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

There is definitely something going on in the last few months - assuming revisions to the TV OS caused this. My setup with an LG nano 75 inch tv and LG high end 10YG soundbar has always been problematic due to LG issues in the past with the Tv handling the sound pass through to the soundbar. It seems to have stabilized with the last LG Tv software updates in 2023 and I find myself using my AppleTv 4K (latest) as my primary box, dumped Comcast, and went with DirecTv stream as my “cable” solution in the fall.

the setup here had been working until recently. Apple TV via a hdmi cable to the soundbar input hdmi 1, sound bar eArc out to the LG Tv nano 75. The AppleTV seemed to then be working well with controlling the soundbar and TV on and off, volumes and modes. TV is set to bitstream for all of the hdmi inputs and the sound set to pass through on the Tv vs AUTO. The LG Tv shows eArc toggle buttons under sound/additional settings and it’s checked.

i assume class through would be best since it let the sound bar make the determinations vs the tv. Since this soundbar has a little LCD screen on it I can see that when I go from an app like Direct TV, to Disney and play. Maeve, show that the sound bar LCD scrolls Dolby atmos so it’s getting a atmos single and presumably playing.

in the last few weeks I have found the sound bar being off all of a sudden, like the signal from the Apple TV eArc has crashed and the audio has defaulted to the intenrnal speakers.

i think this is happening when using the DirectTv stream app which I have been told in other forums uses a very bad audio output of its own that attempts to send out stereo audio in a 5.1 format with 3 of the channels muted. The author of that comment says most sound bars can’t deal with that and it results in super low volume of Direct tv stream shows via the AppleTV to soundbar. I have in the past guessed that the DirectTV app is crashing something on the AppleTv with this back and forth between formats. Some users here suggest that using other AppleTv apps is what they see the eArc crashing or the AppleTv output issues.

I can say that when the Soundbar is found off like this I have had a hard time getting the AppleTv to even then be seen by the Sound bar without some prolonged force restarts of the sound and AppleTv. I ave reverted to the Apple TV going into the Tv and then the tv and soundbar communicating via EArc.

Very weird. I have the LG G2 and a Sonos ARC which has only 1 HDMI input. Simply turning eARC off on the LG fixes everything and causes no other negative issues. Same problem on 2nd and 3rd gen ATV. All started with TVOS 17 and continues thru the just released version of 17.3 Sonos connected to HDMI 2 which is labeled as eArc on the G2.

If I do what you said (passthru, bitstream eARC enabled or any other audio setting on the LG) I lose ATMOS and Dolby. I can tell because ATV+ app puts "ATMOS thru SOUNDBAR" or "DOLBY DIGITAL" or both on the upper right corner of the app screen. If I set it up as you did that's gone.

So for me, eARC OFF on LG G2 (as well ason our cheap Vizio with no soundbar in the B/R) and everything else as "factory default" on both of our ATV boxes (2nd & 3rd gen, or is it 1st and 2nd? Lost track but it is the newest and previous) worj 100%. Turning eARC off on the G2 has no negative effects to anything including sound and shuttting off other devices. Gotta be TVOS 17.x.

Summary:

As of iOS (tvOS) 17, Apple TV 4K Gen 3 and LG TVs do not work together with Dolby Atmos / Dolby 5.1

Apple messed it up with iOS 17. LG and Apple TV no longer work well together, Apple and LG used to work together well until iOS 17.

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.

Is your AppleTV connected to the LG TV and then from LG TV you have HDMI from the eArc port to the Soundbar?

I have gone back to that configuration after having moved to an Apple TV to Sound Bar (LG 10YG that has eArc and 2 HDMI inputs) and then from SoundBar to LG TV via eArc. The AppleTV to Bar and then bar to TV was working well for about a month and then as you indicted there were LG software updates but also Apple software updates.

Which LG do you have and what is the firmware version? Also what firmware is your Sonos on? Wondering if it’s a Sonos update or an LG update that fixed it. Or even maybe the latest ATV. I am on just released 17.3 for ATV, Sonos S2 15.11 and LG G2 3.33.90

Thank you! This comment of yours saved me.

ATV4K 3rd gen, Sonos Arc, LG C3.

I unplugged the third hdmi (DIRECTV) and the sound worked ok on the ATV non Atmos show I was trying to watch. Plugged it back in and the sound stopped again.

turned off the DTV dvr via power button on the unit and the sound on ATV worked.

This issue had been happening on and off last few days. Glad I know now what was causing it. Luckily tomorrow, is the last day I have DTV as now just moving to streaming.

Thank you again!

Apple TV 3G 4k, LG G2 OLED and Sonos ARC. When playing HULU, I get the intro voice and music, but as soon as streaming begins, NO SOUND. I've tried everything. From fiddling with settings, a factory reset, several calls to Tier 2 , and a visit to Apple. Nothing resolved the issue. Apple knows about the issue (since September 2023) with no date for the update.

[Edited by Moderator] 

Sounds interesting. Also just got new G2 update. Will try the TVOS beta.

I’d appreciate it if can you test 1 thing. Download Peacock if you don’t already have it and try streaming an episode from an early season of Chicago PD and lmk if you get sound with your “fixed” config. Also, do you have eArc on the LG set to AUTO? Turning that off was the previous band-aid fix that ALWAYS has worked for me and how I have left it. Never seemed to make a sound quality difference whether set to AUTO or OFF. My test has always been Chicago PD on Peacock.. I think Peacock has a free tier but not sure how or if that affects their default audio.

thanks

I tried Peacock for an episode in Season 3. It played perfectly in 5.1. I checked for the HMDI settings but didn't see any option for auto only to change the output 4K which I had. But after playing with some of the sound setting in the TV. Guess what? My original issue with no sound on HULU returned. Seems that LG G2 TV, eArc connection, Sonos ARC and Apple TV have a complicated problem to solve.

I will be working to resolve the sound issue again.

[Edited by Moderator] 

Wanted to provide an update. My only issue is that at random times, usually after an hour or so of viewing, my sound bar loses sound and it only comes through the TV. I’ll restart my TV and it works again.

otherwise I’ve had no other issues and it’s been working great.

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?

Not Apple’s problem and not so “ridiculous” as hoping “Gen 4 will fix it”. If anything, Gen 4 will probably be more sensitive to long lengths.

How about posting a figure of how it’s all connected? That should open up ideas on how you can chuck the giant signal-distorting 6 footer.

Yes, you are correct about the article as I fully read it after I posted it HOWEVER simply search for the same question regarding eARC cable length and you will see that "pushing it" with a passive cable is when one exceeds 25' for eARC. I'd like to see anything that says 6' is "pushing it" WRT eARC. That would eliminate 90% of installs. That plus most every comment about this question on any of the major AV Forums say that using simple Amazon Basics high speed cables are fine for "normal" length eARC cable runs. All using these cables: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=31231

In any case my setup is simple. 1 x 6' cable to SONOS 10" below the TV on wall from eARC HDMI port and 3 x 10' cables 1 each to Xfinity DVR, Apple TV box, & PS4. All 4 cables run down the 4 built in flush mount cable tracks on the back of the TV into a hole in the wall then down 2 feet into the back of the console below it. The cables have to run in the provided "tracks" or the set won't mount 99% flush to the wall "like a picture frame."

Have it your way snaking 6 footer cables and all, that’s a given. However, you do have a solution that’s rated excellent by over 11,000 Amazon users. That’s 11,000 users less posting to this discussion, in case you missed the point 😁. All the best 👋