Apple TV running 5.0, optical out not working, no sound

Was this configuration working prior to the update to 5.0? Do you get the interface sound effects or no audio at all? What type of content are you trying to play? What happens if you disconnect the HDMI and then AirPlay some music to the Apple TV?

Same thing here - my setup was working flawlessly prior the upgrade, now theres no sound via the spdif-output!!! iTunes and the remote-app are updated as well.

I have the same problem. Optical out was working great before update, now no sound at all through it. Apple, this is the 2nd update to Apple TV that has "broken" the Optical out, please fix!

You and several thousand other people are having this problem. The link below has a link to Apple's ATV feedback page

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3791818?answerId=17804865022#17804865022

I have the same problem

I can't believe it's happened again. the box just got two output to check .... the problem was (almost) overcome .... and now again .... I just I’m waiting for some funboy claiming atv is not intended to work without a tv.

ok, anyway I've avoided update untill know but can anyone make some clearness about the optical output situation?

If used only for only audio purpose linked to a dac does it work if connected at the same time to a hdmi (TV) that give the handshake?

Or it doesn’t work at all? Again I’m talking about an audio only message coming from an airplay device....

What happens if you change Settings > Audio & Video > Dolby Digital to On? Does optical audio start working?

I wish it were that easy Roy. Dolby Digital is "on", just isn't working...

Optical Out has been ruined from 4.4 onwards.

Apple didn't fix it in 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 4.4.3 or in 4.4.4.

And 5.0 isn't any better.

So from december 2011 half of Apple TV's output channels could not be used.

I bought the Apple TV just to play music. Had to buy a DAC to connect it to my amplifier.

Worked fine till 4.4 came.

And it is not possible to get back to 4.3.

Obscene language is not allowed on this forum. I do regret that.

krenten wrote:

Just a small update to all of you. Apple's engineering department just contacted me and we went through the procedure I do to play a movie (without sound) while it records this action as a profile then sent to apple. This is a good thing I guess cause it means Apple is very much aware and actively pursuing a solution.

So anyone reading this, create your own discussion or take an active part in one so that apple can contact you too to gather data and get this sorted ASAP!

I have a hunch this to some extent stems from AppleTV automatically configuring optical output to match the capability of the device connected over HDMI which will give AppleTv a 'list' of audio and video modes.

If for example a TV can only handle stereo digital audio over HDMI this then forces the same over optical when DD set to Auto. So in my case, here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3822239?tstart=0

...setting DD to On forces audio out to DD over HDMI and optical so I get DD on the amp but no audio on the non-DD capable TV over HDMI.

I wonder with some of these projector setups if the device is returning no audio capability at all when handshaking, maybe in some cases if connected via an HDMI to DVI adapter/cable, or if the device simply has no audio capability at all.

AC

Almostwise wrote:

I wish it were that easy Roy. Dolby Digital is "on", just isn't working...

Is your amps optical in configured to Auto - if it's manually configured and to something other than DD that might also explain things.

I've got almost an identical set-up as @krenten with the same problems.

My temporary work-around (to get audio to my Azur AV amp) is to run an optical cable from Apple TV to my TV then from the TV to the amp. A bit riducolous but at least you can play music ...