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New AppleTV: HDMI and Optical audio at the same time?

PassMeAGuinness said:
According to many of the AppleTV forums on apple.com, the Apple TV with version 4.4.2 will NOT transmit audio via the OPTICAL OUT port alone.

The HDMI MUST be plugged in to the television, and the television MUST remain on.

Again, this is why I am not ready to buy an Apple TV just yet. This used to work, prior to OS 4.4.2.

More info can be found on the official forums, as stated:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/16735572#16735572
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16726170#16726170
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16724675#16724675
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16715617#16715617
Click to expand...

I don't think this is correct as I do it all the time. Sure the audio stops, but pressing play a couple of times starts it again.

When I listen to music I turn on my apple TV and amp; then control the apple tv via the remote app on my iPhone. The TV is never switched on.
 
fred.bloggs said:
When I listen to music I turn on my apple TV and amp; then control the apple tv via the remote app on my iPhone. The TV is never switched on.
Click to expand...

This is great and all, but the whole point is that the tv shouldnt even REQUIRE a connection via HDMI to Apple TV. Can you try this ? Unplug the HDMI and see if it still plays music to your amp.

I know that user 'Alrescha' tried it, and it worked for him/her.
 
PassMeAGuinness said:
This is great and all, but the whole point is that the tv shouldnt even REQUIRE a connection via HDMI to Apple TV. Can you try this ? Unplug the HDMI and see if it still plays music to your amp.

I know that user 'Alrescha' tried it, and it worked for him/her.
Click to expand...

Yes that works. You don't need the ATV connected to the TV at all. Just optical to the receiver works by itself. HDMI to the receiver works by itself as well.
 
PassMeAGuinness said:
This is great and all, but the whole point is that the tv shouldnt even REQUIRE a connection via HDMI to Apple TV. Can you try this ? Unplug the HDMI and see if it still plays music to your amp.

I know that user 'Alrescha' tried it, and it worked for him/her.
Click to expand...


Yes works for me. HMDI unplugged turn on Apple TV and amp, controlled with remote app from iPhone = music.

----------
PassMeAGuinness said:
And this is from your iDevice, right ? Again, I'm not looking to do this via iTunes.

Thanks again
Click to expand...

I believe it will work from itunes or air play - Don't see why it would be any different.
 
Same experience

PMAG

I experience the same issue.

I have an ATV2 with the latest software release.

Optical out goes to a d/a converter and to an amp, hdmi goes to a projector.

Apple tv works fine. Movies play fine
audio playing from Spotify on my iPad works fine with projector off

With the exception of the following situation only:
if the apple tv has been 'asleep' of its own volition, it still advertises its AirPlay name. When the iPad tries to stream to it, it sends crackling noises down the optical line. No button pressing changes this until the projector is switched on, at which point the audio is fine. Switching the projector off and the audio is still fine.

BUT for me, I don't want to have to switch the projector on and off in order to stream music round the house!

I'm hoping the next software release will cure. Has it been confirmed that the previous firmware didn't have this issue?

As an aside, the airport express gives much better analog audio than apple tv optical and a separate DAC, so those of you thinking about running audio this way, I wouldn't recommend it if you don't have optical on your amp.
 
Bigkatoomer said:
PMAG

I experience the same issue.

I have an ATV2 with the latest software release.

Optical out goes to a d/a converter and to an amp, hdmi goes to a projector.

Apple tv works fine. Movies play fine
audio playing from Spotify on my iPad works fine with projector off

With the exception of the following situation only:
if the apple tv has been 'asleep' of its own volition, it still advertises its AirPlay name. When the iPad tries to stream to it, it sends crackling noises down the optical line. No button pressing changes this until the projector is switched on, at which point the audio is fine. Switching the projector off and the audio is still fine.

BUT for me, I don't want to have to switch the projector on and off in order to stream music round the house!

I'm hoping the next software release will cure. Has it been confirmed that the previous firmware didn't have this issue?

As an aside, the airport express gives much better analog audio than apple tv optical and a separate DAC, so those of you thinking about running audio this way, I wouldn't recommend it if you don't have optical on your amp.
Click to expand...

What may be happening is that you have Dolby Digital set to auto, and with the projector off, it is sending an AC3 stream over optical. When the projector turns on, it negotiates a/v capabilities with the aTV, and falls back to PCM. Try going into Settings and change Dolby Digital to Off instead of Auto. I also set the Audio Output to 16 bit instead of Auto, only because all my music is 16 bit, could be an issue similar to the DD issue. Also, keep in mind the aTV draws less than 2w at idle, so why bother with sleep mode, if that's complicating things, just disable it, your electric bill will never know the difference. (about 1kWH or $.10 a month to let it idle 24/7).

I have three aTVs, 2 of which I run headless, I've had no problems with optical only on either one. The new update actually improved things for running headless with an iPad, since with mirroring you can now stream audio to the aTV and still watch video embedded in web pages (w/o mirroring, it blanks the embedded video if AirPlay is on).

I think the 48 kHz vs 44.1 kHz difference with the aTV vs. Airport Express is hugely overblown, you would have to have a very high end setup, great source material, and a quiet dedicated listening session to consider hearing the difference. I tried (casually) on a system with both an AE & an aTV plugged into an Anthem Statement D1, Krell Showcase amp and Monitor Audio GR60s speakers while playing ALAC material on a Mac setup with multiple AirTunes speakers so I could just switch back and forth via the source selector on the D1. The difference was not readily discernible, I'm going to try again though. I don't exactly have a set of golden ears, so your mileage may vary.

Rob
 
PassMeAGuinness said:
According to many of the AppleTV forums on apple.com, the Apple TV with version 4.4.2 will NOT transmit audio via the OPTICAL OUT port alone.



Again, this is why I am not ready to buy an Apple TV just yet. This used to work, prior to OS 4.4.2.
Click to expand...

Fixed in 4.4.3

Audio should now play through the optical port with the TV turned off.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4448


FWIW, the HDMI on my receiver failed. I use optical for audio.
 
robzr

Thanks for your advice to us, very informative, will try this and report back.

FWIW, I'm sure you're right about the sound quality between apple devices is similar, it's the £15 DAC that is to blame I'm sure. However, if a good DAC is much more that £60, I may as well just get another AE!

As with mr Guinness, thanks to all for the help.
 
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