Level 1

35 points

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

I have the Apple TV 4K 3rd generation with ethernet and 128 GB. I got a new tv and sound bar, LG 65OLED3CAUA and Sonos Arc. All of my devices work fine except for the Apple TV 3rd generation. Initially the Apple TV alone with the Sonos Arc works without problem but as soon as I add another device and switch HDMI input and then switch back to the Apple TV only content with Dolby Atmos plays but Dolby 5.1 and HD content have no sound. It doesn't matter what app or content. I also have an Apple TV 4K 2nd generation, 64 GB with ethernet and no problems. To get Dolby Atmos with Sonos Arc I must have eARC enabled on the LG TV and I can't turn off CEC because it immediately switches on again.

Here is a link to the Sonos community with all of the things I have tried:

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-229129/sonos-arc-apple-tv-4k-and-earc-setting-on-lg-oled-c3-6884636?postid=16671751#post16671751

For now I have switched the Apple TV 2nd gen to my new LG TV and Sonos Arc. It is disappointing that I can't use the Apple TV 4K 3rd generation. I'm hoping someone has figured this out.

Thanks.

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 17

Posted on Aug 20, 2023 5:51 PM

Top-ranking reply

rmartin7me Author

Level 1

35 points

Posted on Aug 26, 2023 8:18 AM

Finally my system works with these setting. Maybe this will help someone else.

Apple TV 4K 3rd generation, 128 GB, ethernet

Video and Audio

Format 4K SDR

HDMI Output YCbCr

Chroma 4:4:4

Match Content

Match Dynamic Range On

Match Frame Rate On

Quick Media Switching On

Audio Output Receiver Speakers

Audio Format

Change Format Off

Dolby Atmos On

Audio Mode Auto

Color Balance Balanced (with Enable Dolby Vision not selected, I

used the color balance calibration with my iPhone. With Dolby Vision enabled this is not an option.)

LG 65OLEDC3AUA

General

External Devices

HDMI Settings

4:4:4 Pass Through On

Quick Media Switching On

HDMI Deep Color 4K

SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) On

Sound

Sound Out HDMI(ARC) Device

Advanced Settings

Select HDMI Input Audio Format Bitstream

Digital Sound Output Pass Through

eARC Support On

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Similar questions

114 replies

Lissy_12

Community Specialist

Aug 21, 2023 2:53 PM in response to rmartin7me

Hi rmartin7me,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! We would suggest the guidance in the following resource that may help:

Use HDMI ARC or eARC with your Apple TV 4K

1. Set up your single or stereo pair of HomePod or HomePod mini speakers as the default speaker(s) for Apple TV.

2. Go the Home screen on Apple TV and select Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output.

3. Under Default Audio Output, make sure that the room with HomePod or HomePod mini is selected.

4. Under Audio Return Channel, select Play Television Audio. You'll know ARC or eARC is turned on when it says On (ARC) or On (eARC).

If HDMI ARC or eARC isn't working as expected

* If you can't set up HomePod or HomePod mini as the default speaker for Apple TV, make sure that your HomePod or HomePod mini and Apple TV are added to the same room in the Home app. Then try to set up your HomePod or HomePod mini as the default speaker for your Apple TV again.

* Make sure that your TV supports ARC or eARC. You can check by seeing if there's an ARC label next to your HDMI port, or you can contact your TV manufacturer.

* You might have to turn on ARC, eARC, or HDMI-CEC in the settings of your TV. Check with your TV manufacturer for details.

* Unplug the HDMI cables from your TV and Apple TV. Then plug the cables in again and try to use ARC or eARC.

Hope this helps!

Have a great day.

rmartin7me Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 21, 2023 3:29 PM in response to Lissy_12

This isn't what I need. I have the Apple TV 4K connected to an HDMI port on my LG TV and the eARC port on LG TV is connected to a Sonos Arc soundbar . I don't need to connect to a homepod mini although I can see that in the Apple TV setup. For some reason when I have the Apple TV 3rd generation I only hear content that has Dolby Atmos. No sound from Apple TV with HD or Doby 5.1. The problem only happens with the Apple TV 3rd generation and not when using an Apple TV 2nd generation. My Roku Ultra and the Amino set top box for cable tv also work well with this setup.

genieen16

Community Specialist

Aug 21, 2023 4:39 PM in response to rmartin7me

Greetings rmartin7me,

HD and Dolby 5.1 need an Apple TV 4K or newer.

Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD automatically play sound in the highest quality that's supported by your home entertainment system setup and that's available with content that you watch.

You can see this information and more here: Play audio in Dolby Atmos or surround sound on your Apple TV - Apple Support.

Setups you can use

On Apple TV 4K with the latest version of tvOS, you can listen to music, movies, and TV shows in Dolby Atmos. You can use the following setups to play sound in Dolby Atmos or surround sound:

* One or two HomePod speakers*

* A television that supports Dolby Atmos audio

* A Dolby Atmos compatible sound bar with a television that supports Dolby Atmos audio

* A Dolby Atmos-enabled AV receiver

We hope this information helps you out.

