Does the new Apple TV 3 support true 16/24bit HD Audio Formats?

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No, it doesn't support that format.

Audio formats supported

HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through

Yeah, it supports "Apple Lossless"; but that doesn't say whether it supports 24-bit Apple Lossless files.

Currently it'll play them, but the optical output somehow downsamples to 16-bit correct? I thought this was particular to the ATV, as the Apple Airport Express can play 24-bit output I've heard....

Anyway, it's a frustrating issue and there doesn't seem to be a good reason why the ATV2 won't play 24-bit in the first place. 😕

Exactly...and I don't think Apple has released this info in any case - I think people originally discovered this after listening tests, and then outputting through DACs which would not show 24-bit input....

Until we get our hands on one we won't know.

As others have mentioned the list does not necessarily preclude it given that Apple Lossless supports higher bit depth/sample rate, but with iTunes still only offering compressed audio I'd be surprised if they've considered the option.

I suspect it'll still perform the 16 bit 48 kHz resampling abomination.

AC

True HD is a format developed by Dolby, it isn't just 24/192 AAC or ALAC, I'm inclined to think the specifications posted for the Apple TV 3 might therefore preclude supporting True HD.

Wait a minute peeps - this isn't necessarily a problem with iTunes. AFAIK iTunes does support 24-bit output - if you play a 24-bit ALE audio file via optical out of your Mac, it's 24-bit audio as far as I'm aware.

I was under the impression that the issue is with the ATV optical output itself - it's limited to 16-bit.

There are two areas to consider here, firstly whether the Apple TV will play the True HD format and if it will at what format will it output it at. Personally, I don't think it will play the format to begin with, so how it would output it isn't relevant.

It's a software issue plain and simple in my view (on AppleTV's side). I don't think the optical hardware is limited - it's unlikely Apple would have sourced a non-standard optical solution and seeing as they come with the ability to do better quality audio I'd imagine this does too.

Yes Macs support at least 24/96 over optical as I've just reattached my Mini to a Yamaha DSP to play some 24/96 studio masters from Linn.

Greg Jarvis wrote:

Wait a minute peeps - this isn't necessarily a problem with iTunes. AFAIK iTunes does support 24-bit output - if you play a 24-bit ALE audio file via optical out of your Mac, it's 24-bit audio as far as I'm aware.

I was under the impression that the issue is with the ATV optical output itself - it's limited to 16-bit.

Now that's a different question 😉. As the audio output format isn't mentioned in the specifications provided and the Apple TV 3 isn't available for testing, then I don't believe anyone will be able to answer that question.

Winston Churchill wrote:

True HD is a format developed by Dolby, it isn't just 24/192 AAC or ALAC, I'm inclined to think the specifications posted for the Apple TV 3 might therefore preclude supporting True HD.

I don't think the discussion is about that.