

I’ve tried resetting the Apple TV, but not connecting it to the tv because TV’s can’t decode Atmos so it won’t really matter unless you’re TV passes Atmos via ARC, but then you’re still re-introducing the receiver at the point so that’s why I said connecting it directly to the tv is pointless.

It would be different if the Apple TV had multiple HDMI outputs like my Panasonic 820 4K player. This way you could run just the audio to the receiver and just the video to the tv, and even then I don’t know if this would work.

Unless you are trying to get Netlix to put some pressure on Apple to fix the problem, I don't see any point in complaining to Netflix. The problem isn't with Netflix as the dropouts also occur on other services, including Apple's own ATV+.

Good letter! I can offer several suggestions/corrections:

The problem has been around since the Gen 2 release, but was far less frequent on tvOS 14.x.

The tvOS release was last September, so the Atmos issue has been really problematic for over 6 months -- more like 8 months.

I would only mention DtS as it has the most consistent and frequent dropouts due to its higher bandwidth, since it is 4K@50Hz. If someone tests this out for themselves, you want them to experience the problem at its worst. But it does occur on any 4K show with Dolby Atmos.

Definitely mention that it also happens on Apple's own ATV+ service.

Funny -- I've posted on most of those other forums.