How can I connect Apple TV to two screens?

Question

Level 1

9 points

How can I connect Apple TV to two screens?

I'm about to move house and in the new place I want to connect my AppleTV 4K to my TV but I also want to use AppleTV to access my Apple Music library which will then be played over my Hi-Fi. I would prefer to not need to have my large TV on in order to access the music library and so am considering buying a small 15" 4K screen (the smallest 4K screen I have found) to have next to my Hi-Fi to display the AppleTV on.

Is it possible to use an HDMI splitter to feed the two separate screens? Whilst I wouldn't be viewing films etc on the 15" screen, I would on the main screen. Would I therefore need an HDMI splitter that supports HDCP? Assuming it is possible, would the fact that the screens are physically of different sizes cause any issue when using either screen and would a splitter have any negative impact on the image quality on the main screen?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Jan 21, 2025 4:31 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Urquhart1244

Level 10

147,302 points

Jan 21, 2025 4:53 AM in response to peakoverload

a small 15" 4K screen (the smallest 4K screen I have found)

That is amazing. I didn’t know such small 4K screens were made.

Is it possible to use an HDMI splitter to feed the two separate screens?

Yes, but …

Would I therefore need an HDMI splitter that supports HDCP?

Yes, without HDCP any commercial service will be blocked. Without HDCP 2.2 or later any 4K commercial service will be blocked.

Assuming it is possible, would the fact that the screens are physically of different sizes cause any issue

I would expect so, as the Apple TV box can have settings for one screen type (resolution, refresh rate, dynamic range, chroma) at a time.

would a splitter have any negative impact on the image quality on the main screen?

If e.g. one doesn’t support Dolby Vision, and the other does, then one screen might be unsupported or else the other would not use all of its capability.

It is clearly not made for such dual use.

Maybe other users have suggestions for you to set up the music part differently?

Reply