Apple TV 4th Gen and Playbar

I'm confused as to why that doesn't work. It's exactly the way that I have my 4K Apple TV set up. Goes via HDMI to my Vizio, and the PLAYBAR is connected to the Vizio with the optical connection. I happen to be watching a football game right now.

Is it only the Apple TV that doesn't generate sound? If so, you may want to go in to the audio settings on the Apple TV, and set it to Dolby Digital. Assuming that Pioneer can pass through a Dolby Digital signal from the HDMI input to the optical out (check your TV's manual), it should work fine. Might be worth double checking the audio settings on the Pioneer, too, just to be safe.

But generally speaking, your setup is exactly what most people have, and it works.

Hi Airgetlam,

Than you for your response, correct its only the Apple TV I am having issue with the TV sound is fine as its attached directly via optical.
I currently have the audio setting on Apple TV as best available, so I f i go in and change to Dolby Digital 5.1 it may work?

I'd think so, yes. Best available is sometimes/often DTS or something higher than Dolby Digital. The Sonos has certain limitations (as do many TVs, and the optical connection that the PLAYBAR uses, too).

Thank you but it did not work, I tried all of the settings, best available, Dolby 5.1 and stereo. Any ideas on where and what to do next?
I have called Apple support too and they could not help. Stuck and not sure how to get this working?

Hi Jay Mackay

Try this...assuming your Sonos Playbar is connected via optical to your TV and the other speakers are properly bonded to it.

1. Connect your cable to HDMI 1
2. Connect your AppleTV to an open HDMI port (2, 3, 4 etc.)
3. In the AppleTV settings Go to > Video and Audio > Audio Output > HDMI > Menu Button > Audio Format > Auto > Audio Mode > Auto > Menu Button (Exit Out).

You may have to manually select AppleTV via the TV input selector. FYI, I have the exact same setup on a Panasonic Plasma and a Samsung Plasma. The only difference may be that the Samsung is a smart TV and hitting the AppleTV remote automictically turns on the TV and selects the proper input. The Panasonic is a manual selection. Let us know the outcome.

Cheers!

AjTrek, I'd argue with you on that last step. Under the Apple TV's settings, I'd go to Video and Audio, scroll down to the Audio section, and then under Audio Format I would choose Dolby Digital 5.1, not Auto.

And, let me update to the latest release on Apple that came out today, and make sure it's the same one.

But a question to the OP. Do you have a 4th gen Apple TV, or a 4K Apple TV? I've got one of each, and will go check to make sure that the settings are the same.

Aha, the settings are slightly different for the 2 devices (the Apple TV gen 4 and the Apple TV 4K) and AJTrek was absolutely correct. On the 4K device, you should set it to Dolby Digital 5.1.

Memory being jogged, I think it's only the Apple TV 4K device that will do DTS, and it isn't available for the 4th gen Apple TV.

Would be nice if Apple had better names for all of these things, especially as they all look the same, too.

My apologies, AJTrek!

@Airgetlam

No problem...Thanks for checking. I agree that AppleTV builds can be confusing. The trick that tipped me off was the absence of an optical out as mentioned by Jay. I have multiple gens of AppleTV as well. I just hope my advice resolves Jay's issue :8

Cheers!

Hi AjTrek1 and thank you for your reply. I have tried the steps you advised and it is still not working, it has to be a settings issue as I am able to get TV sound through the playbar via the optical.

I did updated Apple TV last night and can now see the HDMI in the audio output instead of apple TV.

I do have a question though, you mention in point 1 connect cable to HDMI 1,and then point 2 is connect Apple TV to HDMI 4, what cable am I connection to HDMI 1? Surely its just HDMI from Apple TV to my only working HDMI 4 port on my TV. I only have HDMI 3 and 4 on the TV.

Hi

Getting ready for work. Will get back to you later. For now I have 1 question...Do you have cable tv?

Cheers!