Minor Video Stutter

The problem is the Apple TV 2! Apple is not able to fix it or guide me (and others) having stuttering problems. The latest Apple TV 2 software update helped a bit.

For me the problem still exists since day one of availability of the Apple TV 2 here in Germany (bought 2010/09/28). All I get from Apple Support is to use a "supported" TV — who ever knows which TV model is supported because there is NO official list of compatible/supported devices.

I still use a LG 32LE5500 (which is really modern and I guess very common) with latest firmware 03.20.14. LG has no clue, Apple has no clue — what I see is that the Apple TV 2 is a problematic piece of hardware.

What makes me crazy is that it is also based on the material coming in. For me it is clear – Apple TV 2 has massive problems with HDMI handshake. Sound is always fine, just video knocks it off often in a way the whole Apple TV ecosystem feels like crap.

We buy big LCD/LED/Plasma TV with built-in video processing to optimize what is coming in. Such TVs are available since a long time, has nobody tested all over the world? Each low end HDMI device work as expected — just the Apple TV 2 not.

I have given Apple support another 2 weeks to solve it for me. Otherwise I stop the experiment and buy a BlueRay player.

+1 to the list of people experiencing this 😟

I've tried my Apple TV on a 37" Samsung, and a 42" LG, with content bought from iTunes and content encoded by me with handbrake.

When I first got my Apple TV it didn't seem to happen, or at least I guess I hadn't noticed it? But it's now at a point where it's unwatchable because of the constant and obvious stuttered playback.

The recent update hasn't helped, and a suggestion on another thread to turn feedback to Apple off hasn't worked.

The only thing left to try would be to change the HDMI cable - I understand there are different kinds annoyingly - perhaps we all have the wrong ones? This may have already been tried, I haven't had time to read every post in this thread, but I'm guessing it won't work 😟

A real shame, as otherwise a really useful device - guess I'll take mine back if the cable change doesn't work,

Good luck all, and Happy New Year!

Same problem on my AppleTV. 720p HD films streaming from iTunes on 802.11n network (Full signal) stutter ever so slightly. Every 10-20 seconds perhaps the footage stutters to the point its distracting.

Seems like the Apple TV needs another update?

Just to confirm that 4.3 for AppleTV 2 is no better on my TV. Still having the slow down in picture

Same issue here (Apple TV 2, latest update installed). Major ⚠ video stutter during rental HD movie playback. Another issue is the unreliable startup of this device. From time to time it doesn't deliver an image or it doesn't find any wireless network at all.

For me the topic Apple TV 2 is closed — no solution, no help, no hope.

iTunes movie rental is boring – limited titles, expensive HD, stuttering.

Good bye at this point, Apple!

Just updated to iOS 4.3 on my iPhone and iPad, and updated iTunes - Also just did the latest Apple TV update - The Apple TV lost it's network settings, then wouldn't see any WiFi networks, I had to reset it, and set it all up again - tried a movie I bought through iTunes (SALT) and guess what - playback is still stuttering.

I wish Apple could have fixed this - I'd use my Apple TV so much if it just worked! At the moment it's so bad it completely detracts from what you're... trying... to... watch 😟

Same issue for me.
SD movies are fine, but some HD movies are stuttering. Seeing issue with both iTunes purchases and Handbrake encodes (blu-ray mkvs, appletv2 preset).
Stuttering occurs both before and after Apple TV buffer is full.
Movies look fine on my Mac Pro when played in itunes.
Movies look fine on iPhone when streamed via homesharing.

I am using a (UK) Toshiba Regza TV - tried turning off all optimisations, different setting combinations, no difference.
Upgraded to Apple TV to 4.3, no difference.
Tried wired ethernet, no difference.
Tried different TV (smaller Toshiba), no difference.

Could this be a 50Hz (or 100Hz) vs 60Hz output issue?

Has anyone in the UK successfully fixed the issue (if they had it before)?

I just wanted to +1 for people experiencing this issue. Please resolve this Apple, it's driving me nuts!

I just got back from a friend's apartment. He recently bought an Apple TV. We watched a whole movie and a few other things... no stuttering. Thing is, I took my Apple TV over a month ago and had the same problem there on his TV that I have at home (the video stuttering). Anyone tried a new Apple TV and still had the problem?

Have done some more tests, specifically with itunes purchased HD content (to rule out any custom encoding issues) and I am still seeing the issue.

Purchased Tsotsi HD and about 2 mins into the film, when the camera pans up the rail tracks, there is very clear stutter when viewed on my apple tv 2.

When viewed directly in itunes on my Mac Pro, no issues at all - smooth as silk.

Tried wired and wireless to apple tv 2 - still always stutters.
Turned off all settings on my tv itself (all smoothing etc turned off) - still always stutters.
Tried rebooting apple tv 2 - still stutters.
Tried on different tv - still stutters.

Every single piece of 720p content I have exhibits this issue. It is always easy to spot - basically whenever the camera is panning.

Given the above, this must be an apple tv 2 issue. When is it going to get fixed? It is VERY frustrating!

+ 1 for this issue. Experiencing poor framerate with content from iTunes store. Highly distracting "stutter" during playback. "Stutter affecting video only - audio playback is fine

TV: Samsung 42" LA40A550PIFXXY

Issue persists with Ethernet and Airport Networks. Occurs with rental content, or content played back via Home Sharing. Occurs with multiple HDMI cables / inputs to TV. Occurs with SD content (have not tested HD).

Have tried turning off Movie Plus mode and NR mode as other users have suggested, though issue still persists.

Also persist after installing todays 4.2.1 update. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4448

As other posters have commented, this issue makes renting the Apple TV unusable for those affected.

I have also just re-tested this under 4.2.1 - still the same problem.
Occurs for EVERY single piece of HD content. Every time the camera pans, frames are dropped and I see stutter.

So annoying. Please fix this soon!

same problem here. hd playback stutters mainly when panning.

Ok, so after trying just about every combination of settings under the sun, I think I may have found a fix for my particular case - i.e. with my Toshiba Regza TV.

On the TV menu under Setup -> AV Connection -> HDMI Settings there is an option for "Lip Sync".

I tried turning this off just to see if it would stop the stuttering and (very strangely) it seems to have worked!

Have only done some basic testing with my HD content so far, but the stuttering on camera panning now seems to have disappeared.

For others experiencing this issue, I would suggest turning this off (if there is an option to do this on your TV) or continue to try different options with your TV Settings.