Q: No Dolby Digital Apple TV 3 firmware 6.1 (6698.99.16)

Hi, I think everyone has been patient enough over this issue now.  I have just spoken with

Rene Matos-Graca, Executive Relations EMEIA at Apple & he was not even aware of the problem & basically said unless enough bug reports are received, the issue is not prioritised & therefore nothing is done, which seems to be the case here.

This is not good enough when customers are still paying a premium price for a product which does not perform as it should & is not upgraded in a timely manner.

I know it's not perfect, but a workaround is to start the movie or show on your iphone or ipad and airplay it to your Apple TV. You'll get DD 5.1.

Doesn't work for me. I didn't think that Airplay passes 5.1

Airplay passes 5.1 perfectly for me.

It certainly does. All airplay does on the iOS Netflix app is pass the http stream to the AppleTV, which then streams it itself. We've known for a little bit that airplaying gives us DD, so it's obviously something up with the Netflix app on the ATV

It's my understanding Apple has its own content distribution network for Netflix. Authorization comes from Netflix servers, then content is streamed from Apple servers. If this is true, it's an Apple problem.

Well, in my case, I'm not getting DD with AirPlay'ed Netflix...

i know it shouldn't be that way. i was going crazy myself for 2 weeks after said firmware update.

going back to 5.3 solved all my problems!

now all i have to do is wait until the issue is solved while i enjoy dolby dig. via netflix app.

just do it. (while you can....)

Am I the only one to whom the ATV 6.1 update brought HUGE improvements in video quality?

Before 6.1, I usually was stuck at 480p. I used to think that had something to do with my bandwidth. But now, with the Netflix app that came with the 6.1 update, video quality always jumps to 720p within seconds and shortly after to 1080p. Where it stays for the rest of the show.

Please see for yourself. Just add this test clip to your list, then play it on the Apple TV:

http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Example_Short_23.976/70136810

Dolby Digital is gone with 6.1 alright. But as downgrading to 5.3 brought back both DD and the lousy video quality, I've made my choice. I went back to 6.1.

There was yet another bug in the earlier versions with Netflix that hurt video quality, there's actually another huge thread about somewhere in these boards. But, yes, 6.1 fixed that bug but then caused another, yay!

idk, i always had top notch video quality via netfilx from the beginning. 5.3 has the same quality for me plus DD.

mikefromenglewood wrote:

 

Airplay passes 5.1 perfectly for me.

Is this only with ATV3? I'm testing with ATV2, my ATV3 in my home theater doesn't have automatic backup turned on, so that one is good.

"Top notch" might be subjective. Stevo, can you please run the test clip I mentioned and see if you get 1920x1080 at 5000 mbps or more?

by top notch i meant full hd 1920x1080.

don't know how to play that test clip on atv other than via airplay, which could be another confounder....

I can't speak to it being *only ATV,* but yes, mine is an ATV3.