Since tvOS 18 update Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD output only stereo despite 5.1 selected

I agree with your assessment on what Apple needs to do. Not sure what you mean by using a splitter. I thought this issue only occurred for us poor souls already having to split the audio to optical out of the HDMI...

Anyways. If Apple doesn't fix this soon I'll ditch them once and for all and get an Nvidia Shield or something.

Glad to have found this thread this morning before wasting more time on this today.

discovered last night I was only getting stereo when watching a movie. Ps5 still works in 5.1, it’s just the Apple TV. Hoping that fix is just around the corner.

Went to watch a movie tonight and discovered I’m also only getting stereo in all apps :(

ATV > LG oled > Denon receiver via ARC. It’s an older receiver that doesn’t support 4K hence why I’m using ARC. All my other devices work fine in the same scenario. So hopefully Apple fixes this ASAP.

I HDMI to tv and then eARC via HDMI to my DN1040. I experience this same issue.

if I HDMI to the DN1040 first and then TV I loose Dolby vision (and in some cases 4K altogether) but I can get multichannel LCM. Hence the splitter question.

Here, in Rio, Brazil

I have the same problem with my Apple TV FHD MODEL A1625after the update to tvIS 18.0 . My Pioneer Receiver show me only Stereo with my videos and shows from iTunes with 5.1 audio. Maybe after a new update…who knows?

I have a similar problem. With Dolby Atmos and Dolby 5.1 streams, the signal from the subwoofer drops out with great regularity and the bass sound is often too high compared to the rest of the channels. Will Apple solve this in the next update?

I believe the issue being discussed in this topic is only related to audio output that is limited to stereo, not failed audio output. I would suggest that you consider asking a new question about failed audio output instead.

Never mind - I'm running TVOS 18.2 and all I get is stereo to my AV Receiver whether I select Auto(PCM) or DD.

Apple, I am starting to regret replacing my Roku Ultra with a new EXPENSIVE Apple TV 4K.

PLEASE FIX THIS!

Me too. My ATV4k is connected to my AV receiver, and if I select. DD5.1 the receiver says it is receiving DD5.1 - but the surround and LFE channels are dead. Only 2-channel stereo information is being sent.

I’m on a 3rd Gen 128Gb ATV 4k 18.2 and have just noticed this issue.

im running HDMI to a Pioneer AVR which displays the audio format, and when playing anything in Atmos, my receiver only shows the signal as being Stereo, but there is no audio at all.

5.1 programmes play fine.

thing is, it’s been fine up until today when I noticed.

[Edited by Moderator]

Why has Apple not publicly acknowledged this BUG?

This is not a trivial issue. - it completely invalidates the idea that Apple provides a polished, superior product.

I want an answer as to how long we’re expected to wait for a fix!

Same problem here, yesterday suddenly the Apple TV only outputs stereo.

Really annoying!

Edit: the YouTube app also puts out 5.1 just fine...

I've chatted with support now. They'll call me tomorrow.. not sure how that will help.. this needs a patch, nothing else.

Anyways, the guy confirmed that others have reported the issue.

No surround works whatsoever in my case. Not Atmos nor dts.