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Apple TV outputs 2 Channel Stereo only!

Just updated my Apple TV 4K (Third Gen) and Apple TV HD to the most recent version of TVOS and to my surprise when I watch anything on any of my streaming services they all default to PCM 2 Channel Stereo when either of my Yamaha Amps is set to Straight. In other words, Apple TV sends only 2 channel stereo to the amp.


I have tried changing the Audio setup in the settings from Auto to Dolby Digital 5.1 but it still defaults to PCM 2 Channel. I thought it may be an amp issue as one of my Amp's had to be repaired. When I got it back and reconnected it within a few days I noticed the issue. It didn't sound right. I fiddled around with various settings and nothing helped. I also experienced the output switching back and forth from 2 channels to multichannel. I then tried switching to my Telus 4K Box and everything worked as it should.


Next, I tested it on the second amp with my other Apple TV HD and got the same results. Both amps are Yamaha but different models.


Correct me if I'm wrong but if the Apple TV is set to Auto then it should be sending Multichannel unprocessed audio to the amp in the best format delivered by the streaming service, which I know is not PCM 2 Channel Stereo.


From the Yamaha site:

"When STRAIGHT is pressed and the straight decode mode is enabled, the unit produces stereo sound from the front speakers for 2-channel sources such as CDs, and produces unprocessed multichannel sounds for multichannel sources."


This seems to be a new issue with Apple TV OS since the updates. Prior to this if I set the Yamaha Amp's to Straight it would output PCM but decode as Dolby Digital.


Can't believe I'm the only one that has noticed this issue or are there others out there?


Any feedback to this issue would be appreciated.


Dave

Apple TV HD

Posted on Mar 8, 2023 1:40 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 9, 2023 10:12 AM

Movies seem to work fine.

Then your device settings are probably correct, else it would be in stereo for everything.


What remains is either the app or the stream itself from the content provider.

Try this for any misbehaving app:

  1. Force-quit the app, then relaunch and try again.
  2. If the issue persists, force-quit the app, restart the device, then relaunch and try again.
  3. If the issue still persists, delete the app, re-download and try again.
  4. If the issue still persists, then contact the app developer for further assistance.

Similar questions

8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 9, 2023 10:12 AM in response to Digita1one

Movies seem to work fine.

Then your device settings are probably correct, else it would be in stereo for everything.


What remains is either the app or the stream itself from the content provider.

Try this for any misbehaving app:

  1. Force-quit the app, then relaunch and try again.
  2. If the issue persists, force-quit the app, restart the device, then relaunch and try again.
  3. If the issue still persists, delete the app, re-download and try again.
  4. If the issue still persists, then contact the app developer for further assistance.

Mar 8, 2023 5:55 PM in response to Digita1one

FWIW


I have my Apple TV 4K 3rd generation connected to my Yamaha Advantage AVR then out to the TV via eArc HDMI. I have the Apple TV 4K set to Dolby 5.1, I used to have it on Auto but I don’t use Atmos speakers anymore more, just a straight 5.1 speaker setup.


Watching movies etc. putting out 5.1 shows properly on the receiver as Dolby Digital, and the little speaker setup icon on the display shows appropriately for my speaker setup.


Here is my experience when using “straight” it defaults to 2 channel but changes to 5.1 as needed when watching movies, streaming apps, etc. Some TV shows will show as 2 channel stereo on the receiver, sometimes I’ll just turn-off “straight” if I want 5.1.


Also, with movie trailers if I have “straight” turned-on, some trailers will output 2 channel stereo but the movie itself will output 5.1.


It has worked this way for me for quite a while, even with earlier versions of tvOS, I currently have tvOS 16.3.3 I also have a 2nd generation Apple TV4K and it works the same way.


I have the Audio Output set to “TV speakers”, in much older tvOS versions this setting showed an Apple TV icon along with “HDMI” so there would be no doubt you were using HDMI, they shouldn’t have change it to “TV Speakers” which can be confusing

Mar 9, 2023 9:36 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Thanks for the quick reply. I have it set up as you suggested. The weird thing about this is that it seems like it just started out of the blue. For example, my wife and I watch shows on Britbox and a few nights ago I noticed that it was only outputting the audio in PCM 2 channel stereo even though the show was advertized in HD 5.1. That's how this all started. Now that I think about it the issue must have started after the last update and I only just noticed. One Apple TV has updated to TVOS 16.3.3 (TV 4K 3rd Gen) however it also happens on my other TV 4 HD 2nd Gen 16.3.2.


The other weird thing is that sometimes it switches back and forth between 5.1 and 2 channel stereo and it only happens with some shows like Trailer Park Boys. Movies seem to work fine. It has to be something related to the updates and how it interacts with the streaming services. I've never had to adjust the Apple TV audio settings before this.


Very strange.

Mar 17, 2023 3:09 PM in response to Digita1one

I’m having the same experience, ATV4K on latest OS, Marantz Cinema 40 AVR. I have both Spectrum Cable and Internet, so I compared the cable box audio to the Spectrum app audio (on ATV4K) using a TNT NCAA Men’s Basketball game as the source. On cable, I get DD+DSurr (as expected), while on the app I get two-channel stereo. WTH… like you, I did not have this experience prior to the most recent update(s).


Tried restart/remove app/ options someone listed out, no change. Audio setting is “TV speakers” and audio format is “Auto, Atmos available”. Also like you, movies decode fine, it’s only certain apps that seem to be screwed up. Needs resolution, must be happening widely.


Lastly, I’m not using ARC, just straight HDMI from ATV to the AVR.

Mar 17, 2023 3:21 PM in response to Jimk1963

Ok more weirdness - changed ARV4K Spectrum app channel from TNT to TBS (another March Madness game) and the audio changed to Multi-In+DSurr, which is different than the cable box (DD+DSurr) but better than 2-channel stereo. I tried changing the ATV4K audio format from Atmos-ON to Atmos-OFF, does not affect these results.


So this leads me to now believe that the source material (cable channels) fed through the Spectrum app isn’t well managed by Spectrum. If the cable box is receiving Dolby over a given channel (TNT), the app should too. The fact other Spectrum channels on ATV4K are receiving Dolby means (to me) the ATV4K settings are not the issue.

Apple TV outputs 2 Channel Stereo only!

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