I have the following setup: Apple TV 4k Projector connected to Apple TV via HDMI in back of room Sonos Beam and Sub in front of room under screen 2 Sonos Ones in back of room The above Sonos products are grouped together I connect Apple TV to my Sonos system wirelessly given the locations of the equipment Problem(s): Every single time I turn on Apple TV, the audio settings revert to HDMI and I have to unselect and reselect my Sonos system deep in settings. Sometimes when I do this, the selection does not work, and the volume continues to come out of the projector speakers. I’ve recently noticed that my Sonos system will work for certain Apple TV apps and not others (i.e. HBO, Hulu, Netflix work through Sonos, but system sounds, like scrolling, and other apps, like TruTV, default to the HDMI). Does anyone know of a workaround or solution for these three likely interrelated issues? Thanks!

distanceguy14

Contributor I

Answered

Apple TV 4K defaulting to HDMI every time

11 replies
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I have the following setup:

Apple TV 4k
Projector connected to Apple TV via HDMI in back of room
Sonos Beam and Sub in front of room under screen
2 Sonos Ones in back of room
The above Sonos products are grouped together
I connect Apple TV to my Sonos system wirelessly given the locations of the equipment

Problem(s):

Every single time I turn on Apple TV, the audio settings revert to HDMI and I have to unselect and reselect my Sonos system deep in settings.
Sometimes when I do this, the selection does not work, and the volume continues to come out of the projector speakers.
I’ve recently noticed that my Sonos system will work for certain Apple TV apps and not others (i.e. HBO, Hulu, Netflix work through Sonos, but system sounds, like scrolling, and other apps, like TruTV, default to the HDMI).

Does anyone know of a workaround or solution for these three likely interrelated issues? Thanks!

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R

riksnaxAnswer

Lyricist I

Hey @distanceguy14 - I am not sure if you already solved this problem, but I came across your question because I am experiencing the exact same dilemma. I figured out a workaround, but unfortunately it means you need to buy a couple more pieces of equipment. You will need:

-Sonos Port (or Connect)

-HDMI Audio Extractor (HDMI → HDMI + Audio)

I also have a projector and ultimately do not want to run cables all the way across my room to get to the speakers, and since the Apple TV needs to connect directly to the projector it was also not an option to go straight into the speakers.
You will need to go from Apple TV HDMI into the HDMI Audio Extractor, then send the HDMI out of the Extractor into your projector and the RCA audio out into your Sonos Port. The Port has an option in settings under “Line In” that allows you to autoplay to any Rooms or speaker groups as soon as it detects the input. So you can still listen to music and everything on your Sonos speakers, but then as soon as you start using the Apple TV it will automatically default to your Port’s Line In.

This is the only way I have been able to keep things working because you can keep your Apple TV set to the HDMI audio output that it always wants to default toward anyway.

I know it sucks to have to buy more equipment and I personally wish I had known this would be a problem before I started buying speakers, but unfortunately I think it is the only reliable way to avoid running cables across your room.

Hope this helps!

Show previous replies

distanceguy14Author

Contributor I

Hey @distanceguy14 - I am not sure if you already solved this problem, but I came across your question because I am experiencing the exact same dilemma. I figured out a workaround, but unfortunately it means you need to buy a couple more pieces of equipment. You will need:

-Sonos Port (or Connect)

-HDMI Audio Extractor (HDMI → HDMI + Audio)

I also have a projector and ultimately do not want to run cables all the way across my room to get to the speakers, and since the Apple TV needs to connect directly to the projector it was also not an option to go straight into the speakers.
You will need to go from Apple TV HDMI into the HDMI Audio Extractor, then send the HDMI out of the Extractor into your projector and the RCA audio out into your Sonos Port. The Port has an option in settings under “Line In” that allows you to autoplay to any Rooms or speaker groups as soon as it detects the input. So you can still listen to music and everything on your Sonos speakers, but then as soon as you start using the Apple TV it will automatically default to your Port’s Line In.

This is the only way I have been able to keep things working because you can keep your Apple TV set to the HDMI audio output that it always wants to default toward anyway.

I know it sucks to have to buy more equipment and I personally wish I had known this would be a problem before I started buying speakers, but unfortunately I think it is the only reliable way to avoid running cables across your room.

Hope this helps!

This worked! Thank you.

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