Why no Dolby Digital 5.1 via airplay?

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Level 1

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Why no Dolby Digital 5.1 via airplay?

Hello,

can somebody tell me why there is no DD 5.1. signal playing bought movies on my Laptop via Airplay on Apple TV 2?

This cant be true!

Playing movies from my laptop via airplay on my Apple TV 2 and receiving them just in stereo is a mess.

A bug? A configuration issue? OR JUST NOT POSSIBLE? (if thats the case: PLEASE APPLE IMPLENT it)

Stephan

Apple TV 2, Windows 7

Posted on Dec 12, 2010 6:41 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

johng1

Level 1

9 points

Jan 12, 2017 11:07 PM in response to holydisc

HI all,

i have the Apple TV4 that does not have optical out. I also have the Apple TV3 that does have Optical out. My AV unit only supports Toslink Optical. I am trying to use Airplay to play between my Apple TV4 to 3 and out to my Surround sound unit. I downloaded a Speaker test app on ATV4. The app shows 5.1 channels when I select ATV4 as the Airplay speakers. I only can see 2.1 ch. when I select ATV3. Is there an issue with airplay in this configuration? I have set both ATVs to 5.1 audio. I also installed the latest ATV OS on both units. On my ATV3 I have Speaker output set to ATV3. And I have Speaker setting on my ATV4 set to ATV3 as the output source.

John

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Answer 2

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Dec 12, 2010 7:24 AM in response to holydisc

if the movies are already in your itunes library then why are you trying to use Airplay to play them?
simply play them on the appletv via the standard homesharing connection.

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Answer 3

holydisc Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 12, 2010 8:02 AM in response to Chenks

How will I do that? My Itunes library is on 2nd floor, my apple TV stands in 1st floor. I thought airplay is the only method to bring the content over the air.

What is homesharing? Does it work via wifi?

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Answer 4

holydisc Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 12, 2010 8:07 AM in response to holydisc

Well I looked it up in the manual. Now what I am doing is using HOMESHARING. Its not airplay.

But why does homesharing not work with dolby digital?

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Answer 5

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Dec 12, 2010 8:14 AM in response to holydisc

holydisc wrote:
But why does homesharing not work with dolby digital?

it does, providing the content has a 5.1. audio track.
5.1 audio works fine for me (when the content has a suitable 5.1 audio track).

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Answer 6

Dec 12, 2010 8:17 AM in response to holydisc

I just tested this from my MacBook and it worked fine, the movie played with 5.1 audio. It might be that you need Homesharing turned on.

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Answer 7

Dec 12, 2010 8:20 AM in response to Chenks

if the movies are already in your itunes library then why are you trying to use Airplay to play them?

I now have ~350 movies in my library. I just realized how much easier it is to get to a specific movie in iTunes and stream it via Airplay than to use the AppleTV interface to scroll thru a long list of movies.

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Answer 8

Jan 2, 2011 9:16 PM in response to holydisc

Had the same problem but just solved it! Now have 5.1 via AirPlay and Home Sharing:

On your ATV, Settings > Audio & Video > Dolby Digital Out - Change from "Auto" to "On"

Done and done. At least it worked for me...

GL!

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