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Dolby Atmos sync issue with Apple TV

Whenever I play Dolby Atmos content, there is a delay in audio playback in relation to the video. Dialog is slightly out of sync from lips. Explosions are heard slightly after you seem them. The delay is about 1/6 of a second.


Hardware used: Apple TV 4K, Samsung Series 7 TV, and Vizio Elevate Soundbar.


I tested in both configurations and had the same results:

  1. Apple TV 4K connected to Samsung Series 7 TV's HDMI 2 input. Vizio Elevate Soundbar connected to HDMI eARC.
  2. Apple TV 4K connected to Vizio Elevate's HDMI 2 input. izio Elevate Soundbar connected to HDMI eARC.


The issue only happens when view Dolby Atmos content. If I set the Apple TV to only output in 5.1 surround, the delay disappears.


I play with the AV delay of both the TV and the soundbar and was not able to sync the audio and video. The lowest setting on the AV sync is the closest I can get the audio to the video. Increasing the setting makes it worse.


Below are the list of apps with varying results:


Disney+ Noticeable audio delay with Dolby Atmos content. Disabling Atmos fixes the sync issue.

MAX Same as Disney+

Netflix Same as Disney+

Paramount + Noticeable audio delay with ALL content.


Additionally, I also tested the Samsung TV's native Netflix app since it is the only one that outputs Atmos through the eARC. No sync issues with the TV's native Netflix app when playing Atmos content.


Is there a solution for these syncing issues when playing Atmos content on the Apple TV?

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 17

Posted on Oct 24, 2023 11:10 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 19, 2024 1:23 PM

Are people still having A/V sync issues with their ATV box? I'm going from ATV>Receiver>TV. For me the video lags behind audio in some apps, not all, and to varying amounts if I have "Match Framerate" turned on. Turning it off fixed all syncing issues, but now all the apps feed content to the TV at 60fps instead of matching 24p material correctly. Match Framerate was one of the main reasons I bought this thing, and it's the only advantage this device has over the Nvidia Shield as an ultimate home theater streaming device. What's the point if I can't even use this feature??

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28 replies

Mar 29, 2024 2:23 AM in response to priyonjoni

I have the same problem with the new ATV 2022. I found that if it doesn't play Dolby Vision, it will play Atmos. If I turn on DV, Atmos plays poorly. It's worst in the Apple TV+ app. The ATV is connected directly to the TV (Philips 65OLED936), which has a built-in soundbar. Everything works fine when streaming from the app on the TV. I bought a new HDMI cable with certification, but it doesn't affect anythin.

Jun 24, 2024 11:56 AM in response to priyonjoni

I am also facing audio delay issues specifically on Dolby Atmos. I had no delay when Atmos was disabled in the settings.


My setup is Apple TV -> Sony TV (eARC) -> Denon AVR.


I was able to resolve this problem by changing my setup to Apple TV -> Denon AVR -> Sony TV.


This was a pain to re-set up, but it worked for me. Also consider turning off Match Frame Rate because that causes issues with some apps (Plex comes to mind.)

Dolby Atmos sync issue with Apple TV

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