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Payton Garner Author

Level 2

371 points

Apple Broke Dolby Digital 5.1 Output on Apple TV 4K

Not sure why nobody else is mentioning this, but figured I'd post to help others. One of these last few tvOS updates has completely broken Dolby Digital output (on Apple TV 4K, it seems).

I have a 2nd gen 4K model that had been fine until a recent update. I change the audio output in Settings to force Dolby Digital 5.1 for my speakers (Logitech Z906), but this suddenly no longer works! My speakers do not light the proper "Decode" light to indicate a true 5.1 signal, and the voices clearly come from left and right channels instead of just the center.

This was easy to confirm. I purchased a brand new 3rd gen Apple TV 4K (128GB) and it shipped with tvOS 17.1. I configured the audio output to force DD 5.1 and tested a movie... and everything worked perfectly. The "Decode" light indicated a 5.1 signal and voices, etc, clearly only came through the center channel. Then I upgraded to tvOS 17.4 and immediately tested the same movie, and it's broken! Nothing else changed.

Strangely enough, I have an old 1080p Apple TV running tvOS 17.4 (latest) and it still outputs Dolby Digital just fine.

I have provided this information to AppleCare as well as Apple.com/feedback. Kind of a ridiculous bug to go unpatched still. Hopefully someone will notice while we all sit here with broken audio.

Posted on May 7, 2024 10:30 AM

Top-ranking reply

Mcshoes

Level 1

38 points

Posted on Sep 16, 2024 10:59 PM

updated to TvOS 18 and 5.1 is broken. Apple TV connected to TV Samsung KS8000. HDMI ARC to Yamaha receiver. Only detects stereo. Please fix asap.

View in context

294 replies

Oct 7, 2024 3:59 PM in response to madman411

Me too.

TVOS 18 and PCM Stereo. Tried updating but it says it’s already up-to-date.

Oct 7, 2024 5:31 PM in response to Satan's Therapist

Change password.. when it asks you to input your authentication code, click didn't receive code and you should be able to click send text to get it sent to you via sms

Oct 7, 2024 7:07 PM in response to Satan's Therapist

I’m hoping that we get TVOS 18.1 by the end of the month.

Windh

Level 1

104 points

Oct 9, 2024 12:02 AM in response to Payton Garner

but for the rest of us normies, we're still having the issue.

I don't even own an iPhone.

[Edited by Moderator]

Windh

Level 1

104 points

Oct 9, 2024 12:01 AM in response to IUserGlobal

If you feel that paying for a brand new ATV because of an Apple-indused bug is right.. congratulations to you. And double congratulations to Apple!

Payton Garner Author

Level 2

371 points

Oct 9, 2024 7:11 AM in response to jasemoore73

You can disable automatic updates, but it’ll still hound you like once per day that “there’s a new version available and would you like to update?”. Trust me, it gets annoying really quickly.

Payton Garner Author

Level 2

371 points

Oct 9, 2024 7:14 AM in response to malthe144

In my experience, it’s harder to tell what exactly YouTube is doing. If the big apps like Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney, etc, are all working, that is a good sign.

Oct 14, 2024 10:05 AM in response to Payton Garner

Or you could sign up for 'the updates that must not be named' and get 5.1 back now.

Honestly, it works. You've nothing to lose and 5.1 to gain.

Oct 14, 2024 11:04 AM in response to Satan's Therapist

On your Apple TV, go to settings.. then down to System... Then down to software updates.. then there should be an option to "get B updates"

[Edited by Moderator]

Oct 30, 2024 6:28 AM in response to Payton Garner

Latest update fixed the issue for me!

Nov 4, 2024 6:20 AM in response to Klasson

Maybe turn off auto update and stay on 17.x with that one until 18.x issues are resolved.

Nov 20, 2024 12:44 PM in response to Payton Garner

Hello,

Still no solution from Apple??

It's crazy!!

Payton Garner Author

Level 2

371 points

Aug 15, 2024 6:03 PM in response to BUSHleagueBRO

What are the details of your speakers and how is everything connected?

I have my Apple TV 4K connected to my LG OLED CX (HDMI 2.1) and the tv outputs all audio from any active source via HDMI ARC that goes to a switch that converts it to optical, which connects to my Logitech Z906 directly.

Sounds a bit complicated, but this all used to work prior to a tvOS update. And all other HDMI sources like PS5, etc, have no problem and still show true Dolby 5.1 on the Logitech.

Sep 11, 2024 2:28 AM in response to Clwinbe

On my 4k Rotel preamp, while I don’t see DTS or Dolby anymore, multi-channel content is detected, but shows up now as Multichannel PCM.

This is as intended. The output is one of Dolby Atmos MAT (when not from TrueHD sources), Multichannel PCM (Auto), Dolby Digital 5.1 (custom), Stereo (custom). The Apple TV box never supported DTS, although select apps may do their own conversion.

goto206

Level 1

32 points

Sep 17, 2024 10:39 AM in response to Payton Garner

It's getting weirder. In my case, Dolby does not work in any application except the Youtube application, where Dolby sound is emitted even from materials that do not have surround sound.

Apple TV 4K 2017 connected directly to Polk MagniFi 2. Soundbar connected to the TV via HDMI-ARC.

Audio output set to AUTO (but changing this setting doesn’t change anything).

Apple Broke Dolby Digital 5.1 Output on Apple TV 4K