AppleTV audio cuts out and pops on Dolby Atmos audio content

Mine was working following iOS 16 update however I have noticed that for the last week or so there has been no atmos enabled content visible on Netflix via Apple TV. This can’t be a confidence on my view

Mine just started having issues with my LG OLED when playing Non-Dolby Atmos content. It works fine with Dolby Atmos content, but won’t work with non-Dolby Atmos content. Crackles and pops, completely distorted audio. If i turn the audio to Dolby 5.1 then everything works fine, but then I’m not enjoying Dolby Atmos.

Until recently I’ve never had issues. I’ve tried two different Apple TVs, changed HDMI cables, was originally using a Bose Soundtouch but instead bought a Sonos system to see if that would work. Nothing has fixed the problem. Sound works totally fine when using an LG installed app (Netflix, HBO, etc) and skipping the Apple TV altogether.

FIX THIS APPLE!!

I still get it. I experienced it last night, in fact. Usually the content starts out ok, but eventually maybe after several minutes or sometimes maybe after 30 minutes, the audio will start to cut out and crackle/pop, and then I have to stop the show/movie and start it over again for it to stop.

I just purchased a new Apple TV 4K 2022 and I’ve tried everything to fix this. The sound cuts out randomly for 1-2 seconds. I’ve tried different cables, turned off 5.1 and switched to Stereo, turned off Atmos. I switched from a Chromecast that had zero issues and I’m regretting it a bit. C’mon Apple :(

I bought a new 4K 2022 ATV and having audio drop out issues. Netflix and using dolby atmos sound drops out. Also plays sound in PCM format when dolby format is encoded ATV fails to decode it and it drops sound out.

New Model with A15 seems a let down. I suggest we all return it if it allows you. Apple needs to test and fix issues before releasing hardware. Firestick 4k max has no issues.

Same issue. Started on Gen 2 and just replaced with a Gen 3 and it’s still popping and crackling.

I also replaced my sound bar, all cables but managed to confirm it’s the Apple TV as Atmos works fine through the television OS, it’s only through ATV it has the issue.

Disabling Atmos and just using 5.1 Dolby fixes the issue in the ATV but means no atmos.

This has been going on two years. When will apple fix the firmware?

I still really like ATV, I think they have a superior product but they need to fix the way they are processing and sending the audio. I likely have an edge case setup… This issue seems to be software… if they can fix it, I’ll be happy.

I have noticed dropping Atmos on Apple TV for at least a year. Watching Jurassic Park Dominion from iTunes now and thought to use Roku to watch it but thought I would try on Apple TV to see if it is still a problem on my setup. Sad to read it is still happening for others.

I'm experiencing the same issue as well. Basically I just got the JBL 9.1 soundbar capable of Dolby Atmos yesterday on 11/20/2022. When I played Dolby Atmos contents in HBO Max app or Apple TV plus app, the audio cuts out and popping/cracking sounds occurred. At first I thought it was the soundbar issues, but after several attempts to find the issue, it's the Apple TV 4k. My set up is Apple TV 2021 model (newest software update tvOS 16.1), with LG CX, and JBL 9.1 soundbar. The way that I have to do for temporary fix is that to change the Sound out on my CX from Pass Through to Auto. This setting will eventually reduce the full Atmos audio format, but I guess it's the only choice now. Another way is that I have to use the native apps on the TV if we want to keep Dolby Atmos, no more Apple Tv.

Same. Audio drops briefly, incessantly. Seems to happen during transitions. We are often missing the first two words a character says. Infuriating. And been going on for a long time now.

Sony 4K TV. Apple TV 4K 2022. Rated 8K HDMI cables. Cat 6e hard-wired Ethernet.

I’m updating now to beta 16.2 to see if it fixes it.

Same thing here just got a new tv and Apple TV 4K only to have this issue now.

Here’s my setup

qn90b

Apple TV4k 2022 Ethernet directly into tv and i have a pioneer elite avr (older gen no earc) in a corner with a 50 footer fiber optic cable connected.

before the new tv first gen atv4k was plugged into avr and then avr to receiver. Everything worked for the most part had to power cycle tv every few weeks but wasn’t really a big issue.

Now with the new setup I had to plug atv directly into tv to get hdr10+ and then arc sound back. I know all the limitations with atv and sound output. I’ll get a new receiver that supports earc in a few months but I will still have to use earc to get sound the fiber optic cable is in wall and does not support 48gbs.

Everything works but then get sound drops for about half a second every minute or few minutes, but only with atmos sound. If I power cycle just the tv issue goes away but then comes back, still need to do more testing how quickly it comes back.

some folks at Reddit are saying it is related to content matching due to 24 fps vs 23.94 or whatever it is.

It is definitely an Apple issue though.

I found a potential solution for a C1+ATV+Sonos Beam setup.

I went into the C1 settings > all settings > sound > additional settings > set “digital sound out” to auto (mine was set to pass through when I was having the intermittent sound drop out).

now, for me, Dolby Atmos content plays fine, 5.1 and stereo content plays fine too.

I’ve been having the same issue with a new TV (LG C1) and the sonos arc. It was driving me crazy because I thought it was the new TV and soundbar but I’m glad to see it is just the Apple TV. I really hope that apple releases a new software update to fix this.

I’ve had the same issue at least a year (audio dropping). I called Apple and their suggestion worked on a while. Just reset video… will see. I’m abouts to return because a boat anchor would work better.

Test Fix - Been following this issue all month. Had the same problems with my 4k 2nd gen, on a Vizio m5 and LG C2. Both with tv audio out via optical to my Vanatoo speaker. On the LG C2, I disabled the tv CEC feature on the HDMI port associated with the Apple TV. So far no audio cutting issues.

Let me know if this works for you guys.