ATV3, Video/Sound Format, and 5.1 Surround Sound

with few days off, started messing around surround sound in our living room, have in-ceiling speakers installed previous owner. hadn't done besides quick initial setup when moved in.

have older sony audio receiver option 2-channel or optical in, atv3 setup hdmi atv3 television, optical audio television audio receiver. pretty sure 5.1 sound working based on movie playback, wanted sure, found dolby .mp4 video file test sound, imported itunes on computer, , streamed apple tv. when video supposed play on (surround right , left) speakers, never played in either of speakers when supposed to. knew speakers wired correctly because receiver can produce test tones correctly in each speaker.

after searching, found home theater speaker check ios, fired on atv3 via airplay, , speakers performed expected.

of course i'm happy i'm getting 5.1 sound through appletv3 (at least supported apple, such movies rented apple). technically, problem solved, , should move on life. curiosity needed know why videos—provided dolby's website—wouldn't play 5.1 sound correctly. seemed stereo taking 2-channel sound , making work 5.1 system, receiver indicates it's receiving dolby digital 5.1 signal apple tv during dolby test video. (when played video via atv3's youtube app, indicated receiving stereo signal, think can trust receiver correct kind of signal receiving.)

since speakers performed expected when tested using home theater speaker check app, think has issue actual videos, though there no way me know sure. main test video using had "dolby digital plus" audio. read somewhere appletv stream 5.1 sound itunes on mac using home sharing, had ac3, used handbrake create new file ac3 5.1 sound, same result. here's quicktime inspector each file showing audio information:

, 1 converted ac3 audio via handbrake:



finally, question: type of audio video need have utilize 5.1 sound on appletv 3rd generation? , can test video uses audio, since youtube on at3 not support beyond two-channel sound?

 

benjer said: ↑

...so found dolby .mp4 video file test sound, imported itunes on computer, , streamed apple tv. when video supposed play on (surround right , left) speakers, never played in either of speakers when supposed to. knew speakers wired correctly because receiver can produce test tones correctly in each speaker.
...

click expand...

rather convert file itunes why not open quicktime , airplay there? see if same results.

i’m not familiar app mention.

recommend connecting optical audio cable directly atv avr if have input, may better results, tvs can have limitations, (some limited 16bit audio). alternatively, if tv has audio pass-thru setting, i’d turn on.

--- post merged, dec 27, 2017 ---

also, converting ac3 take dd+ down dd. dd+ better codec. (dd+ called e-ac-3 or ec-3). can see results smaller data size & rate.
scratch that, atv3 doesn’t handle dd+, (atv 4th gen & later do).

 

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