Dolby Digital dropouts on Apple TV

I have the latest model ATV connected via HDMI to an Arcam receiver which can decode Dolby Digital via that cable. The ATV is connected to my network via ethernet but I get regular dropouts of DD sound – the sound disappears for a second or two and the amp shows a message '3/2.1 - EX off'.
This happens on Streaming movies over Netflix or playing iTunes content from my mac.
The file is not at fault as replaying it will often have the sound dropping out at different points in the movie and earlier dropouts will usually play normally. Itunes was downloading in the background but would this affect replaying of a movie file or the straeming of a netflix movie?

Probably not the case but do check all you speaker cables are secured properly - I once had random dropouts and one of the the centre speaker cables had come partially loose and a few strands were intermittently shorting with the counterpart causing the amp to shut down audio momentarily.
Personally I'd try a different HDMI input or cable if the Arcam has a separate input.
AC

Similar Messages

  • Request for THE dolby digital answer from Apple

    My old set up was component video and optical into AV reciever. All worked well, HD movies had DD 5.1 soundtrack.
    Now my new HDMI set up doesn't seem to send 5.1 across.
    1. I have dolby digital set to on
    2. I played a known DD HD film 'In Bruges' but no matter what could not pick up DD 5.1 via HDMI, my AV reciever Sony 2400ES (brand new model) just piccks up stereo
    3. The soundtrack worked beautifully when sent via optical in full DD 5.1
    4. I tried to select the 5.1 audio track via play/pause button which seemed like a great solution just in case both stereo and DD 5.1 were being sent via hdmi and confusing amp, but no selection option exists.
    what worries me is the lack of response (that I can find) from apple on what as usual seems to be a huge amount of postings on this subject.
    What would be handy Apple are:
    1. A FREE dolby digital 5.1 movie/tv episode to 'play with' on with a selectable soundtrack option to allow you to check every option on your home cinema set-up without wasting £4-£5 every 48hrs. And I know the start up movie is said to be 5.1 but it lasts for a few seconds!!
    2. A definitive answer on this issue
    3. A difinitive LIST of movies and their soundtrack options, why does it take the pre buying screen to confirm/deny that the HD movie is indeed in 5.1, can't you use the same nomenclature as years and years worth of DVD covers, PUT Dolby Digital 5.1 and the little 6 speaker logo not just the double D's, which in DVD land usually just denote dolby stereo.
    4. some administrator postings, I can't remember (apologies if wrong) seeing OFFICIAL responses in these forums, just loads of confused owners. And I remember a couple of years ago when my 80GB firmware update rendered my ipod dead, and it took WEEKS to find out how to fix it, which was a roll back until the new firmware was released.
    I love 720p movies in 5.1 DD via HDMI, or rather I love the idea of them. It seems daft that to get it all as it should be I need to revert to component and optical

