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Just bought Apple TV2...won't work with 5.1 surround sound

M

miamirulz29

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 4, 2009
60
0
I just bought an ATV2. I have connected it to my tv via hdmi. Unfortunately my receiver (Bose Lifestyle 48 System) does not have an hdmi output. Therefore, I connected my to ATV2 to the Bose via Optical Cable. Sound does come from the speakers, but for some reason, the Bose displays PCM 2.0 rather than Dolby Digital 5.1. I thought that the ATV2 was supposed to work with 5.1 surround sound. Did I do something wrong? Another question. The Bose has only one Optical Audio input. I have two devices that need the optical audio cable. Is it okay to use a splitter like this one to use both devices, or should I find a optical cable to digital coaxial output? Also, would the ATV2 work with 5.1 surround sound if I use the splitter or the digital coaxial output?
 
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If you're watching something you encoded in Handbrake then the first audio track is going to be stereo (if you use the ATV2 preset). If so, and if you encoded other audio tracks, you'll need to switch to the track that has the stream you need.
 
you should probably use something that has a switch to connect them together. like this.

with the adapter you show, if both devices are transmitting at the same time, you probably will get nothing useable at the other end.
don't know what your other device is, and not sure if the appleTV transmits at all times.
 
Dolby is set to on in the settings. I haven't encoded anything using handbrake. I was just watching a trailer of an hd movie, and it wouldn't play the trailer in 5.1 surround sound, only pcm 2.0. Also, is it possible for my current music to be played with 5.1 surround? They are mostly mp3 files. Thanks for the tip waw74.
 
So is there a song, movie, or file that I could test to make sure that the atv channels out 5.1 surround sound so that I know there is nothing wrong with the atv?
 
You could by a HD Tv Show or Movie that has 5.1 channel sound, since you don't have your own encodes. I haven't played any trailers that have 5.1 so I can't help you there.
 
Do all HD movies have surround sound, or only certain ones? If so, how will I know which movie has surround sound. Also, does netflix stream their movies with surround sound?
 
In iTunes there is a description of the audio format used for each title. It's under the buy link where the list the file size, etc.
 
You have too many variables at work. You need to simplify to solve your issue.
  1. Locate a DVD you own that has a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track (it will say it right on the package)
  2. Download Handbrake and rip one chapter of that movie. It will only take a little while to rip only 1 chapter.
  3. Verify you got the 5.1 audio track by opening the resulting file in Quicktime, Window (menu), Show Movie Inspector. Play the chapter and look for a reference to AC3 in the audio line. This will confirm you have the Dolby Digital 5.1 track captured.
  4. Copy that file into iTunes and sync your Apple TV.
  5. Play it on Apple TV and see if you get surround sound showing in the receiver screen

I don't know if any trailers on the Quicktime page are in DD5.1. To test out your problem, you need to be sure you're testing a video file encoded with DD5.1 (Step 3 above)

Also, eliminate another variable by bypassing the audio cable splitter for the test. If you see 5.1 playing on the Bose screen, run the test again with the splitter back in place. That will tell you if it is the problem or not.
 
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