4th gen Apple TV - audio output

I agree Don. This change alone has stopped me from upgrading to Apple TV 4th gen, and until they re-introduce the optical audio out, I will never upgrade to a newer model. The idea that I should need to have my TV on to listen to music is crazy. This was truly one of Apple's stupider decisions.

Some of the other solutions mentioned here will work (with varying degrees of sound quality). However, a more sophisticated approach can be found at the following link:

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/03/connect-the-4th-gen-apple-tv-to-a-dac- without-hdmi/

If you care about sound quality, this source tells you all about it (as well as having phenomenal advice and reviews about everything to do with audio). It has advice on iPhones, as well as Macs, as well as streaming services, speakers, headphones, amplifiers, etc. This site ( written by John Darko), has incredibly upgraded my whole experience of listening to music! Highly recommended!!!

HDMI Audio extractor?

Hi - HDMI will carry the audio to your TV set - so if the TV has optical audio out

you're set - just connect it to the stereo.

Good luck, Tom

Apple reduced the flexibility of Apple TV by removing the optical audio output. I like to listen to music through my amplifier without having to leave the plasma TV on wasting power. Apple should revise the Apple TV to include the optical audio output in the next revision.

I'm with you Don.

I agree with you. I use optical so that I don't have to leave expensive large screen TV running just to listen to music. So what now? I have to leave the power hungry plasma TV on all day to play music?

You can get an HDMI splitter that will split a single HDMI input into more than one HDMI output. If your amp has a spare HDMI port you could use one of these to input sound to your amp but they cost AU80-100. So budget for this too if you upgrade/down to ATV4.

This can be possible coming straight out of cable box to amp.

God luck, Tom

I also want to be able to play music without leaving my TV on. This is almost a deal breaker for me if this feature is not available. I have been using the optical audio output for this.

I always wondered why I had to have the TV on if I used the HDMI cable. I have the Apple TV connected to my Onkyo receiver and another HDMI cable going to the Sony TV. It is not that new of a TV and I don't think there is audio out from the TV unless the TV is actually on.

Any help in this would be appreciated. I suppose I could somehow keep my old Apple TV (version 2.0) attached to the system just for music.

Playing Apple Radio, or Spotify from my phone or iPad directly to the stereo without having to turn on the TV screen is the goal.

Thank you for any help

Alan

I agree. I just tested my configuration, and I have to have the TV on to get the audio out, AND the sound quality is noticeably poorer going through the TV than directly using optical audio out from the TV. Ugh.

Oh, and I suggest that everyone leave feedback on this topic at apple.com/feedback. I just did.

Bud, Alan et al - my 8 yr old Sony has these options in Settings: Power Saving: Off, Low, High, Picture Off.

Other TVs have Eco settings where the screen can be turned off - I assume w/no effect on sound.

Good luck, Tom

At least on my 8 yr old Sony the picture can be turned OFF in Settings: Power Saving.

Newer sets may have Eco settings allowing the same thing.

Good luck, Tom

You may have solved your problem by now, or given up.

Anyway, I actually managed to hook my ancient B&O 9300 to the new Apple TV using my already existing Airport Express (connected to my stereo's Tape input port. All I needed to do was select Audio Output under Audio Menu and select the Airport ( or select 'Speaker' under Other options during playback of a song). Works perfect!