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Apple TV 4 hdmi source issues with Sony TV

Problems with Apple TV 4 and Sony lcd TVs (KDL-40w5100 and KDL-46XBR9).

Purchased Apple TV 4 and swapped out with Apple TV 3 for HDMI 2 and 4 respectively. On both TVs HDMI 1 is the Comcast Xfinity cable box. When I change source to Apple TV 4, it changes to Apple TV for a brief moment and automatically goes back to HDMI 1.


If I unplug HDMI 1 then Apple TV 4 has no problem displaying without issue (there are other inputs on both TVs such as PS3 and chrome cast and do not cause any conflict). When I plug in HDMI 1 and switch to cable box, changing source back to Apple TV displays for a moment and switches back to cable box.


I have tried reseting the Apple TV via the GUI menu, I have tried unplugging all HDMI connections from the TV as well as unplugging the power for 5+ minutes, then reconnecting the HDMIs first then the power cable for each device and still having the same problem (HDMI handshake reset + holding TV power button down). I have also tried the other HDMI inputs as well as different HDMI cables


The HDMIs that I have are not uni-directional, the Apple TV 3 that this is replacing did not have any problems what so ever on either TV. I have also tried Apple TV 4 in the living room on a Samsung TV with a Comcast box as the primary HDMI source and there were no problems there.

Apple TV, tvOS, Apple TV 4

Posted on Nov 2, 2015 5:15 PM

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Posted on Nov 2, 2015 6:23 PM

Called Apple and Tim Cook answered and resolved the issue. Apple TV 4 uses HDMI CEC. My Sony TVs "are" HDMI CEC certified. Not sure if the tech is implemented incorrectly on the Apple or the Sony side...but to resolve the issue, HDMI CEC should be disabled on the TV that could be causing the problem.


For Sony on the remote>HOME>Settings>Channels & Inputs>HDMI Settings>Control for HDMI>Off

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Question marked as Best reply

Nov 2, 2015 6:23 PM in response to kingguido713

Called Apple and Tim Cook answered and resolved the issue. Apple TV 4 uses HDMI CEC. My Sony TVs "are" HDMI CEC certified. Not sure if the tech is implemented incorrectly on the Apple or the Sony side...but to resolve the issue, HDMI CEC should be disabled on the TV that could be causing the problem.


For Sony on the remote>HOME>Settings>Channels & Inputs>HDMI Settings>Control for HDMI>Off

Nov 8, 2015 5:58 PM in response to kingguido713

I've resolved my HDMI-CEC issues on my multi-thousand dollar home theater system by simply disabling it on all of my devices.


True, it seems a bit wonky that Apple's latest and greatest TV Box doesn't use it properly, but other than an HDMI prophylactic, I don't know what else to do.


If Apple ever builds a Thermostat I hope I don't have to disable the rest of my HVAC system to get it to function properly.

Nov 23, 2015 7:11 PM in response to kingguido713

I run my home theater through an HDMI switch, and keep running into this exact issue, except it's the HDMI switch that keeps cycling inputs. I had hoped that disabling the home theater control options in the Apple TV setup would eliminate the problem, but no such luck. I've managed to work around it now by plugging the Apple TV directly into the receiver and bypassing the HDMI switch. However, it is still pretty annoying that I have to go through that process at all.


The other thing I noticed with this issue was that the whole setup worked fine for several weeks where I had absolutely no issues with input switching. Then I went away on travel two weeks ago, and when I came back is when the issue first started cropping up. It looks like it may have corresponded roughly with tvOS 9.0.1 being rolled out. Not sure if this anyone else noticed this as well.

Dec 27, 2015 8:29 AM in response to kingguido713

On Bravia KDL-50W805B it is still not working. I have disabled Bravia sync in settings->External inputs->BRAVIA Sync Settings->BRAVIA Sync Control is set to off and still there is no signal. I have tried all the hdmi ports. please is there anything else I can try to make it work? It works fine with Samsung HDTV so it's not the cable. Is there by setting on Apple TV I shall change? Thx for any help. As apple TV boots I can see the apple logo in 720p resolution, but the there is just grain.

Apple TV 4 hdmi source issues with Sony TV

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