Apple Broke Dolby Digital 5.1 Output on Apple TV 4K

I have exactly same problem now, not sure what happened as I have automatic updates of tvOS, it started with Netflix, the 5.1 sound has stopped being passed through the Yamaha Receiver. Now it show me only PCM. Although I was still able to pass DD while using Fusion media player playing back some movies in 5.1. But then in order to fix Netflix I did reset of Apple TV. It seem to be updated something in background and now I don't have DD even on the Fusion Player, and Netflix too... I see my tvOS is version 18.1. I have first gen Apple TV4K

Called Apple support, they said they are aware of the problem and working on it, they opened a case with me so hoping the fix comes with next release 18.2 which seems to be expected in December. Btw I didn’t see anything in release notes for 18.1 addressing this particular issue, not sure how it worked for some people? Or maybe I missed something?

Many commentators get their posts deleted when they propose solutions,

my gen 1 atv 4k 5.1 issue resolved once I installed 18.1. I can mention 18.1 now as its now released.

not tried if for a week but hope it’s still fixed.

what generation of atv are you using and are you running the latest release of tvOS?

18.1 didn’t work for me, I have 1-st gen 4K. Did complete reset with update but still no 5.1 audio. My AppleTV is plugged to Samsung TV with HDMI, then the audio goes from the TV to AV Receiver with optical cable. Before v18 all worked well since 2019. Now it’s not…

In my case I do and in the past few years it worked without an issue.

Same issue here also w Logitech. Decode light was not going on, but works with my other devices. I will say happy to hear I’m not losing it.

Same here!!

Forced update of Apple TV at the 21-09-2024 stopped our Dolby 5.1 surround sound to work.

You tell us what your work around is please

Please can you tell us what your workaround is, please?

That was the first thing I checked. It was on Dolby Atmos from Day 1. It was definitely not the settings.

But if you click or press enter (while Audio Format is highlighted), then "Change Format" is "Off", right?

If you're afraid to click the Audio Format line, I don't blame you, but I don't think it can do any harm.

oops, looks as though I've enabled after alpha updates again, and forgot that I did it. Disabling that now. At least it provides some basis for hope... (sorry about that, Chief.)(told you I was old.)