Apple TV 4K 3rd generation eARC sound issues, no problems with Apple TV 4K 2nd generation

It broke with TVOS 17.0. Previous to 17.0, the Apple TV 3rd gen could distinguish between Dolby, 2 channel and 5.1 channel audio via the 'Auto' setting. Now - just as you said, if you want to listen to Atmos or Dolby 2 channel audio - use Auto. If 5.1 (the majority of TV programming), you have to force the audio to 'Change Format - 5.1 audio' in the audio settings. It will not work otherwise. Yep - I brought this up to Apple in September. I have heard no acknowledgement of it as an issue. It showed up in early TVOS 17.0 betas prior to it being released.

I have this exact same problem.

AppleTV 4k 3rd gen, Sonos Arc(+surrounds&sub), LG G2.

It started with tvOS17 and did _not_ get fixed with 17.2 yesterday.

When I use a few of the apps - such as Peacock or Prime - I will get everything that should be center channel erroneously coming out of the rear right, all the music and background coming out of the center, and nothing coming out of the sub or rear left.

I can fix it by going into the AppleTV app and playing something that has Atmos. The TV displays "Atmos" in the top right, the sound plays OK in the AppleTV app, then I can *usually* switch back to the offending app and sound will work correctly. This works 8 out of 10 times, occasionally I need to do it two times for it to take hold.

This is incredibly annoying.

The reason I *know* it is something to do with Apple's device (although to be fair it could be bad app code *on* the device - so it could be the developers for Prime or Peacock or whatever) - is that it works OK in some apps and not in others. If it were LG or Sonos - then none of the apps on the Apple TV should work. But since some of the apps work OK, and it is also able to correct itself with fiddling - it HAS to be something in the Apple TV somehow.

Now - if it is a library or framework that the app developer uses, or maybe the app developer does something out of order or whatever - it only started in tvOS17 so the OS definitely had some sort of impact here - and maybe it is a little bit of shared responsibility. But the OS can definitely fix it because it worked fine in ios16 ...

I know this is not helpful really to all of you - but I wanted to make sure that it was shared that I too have the same problem and it's not rare. This happens literally multiple times a day!

Also - like others here - I am an IT professional with years of experience with AV setups and software configs, so its not like I have no idea what I am doing and am accidentally plugging my HDMI cord into my blender or trying to set my TV to a nonsense config. I have done all of this for years and this setup worked great before the os17 suite of things came out (although the os17 versions of stuff fixed the mess that os16 was with HomeKit so its kind of a bittersweet problem here).

This solved my problem:

• this is a bug in Apple TV 4K (Gen 3 and Gen 2 with tvOS at 17.0 or above)

• happens on LG TV’s

My set up:

Apple TV 4K Gen 3 and Gen 2 , tvOS 17.3

Sonos Arc

LG TV

How I solved it.

Purchased an OREI eARC 4K 60Hz Audio Extractor ($99) that split/extracted the siginal from Apple TV 4K Gen 3 and sent it to the Sonos Arc. Worked perfectly right away.

The audio extractor allows for 2 outbound ports. Hooked up as shown below:

Input port: Apple 4k

Outbound Port 1: Apple TV 4K > Audio extractor >Sonos ARC

Outbound Port 2: Apple TV 4K > Audio extractor > eARC of LG TV

Once connected, you can toggle between Dolby 5.1 and Atmos on the Apple TV 4K in the “Audio Format” section of Apple TV.

note: not a perfect solution because it costs $99 and a toggle. Ideally, Apple would fix the issue.

Thanks for checking. Same problem continues for me.

I downloaded TVOS version as you had (for some silly reason they keep deleting that bad word that starts with a B and ends with a A even though we are trying to determine IF that is even the problem). Since APPLE won't listen we're basically on our own. This all started when I "UPGRADED from 4K ATV 2nd to 3rd gen.

G2 firmware is latest 04.40.91

ARC current version 16

The G2 setting I am referring to is under SOUND -> ADVANCED and you will see a slider that says eARC. If that is enabled I have this constant issue but if I disable the eARC slider everything works 100% and I find no difference in sound at all.

With the eARC slider ON I have "NO SOUND" problems with certain programs (not all) on HBO, SHO and PEACOCK. I have paid subs with 4K levels (no ads) on all of them so that may or may not make a difference on sound output.

In any case, since leaving eARC slider OFF resolves everything I can live with it but the question is, is it the SONOS, the G2 or the ATV causing it?

