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Apple TV 4K Dolby Atmos sound problems in Netflix

Hi, hope this is the right place to ask this question. I purchased an Apple TV 4K box few weeks back, mainly to watch Atmos enabled movies through my home cinema set up. However I am experiencing sound problems when viewing Atmos movies on Netflix. The sound drops out and/or I get crackles/pops from the speakers every few minutes. This is very annoying and renders the movies unwatchable. Note, Atmos soundtracks in other apps eg Disney plus work fine.

Is there a solution for this.

thanks

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 15

Posted on May 7, 2022 2:36 AM

Reply
27 replies

May 8, 2022 10:33 AM in response to Supergooner

Thanks for confirming, Supergooner.


Earlier you mentioned that this issue doesn't happen with all apps, but happens consistently with Netflix. If that's the case, you may want to contact the developer instead:


When to contact an app developer for help:

If an app isn't working, but the issue doesn't affect other apps.


How to contact an app developer:


Contact the developer of a tvOS app:

Open the App Store on your Apple TV.
Search for the app, then choose it.
The app's product page appears. Scroll to the bottom of the page. Find the developer's website in the Information section.


Hope that helps.


Take care.


May 8, 2022 10:28 AM in response to Supergooner

It’s not just you. It happens on two different soundbars that I own. And there are articles in the last few days coming out of others complaining about this issue. Even over on Reddit. It’s a Apple problem that needs to be addressed. The fix I have found is either back out of what you are watching and restart the show/movie. Or change audio to dolby digital in settings.

May 8, 2022 11:22 AM in response to karina184

There’s nothing on support that helps resolve this issue. Basically I have checked cables (high speed HDMI), Sky TV software (have latest version), Netflix streaming quality (high). The sounds issues re atmos mainly occurring with Netflix but also had this issue on Disney plus last night. Loads of people are reporting this issue via Apple and other forums. I suspect it’s an Apple TV software issue.

May 12, 2022 9:36 AM in response to KTaylor1980

Hi, after a flurry of activity and responses from community specialists advising to check various basic things, all has gone quiet. Tried to watch an atmos movie on Netflix via the Apple TV last night and the sound juddered straight away rendering it unwatchable.

How do I go about reporting this to Apple as it must be an issue with the box?

May 19, 2022 8:17 PM in response to Supergooner

Same issue here, my audio only drops out with Netflix. Only happens with my new AppleTV 4k purchased 3/2022. My setup is Samsung 4kTV, with my Yamaha TSR-700 Receiver running fiber HDMI cable. No issues until I replaced my 2021 AppleTV 32gb with this new 64gb AppleTV. If I go back to settings and turn off Atmos, sound works with no audio drops. Unfortunately, I no longer have the 32gb AppleTV. Would love to see Apple address this issue....

May 19, 2022 8:24 PM in response to PacNW4ever

I have a gen 1 and gen 2 32gb Apple TV 4K. I can say it does it on both devices. Some apps are worse than others for dropout/crackling with atmos. Apple TV+/Apple movies app and Netflix are the worst offenders. But I’ve had it happen on Disney plus and paramount plus as well. On my vizio soundbar the audio just completely cuts outs. On my jbl bar 9.1 it will start crackling and drop parts of audio right before the rear speakers cut out and the soundbar itself will have crackling and audio drop.

Jul 10, 2022 10:11 AM in response to RobbyMov

Hi, thanks for your reply. I have continued to review this over the past few weeks. Basically, the issues with Atmos via Netflix on my Apple TV 4K continue. Tried to watch Spiderhead last week and there so much clipping and sound failure that in end I had to disable atmos in order to complete the movie. Defeats the object of having an atmos enabled sound system. I have also noticed the 4K content menu page on Netflix no longer shows atmos though some movies seem to have it. Have tried other movies but still experiencing the clipping issue. I’m running on v15.5.1. Apple/Netflix should at least being acknowledging there is an issue by now, let alone finding a fix.

Aug 20, 2022 3:28 PM in response to dawngreg08

This is still an ongoing issue with Netflix on the Apple app. It only happens when playing Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos content WHEN hooked up to an external AVR. It happens repeatedly. I have tested it with other apps and it’s no problem it’s only Netflix. Netflix says it’s an Apple issue however as Dolby Atmos works on the other platforms supported

Apple TV 4K Dolby Atmos sound problems in Netflix

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