    {quote}I played a known DD HD film 'In Bruges' but no matter what could not pick up DD 5.1 via HDMI, my AV reciever Sony 2400ES (brand new model) just piccks up stereo{quote}
    In Bruges - in 5.1 works fine on my ATV with it connected to my AV receiver via HDMI
    {quote}The soundtrack worked beautifully when sent via optical in full DD 5.1{quote}
    It seems that your HDMI input on your receiver has not been configured to accept 5.1. You may need to check the settings of the receiver.
    {quote}I tried to select the 5.1 audio track via play/pause button which seemed like a great solution just in case both stereo and DD 5.1 were being sent via hdmi and confusing amp, but no selection option exists.{quote}
    This option only exists in 2.3 if you have extra audio tracks (e.g Director's Commentary, Alternate Language). If you have the "default" 2 tracks of AAC Stereo and AC3 then the Audio tab does not appear.
    {quote:title=james beresford-wylie wrote:} What would be handy Apple are:
    1. A FREE dolby digital 5.1 movie/tv episode to 'play with' on with a selectable soundtrack option to allow you to check every option on your home cinema set-up without wasting £4-£5 every 48hrs. And I know the start up movie is said to be 5.1 but it lasts for a few seconds!!{quote}
    However, no matter if it is a few seconds or not it still plays in 5.1. Again, my ATV to my receiver via HDMI flips over to 5.1 when playing the startup movie, back to Stereo when negotiating the menus then back to 5.1 when i play a movie
    {quote}2. A definitive answer on this issue{quote}
    Would be nice as it has affected a lot of people
    {quote} 3. A difinitive LIST of movies and their soundtrack options, why does it take the pre buying screen to confirm/deny that the HD movie is indeed in 5.1, can't you use the same nomenclature as years and years worth of DVD covers, PUT Dolby Digital 5.1 and the little 6 speaker logo not just the double D's, which in DVD land usually just denote dolby stereo.{quote}
    I have plenty of DVD's where the Double D logo is shown and then right after it the words: Dolby Digital. Anyway, head on over to www.appletvjunkie.com if you want a list.
    {quote:} I love 720p movies in 5.1 DD via HDMI, or rather I love the idea of them. It seems daft that to get it all as it should be I need to revert to component and optical{quote}
    Again, no issues here with 5.1 over HDMI. You say you have a brand new receiver - perhaps the settings are not quite right on it to accept 5.1 over HDMI. Just a thought.
    I can't see how a "known' film that plays in 5.1 over Optical but does not over HDMI be a problem for Apple. It's not like they can add "Do not send over HDMI" flags.
    Yes, there is a big thread on AC3 not working with the 2.3 update, but that is down to the lack of AAC track on peoples own converted movies, and nothing to do with it being sent over Optical or HDMI. I don't believe Apple would be missing the AAC track on a movie they rent.
    Cheers

  • Can't stream Dolby Digital movies from iTunes to Apple TV 2 since iOS 4.1

    Has anyone the same problem?
    Since I updated Apple TV to 4.1 it's not possible to stream movies with Dolby Digital sound to Apple TV anymore. When I try to start playing the movie I get this error message:
    The operation coulnd\U2019t be completed.
    (BackRowErrors error 326.)
    This problem didn't appear on iOS 4.0. Videos with stereo sound still work, so I think it has something to do with the Dolby Digital. I encoded the videos using Handbrake.
    Thanks for any help!

    I was having the same error. I switched Audio Language to default and Dolby Digital to 'on' and I finally can see the video, but with no sound...
    I tried MKVTools and Handbrake, AC3 passthru for audio on both, iTunes plays nice, but Apple TV doesn't. Any other solution?

  • Multi-channel audio? How ? (Dolby Digital, PCM etc.)

    So,
    Take 2 now support 5.1 channels audio out, at least for some HD rentals.
    I am wondering if anyone has gotten that to work.
    I have Apple TV connected via HDMI to my receiver (which can decode both the bitstream as well as linear PCM for multi-channel tracks).
    However, I don't seem to get any multichannel, and the Dolby Digital toggle in Apple tunes makes no difference.
    Has anyone gotten 5.1 to work, and if so, which which movie/tv show/trailer?
    Thanks,
    Dan

    1. Not a great fan of detaching audio except in multicam clips. Generally I'd suggest using the expand audio components function to access the channels.
    2. Yes. Switch off the auto tracks in the browser and only turn them back on for the clips you need in the project. With expanded audio components, if you turn the channels back on they will reappear in the timeline.
    3. You use roles for this. I know time is tight for news, but taking a few moments to assign roles to the clips in the borwser, which you can do in globally, will allow you to export with separate tracks.

  • I would like to connect my Apple TV to my receiver using an HDMI cable and pass thru dolby digital. I do not have optical inputs on my receiver.

