ATV 3rd Gen + Home Cinema

[remanisce]

I have my apple tv 3 connected fine to my tv via Hdmi which works fine, however when connecting it to my home cinema system via digital optical cable I'm having trouble as there is no sound when I play my media, it only comes out through my tv speakers. Bought a Digital Optical Cable to connect my apple tv 3 to my home cinema system thinking my home cinema had a optical cable link, but it didn't. Then bought a digital optical cable to 3.5mm jack converter and that doesn't work. How do I connect my Apple Tv 3 to my home cinema?

Cheers.

 

[heisenberg123]

Bought a Digital Optical Cable to connect my apple tv 3 to my home cinema thinking my home cinema had a optical cable link, but it didn't. Then bought a digital optical cable to 3.5mm jack converter and that doesn't work. How do I connect my Apple Tv 3 to my home cinema?

Cheers.

whats a home cinema? like a projector?

i think the only video out on the ATV3 is HDMI

 

[mchalebk]

I assume the OP means Home Theater sound system when he says Home Cinema.

What kind of inputs does your system have? There are optical to analog converters (starting around $20) that will do the job if you only have analog inputs (most only work with stereo audio, not surround Sound).

Tell us more about your system (make and model number might help) and we'll be better able to provide useful advice.

 

[Dkrogh]

I think that you need to plug everything, including your cable box into your receiver and then go from your receiver into your TV.

 

[Irishman]

I have my apple tv 3 connected fine to my tv via Hdmi which works fine, however when connecting it to my home cinema system via digital optical cable I'm having trouble as there is no sound when I play my media, it only comes out through my tv speakers. Bought a Digital Optical Cable to connect my apple tv 3 to my home cinema system thinking my home cinema had a optical cable link, but it didn't. Then bought a digital optical cable to 3.5mm jack converter and that doesn't work. How do I connect my Apple Tv 3 to my home cinema?

Cheers.

You may have to trade in your receiver for a new model, which will allow you to use your HDMI. You'll set up a chain of components- Apple TV to receiver to HDTV, using two HDMI cables.

Depending on how old your current receiver is, you may get a little back from selling it used. You can use that toward your new receiver.

Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo and Pioneer are all good brands to choose from.

 

[arsene]

I have my apple tv 3 connected fine to my tv via Hdmi which works fine, however when connecting it to my home cinema system via digital optical cable I'm having trouble as there is no sound when I play my media, it only comes out through my tv speakers. Bought a Digital Optical Cable to connect my apple tv 3 to my home cinema system thinking my home cinema had a optical cable link, but it didn't. Then bought a digital optical cable to 3.5mm jack converter and that doesn't work. How do I connect my Apple Tv 3 to my home cinema?

Cheers.

I use optical cable to connect ATV3 to my Pioneer AVR and I can get sound from both HDMI (connected to TV) or optical (connected to AVR).

Alternatively, you can conenct ATV3 using HDMI to AVR, and AVR using HDMI to TV.

You will get sound from your speakers or to your TV (using HDMI passthrough).

 

[donrsd]

I have my apple tv 3 connected fine to my tv via Hdmi which works fine, however when connecting it to my home cinema system via digital optical cable I'm having trouble as there is no sound when I play my media, it only comes out through my tv speakers. Bought a Digital Optical Cable to connect my apple tv 3 to my home cinema system thinking my home cinema had a optical cable link, but it didn't. Then bought a digital optical cable to 3.5mm jack converter and that doesn't work. How do I connect my Apple Tv 3 to my home cinema?

Cheers.

i have my aple tv 2 hooked up like you.
apple tv 2 hdmi out ---> tv hdmi input
apple tv 2 optical output ---> pioneer elite sc 27 receiver

i do it this way so when the kids watch the apple tv the receiver/surround sound does NOT have to be on.
when me & the wife watch apple tv, we only use the receiver.

my best advice to you is to make sure you have assigned the optical input on your receiver to accept the applt tv input.
my optical inputs are assignable. that may be your issue.

the apple tv 2 & 3 BOTH do simultaneous audio output via hdmi & optical.

it HAS to be a setting on your receiver.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

A note on going through the TV first

There's an awful lot of posts on the web about many TVs not passing through Dolby Digital 5.1. Instead they down-convert to stereo for their optical out. If DD5.1 is important to you, you may want to test this out before you choose to wire things this way.

I suggest getting a modern receiver and doing your connections there, pumping only a single cable to the television from the receiver. This gives you near endless flexibility as you add various components. The TV input would always be the same for however much A/V equipment you add to your stack.

Also, a good "learn" universal remote is a great way to automate the switches in the receiver for whatever device you might want to play on the TV at any given time.

 

[alFR]

Wow, so many people not reading the OP and giving advice that doesn't apply...

Bought a Digital Optical Cable to connect my apple tv 3 to my home cinema system thinking my home cinema had a optical cable link, but it didn't. Then bought a digital optical cable to 3.5mm jack converter and that doesn't work. How do I connect my Apple Tv 3 to my home cinema?

You don't have many options: Apple TV only has an optical audio out (apart from via HDMI) so unless you can run the HDMI through the receiver it won't work I'm afraid. The 3.5mm converter you bought likely only converts the optical link to a smaller size plug: to convert the optical signal to an electrical analogue one you'd need a standalone DAC box. Probably easier to buy a new receiver, to be honest.