Apple Joining the Atmos streaming game!

[Sal1950]

If you are most interested in Dolby Atmos for music streaming and video watching in Atmos, Apple 4K clearly wins.

That's me, and now I'm really glad I went with the Apple Box. Thanks for the info.
Only negative I've heard is that they're a real PITA to set up with the remote if you don't have a smartphone to run the app on. That's me again, dedicated flip phone user here.
Maybe I can do something here using my Bluestacks android emulator on the PC?

 

[perzon57]

That's me, and now I'm really glad I went with the Apple Box. Thanks for the info.
Only negative I've heard is that they're a real PITA to set up with the remote if you don't have a smartphone to run the app on. That's me again, dedicated flip phone user here.
Maybe I can do something here using my Bluestacks android emulator on the PC?

I set it up with the remote,not a big problem.That's with the newest ATV4K.

 

[perzon57]

OK, I am almost there I think.
Some observations from going to Amazon 4K Fire Cube to Apple 4K.
Dolby Atmos:
Tidal plays a good 4db lower in volume than Apple.
Apple vs Tidal when volume is equal, Apple puts out a significantly stronger Atmos signal. This means that comparing a hard disc copy to Apple streaming, I believe the Apple will be fairly close to the Atmos hard disc.
My 4 speaker height amp, clearly gets a stronger signal with Apple. My LED signal lights, do not even light up when using the Tidal app.
I am watching a show called Hit and Run on Netflix and the Atmos clearly better on Apple vs Fire Cube.
Apple shows lyrics, big plus. Tidal does not.
Apple has all the Atmos releases that Tidal got rid of.
If you are most interested in Dolby Atmos for music streaming and video watching in Atmos, Apple 4K clearly wins.
Negatives for Apple 4K: The ease of function with the Fire Cube menu, I was really happy with. It would show all my recent watches/listens and all apps that I have subscribed to, really easy.
The Apple 4K is harder to go back to what I previous was watching regardless of app unless what I was previously watching a AppleTV+ show.
I find I need to use the voice command to find most everything, obviously not that big of a deal, and maybe the Apple4K is learning me now and the menu will improve over time, I don't know?
It took me forever, until I finally used voice command (Apple Apps) to be able to find Tidal.
Payment/subscriptions: This I am not sure of, will need to watch my billing, I suspect I might be getting double billed from Amazon and Apple? If you are a first timer to video/audio streaming this of course will not be an issue.
My set up: I noticed on another thread some set up problems. My Apple4K is connected, supplied power cord, ethernet hard wire, 4K HDMI from AudioQuest to HDMI port on my Dolby Atmos enabled Pre/Pro (AVR). E/Arc connected cable from Pre/Pro to 4K enabled TV.
I have not had to make any adjustments of setting in either the Apple4K, the TV, or the Pre/Pro.
I can switch settings on the fly to various audio formats, but I just keep it at Dolby Atmos. If a stereo music or video plays, I just leave at stereo. I never change to Neural or other settings.
In the end: Purchase and subscribe to a Apple 4K, I did spend the extra 20 dollars and got the 64gig. I am not there yet, but this is a strong case to not purchase heavy priced box sets, of course with a box set purchase it is yours for life. On the other hand you can stream songs/albums in Dolby Atmos that are not available as a purchase.
Feel free to comment with suggestions/comments/questions.

I started this Atmos music thing with the Firestick 4K and Tidal a year ago.At last I got fedup with the volume issues and the fact that I had to reinstall the Tidal app at least once a week to get Atmos and cancelled my subscription.
Then Apple came with Atmos Music and I got a new ATV4K and a three month free trail,and I'm not looking back.A bonus is that I now get Atmos on Disney+.The Firestick would not allow this as my display is only 1080P.A win win for me.

 

[Strilo]

Yes, I purchased it before Apple Music even existed. The purchase has videos for each song.

You purchased Gigaton before Apple Music existed? Gigaton came out in 2020 and Apple Music came out in 2015...

 

[alansanchez86]

You purchased Gigaton before Apple Music existed? Gigaton came out in 2020 and Apple Music came out in 2015...

My bad, before the launch of Atmos in Apple Music (June this year, I believe).
Bought it in Sep last year (2020).

 

[Sashaaa]

I genuinely haven't been this excited with multichannel audio since I got my first surround sacd way back when. A lot of the music I tend to listen to tends to heavily deviate in style, I really am genre-agnostic (though I'd say I have a slight preference towards drone and ambient music). And while we've got some great surround releases, it has always felt like it was always classic rock and jazz. Which while I love those genres, really, I just also have so many other styles I want to experience in surround, and it feels like I'm finally getting that experience with all these newer releases being released in atmos.

While I know that some of the people here tend to be more into the classics (which is totally valid! theres some great stuff) I'd encourage some of ya'll to try to give some of the stuff available here a chance, because there's some genuinely great tunes to enjoy! Not all of the stuff is great, but there actually seems to be some pretty great options (better than I expected tbh). I'll drop some more recommendations once I go through the catalogue a bit more, if ya'll are interested.

Ya'll really gotta check out the new St Vincent record in atmos btw! Daddy's Home is not only one of the best releases of the year, the atmos mix is one of the most adventurous and experimental mixes I've ever heard. Check out Down if you want a taste of what I mean. Almost Flaming Lips level crazy, Highly recommend.

 

[marpow]

The ease of function with the Fire Cube menu, I was really happy with. It would show all my recent watches/listens and all apps that I have subscribed to, really easy.
The Apple 4K is harder to go back to what I previous was watching regardless of app unless what I was previously watching a AppleTV+ show.
I find I need to use the voice command to find most everything, obviously not that big of a deal, and maybe the Apple4K is learning me now and the menu will improve over time, I don't know?
It took me forever, until I finally used voice command (Apple Apps) to be able to find Tidal.

