Q: after update to version 4.4 optical out not working

I downgraded from 4.4.4 to 4.3 today as the unit is essentially useless if it can not output audio via the optical out. Followed the instructions to downgrade and that worked perfectly BUT still no optical out sound.  Verified that my optical cable was working by using another device.  Verified that the AppleTV under 4.3 does output audio via HDMI, just not optical out.   So, not sure if all the 4.4 iteration updates have done something but downgrading to 4.3 does not fix the optical out issue - very unhappy as this has been going on for months now and the unit was working perfectly until the 4.4 update killed optical out.

Reverting from 4.4.x to 4.3 fixed the optical out for me, restoring the ATV to its original functionality, allowing me to resume using just the optical out (no HDMI cable), which I had been doing the first 8 months I had the ATV, which 4.4.x broke. If you haven't done so already, power cycle and re-check settings, including version. If it still doesn't work, it could be the update failed in some way, or the ATV itself has gone bad. So many people have been affected by this issue, it would not be that surprising for some hardware failures to coincide with the updates. At least I've seen weirder coincidences.

I'll ty the downgrade and see what happens. I use my ATV mostly to stream music from iTunes to my stereo amplifier via Airplay and optical out and I'm finding that when I first connect to the ATV I get no sound. If I switch the sound to the computer and then back to the ATV it works. I've not had any problems with sound to the amplifier when I've streamed movies from the iTunes store or elsewhere.

I'm also following a discussion about home sharing dropouts (see https://discussions.apple.com/message/17203068#17203068). The most recent post there has reported downgrading to iTunes 10.3.1 has cured that problem. I might try that too and see if it makes any difference.

Cormanus wrote:

 

I'll ty the downgrade and see what happens. I use my ATV mostly to stream music from iTunes to my stereo amplifier via Airplay and optical out and I'm finding that when I first connect to the ATV I get no sound. If I switch the sound to the computer and then back to the ATV it works. I've not had any problems with sound to the amplifier when I've streamed movies from the iTunes store or elsewhere.

 

That's what I've been calling the Airplay two-step bug. It too is new with 4.4.x, and reverting to 4.3 solves it. Some people have said the latest iteration of 4.4.x fixed the optical out issue but left Airplay two-step intact. Thus, it could appear that optical out isn't working, but doing the Airplay two-step should reactivate it, at least until the ATV goes to sleep again. Again, 4.3 works properly, and none of that is necessary.

I stream from my Touch 4th gen to the ATV, and iOS 5.0.1 on my Touch and 4.3 on my ATV work great. Compared to previous iOS versions, 5.0.1 keeps my Touch on Airplay between uses, which is nice; earlier versions would always go back to the Touch for output, and I'd have to reselect the ATV every time.

So I think I've restored 4.3 to the ATV2--'I think' because I didn't get quite the messages I thought I should have for the DFU setting. I'll see what happens and whether the 2-step disappears. I'll also see whether the wireless problem (regular drop out) disappears to.

I had intended to revert to iTunes 4.3 as well as that seems to offer a fix for the drop out problem, but it won;t let me use my iPhone with it so back to 10.5.2.11.

Sigh.

Hi there.  Same issue.  Used optical audio w 3.5mm to connect to iPod Hi-Fi (am just a sucker and want to keep that thing around).....after an upgrade to 4.4 just stopped working. 

Tried restoring via the Apple TV.  I'll see if the DFU reset via the micro-USB is any different.....

I accidentally upgraded one of my previously downgraded 4.3 boxes to 4.4.4.  I'm trying to do the downgrade again (using the instructions on the bottom of page two of this thread) but I'm getting the message that the device "isn't eligible for the requested build".

Is this because Apple is no longer signing the download?  Any suggestions on downgrading from 4.4.4?

No advice on restoring the good firmware, but after restoring 4.3 a couple months ago, I disabled the prompts and avoided the updates altogether by adding the following to my router's block list, confined to the ATV's MAC ID:

appldnld.apple.com

mesu.apple.com

appldnld.apple.com.edgesuite.net

Re: No optical audio without Tv on

Dear Apple,

Please fix this issue for the love of ______(insert meaningful noun)

It's been long enough

I just want to enjoy music again