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  • Apple TV HDMI Output -> TV HDMI in
  • TV HDMI ARC → Sonos HDMI/ARC in

The issue/question has to do with the “default” Apple TV audio output mode and what it means exactly.

  • The default setup works fine, the Apple TV remote will control volume via the TV and the Sonos.
    •  In this “mode” the Apple TV Output detects and sets the default output to “TV Speakers”. 
      • What you lose with this setup is that when you put the volume up and down you dont see the little white volume up/down on the screen that Apple TV will show you when it is controlling the volume.
      • An anomoly/bug is that if you leave it muted for too long then the mute command on the apple tv remote wont unmute it and you have to use the app.

Now…

  • The Apple TV does see the sonos device, you can go to audio output on the apple device and you will see:
    • Default Device : Receiver Speakers
    • Temporary Audio Output (Which you can manually set) : Sees Receiver Speakers & Sonos Amp these are two distinct selections.
      • If you manualy disable receiver speakers which is checked by “default” and select Sonos Amp then when you change volume from the Apple TV Remote you will see the white on screen volume slider from the Apple TV as you adjust the volume.
      • In addition, if you look at the Sonos App (IOS) you will see that the Sonos changed “modes” to Airplay, which is where the question comes in…

 

  • Apparently, when you manually change the audio output to Sonos Amp, the way that Apple TV is “finding” the Sonos Amp is as an Airplay destination:
    • is that good or bad?
    • I notice that when it switches into this mode you lose the “Night Button” and “Enhance Voice Audio” Buttons, why?
    •  It seems that the hardwired connection Apple TV is finding as “TV Speakers”/”Receiver Speakers” and the Sonos Amp is listed being found via Airplay?
    • If you remove the TV ARC Cable connected to the Apple TV, is it supposed to connect automatically between the Apple TV and the Sonos Amp for audio out automatically and is it better to run it in this mode?

Little confused… thanks in advance

 

 

Hi @George_37 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

I think it’s easiest if I break this down bit by bit.

  •  What you lose with this setup is that when you put the volume up and down you dont see the little white volume up/down on the screen that Apple TV will show you when it is controlling the volume.

A lot of TVs do this when audio is handled by an external device, and it is entirely up to the TV’s software.

  • An anomoly/bug is that if you leave it muted for too long then the mute command on the apple tv remote wont unmute it and you have to use the app.

Is this only when the Sonos app reports AirPlay being used, as you mention later? It may be AirPlay that is timing-out, and not the remote.

  • Apparently, when you manually change the audio output to Sonos Amp, the way that Apple TV is “finding” the Sonos Amp is as an Airplay destination:
    • is that good or bad?

It’s not ideal. It means that you are receiving compressed audio via the network, despite having HDMI connected. You will be restricted to stereo audio only.

    • I notice that when it switches into this mode you lose the “Night Button” and “Enhance Voice Audio” Buttons, why?

Because these are Home Theatre functions and the Amp is no longer receiving data via the HDMI port, so it assumes music is playing. Night mode requires a high dynamic range that can be compressed, which you won’t get via AirPlay. Enhance Voice Audio would likely make music sound far less than ideal, so isn’t available.

    •  It seems that the hardwired connection Apple TV is finding as “TV Speakers”/”Receiver Speakers” and the Sonos Amp is listed being found via Airplay?

Yes - the Apple TV finds two routes to the Amp - via HDMI, and via the network. It provides both options, but you should definitely go for the HDMI connection. “Receiver” in this case is the Amp - whether playing to Amp, TV speakers or to a sound-bar, the Apple TV needs to feed the audio via HDMI.

    • If you remove the TV ARC Cable connected to the Apple TV, is it supposed to connect automatically between the Apple TV and the Sonos Amp for audio out automatically and is it better to run it in this mode?

The TV and Apple TV are not connected via ARC, only HDMI. The Amp and the TV are connected via HDMI-ARC (Audio Return Channel). If you disconnect either HDMI cable, you would have no choice but to use AirPlay, and as mentioned, that is not ideal. Especially so if you want more than 2 channels.

I hope this clears things up for you. 

thank you for your thoughtful response

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