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Level 1

10 points

Awful static on apple tv startup

I recently purchased the apple tv (1080p version) to hook up in my room to stream music to my speakers.

I currently have the apple tv setup through hdmi to a computer monitor and optical to my receiver on my speakers.

Whenever i awake the apple tv from sleep i get an awful static noise coming through the speakers for 5-10 seconds.

On further investigation i realized the static cuts off as soon as the video signal (through hdmi) is received by the computer monitor. Thus when i startup the apple tv from sleep without having the computer monitor on the static lasts quite a bit longer.

All the cables are fine, it's not the cables that are the issue.

What has fixed the issue is if i completely unplug the hdmi cable from the apple tv thus leaving only the optical audio cable to the speakers. When i did this i get no static, but i dont want to run to the device to plug in the hdmi whenever i feel like using the screen.

I called apple support and they were pretty unhelpful. Anyone have any suggestions?

Sorry for the long write up, thanks in advance!

AppleTV 2

Posted on Mar 18, 2012 4:06 PM

57 replies

JPVann

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2012 6:17 AM in response to airhooo

Don't know - I have no way to do that in my situation (direct powered speakers) but that would eliminate the HDMI question and focus the problem on the optical out.

I'd like to know - I am calling Apple tomorrow and exchanging my unit.

airhooo Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 25, 2012 7:53 AM in response to JPVann

let me know how it works out. thanks

ManuGeek

Level 1

0 points

Mar 30, 2012 2:54 PM in response to airhooo

Hello... Same here with apple tv 2 and now 3... Thought that the 3 would handle the problem.

It is connected to a Cmabridge in optical and HDMI for video.

What I can tell here is that it work very well for a near a year, and then, after an update (don't which) I have systematically this noise when starting up or waking up...

Till anybody gives a solution, I use the remote left and right for a while to wake up the apple TV and then start the Cambridge... so that the "whatever cause the sound" is not anymore sent to the Cambridge...

Thanks to keep this uptodate !

JPVann

Level 1

0 points

Mar 30, 2012 3:42 PM in response to ManuGeek

Your post suggests Apple could fix this with software. I won't hold my breath....

ManuGeek

Level 1

0 points

Mar 30, 2012 4:24 PM in response to JPVann

Yes I confirm... found an other forum where a guy said it was since 4.4 on his apple TV 2 that he had the problem. It retrograde to 4.3 since and don't change anything as it work for him...but the video under Netflix that is corrected only after 4.4...

Sorry can't find this post anymore...

Mar 31, 2012 6:25 AM in response to ManuGeek

I also have exactly the same problem (optical out to amp via DAC causes terrible static noise from when I turn on Apple TV until I can move around the menu).

All the posts I can find about it are quite recent, which suggests that it's a newly introduced software problem. What version is everyone on? I'm on Apple TV 2, iOS 4.4 and was wondering whether upgrading to IOS 5 might help. Since people are having the same problem with Apple TV 3 I presume that it doesn't...

JPVann

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2012 6:31 AM in response to Arcturus25

One thing I have disliked intensely about Apple - going back to the first days of these forums - is that Apple never bothers to have ANYONE read and respond. Is the Number One reason I resist Apple products so intensely. Their Genius bars are great - if you happen to live near one. Forums and Telephone - no.

So I reiterate - everything I have read seems to point to a software change in Appke TV. Can anyone at Apple respond? Is there hope for a fix? Or should I sell the Apple TV and go to a Roku.

vazandrew

Level 8

40,366 points

Mar 31, 2012 6:56 AM in response to JPVann

This is a user forum, you are never going to receive a response from Apple here.

If you want to notify of a bug then provide feedback or contact them directly

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

ManuGeek

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2012 7:33 AM in response to vazandrew

Thanks for this link ! I beleive that we all should fill the bug report ! Just done it !

JPVann

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2012 10:54 AM in response to vazandrew

Thanks - just left a bug report as well. Still - there SHOULD be Apple employees monitoring these forums. Crap it's the MAIN location for user and customer feedback.

Just another of the many Apple stupidities in an otherwise great ecosystem.

vazandrew

Level 8

40,366 points

Mar 31, 2012 3:08 PM in response to JPVann

This has always been a forum for users to help others troubleshoot, not for feedback to Apple. There are other avenues, such as the feedback link, if you want them to be aware

ManuGeek

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2012 6:38 AM in response to airhooo

Hello again,

so, since last time I've been able to contact apple support by phone. They say that I was the first person to call them about this topic !! So please, everyone, call them !

He don't know where is the problem, but as I told him it came with an update, he has transfered the question to Apple TV ingeneer with my Receiver info (cambridge azur 640r).

Apr 21, 2012 8:31 PM in response to airhooo

I think I'm having a similar problem...

Running ATV 1080p software version 5.0 (4099)

Problem occurring when:

HDMI plugged into ATV and TV (TV is always powered off during this problem so I think this is irrelevant)

Optical audio cable plugged into ATV and DAC/powered speakers

ATV in sleep mode

Whenever ATV is in sleep mode and I send music to it from any Airplay source, ATV produces extremely loud static for a few seconds (presumably until it boots up or connects or whatever) and then begins playing my music.

Also, I sent feedback to Apple at http://www.apple.com/feedback/

May 2, 2012 12:18 AM in response to airhooo

I have the apple tv 3 hooked up solely through the hdmi cable, and I get the static as well upon turning the device on. It happens for up to a full minute, but once it stops it hasnt once interrupted anything I'm viewing or listening to. I'm hoping this can be fixed through an update, anyone receive feedback from apple yet?

ManuGeek

Level 1

0 points

May 2, 2012 6:11 AM in response to jgraphchewie

Hi, sorry to read that ! No reply from Apple !

Strange for the HDMI as I don't have any bad sound if i plug only the HDMI to the TV...

Did you try hdmi direct on the TV to see if the bug is with receivers too ?

The Cambridge receiver don't accept sound in the HDMI in (but with the HDMI out...). So I plug the sound via optical and the video to the receiver in hdmi. it is then that I have the bad sound but only few seconds 5-6...

Awful static on apple tv startup