    I want to connect my Apple TV to my receiver using an HDMI cable. This should allow me to pass thru high definition video and simultaneously decode Dolby Digital material with an HDMI connection from my receiver to my TV without the use of an optical cable (my receiver does not have an optical input). I am unable to decode 5.1 material and don't understand why this is not working. In the audio setting I have Dolby Digital output turned on.

    Welcome to the Apple Community.
    Are you sure the content you are playing has Dolby Digital.

  • TS3518 Dolby digital from Apple TV

    This used to work fine before the last update.  What did apple do for this not to work. I have HDMI out of my Apple TV into my surround sound receiver which decodes dolby digital.  I have to turn off dolby digital to get audio.  the whole point of using a surround recieve is to use dolby surround.  There is no point of renting movies from Apple TV wiothout surround sound capabilities.  Why is this not working?

    My experience is the same.  Loss of Dolby Digital 5.1 output.  Amplifier (Yamaha) indicating "PCM" signal, instead of DD.  So far, no acknowledgment of the issue from Apple.

  • Are the movie trailers accessed thru Apple TV in Dolby Digital?

    BExcuse none of them show as being in Dobly Digital when I play them. Thanks in advance for any clarification.

    On my Apple TV in the description for Skyfall, Life of Pi & The Birds it just shows 1080p & CC (no DD symbol) whereas Argo & Psycho shows 1080p DD & CC, I am just going by the film description on the screen before purchasing.  If the description doesn't show that little DD symbol, I assume it is not in Dolby Digital and likely not to give it buying consideration. 

  • No sound with Apple TV 2 have turned off Dolby Digital still as directed by Apple support still no sound

    No sound with Apple TV 2 have turned off Dolby Digital still as directed by Apple support still no sound

    Try altering the audio output setting (to or from 16 bit)

  • TS5150 No Dolby digital, only PCM 2ch @ 48 k. Tried every method. Get DD with xbox360 on Netflix but only PCM on Apple TV .

    I can't get my Apple TV to send a Dolby Digital signal to my receiver. I have tried going through my tv, HDMI in optical out to the receiver, optical direct. Switching DD on and off in the settings menu, ext. if I use Netflix on my xbox it's in DD no issues. I have a Rotel RSX 1065. I know that it is not the issue. If I disconnect the optical cable from the Apple TV the signal is lost, not an input conflict. Reconnect and it's in PCM 2ch @48k.

    Hold select down when playing in Netflix to see if it give you any audio options.
    Also it is not necessarily the case that Netflix uses the same media file for all devices - the servers may be tailored to feed an optimised file for the device playing it back.
    AC

  • Disappointing - Apple TV Lacks Dolby digital

    It is disappointing that apple tv lacks dolby digital sound. What is the point of watching a home theater movie in High Def without DD 5.1 They need to resolve this issue to be successful IMHO. Any other thoughts?

    Supposedly the hardware of the Apple TV is capable of Dolby Digital and 5.1 (or even 7.1) surround sound. That is it will pass through such signals to the optical out.
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    The nearest you can currently get for video in QuickTime is to have 6 AAC channels in a H.264 file. However very few AV Receivers support this sort of audio.
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    Interestingly, Front Row 2.0 in Leopard now has the ability to play VIDEO_TS folders (via the Apple DVD Player framework). This means you can in Front Row play surround sound and even subtitles for 'movies' stored in VIDEO_TS folders on your hard disk (that have been ripped from DVD). This works because Front Row is using DVD Player and not using QuickTime.
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    All the above makes a Mac mini running Front Row a much better solution than an Apple TV (although much more expensive).
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  • ATV3 - I need to enable dolby digital for optical surround sound (netflix and home movies), but when I do this it stops audio coming through TV speakers

    I have a cinema sound receiver connected to Apple TV via optical cable.  When I have dolby digital set to Auto it doesn't come through as dolby digital when watching movies on netflix and iTunes (home movies).
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    I tried 16 bit setting, but it made no difference.
    Any advice on how I can get this working - meaning Dolby Digital always on for when I turn my surround sound on and sound through speakers for normal operation?
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    Thanks in advance.