You are not alone. I am an IT guy of 28 years and also a serious audio/video guy in my spare time. I have a LG 65" C2 OLED hooked up to a Sonos Arc soundbar with rear speakers.

Prior to IOS17, everything worked fine with audio being detected as Atmos or 5.1 content. eArc is enabled on my TV. Never an issue.

After IOS17, if I have auto/atmos on, it plays fine for Atmos content, but 5.1 content will play in the back right surround speaker only. Messed with the sound settings all over and it WILL NOT WORK. This is an Apple bug, and I entered a support ticket with Apple and told them my audio/video configuration and just how to replicate it. They supposedly opened up a ticket and I haven't heard from them since.

Solution = Leave auto/atmos on for all Atmos content. If playing something that is 5.1, force the audio settings back to 5.1 and it works fine. Just cannot trust Apple IOS 17 to sense and play properly. I am using more of my Roku on HDMI 4 right now - which plays without issues on either.

I sure hope Apple is aware and owns up to the issue than pretends it's not there as they often do. You and I are not in the minority with LG TVs and Sonos Arc setups...

6 Foot. Same cable to Sonos from TV works 100% with audio for same programs using same streaming services (HBO/SHO/PEACOCK/HULU on other devices connected to TV (Firestick 4K) as well as the internal "Smart TV" apps on the G2 as well as on the GEN 2 ATV 4K. It has absolutely nothing to do with the cable.

It worked fine for almost 2 years until I replaced Gen 2 for Gen 3 ATV. Nothing else has changed other than the ATV Box and TVOS 16 or higher. Something about specific audio encoding on the shows that have no audio. In fact you can watch the TRAILER on the same screen and it's fine but the actual show has no audio.

As I said, turning OFF eARC switch on the G2 SOUND->ADVANCED menu fixes it 100% for every show. Probably repeated this 20 times over the length of this topic. :D. For now I'm just going to cruise along with that option OFF and keep checking every time the G2 or SONOS or ATV get updated. It does not SEEM to have any negative affects only positive because the sound works.

Eventually it will get fixed as I know from here & Reditt I'm not alone with this issue. Problem is it seems one has to have all 3 common items (G2 ATV 3 & Sonos Arc) which makes it harder for Apple to see. the issue. Maybe the Apple TV 4K Gen 4 will fix it.

I am beginning to think you (and others) are not understanding the situation as it clearly is described in the first post of this topic from last August. After this post I am going to go back to "lurker" mode because it is going nowhere as other issues not pertaining to the OP are getting mixed up into this discussion.

The SPECIFIC issue in question ONLY happens with SONOS ARC, LG G(x) Oled and Apple TV 4K REVISION 3 with TVOS 16 or higher. TVOS 15 was fine in same ATV 4K 3rd gen. Nothing else.

The issue is: Only content with Dolby Atmos sound PLAYS but Dolby 5.1 and HD content HAVE NO SOUND

4K is fine, Atmos is fine everything EXCEPT Dolby 5.1. I can hear Oppenheimer in full 4K w/dolby Atmos but NO SOUND on Chicago PD 8yr old reruns on Peacock or His Honor on HBO and many other "older" series. If these SAME APPS are streamed on different HARDWARE (Firestick 4K instead of ATV in same input) or the LG OLEDs own same apps (HBO, SHO, PEACOCK etc etc) it's perfectly fine. Common denominator after swapping in different hardware seems to be the ATV 4K 3rd Gen w/TVOS 16 or greater

What this would have to do with eARC cables makes no sense since all the "HIGHER AUDIO TYPES" like ATMOS 4K is 100% FINE. It's the older ones that do not play SOUND (vid is fine) and for those of us with this issue (may not be everyone with the same problem) it is reproducible 100% of the time. Everything was 100% fine with TVOS 15.x. 16.x and above broke it ONLY on the 3rd gen ATV.

WIth this last comment I say thanks for all the suggestions and I bid this topic adieu :-) unless and until it is resolved (most likely by Apple). Since the issue can be fully bypassed with the eARC Sound setting slider off on the LG it's pretty invisible. That setting, per those on the various AV forums should have zero negative effect on sound quality.

Just to confirm what other have said which is that this is an ATV hardware issue I took my 2nd Gen 4K and my 3rd Gen 4K to my LG G2. Both are configured 100% identically on every setting and every app. The 3rd Gen ATV 4K (wifi+ethernet) has this "loss of sound" issue while the 2nd Gen ATV 4k does not. Both were swapped out to the same HDMI port on the LG (the one marked eARC). With eARC in LG Menu ENABLED I lose sound on the ATV 4K 3rd Gen on certain programs but not on the 2nd Gen. OBVIOUSLY the issue is with the 3rd Gen ATV. The 3G uses HDMI 2.1 and the 2G uses HDMI 2.0 and of course the main chip is different.

