New Gen 4 Apple TV: Creating a default audio output?

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New Gen 4 Apple TV: Creating a default audio output?

Have a new Gen 4 Apple TV. To use it, I have to do some steps that complicate things, and I'd like to know if there is a way to simplify or set a default.

When I turn it on, the Apple TV turns on the TV and my stereo receiver. So far, so good; nice. I pick a playlist and song and it starts to play.

But, no sound. I want the sound to come through my stereo speakers, but it doesn't come through them, nor my TV speaker.

The music will not come through my stereo speakers unless--every time--I go to: Settings->Video and Audio-> Audio Output, and then I have to select either the Apple TV, or my stereo receiver. When I select the stereo receiver, the music begins to come through the stereo speakers as I want it to.

Is there a way to avoid these steps in the Settings menus? (It took me a long time to figure out I had to do this, btw; very frustrating.)

Would be nice if the Gen 4 Apple TV operated as easily as my Gen 1. With the Gen 1, did not have to do these set-up steps.

Thanks for any help!

VIN,MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011), macOS High Sierra (10.13.5)

Posted on Jun 24, 2018 1:05 PM

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Answer 1

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Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,322 points

Jun 26, 2018 8:50 PM in response to tomfromid

the TV is connected to stereo receiver via HDMI, to the only HDMI connector on the back of my stereo receiver. … It's listed as Denon AVR-S740H.

That Denon AVR-S740H has 1 HDMI input on the front, and 5 HDMI inputs on the back, and one HDMI output with ARC capability. You may have to enable ARC with settings, on the TV and receiver. You need ARC for audio to go over HDMI to the receiver (reverse direction).

Alternatively, you can plug the Apple TV to one of the HDMI-in ports on the receiver, instead of the TV.

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Answer 2

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,322 points

Jun 27, 2018 3:57 AM in response to tomfromid

If that doesn't work, I'll try connecting the Apple TV to my receiver. I suppose there is no reason not to, as I only use the Apple TV for playing music through my stereo system (for now, anyway.)

The AV receiver will happily pass through from any HDMI-in, split audio to speakers and video over HDMI-out to TV, so you will have video and audio. That’s what I meant by ‘hub’. It seems your receiver has some unused potential.

I asked the [Apple support] fellow about this issue, and he thought it was probably not able to be fixed.

The ‘normal’ audio output over HDMI (select: Apple TV as audio output) works great with the correct settings and connections.
The ‘alternative’ (select: receiver as audio output) is an Apple TV wireless connection, with its memory problems, which may see improvements with tvOS software updates in the future. As I understand it, the latter is primarily intended for HomePod and wireless bluetooth speakers/headphones. I wouldn’t recommend it for AV receivers.

Until, that is, Apple brought out a new OS last year for my MacBook that no longer "supported" the Gen 1 Apple TV.

The key is iTunes before version 12.7. Not sure if that would need its own partition with a full system, although that seems the safest and least complicated. On another note, the iTunes Store has been cut off from the Apple TV (1st generation).

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jun 26, 2018 8:46 PM in response to tomfromid

Use Feedback - Apple TV - Apple to suggest to Apple that they make this all a little bit easier.

tt2

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Answer 4

tomfromid Author

Level 1

14 points

Jun 26, 2018 12:03 PM in response to Urquhart1244

Thanks Urquhart1244.

But to add, and clarify:

Yes, the Apple TV is connected to TV via HDMI. And yes, the TV is connected to stereo receiver via HDMI, to the only HDMI connector on the back of my stereo receiver.

I'm looking for a way to make my Apple TV music come over my stereo speakers WITHOUT going through the connection steps I listed, every time I turn on the music.

To listen to music over my stereo, from my iTunes library on my laptop, I turn on my laptop, open iTunes and music, turn on the Apple TV, and--before I hear the music--I have to do the following: Settings->Video and Audio-> Audio Output, and then I have to select either the Apple TV, or my stereo receiver. The checkmark is always on "Apple TV", so I have to select my stereo receiver, (It's listed as Denon AVR-S740H, fyi.) and when I do, I get the music coming through the speakers, as I want it to.

All this is AFTER the Apple TV has automatically turned on the TV and turned on my stereo receiver.

So, I'm wondering why I have to go into the Settings menu, and do those additional steps. Is there a way I can set the default?

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Answer 5

tomfromid Author

Level 1

14 points

Jun 26, 2018 9:02 PM in response to Urquhart1244

Thanks Urquhart1244, for doing all this research!

Oh man, I don't know how I COMPLETELY MISSED those other HDMI inputs on the back. I thought there was only one! Sheeesh. But, I have had the HDMI cable from the TV connected to the one labeled HDMI OUT MONITOR (ARC), on my stereo receiver. So, that's ok.

But, as the instructions you posted show, I probably need to "enable HDMI CEC" on my TV, and I'll need to get out the manual for that.

If that doesn't work, I'll try connecting the Apple TV to my receiver. I suppose there is no reason not to, as I only use the Apple TV for playing music through my stereo system (for now, anyway.)

Thanks very much again!

Late today, I connected with Apple support, because I had ANOTHER issue with the Apple TV, and, after I talked though and solved the other issue, I asked the fellow about this issue, and he thought it was probably not able to be fixed.

(The other issue, btw, was that the TV would not show my iTunes stuff, so no songs, playlist, etc.; just a blank screen. It would show my pics as a screensaver, however. And all connections were good. We fixed the issue by turning off, resetting the Apple TV, and resetting the sharing, and turning off and then on the stereo receiver. All was good. He chalked it up to probably a software update. Software updates can disrupt the operation/connections apparently, and if so, the fix is to reset everything.)

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Answer 6

tomfromid Author

Level 1

14 points

Jun 26, 2018 9:05 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks! I'm thinking of doing that. Based on the number of questions and issues I'm seeing on this site, the Apple TV has a few issues.

My Gen 1 Apple TV was a LOT simpler than this Gen 4. Worked most every time, seemed bulletproof. Until, that is, Apple brought out a new OS last year for my MacBook that no longer "supported" the Gen 1 Apple TV. Meaning, it didn't recognize it, meaning it made it about worthless. Dumb move on Apple's part, imho, but oh well.

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Answer 7

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,322 points

Jun 24, 2018 2:55 PM in response to tomfromid

Is your Apple TV plugged into the AV receiver, or the TV?

If it connects to the AV receiver (as a hub) then you should select Apple TV as audio output.

If it connects to the TV, then there should be an audio return channel (often a special HDMI ARC port on the TV, or alternative audio link) between the TV and receiver.

Choosing Apple TV as audio output should send the audio over the HDMI cable. If you can select the stereo receiver separately as audio output, then that suggests that there is an alternate way for the audio. (AirPlay or bluetooth capable receiver perhaps?)

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New Gen 4 Apple TV: Creating a default audio output?

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