Q: Apple TV4 Lack Of Audio Output - Answers
I was initially put off buying the new Apple TV4 since Apple dropped the optical audio output and although my home theatre projector takes HDMI I needed to split out the audio since it has no audio capability.
I found 2 solutions:
First the J-Tech Digital 3 Port HDMI/MHL Switch & Audio Extractor. This did 2 things.
1. It split out the audio and provided an optical port.
2. In my case the projector only had a single HDMI input so it allows me to switch via remote from the Apple TV to my cable box.
The only issue I ran into is you need to switch the video output setting on the Apple TV from auto to one of the other settings to avoid off colors.
J-Tech also sells a cheaper model splitter if you don't need the 2nd HDMI.
Second it turns out in those same setting menus you can actually direct the audio output from the Apple TV wirelessly to other set of speakers. Since I have an Airport Express already set up for Airplay, I could have just selected that. The only reason I am keeping the splitter is I need the video split.
I hope this helps anyone holding back buying the new Apple TV since it is pretty awesome. I have owned each generation from the first and this is the best.
I only wished Apple Help would have been able to offer these suggestions when I called and asked them for solutions specifically on my problem and how it was preventing my purchase.
Apple TV, tvOS 9.1, 4th Generation Apple TV
Posted on Dec 17, 2015 11:19 AM
Update:
My setup works perfect.
I did figure out the off color I saw when originally setting up the projector with the ATV4 was the projector and not the ATV4.
When I added the cable box to the setup I was seeing the off colors from it but by changing the color profile in the projector it became perfect. This allowed me to go back and and set the ATV back to auto and both yield perfect color.
If you just need the optical out buy the J-tech optical splitter on Amazon for $19.99.
I bought the model with the additional feature of allowing you to have 2 HDMI inputs and switch between them.
Posted on Jan 10, 2016 7:52 AM