My "test program" is using Peacock App and watching "Chicago PD." Always no sound on the 3rd Gen (unless I turn OFF eARC support on LG G2) while the 2nd Gen has no issue with that program.

This whole topic discussion is based on LG OLED, SONOS ARC and Apple TV 2nd vs 3rd gen. Any other combo of hardware "it works fine for me" is not pertinent to this thread which has already gone way off course.

I posted this based on the minute chance that Apple might be following it.

Here's the facts from my POV. We have another person with my same exact problem, where 'Auto/Atmos' on Apple TV 3rd generation (wired) will product 5.1 audio only in the back right surround speaker. Everything else will be silent. Forcing the 5.1 through Apple instead of 'Auto/Atmos' - 5.1 and 2 channel audio works normally. If listening to Atmos content, set the 'Auto/Atmos' and it works there. This, to me, is clearly an Apple audio detection problem. When I first had the issue I searched the internet and found several beta TVOS17 people complaining about this issue with their Apple TV 3rd gen working with the Sonos Arc. Apple released the iffy code to the masses anyways.

And BTW, I had my Apple TV 3rd gen before TVOS 17 was released and the 'Auto/Atmos' worked fine with Atmos and 5.1 content - never had to force the change. Silly me for installing the latest Apple build right away. Apple - STEP UP AND FIX THIS!

Hey all, I found this thread earlier after having the same issue. I have found a fix and wanted to share with everyone. If you go into your TV (not Apple TV, your actual TV) settings, under sound, there should be an audio output setting and it’ll be on auto. Change it to “pass through” and it’ll work.

my set up is an LG C3 and LG C Series soundbar, with an Apple TV 4K on TVOS 16.5. Yes it’s not 17.2 like most everyone else but I still had the same issue on 16.5. I just got my Apple TV 4K earlier today, if it breaks with the update to 17.2 I’ll report back.

If you don’t hear anything back from me then I haven’t had any further issues.

Hope this helps! Happy New Year!

So the LG TV has had 2 software updates in the last couple weeks. Yesterday I decided that I was just going to put the gen 2 ATV back on, not realizing that the power cord for the gen 2 and 3 aren't compatible. When I plugged the gen 3 back in, everything is working. Every source from the Apple TV to the Sonos Arc plays perfectly. I now have the HDMI sound set to Auto, and eARC enabled. It correctly identifies Dolby Atmost sources etc, and all the non Atmos sources have sound as well.

Don't know if LG realized the issue or if it was just luck, but mine seems resolved at the moment.

Same issue with the following devices

• Apple TV 4K 3rd gen tvOS 17.4 (updated Mar 7, 2024) with atmos/auto audio
• LG G3 oled 55” with eArc and pass through audio enabled
• Bose 900 soundbar

Everything works with Atmos or stereo. Dolby 5.1 programming has no audio. Right now, my workaround is to press and hold the Home button Apple TV, select audio from the menu that pops up on the top right of screen and select the Bose soundbar as audio output via airplay. With this workaround, I can at least keep Atmos enabled.

I have the same problem with the setup:

• LG 65G3
• Apple TV 4K 3rd 128 ethernet
• Sonos Arc with 2 era 300 rear and sub gen 3

If I turn on my Xbox on another hdmi port I wont have 5.1 sound at all on my apple tv as soon as I shut down the Xbox it works but Sonos app shows Multi Channel PCM 5.1. If I turn off eArc on my TV all the problems are gone however the Sonos app then shows Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. I dont know if there is any quality difference between those two specs. I think multichannel pcm means without compression but for my ears with DDP 5.1 it sounds way better.

For those worrying about less sound quality with eArc off. You dont have to since Apple TV and generally streaming services like netflix, prime etc doesnt support the Dolby TrueHD codec for dolby atmos but instead the compressed Dolby Digital Plus codec for which normal arc is sufficient so eArc is only imporant if you watch from bluray discs which come with TrueHD.

So in my case I could just disable eArc and it would work but the problem is that my Xbox only supports dolby atmos if eArc is activated so that means I would always have to turn eArc on and off when switching from apple tv to console or other way which is too annoying.

I hope that Apple at least tries to fix it and doesnt ignore this huge problem.