Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k

Same 1.136 HDMI firmware on my tvOS 15.3 Gen 1.

I was using the Gen 1 remote and there is no "down". You need to touch (not click) the touchpad.

Reconnecting the Gen 1 was my solution to the Gen 2 Atmos problem. The Gen 2 an "upgrade"? I think not.

Well, except for the remote.

I also had a Gen 2 ATV4K swapped for a new unit, and it didn't help the Atmos problem. I also found tvOS 15.2 and 15.3 were far worse than 14.7, which was originally on the replacement. However, I also have a Gen 1 unit that has worked perfectly for several years under the same conditions, presumably running the same software. So it isn't that simple.

This is just a WAG, but I believe there is something different about the 2nd gen hardware that tvOS did not take into account or was not optimized for. My hypothesis is that the Gen 2 Atmos problem is due to errors in the creation and/or timing of the MAT 2.0 Atmos signal. Some folks with Gen 2 units appear to have no Atmos issues, while others have varying degrees of symptoms. I believe this is because some AVRs and Atmos decoders are more effective at correcting and/or masking the MAT 2.0 errors.

DragonByte79 just got an HDfury VRROOM, and so far his Atmos problems appear to be gone. This device acts like an eARC device, but extracts the HDMI audio from the HDMI signal. I believe it also provides error correction, so this would tend to support my hypothesis regarding the MAT 2.0 errors. I don’t believe there is any issue with the Gen 2 audio stream decoding or generation of LPCM output, as I would expect that to also affect other audio formats, since the ATV4K still decodes the audio and outputs LPCM, just without the MAT 2.0 Atmos container.

Again, this is all just a WAG.

I am not buying a $600 dollar box to fix a sound issue lol thats just crazy. IM glad yours is fine tho becuase of it. Im honestly at the point of returning this stupid apple box and wait for a newer one down the road and just use a firestick in the meantime, or just use my google tv which runs everything fine and no atmos issues. I only got the apple box because of the ecosystem and figured it would be the best thing to use. However I cant even watch a show or movie on it with atmos or it just stutters the sound or it cuts out for a few seconds and catches up again. ANNOYING! $230.00 Annoying box 4k.

DragonByte79 had the VRROOM, not I. But I do have Gen 2 alternatives that support DV and Atmos just fine. My Gen 1 ATV4K works flawlessly, as does the latest Roku Ultra and the Android TV apps in my Sony TV. I will say that the ATV4K is my go-to streamer as I find the Roku interface simplistic and outdated and has ads, and my 2017 Shield doesn't support DV and is buggy. The Android TV apps in my Sony aren't as responsive as in the latest streamers, but they work fine. The Gen 2 ATV4K is my only streamer with Atmos issues. If Apple doesn't fix the Atmos issues, they should offer everyone a refund. We should not have to put up with the Atmos performance in its current state.

Yeah, i also think it is on the output side.

I've played the troublesome content using AirPlay to the Denon. No issues. So decoding the Atmos stream seems fine. The issue seems synchronization related on the output from ATV to whatever Atmos capable receiver.

Yes that’s the decision I made. I returned my ATV and bought a Shield. I was tired of downloading every TVOS update hoping Atmos would work only to have my hopes dashed each time, not to mention all the expensive HDMI cables I bought and the neve ending calls/emails with Apple support…

I hope you don't find the Shield to be as buggy as I do. I use Plex a lot, so that is likely where many of the bugs are, but I also found the Shield waking up my TV when I was not using it. I turned OFF CEC control hoping that helps. I do like the Google TV interface though.

I currently have both Gen 1 and Gen 2 ATV4K's connected to my Denon so I can test the latest beta on the Gen 2, and then switch back to the Gen 1 so I can watch without Atmos problems.

Sorry you bought expensive HDMI cables. I knew that wasn't the problem as HDMI issues generally manifest in video artifacts before they affect the sound. I didn't pursue Apple support beyond making an Apple Genius appointment at the local Apple store and trying a replacement.

I found the Shield a bit buggy as well...i mostly bought it for the Match Frame Rate (beta) thing, but it doesnt seem to work very well.

I had a Roku and found the stuttering very annoying, so the ATV 4K sounded great, but the Atmos issues were way more annoyng than my Roku's stuttering video.

At this point i am hoping that the Shield Frame Rate feature makes it out of Beta, or hoping Android 12 is released for it.

If i hear that Apple finally fixes their Atmos problem and if the Shield Frame Rate is still flakey, I will probably go and buy an Apple TV 4K again. But at least Nvidia seems to be trying to address peoples concerns with their Frame Rate Beta option, whereas Apple support was just trying to convince me my Denon was the problem and was in full denial mode

[Edited by Moderator]

Switched to 1080p SDR (auto framerate) and switched off 'enhanced' HDMI on the Denon.

Far less Atmos drop outs (not zero, but barely and short)

Both YCbCr as RGB high same.

Switching to 4K SDR and, full of drop outs (HDMI 'enhanced' on Denon still off)

Ignoring the randomness of the Atmos problem and taking your results at face value, your test suggests that the higher video data throughput produces more Atmos errors/artifacts. I don't know if you can isolate it to fewer errors being generated on the ATV4K end, versus reduced ability to correct or mask any errors on the receiver end, though I would point my finger at the ATV4K end. It is not very encouraging that the Atmos problem is present even on 1080p SDR.

Airplay to the Denon is stereo only. My aim was to take the Atmos output side out of the equation to see if the decoding of the stream would not have issues.

Similar to using 5.1 or stereo pcm conversion on Apple TV but now not using HDMI at all. Anyway, input seems fine.

Wonder if there is a way to get logging out of the ATV to send to Apple.

Yes it is possible to extract logs and send them to Apple; open a support case and they will show you how to do it and also how to upload the logs to them so they can examine them.

i sent several set of logs to them while they were troubleshooting my case but they weren’t able to see anything that helped them identify the cause of the Atmos problems I was having.

That's what I thought. I was thinking that ATV4K to AirPods Pro might be a useful test. AirPods Pro I believe do support Atmos, but I believe the the ATV4K would have to send it differently (no MAT 2.0 where I suspect the problem is). I believe this test should verify the Atmos decoding in the ATV4K is working, but I could be wrong. It could support only Spatial Audio, but I believe it can use Atmos sources.

I have same issues with my Apple TV 4K 2nd gen. It is connected to my Denon X6700H and I get intermittent clicking popping noises only when playing Dolby Atmos content. Netflix , HBO Max, Disney + , and even iTunes movies all do it.

I opened a support case with Denon and got nowhere. If anyone at Apple reads this, I would be happy to send any diagnostics to help troubleshoot this.

I am having the same problem. Apple TV 4K Gen 2. LG C9 connected via eARC to an LG SN11RG Sound Bar system. It only cuts out on Dolby Atmos content on apps like Netflix, Disney+, etc. The problem is fixed when I go into the ATV settings and adjust the audio setting to be Dolby 5.1. If you leave it on Dolby Atmos, it acts up. This is an Apple problem. My Xbox Series X can game over this audio setup with zero hiccups in Atmos settings. They need to fix this.