How to get digital audio to Apple TV.

Question

Level 1

24 points

How to get digital audio to Apple TV.

It's complicated but here goes. It seems in their infinite wisdom Apple did away with the audio connection on Apple TV 4. My older receiver can only read video from HDMI. Consequently you also need an audio connection. Which is not an issue for my DVD player or Directv DVR. So one theory I have to get audio from Apple TV to my receiver is to plug my Apple airport express into my Apple TV via ethernet. Then use a converter cable (3.5mm to optical). plugged between the 3.5mm audio jack on Apple airport express to optical input on receiver. I know this sounds pretty far out and I do wonder if audio quality will make it that far. Would it cause any damage to my Apple TV to try? I have everything except the cable that converts 3.5mm to optical audio. So not very expensive for me to try. I just don't want to damage my equipment. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Posted on Oct 9, 2021 7:55 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Roger Wilmut1

Level 10

131,528 points

Oct 9, 2021 8:00 AM in response to RbirdNC

You'd be better off with an HDMI breakout box like this or this - both pass through the HDMI and also extract 5.1 digital audio or stereo analogue on RCA (phono) sockets.

Reply

Answer 2

Oct 9, 2021 8:35 AM in response to RbirdNC

Any TV available for the last few years should accept audio as well as video over HDMI, as will any AV receiver. Optical audio can carry only up to 5.1, where HDMI can carry 7.1 and Dolby Atmos: so separate audio outputs would be reduntant for the majority of people and would add bulk and cost. Roku and Amazon both removed them some time back.

Reply

Answer 3

RbirdNC Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 9, 2021 1:17 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

I know it should be but when we bought this receiver in 2007 (Harman Kardon AVR 146) HDMI capabilities was not something on my radar. It had good reviews and I had had good experiences with the brand in the past. It does say clearly in owners manual it is not capable of processing HDMI audio signals. I just bought optical inputs and thought nothing of it until I had a device with no optical hook up. It has 4 slots for optical inputs. That's just how the ball bounces sometimes. I do really appreciate you letting me know how to resolve the issue. I am OK with not having the latest greatest. I usually try to do that when replacing a product that no longer works. You will never find me lined up all night to get the latest iPhone. Although when my 7 gave up and the 12 was the newest available. I bought a 12. Thanks again.

Reply

Answer 4

RbirdNC Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 9, 2021 8:23 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Yea. Thanks a lot I knew there should be a better solution. But I wondered if anyone else had had this issue. I guess there is not anything new under the sun.

Reply

How to get digital audio to Apple TV.

Similar questions