The Apple TV 4G comes with a lot of new features and a new user interface called tvOS. However, one feature that you will still find only on older models is optical audio out. This feature let you connect to external devices such as digital receivers and more powerful stereo systems.
If you plan to connect your Apple TV to a home theater system, this feature will come in handy. Unlike HDMI, optical audio uses a Toslink cable to transmit digital audio. Hence, the sound quality is much better. Moreover, this cable is very cheap. However, make sure that the cable you purchase is long enough to connect the Apple TV to your home theater system.
In addition, Apple TV supports Dolby Digital Plus audio. However, it does not support multichannel PCM audio. It also supports Dolby Atmos. However, this feature only works with sound systems and TVs that support it.
How Do I Connect My Apple TV to My Optical Cable?
You may want to connect your Apple TV to your optical cable if you want to enjoy surround sound. While this feature is not available on all Apple TVs, it will work in conjunction with an optical cable to improve the audio quality of your home theater system. If your receiver doesn’t have an optical audio port, you may need to run an HDMI cable from the Apple TV to the receiver.
Next, you need a TOSLINK cable to connect your Apple TV to your home theater system. This cable is D-shaped, and has a flap to keep dust out. The cable should be long enough to reach the receiver. Once you’ve plugged in the cable, make sure you have the right speakers.
If your Apple TV doesn’t have an HDMI connector, you can connect it to an external amplifier. This will allow you to listen to movies or music through your television. For stereo audio, you will need a Digital Optical Cable.
What Does Optical Mean on Apple TV?
The Apple TV no longer features an optical audio out port. According to the tech specs, audio and video are sent through an HDMI cable. If you want to connect your Apple TV to an AV system, you can buy an optical audio cable. However, the steps vary depending on your model.
In order to connect your Apple TV to an audio device, you must have a receiver. This receiver should have an optical audio output so you can enjoy the sound. This will give you better audio for video and audio apps. The new Apple TV supports Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 over HDMI, an improvement over its predecessor. However, it has fewer ports than the third-generation Apple TV. If you use an Apple TV with an optical audio out, you will be able to route audio from your television to your receiver or powered speakers.
If you want to use the audio output from your Apple TV to a PC or Mac, you can connect it to an external audio device. For that, you will need a TOSLINK cable. This cable has a D-shaped port, and it has a flap to keep dust out.
Is HDMI ARC Or Optical Better For Audio?
If you’re looking for the best way to output audio from your Apple TV, you have a couple of choices. The first option is the HDMI ARC port. This allows you to connect your Apple TV to a compatible soundbar. You can also connect a Blu-ray player or Playstation 5. Then, you can plug your soundbar into your Apple TV and listen to the audio out.
HDMI ARC supports more advanced sound technology than digital optical. While Digital Optical supports only Dolby Digital and 5.1 channels of uncompressed audio, HDMI supports 7.1 channels of uncompressed audio. However, some TVs have reduced the number of audio outputs via ARC, turning six audio channels down to two. As a result, the quality of audio and video output will differ depending on your TV model.
Optical cables are a better choice for long cable runs, as they can handle high levels of RF interference. However, they also cost more. HDMI cables are generally cheaper and easier to use, which makes them a good choice for home entertainment systems.
Does Apple TV 4K Have Optical Output?
Unfortunately, the Apple TV 4K doesn’t have an optical audio output. However, you can use an optical audio extractor to use it with a compatible receiver. One option is VewHD’s 4K HDMI Audio Extractor, which has a small footprint but provides optical audio support.
You can also use a second two-way HDMI cable to connect the Apple TV to your surround sound system. Just be sure to use the correct speaker connections. Depending on the type of surround sound system you have, you may need to select an optical audio output. Another option is to turn on Dolby Atmos.
Despite its small size, Apple TV 4G has improved its audio output compared to the previous version. The audio output has gone from Dolby digital 5.1 to Dolby digital plus 7.1. Both audio formats are delivered through the HDMI 1.4 port.
How Do I Connect My Apple TV to My Soundbar?
If you have an Apple TV, you’ll want to learn how to connect it to a soundbar. You can either do this wirelessly or by wiring the two devices together. When you connect them this way, you’ll see a blue light blink on the soundbar.
Connecting an Apple TV to a soundbar is easy. First, open the Apple TV’s app and choose the soundbar. After that, choose the output amplifier you’d like to connect to. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to control the volume through the soundbar using your Apple TV remote.
Then, connect the Apple TV to your soundbar using the HDMI cable. You’ll also need a separate power cable. Once connected, you’ll need to turn on your surround system.
How Do I Change Audio Output on Apple TV?
To change audio output on your Apple TV, you need to go to the audio settings menu on your TV. You can change the audio format by going to the Audio section and changing it to PCM or stereo. Then, select your speakers. You should also check the Audio Mode. Some TVs only support 16-bit audio.
There are many ways to change audio output on your Apple TV. You can use the HDMI port as audio out or connect an external sound source using a separate HDMI cable. This way, you can enjoy superior sound quality. If you have an old Apple TV, you may have to connect it to the TV via the audio jack and omit AirPlay or video connection. Before you do that, make sure your HDTV has multiple HDMI inputs. If it does, you can use the dedicated remote control to pause and resume sound.
Alternatively, you can connect an Apple TV to a home audio system and turn on your stereo speakers. To do this, open the Home app on your iPhone and choose the same room as the Apple TV. Afterwards, go to Settings > Audio Return Channel (ARC).
Do Any Streaming Devices Have Optical Out?
Optical audio out is a common feature found on AV devices, but not all streaming devices have it. AppleTV and NVidia Shield TV are two examples. The former may support optical audio out if you connect a USB audio device, but the latter does not have this feature. Many Android TV devices, however, have Optical SPDIF output. However, they do not support DD+ Decoder/DD Encoder, which means they only output DD/DTS and 2.0 PCM.
Optical audio connections are also commonly found on DVD players and Blu-ray players. The optical connection can be used to connect an amplifier to an audio source. It is also commonly used by AV receivers and soundbars. Optical audio connections are not compatible with high-definition audio or multichannel audio formats.
Optical audio output is also available on some 4K Roku devices. However, some soundbars do not support HDMI input, so you will need to use a TOSLINK optical cable instead. It is best to check with the owner’s manual for more details about the audio formats supported by the device.
Learn More Here:
1.) Apple TV Website
2.) Apple TV Support
4.) Apple TV Guide
