Surround sound from Apple TV 4 via Airport Express

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Surround sound from Apple TV 4 via Airport Express

Hi.

I have a Apple TV 4th gen. The ATV4 doesn't have a toslink audio output, but i want to connect it to my sound system, so I can enjoy Netflix and other video content in surround sound. I found out, that I can select my Airport Express as a "speaker" and then use a toslink cable from the Airport Express to my sound system. But when I do this, the sound system only recognizes the audio as a PCM 44.1 stereo signal. As an example I tried Daredevil episodes and different films from Netflix. It is always in stereo - not surround. I tried every setting on the Apple TV 4.

I tried two different audio receivers. They are pretty old: Sony STR-LV500 and Sony STR-DE875.

I have some questions.

What audio format does the Airport Express output?

Could the problem be with the receivers?

How do I get this to work?

Thanks.

Posted on May 15, 2016 5:54 AM

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Answer 1

May 15, 2016 6:36 AM in response to drwily

If your TV has a digital autio output, you might have better luck connecting that to your receiver.

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Answer 2

May 15, 2016 7:30 AM in response to Diana.McCall

This AirPort Express sound format, frequency & bitrate thread seems to have some information that might help.

But it is contradicted by AirPlay Dolby 5.1 which says the AirPlay audio is always stereo.

Lots more detail here http://www.cnet.com/news/using-apples-airport-express-with-a-dac-a-how-to-guide/ so it looks like you should get surround on the optical output, if you can get ATV 4 to send it.

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Answer 3

May 15, 2016 7:51 AM in response to drwily

I ran an experiment for you:

Played movie on ATV4 with audio routed via airplay through Airport Express then onto receiver via optical. Audio was seen as PCM stereo. Without changing the receiver settings, I routed the ATV4 audio out via HDMI and connected the optical cable to my J-Tech HDMI optical splitter which is hooked to my ATV4 output HDMI and the signal was seen as Dolby 5.1.

While the Airport Express supports digital audio it is not surround sound.

I would suggest you purchase an HDMI optical splitter or if possible just use the built in optical splitter common in current TV's.

If the TV has HDMI inputs and an optical output, you can enjoy surround sound from more than just your ATV4.

I have had good luck with J-Tech brand HDMI equipment.

Consider this: http://www.amazon.com/J-Tech-Digital-Premium-Extractor-Converter/dp/B00BIQER0E/r ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463323421&sr=8-1&…

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