Contributor I

Random 1 sec audio drop when playing Dolby Atmos from Apple TV 4K

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
April 29, 2023
72 replies
10996 views

Hi. I've seen some people describing loud sound pop and Audio loss when playing Dolby Atmos from Apple TV 4K and Sonos Arc. I don't experience loud pop, but I do experience Audio loss for approx. 1 second at random places when watching content with Dolby Atmos.

My setup in short is: Apple TV 4K -> [Belkin High-Speed 4K/8K cable] -> Samsung QE75 [eArc] <- [Sonos cable] Sonos Arc (WiFi: One + One SL + Sub )

I've been in contact with Sonos support Norway, and we've done some troubleshooting, but we haven't found a solution yet.

My observations so far:

Sound drops out for 1 second when playing content with Dolby Atmos from tv, HBO Max or Netflix from Apple TV 4K.
Sound does NOT drop out when playing content with Dolby Atmos from tv, HBO Max or Netflix directly from Samsung TV.
Once Dolby Atmos sound completely disappeared when I was watching a movie with Dolby Atmos. Every content I played from Apple TV with Dolby Atmos consistently had no sound. Tried tv, HBO Max, Netflix and demo video on Dolby Summit. Got sound back when playing content with 5.1. If I went to Apple TV > Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Format > Immersive Audio > and turned off Dolby Atmos, I got the sound back on the content where Dolby Atmos didn't work. I switched back and forth on this several times. If I turned on Dolby Atmos, the sound disappeared again. I didn't get sound with Dolby Atmos until I restarted Apple TV. Diagnosis number from when this happened: 518945904.
Still, the sound drops out for 1 second randomly when I watch content with Dolby Atmos, e.g. The Last of Us on HBO Max. Sometimes 19 minutes into the episode. Other times 26 minutes or 50 minutes into an episode.
I've recorded an audio clip where you can hear the sound dropping out for 1 second. It happens very quickly, but is very annoying.
I don't know if it has any correlation, but I have a feeling it happens when there is a sudden change in the sound image, e.g. going from silence to music or talking.
I haven't noticed songs with Dolby Atmos dropping out when playing from Apple Music or TIDAL.
Sonos asked me to remove the Ethernet cable from the Arc. I have also tried with the Ethernet Cable out and turning off WiFi on the Arc. No difference. Audio drop still there. As i write this Arc is connected with Ethernet.

Some recent diagnostics (04.29.23):
150497503

931202808

1971558742

My Apple TV 4K:

(3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet. A2843 (128 GB). tvOS 16.5. Resolution 2160p UHD - 60Hz HDR10 4:2:0.

My Video and Audio settings on Apple TV 4K:

Video:

Format: 4K HDR (HDR10+)
Use HDR+: Enabled
Chroma: 4:2:0
Match content: Off
HDMI Connection: Good. (Apple TV 4K is connected to HDMI (not e-Arc port) Samsung with a Belkin UltraHD High-Speed 8K/4K 2m HDMI cable)

Audio:

Audio Output: TV Speakers
Audio Format: Auto, Atmos Available
Reduce Loud Noise Sounds: Off
Audio Mode: Auto

Calibration:

Wireless Audio Sync - not used

My Samsung 75-inch TV:

Model code: QE75Q80TATXXC

Software Version: T-NKMDEUC-2401.1, B0052220/B60202, BT - S

Sound settings:

Sound Output: Receiver (HDMI-eARC)
HDMI-eARC Mode: Auto (only Auto or Off)
Digital Output Audio Format: Pass-through
Digital Output Audio Delay: 100 (default)
Dolby Atmos Compatibility: Turned on

Sonos Arc is connected to the eARC port on the Samsung with the HDMI cable that came with the Arc.

I also have a PS5 connected to the TV.

My Sonos setup for surround

About My System:

Sonos Arc:
Living Room Status: Connected
Sonos OS: S2
Version: 15.3 (build 72240060)
Hardware Version: 1.27.1.8-2.2
Series ID: A100
IP Address: 10.0.0.3
Audio In: Dolby Atmos
WM: 0 (currently connected with Ethernet)

Arc settings:

EQ: Bass and Treble at 0. Loudness On.

Trueplay: On

Surround Audio: TV level: 0. Music Level: -4. Music Playback: Ambient.

Spatial Music: On

Home Theater:

TV Autoplay: On

Ungroup on Autoplay: On

TV Dialog Sync: 0 (default)

Group Audio Overlay: Low (default)

The Arc is connected to:

Sonos One: Living Room (LS)
Status: Connected
Sonos OS: S2
Version: 15.3 (build 72240060)
Hardware Version: 1.21.1.8-2.2
Series ID: A100
IP Address: 10.0.0.12
WM: 1 (not possible with Ethernet in my current setup)

Sonos One SL: Living Room (RS)

Status: Connected

Sonos OS: S2 Version: 15.3 (build 72240060)

Hardware Version: 1.26.2.3-2.2

Series ID: A300

IP Address: 10.0.0.9

WM: 1 (not possible with Ethernet in my current setup)

Sub: Sub

Status: Connected

Sonos OS: S2

Version: 15.3 (build 72240060)

Hardware Version: 1.32.1.4-2.2

Series ID: A200

IP Address: 10.0.0.10

WM: 1

I have seven other Sonos speakers placed in other rooms in my apartment, but the surround setup above are the only selected speakers in the app when the sound drops.

Sonos system settings:

Audio Compression: Automatic

Network: SonosNet Channel 1

I hope Sonos support and the Sonos Community find something useful from this!

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Show previous replies

M

Marko330

Trending Lyricist I

I have only beam 2 + lg oled c3 + Apple TV 4K 3gen.

mostly use tv app but sometimes I must using ATV,

And….

i like atv , I like controll through apple tv

controlav

Lead Maestro

Disable frame matching on the Apple TV. On some TVs this will cause audio/video drift over time, which will cause occasional audible glitches when the TV tries to re-sync them.

Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.

G

Giaicnto

Lyricist III

Unfortunately the above solution (out matching frame rate to off) did not solve.

i have the same issue with PS5 and not just Apple TV 4K.

it is either an audio passthrough issue or most likely a Sonos Arc one or both.

M

Marko330

Trending Lyricist I

Disable frame matching on the Apple TV. On some TVs this will cause audio/video drift over time, which will cause occasional audible glitches when the TV tries to re-sync them.

Fors what I tested. Not working.

im just change atmos to 5.1 in Apple TV and looks that it’s working.
A bit of a shame that it doesn't work, Dolby Atmos provides noticeably better sound, but it’s better than got nothing.

but for real… Sonos should shame itself that have big issue. Especially since they aspire to a brand like Apple…

R

RWPM

Lyricist III

I have this issue also, not sure who's to blame apple or Sonos , I use the ezcoo between atv 4k 3rd gen and Sony 900e , with arc/sub/sl1 setup. only drops audio with Apple TV not with fire stick ,atv uses mat or multichannel pcm for Atmos that does sound better to my ears. fire stick uses dolby digital , the glitch has to be mat or multi channel pcm support from either or both.only happens with Atmos content.

M

Marko330

Trending Lyricist I

For me replacing hdmi to new 2.1 120Hz/4k , eARC, - solved problem (between tv and atv). It unexpected, but working. Old cable was good too, but it seem not too good.

without any special devices.

just Lg oled c3, Apple TV 4K 3gen, and Sonos beam 2.
no random interruptions in sound in Atmos or any other contents.