AppleTV 4 surround sound issue

I just wish the DD was the aame as in the movie file and not a remuxed versionMwhich may or may not be accurate.

Side by side test with ATV3, both test using movie media purchased in iTunes store - Spectre. HDMI cables are exactly the same.

-ATV4 set to Best Quality Available - AVR reads PCM (audio sounds dull, low volume)

-ATV4 set to Dolby Digital - AVR reads Dolby Digital (audio sounds better)

-ATV3 set to Dolby Digital - AVR reads Dolby Digital (audio sounds more livelyand open than the ATV4)

AVR is set to process the same.

Additionally noted,

1) ATV3 is much faster than the ATV4 in doing the same activities

2) 50+% of the time, the following message is displayed everytime I switch to ATV4 from the ATV3... "The content requires HDCP for playback. Either your HDMI cable is properly connected, or your HDMI cable doesn't support HDCP. Please reconnect the HDMI cable from your Apple TV to your HDTV and try again". When you OK the message, the ATV4 takes you back to the start menu for the content that was playing. When I switch back to ATV3 - the content is paused exactly where I left it.

I've left the ATV4 set to Dolby Digital for now.

Anyone any idea why this message is now displayed?

I ended up doing the same with my test, leaving it at DD. I have a 7.1 setup and and having it on Auto or BEST leaves the 2 rear speakers dead in the water. AV cannot process the input to allow 7.1 output. So I have to leave it on DD on ATV4 and boost up the LFE to compensate as best as possible. Learned my lesson buying first generation from Apple. Shoddy product release to date.

Strange that you found the uncompressed PCM to be duller than the compressed DD signal

At least in volume, the PCM for me was fuller but it was only slight. I would suspect in a blind test I would have less than 100% success rate

Agreed. PCM is much fuller and has more kick. I'm not sure why the poster said its duller. ATV 4 on DD is much duller and less kick. Maybe he needs to reboot ATV4. I've found that setting may not actually kick unless the silly thing is rebooted.

mariotheplumber wrote:

Anyone any idea why this message is now displayed?

You have a handshake issue in your system. It's not unique but it's not particularly common.

For what it's worth I don't have the audio issues you're reporting either. It's important to properly level match any content and this seems to be a bit harder to do on the ATV 4gen than the ATV3.

SuperSizeIt wrote:

AV cannot process the input to allow 7.1 output. So I have to leave it on DD on ATV4 and boost up the LFE to compensate as best as possible. Learned my lesson buying first generation from Apple. Shoddy product release to date.

It appears that you admit that your AVR is not up to the task of managing multi-channel PCM inputs as well as well as it handles bitstreams. That's not Apple's fault.

It appears that you have no clue on how AV system process PCM input. Most MID/HIgh will process PCM raw. It will not apply processing to that stream. Perhaps more higher end models in the thousands of dollars. Most will just output channel per channel. If its 5.1 then yes 5.1. If the PCM stream is 7.1 then yes 7.1. Since most content is 5.1 you want the AV to process and output to 7.1 so that all speakers are active and producing an engulfing environment. So If you plan on insulting me because I don't have your kind of AV system that process PCM to DD PLX II or DTS 6, then congratulation to you. lol

Yes that is the disadvantage of going the PCM route, it shows what it's given. For now I have removed my 2 rears and am bi-amping my fronts. But, as this makes no difference to the sound quality in passive bi-amping, I will be returning to 7.1 at some point

SuperSizeIt wrote:

It appears that you have no clue on how AV system process PCM input. ... So If you plan on insulting me because I don't have your kind of AV system that process PCM to DD PLX II or DTS 6, then congratulation to you. lol

Well which is it? I have no clue or I bought a smarter AVR than yours? By the way I suspect most modern AVRs can process a PCM input into say DTS Neo:X if that input is two channel PCM. The point is the AVR vendor decided what features to provide and which to withhold. That's neither Apple's fault or responsibility.

I said it appears because you suggest but didn't definitely say that your system will convert a AC-3 bitstream into a fake 8 or more channel output while it won't do the same with eight channel PCM. If that's the case Apple has given you a solution: an AC-3 bitstream. Perhaps you meant something else.

Interesting. I will investigate once I'm back in 7.1 land.

Thanks, Why does it only appear when switching from ATV3 to ATV4? I think it's something to do with the ATV4 not being happy about running the same media that's being accessed by the ATV3. Tha't the only time the message appears.

Please could you explain what is meant by, "passive bi-amping". cheers

Yeah, another example of how the re-encoding of the original soundtrack back into DD is no substitute for actually preserving the original DD (or DD+).

Easier providing a link

http://www.chuckhawks.com/bi-wire_bi-amp.htm