Q: after update to version 4.4 optical out not working

I also run an ATV2 headless for audio using the optical out, which broke after the update last week.

1. Do you hear the beeps and bonks for the user interface?

No

2. What is your setting in Settings > Audio & Video > Dolby Digital?

Auto

3. Does changing that setting have any effect?

No

4. Is your Apple TV plugged via HDMI directly into a TV?

No

4a. If so, what is the manufaturer and model of the TV?

N/A

4b. If not, what is the manufacturer and model of the device the Apple TV is connected to via HDMI?

None - optical audio plugged into a Yamaha receiver and no HDMI connection.  Plugging an HDMI cable into the same receiver works fine.

Just downgraded my ATV2 to 4.3, this will fix the "optical out not working problem" until Apple will provide us with an Updated 4.4.x.

You need to put your ATV2 in DFU Mode for downgrading from 4.4.0/4.4.1 to 4.3

Download iOS 4.3 from here:

http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/041-0895.20110728.TcF4T/AppleTV2,1_4.3_8F455_R estore.ipsw

When ATV2 is connected to iTunes via USB Cable hold the SHIFT Button BEFORE pressing the Restore button.

Now you can choose the downloaded file to restore 4.3.

Good Luck everybody!

This method works great and has fixed 3 busted 4.4 ATVs. I also received the 1602 error but the restore worked perfectly. Thanks!

I think the issue has something to do with the HDMI handshake with the TV.  If my TV is off, I can not get my optical out to work, even if I power off and on the Apple tv.

However, if I turn on my TV, and then power cycle my apple TV, the optical out will begin working.  I can then turn off my TV, and the optical out continues to work just fine.

I have a similar issue with my Cisco cable box (explorer 8642HD) in that I can not get any audio out (Digital coax this time) to my receiver unless the TV is on.  It has something to do with the protected content authorized to play, blah, blah, blah.  I thought, hey, maybe the same is happening with the appleTv now, and lo and behold, it was behaving the exact same way now.

I bet there was something changed with the HDMI/HCDP version/standard that the ver 4.4.x introduced.

For those that are just using optical out for audio to their stereo and do not use the HDMI connection at all, it probably does not work at all, because you do not power on a HCDP compliant device via the HDMI connection.

It is too much of a coincidence.

Can anyone else repeat the same?

Shane for me it works like the way you describe but as far as I know, digital audio out via spdif doesn't have hdcp issues as the most of the have to do with video.

And to the other users describing the solution to downgrade the iOS on appletv. Sure it does solve the problem and thank you for the effort you put to it, but the main issue here is to let apple know that we have a problem and we are waiting for a proper solution not an aspirin for the headache

Great advice on DFU mode and restoring back.  One thing to note is, in order to select the downloaded file on an apple computer, you hold the OPTION key rather then the shift key.

Regards,

Captfred

Shane, this works for me. This a nice non tech workaround until apple issues a firmware update.

I have the same problem as originally described.  Apple TV 2 with an HDMI to home theater and optical connected to a second room system.  I can only get the optical to work with iTunes streaming when I switch HDMI connector to the ATV.  A real pain if someone is watching regular TV.  I also noticed the music stream gets interrupts (no music for a fraction of a second) and this never happened before.

The price of progress?

I am having the same issues as everone in this thread.  The update bricked my ATV2, which I was able to restore via iTunes.  After restoring, the optical out no longer functions.

Do you hear the beeps and bonks for the user interface?  No

What is your setting in Settings > Audio & Video > Dolby Digital?  Auto

Does changing that setting have any effect?   No

Is your Apple TV plugged via HDMI directly into a TV?  Yes (HDMI to DVI interface, optical out to receiver)

If so, what is the manufaturer and model of the TV?  RCA projection TV (don't know model off hand)

On a positive note, my picture looks better than it did in v4.3.  I also noticed that the ATV2 will not show any resolution higher than 480i on my TV, altough my TV supports up to 1080i.  Trying to change to 720i didn't work at all.

ZouKou: Agreed, the main issue is Apple needs to fix the optical out issues.  But, what the downgrade does is give people a working AppleTV until the issue actually is resolved.  I ran into a very similar situation with the PS3.  Sony removed support for a very popular media type in one of their firmware updates.  They NEVER did fix the issue, it's still broken two years later.  I'm hoping Apple wouldn't do the same thing, but if they do I'll stay on 4.3 permanently.  I hear there is now a 4.4.2 update, which unfortunately means downgrading to 4.3 is no longer an option.  And I also hear 4.4.2 did not fix the optical out issues.  :-(   The downgrade has given me the choice to stay on 4.3 until it is fixed.

4.4.2 upgrade did not restore the hdmi output for 5.1 sound as well either via a receiver or to the Television. Except on iTunes bought content such as TV shows. Have Apple included some extra coding to identify non iTunes content you have legally imported into itunes??

The 4.4.2 firmware was released and the error was NOT fixed.

Please Apple, this is serious.

I use my Apple TV connected only by optical cable.

Waiting for the 4.4.3 version........

I think we should straight call to apple support. They didn't read this topics ...

I am having the same issue!

Complain here!!!

http://www.apple.com/feedback/