Cheers!

rmartin7me Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 21, 2023 5:06 PM in response to genieen16

I only get sound from Apple TV 3rd when the content is in Dolby Atmos. For instance if the Netflix movie is Dolby Atmos I get sound. If it is in some other sound format, no sound. With the Apple TV 2nd all sound formats play just fine and I get Dolby Atmos when I am supposed and the other formats too. It's just weird. Do you think the implementation of the HomePod speakers with eARC could be causing the problem? I don't even use the homepod mini for a tv speaker. Both of my devices are Apple TV 4K. One is the latest model and one is the previous model. All are updated with the latest version of TVOs.

rmartin7me Author

Level 1

35 points

Oct 9, 2023 5:54 PM in response to appleguy835

Thanks for the reply. I have only had my setup for a couple of months. I had the problems with tvOS 16 and 17. As I mentioned the 2nd generation Apple TV 4K works fine only the 3rd generation has the problem. I also discovered your trick but switching the settings depending on content is inconvenient.

I got a reply from Apple Support and I am supposed to call. I also got a reply from Sonos support and they want me to call. I hope to get that done later this week. If I find a solution, I will post it here.

rmartin7me Author

Level 1

35 points

Oct 12, 2023 3:53 PM in response to Alex_716

I had the follow up with Apple Support. They recommended setting my LG C3 to Auto instead of passthrough. I had already tried that. Apple feels there is a problem with the Sonos Arc. I spent 2 1/2 hours with Sonos support. They collected log files with different settings and were going to speak to an engineer and then follow up with me. I will likely go back to my Apple TV 4K 2nd generation as it has no problems.

Nov 6, 2023 10:37 AM in response to appleguy835

Hi I’m having a very similar issue with my Apple TV 4K 3rd gen I’m on TVOS17.1 and I do get sound for 5.1 however it shows on my Sonos app as PCM 5.1 and every few seconds the audio will cut out however it does not happen when watching Dolby Atmos content having to manually switch the change format setting to on in the settings is frustrating has anyone else still got this issue or found a workaround/solution?

Nov 14, 2023 6:28 AM in response to edouard272

I called Apple on my September 26th submission of this issue. They said they were not aware of it and said I should have submitted it in a different way. They didn’t even react to the fact that there was a problem, but I didn’t follow the process. The person I spoke to on 9/26 said they would take care of it. They did not. It’s becoming Microsoft where they work hard to not speak to you directly or address your problems.

rmartin7me Author

Level 1

35 points

Nov 14, 2023 3:49 PM in response to appleguy835

I had the issue with TvOS before the upgrade to 17. I was wondering if anyone uses the Apple TV 4K 3rd generation 64 GB without ethernet? It looks like there might be a slight difference but I didn't want to spend the money to see if it works.

uday1123

Level 1

18 points

Nov 29, 2023 11:02 AM in response to rmartin7me

I’ve got the same problem. 3rd Gen 4K ATV, with LG C3 and Bose Soundbar connected to eARC.

Dolby Atmos and 2.1 plays sound, but I have no sound on 5.1.

started recently wasn’t there earlier.

this seems common with many people.

Apple should acknowledge.

uday1123

Level 1

18 points

Nov 29, 2023 11:29 PM in response to MisterEdF

Believe me, I have tried every single setting and software update (even the one you are talking about), and everything else that is possible, but 5.1 on Apple TV (128 ethernet) produces no sound, while D-Atmos and 5.1 and 2.1, everything works from TV Apps and the Playstation5

So now it's only the Apple TV that I have kept disconnected from the TV and stopped boiling my blood over it.

It's just confusing, how all of these products using the "exact technology" that should enable them to work with each other seamlessly, is the one causing the problem.

LG engineer had offered a motherboard change on the OLED, under warranty.

I'm skeptical though.

MisterEdF

Level 1

106 points

Nov 30, 2023 6:16 AM in response to uday1123

IMO no way this can be an LG issue when there is no problem with tvOS 16 or the rev 2 ATV. I’d hate to have them tear apart the LG because you never know what you’re going to end up with when they put it back together. 😀

uday1123

Level 1

18 points

Dec 4, 2023 3:55 AM in response to BinodDhami

I know that shutting eARC setting was making it work.

But once I power cycled the Bose soundbar, shutting eARC now shuts down all sound, so now I have to keep eARC on all the time. (Don’t know the reason for it).

So now just using with eARC switched on with TV native apps and PlayStation. Disconnected the Apple TV.

If any update from Apple makes it right, will be happy to connect it back. Or will just sell off the Apple TV.

Dec 19, 2023 5:08 AM in response to rmartin7me

I’m having the same issue. LG C2, eARC to Samsung Q930B. Apple TV will randomly mix up channels and everything starts coming out of the rear speakers, or rear right only, or sometimes other random configurations. This has never happened in 2 years using this gear and WebOS. It only happens using the Apple TV 4K. Also while I’m here, please add a way to remove the volume OSD that was just added. It is so annoying that it pops up sometimes and not others. My soundbar shows the volume and the OSD doesn’t!

Dec 30, 2023 12:46 PM in response to rmartin7me

Turning off the eARC support on my LG has no effect.

I solved this problem by doing this:

I smashed my LG Tv, I smashed the brand new Apple TV 4K, and I ordered a Roku. Solved!

All of this used to work before they updated to tvOS 17.

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