    Hello everyone, 
    here is the friendly and signed driver installation method to enable Dolby Digital Plus in your Encore internal speakers only. This is not an official driver, there is no control panel for Dolby Digital Plus or various sound effects, but tested and has much better and richer surround sound quality as before with factory driver. I guess, this driver tweak can work with any Bay Trail tablet also.
    How can you upgrade Encore sound drivers:
    1. Download signed driver package and extract.
    2. Open Device Manager.
    3. Upgrade your Sound, Video and game controllers
    - Intel SST Audio Device
    - Realtek I2S Audio Codec
    one by one with "Have a disk" method.
    4. Double click enabledolby.reg file and add to your registry.
    5. Restart, and enjoy better sound quality.
    Thanks.
    UPDATE: Official Toshiba Dolby Digital leaked, official driver attached: ToshibaDolby.zip
    - Encore with WimBoot -
    Attachments:
    EncoreDolby.zip ‏310 KB
    ToshibaDolby.zip ‏1310 KB

  • Dolby Digital Auto Setting Doesn't Work w/4.4.2?

    I have a bunch of old movies that were recorded in stereo, pre-Dolby, and of course, a bunch of newer in Dolby Digital.  After upgrading to Apple TV iOS 4.4.2 yesterday, I now find that the Settings/Audio & Video/Dolby Digital/Auto setting no longer works. 
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    Seems to be an issue for some of us since 4.4; see other thread.
    https://discussions.apple.com/message/16447970#16447970

  • HD TV Show... can't get Dolby Digital 5.1 to Work

    I just bought an episode of Chuck (from NBC). In the description of the show it says that it has Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. I have my macbook-pro hooked up to my surround sound system using a mini-toslink -> optical connector. When playing the episode the Stereo track plays just fine... but if I switch to Surround.... I get no sound.
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    I bought LOST season 5 season pass.
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    When I first complained I got told by support that it was probably a hardware issue and to call the support line. I did, got the same answer, and was then asked to part with more money for continued support, which I declined. I asked point blank whether DD5.1 really only plays back on Apple TV - which was denied.
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    +This is+ name removed +from iTunes Store Customer Support and your request+
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    +Store purchases.+
    +Dolby 5.1 surround sound is currently only available for the Apple+
    +TV. Apple recognizes that no one is better qualified to provide+
    +feedback about the content provided on the iTunes Store than the+
    +people who use it.+
    I got back to them to say I'd like a (small!) partial refund - to cover the costs of my phone bills and disappointment. They've gone silent.
    I've now reported it to Trading Standards in the UK as it is misselling. Curiously - since i complained the 'About HD' section - where it used to say +on your Apple TV or Computer+ has been changed.

  • Dolby Digital Audo Setting -- Need a setting that just works!

    Can anyone provide info about the dolby digital (DD) AUTO setting - and what it is supposed to accomplish?
    Auto (the default) limits output to stereo via HDMI, and 2 channel PCM via the optical output. That just doesn't seem like much of an "automatic" setting to me.
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    I'm really not looking forward to having to toggle this setting depending on the content I'm viewing.
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    Thanks in advance
    JD

    Ok I think I understand how it works now. Auto won't send 5.1 if one of the components connected (like a TV) does not support 5.1. So for instance if you connect your HDTV with HDMI and use optical to a 5.1 receiver, you'll get stereo on both because the TV does not support 5.1. Auto on the Apple TV basically uses the lowest common denominator that allows both to output the same thing at the same time.
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  • Dolby digital via Toslink

    Hardware
    Mac mini (mid 2011)
    Yamaha YAS-101
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    The YAS-101 detects DD when playing a bluray from a PS3 so shouldn't be a problem there.
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    If your Mac Mini has a HDMI port, it's one of the few Apple products that does audio (5.1) and video through the HDMI port.

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