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No Dolby Digital Apple TV 3 firmware 6.1 (6698.99.16)

Hi


I was running the above firmware on my main appletv, and noticed that Dolby Digital (DD) over spdif had stopped working, both in netflix and when streaming from itunes on my computer. I then took my daughters appletv and connected it to my receiver through spdif, and now DD worked, my daughters appletv was running firmware 5.3 (6105). I tried software resetting my main unit a couple of times, but that did not help. Lastly I updated my daughters appletv to firmwar 6.1, and then DD stopped working on that unit too...


Since then I have cuorisly found that DD is now working on my main unit, when I stream movies from itunes, but still not when watching a netflix-movie...


Anyone out there who have had the same problem?


Cheers Perer

Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Mar 19, 2014 2:34 PM

Reply
446 replies

May 13, 2014 6:50 PM in response to matiasnavarro

matiasnavarro, it is very easy to down grade firmware. I think there is a link to firmware file in the biginning of this thread. If you can not find then just Google it and you can download the appletv 3 5.3 firmware restore file.

Power off appletv and then connect it to your laptop or PC via USB. Micro USB port on apple tv is under HDMI port. If you can not find usb, then just disconnect hdmi cable. Now power on Appletv. This should trigger itune. Itune will prompt for firmware UPDATE. at this point press SHIFT and RIGHT CLICK on UPDATE button, this will prompt for restore. Browse to the location where you saved the downloaed file. Select this file and hit restore.... wait for few minutes.. I think it will reboot when restore it done. You are back in business.

May 13, 2014 7:43 PM in response to peter aagaard

Having said that, I now believe that we need to hold Apple as the primary party responsible.


Apple BROKE NetFlix Dolby Digital with their 6.1 Update. Their "quick fix" 6.1.1 fixed the problem for a day or two, but now it is broke again.


I have just posted my complaint to Apple on their Apple Feedback site, saying that I hold them completely responsible for BREAKING NetFlix DD.


I urge you to do the same. Click HERE to leave your feedback to Apple.

May 14, 2014 1:33 AM in response to peter aagaard

I am also having the same problem thought i had changed settings on my Yamaha RVX Receiver. I have submitted feedback to Apple and been onto Netflix who advised there is a problem but they do not know when it will be fixed. However I have received 50% off next months bill for the inconvenience which is not really the point I just want to enjoy my netflix the way it was before it broke with Dolby Digital sound.


So I guess for anything that should be in Dolby Digital I will stream from my iPad to the Apple TV as others have said that is a work around.

May 14, 2014 7:18 AM in response to Boogit

2 major mainstream companies such as apple and netflix really have no excuse for "no fix timeframe in place". I do not work in their industry but I am an engineer and problem solve daily and I can't imagine why a feature that had always worked, no longer works and why it is taking this long.


I will admit that probably 90% of netflix users stream to mobile and tablets or to televisions without surround sound so they do not even notice the issue, or do they care. But there is a pretty decent amount of us with mid to high end systems (or even the cheaper HTIB) systems that spent hard earned money to really enjoy movies. My wife and I do not get to the theatres as much as it's expensive after getting a baby sitter, so we enjoy movies at home on a nice tv and sound system. I refuse to watch an action flix in stereo. And while I try to rent bluray when possible, for some movies it's easier and cheaper to just watch them off netflix. I'm glad I have a tv that supports DD5.1 through netflix, but if I had only my apple tv (who is fighting with google, roku etc) to be the streaming system of your choice I'd be really upset, and if I'm apple I sure would be doing everything I can to keep my customers happy and prevent them from jumping ship.


/rant

May 16, 2014 11:16 AM in response to Aegis2k

Your right, I have been checking most days to see if DD is working, yesterday I was seeing DD symbols on my test movie, now the DD symbol is gone 😟


Can anyone running the old firmware that has DD still working confirm if they have DD or has it been dropped completely.


I hoping new hardware is coming and they are just playing with the software that the ATV uses.

Or else I'm going to need to buy another brand of box that can decode DD


I did online chat with netflix couple of days ago, very useless as everyone here has found.



Aegis2k wrote:


I just noticed when browsing stuff in netflix on atv3, that material that used to have dolby digital is now listed as not having it. Actually, nothing shows dolby digital support anymore. It's been months... This is never getting fixed, might as well toss my atv in the trash it just became junk.

May 17, 2014 7:49 AM in response to ad5901

Tired of waiting, hated to do it, but I downgraded to 5.3 firmware (Apple TV 3).


5.1 is back, (GREAT!) and I'm not missing any of the new features of the 6.x firmware so far.


Hope they fix it soon though.


+1 for no DD logo on Netflix. Now, you'll just know if the movie/tvshow have DD 5.1 if you play it. Not good, not good at all.

No Dolby Digital Apple TV 3 firmware 6.1 (6698.99.16)

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