Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

So after swapping out my Apple TV 4K with a new one, the problem remains the same;

Got it last night within the first few minutes of "The Silent Sea" on Netflix (which is a Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos show)...sounded like static coming from the speakers.

So when i talk to Apple again on my case i will tell them its definitely not a hardware issue.

Well, then explain why my Apple TV 4K (2021)->Denon AVR-S960H->Sony XR-65X90J experiences none of this with Netflix or any other streaming app.

Explain why there not thousands of reports if this is a widespread Apple hardware problem. Explain why this issue is not mentioned on Apple tech blog sites like AppleInsider, MacRumors, or 9to5Mac. Explain why experts almost always resolve these issues as either HDMI cable or Internet bandwidth problems. See link below for Netflix’s requirements for HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/42384

I figured software. When I updated the software a couple days ago, although it continues to occur, the audio dropouts are different. Now they can be kind of in and out, like a bad wire that you wiggle, and shorter lived. Still 100% annnoying and it's driving me nuts.

Nothng like updating to a new Apple product that is worse than the previous generation.

I am confused by your response. Are you saying we all need to switch to "better" cables or are you saying Apple screwed up?

My set-up is exactly the same as before, the only difference is changing the Apple TV 4K to the 2021 Apple TV 4K.

i cant explain why your setup doesnt have these issues, but i have swapped out all my HDMI cables with 48Gbps 8k compatible cables (total overkill) and it was Apple who thought it might be a hardware issue with my AppleTV 4k...i thought software was more likely since there are reports of people with non-Denon receivers (e.g. MartinLogan) with exactly the same type of issues (plus I can play Atmos content from my Roku and Bluray player without a problem). Also i have gigabit fibre internet so definitely not a bandwidth issue, and everything is using ethernet.

Question, with your AVR-S960H 7.2 receiver, what are you using to power the overhead speakers or is yours a 7.2 configuration at the moment?

"Question, with your AVR-S960H 7.2 receiver, what are you using to power the overhead speakers or is yours a 7.2 configuration at the moment?"

The Denon is configured 7.1 with the Atmos speakers designated as such through Denon's software assignment setting. When playing Atmos audio content DAtmos is displayed on the Denon’s display and Info button.

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.

Ok I am reading the manual for your receiver and I guess they don’t use the 3 number terminology like on mine, so you can have 2 overhead speakers and 5 ground level speakers and they still call that 7.1 rather than 5.1.2 like in my manual.

For the record: my system is a 7.2.2 layout via Pioneer SC-79. I do have a HDFury AVRKey splitter going from ATV to the Pioneer (audio) and LG OLEDC6 (video). I have always thought one of the glaring omissions from the ATV is no HDMI audio out.

As far as guessing on speaker layouts, etc., as contributing factors to our situation remember there is an awful lot of audio information but no where near as much information as video information and, for all of us, the video hasn't been the issue. Those without Dolby Atmos have not had issues, which is the vast majority of people, so that's likely why few people have investigated this issue.

As we know the old ATV 4K no issues and now issues with the ATV 4K 2021. From what I read the major ATV changes were hardware changes aimed at the video which, again, leads us to software as the goblin for the audio issues.

I have a Denon AVR8500HA but don't yet have Atmos overheads, so it's a 5.0 configuration (the mains have 15" woofers driven by a separate Parasound A21+ amp so no sub needed). I get the Netflix dropouts within the first few minutes of watching "Drive to Survive" when Atmos is enabled in the 2021 AppleTV+ app; if I disable Atmos or set the AppleTV to re-encode as 5.1 (maybe the same thing, but two different settings), there's never a problem.

I found that, with Atmos enabled, the sound is better even in the 5.0 configuration. The image is less localized to the front, and there are phantom sounds coming from between the fronts and the sides, which is really stunning at times. That doesn't happen with 5.0.

The other new datapoint: we watched 3 "Drive to Survive Episodes" during New Years's Eve: the first with the 2021 AppleTV with Atmos enabled. Dropouts every 3-4 minutes, power cycled the AppleTV without improvement. I finally couldn't stand it anymore and switched to 5.1. Then I went into the AV closet and replaced the 2021 AppleTV 4K with my original AppleTV 4k. I made sure Atmos was enabled and there was not a single droppout or chopping sounds during the next two episodes. Not one, and Atmos sounded terrific.

This definitively points to a hardware issue in the AppleTV 4K 2021 version or a software issue specific to that version.

My Atmos overheads are being installed in a month or two (speakers are backordered ) and I really want this to work by then.

I have the same issues. Apple TV 4K 2021, Marantz SR7013, Sony Master Series OLED A90J. Random drops and what almost sounds like choppy interference with Atmos in Netflix. I have tried everything-new 8K cables, switching to Wi-Fi, uninstalling and reinstalling Netflix. If I use my previous generation Apple TV 4K no issues at all. I had my 2021 model replaced by Apple and the issue persists. I tried my 2021 on a different setup in a different room and the issue presented itself on that setup as well. Watching Netflix with Atmos through the Sony TV apps there is no issues. I have given up on using the 2021 version for Atmos. Yes the issue disappears if you downgrade the sound to 5.1 but that is not what I bought it for. This is definitely an issue with the 2021 model that needs to be addressed by Apple and Netflix. I don’t seem to have the Atmos issues with Prime, Disney + or AppleTV+ but I don’t watch these apps as much. So right now my 2021 model has become an expensive coaster.

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.

After replacing my 2021AppleTV 4K with a new one didnt help, I called Apple Support back to update my case and to let them know that I am still getting the same audio drops, static, etc., ...more or less proving it isnt a hardware issue.

They had me upload logs from the Apple TV 4K and I provided exact times when it happened, so they can hopefully see something in the logs that can tell them what's going on.

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.