I found out an easier way to locate my apps.
Top menu bar, right swipe/click to SEARCH, and before you need to search all my apps, plus a few others are there, easy.

 

[Strilo]

I know that Pearl Jams Gigaton is available in Apple music, is there videos in Atmos available with Gigaton?

You want this:

https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/gigaton/umc.cmc.6am1gxx2c1dlv43anhjdssmnp

 

[Strilo]

I’m listening to the new Killers album in Atmos. Do we know who did this surround mix? So far it’s stellar!

 

[FooBarFoo]

So I just had a neighbor complain about HDR and Atmos playback on a new ATV4k, while mine works like a charm. So I said I'd take a look and fixed it- for anyone having issues with a Denon receiver, here's a short list of things I checked:

1. Receiver HDMI settings. Some receivers (Yamaha, marantz and Denon come to mind)
have service menus for hdmi which can be used to set HDCP version, HDMI capability, or both. Make sure this is set properly for the ATV4k to get the best video output. In his case, he was using a DVD input which defaulted to HDCP 1.4 and non 4k- not really an audio deal breaker, but I was fixing audio and video.

This was problem 1

2. Check hdmi cables- Denon has a tool in the HDMI Diagnostics menu to use a loop back in the receiver to check the performance characteristics of an HDMI cable. I'd post a link to how to enable this, but I believe it changes based on the receiver model. It's easy to search for on the Denon site.

From this menu, you can set all the characteristics for each hdmi port, and test the cables.

In his case, he had one high speed premium from the tv to the receiver and one that wasn't from the ATV to the receiver. A trip to store and $13 later, problem 2 solved.

3.Calibrate Speakers- Optional. He hadn't done this in a while and everything was way off. Ran Audyssey (for speaker setup) rechecked with a Spl meter, removed dynamic eq, removed dynamic volume, fixed subwoofer, and removed any input specific channel level adjustments (denon allows for per channel adjustments, per input, which he had rough guessed).

4. Make sure receiver input audio setting is set to automatic.

Now off to the Apple TV 4K gen 2

Settings on ATV4K

Settings>Video and Audio

Check HDMI Connection (do this first after swapping out for better hdmi cables)

Format: Dolby Vision
Match Content: Range and Frame Rate
Audio Format: Auto, Atmos Available
Reduce loud sounds: Off
Audio Mode: Auto

Next, go to

Settings>Apps>Music

Dolby Atmos: Automatic
Audio Quality: Lossless (24/48- not true lossless over hdmi)

End result? It works as expected. He's now an ATV believer and in return I have a new bottle of very nice Henry McKenna single barrel 10 yr bourbon as a thank you gift.

Which is nice to sip while listening to Atmos. Pairs nicely with the new Killers album, lol.

 

[marpow]

You want this:

https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/gigaton/umc.cmc.6am1gxx2c1dlv43anhjdssmnp

Thank you, watching Gigaton now. Rent for 48 hours $4.99. Dolby Atmos.

 

[Sal1950]

End result? It works as expected.

Tanks, Now I'll have a guide when my ATV4K arrives

 

[marpow]

Dolby Atmos: Automatic
Audio Quality: Lossless (24/48- not true lossless over hdmi)

Thanks for the settings. My receiver is working fine in Dolby Atmos at 24/48. I am using the Apple 4k box for all my video and music listening in the formats that each piece broadcasts as either, stereo, 5.1, or Dolby Atmos, all good.
I could not find settings on screen, I had to voice command "settings" and popped right up.
Two Questions:
1. Can I listen in 24/192 from the Apple 4K box? So far I have been unsuccessful, just 24/48.
2. Can I operate Amazon Music from my phone (easier) so that it changes on the Apple Music on the video screen? Sync so that they act as one?
One easy trick that I have found out as it is easier to find music, individual songs or albums on Apple Music from my phone, put them in my library and then they are there on the TV for later when I want to listen at home.

Here is a video from John Darko showing how to get 192/24 from an iPad, very simple. But it does not seem like a Dragonfly DAC or Dongle is possible from the Apple 4K box tied into your AVR/TV? 192/24 won't help in Dolby Atmos but maybe for stereo music?

 

[IMachine]

A new one I love:

https://music.apple.com/de/album/the-golden-casket/1565510000

 

[mrcond]

Thanks for the settings. My receiver is working fine in Dolby Atmos at 24/48. I am using the Apple 4k box for all my video and music listening in the formats that each piece broadcasts as either, stereo, 5.1, or Dolby Atmos, all good.
I could not find settings on screen, I had to voice command "settings" and popped right up.
Two Questions:
1. Can I listen in 24/192 from the Apple 4K box? So far I have been unsuccessful, just 24/48.
2. Can I operate Amazon Music from my phone (easier) so that it changes on the Apple Music on the video screen? Sync so that they act as one?
One easy trick that I have found out as it is easier to find music, individual songs or albums on Apple Music from my phone, put them in my library and then they are there on the TV for later when I want to listen at home.

Here is a video from John Darko showing how to get 192/24 from an iPad, very simple. But it does not seem like a Dragonfly DAC or Dongle is possible from the Apple 4K box tied into your AVR/TV? 192/24 won't help in Dolby Atmos but maybe for stereo music?

1. My understanding (and I believe it says this on the Apple support site) is that the Apple TV 4K does not yet support 24/192. I hope that it will in the future, would make things a lot better.
2. I am not aware of any way to do what you suggest, except, perhaps, through a 3rd party app. Too complicated for me to try.

I actually followed the Darko video and bought an Apple Lightning to USB camera converter cord ($25) and a USB cable to connect my iPhone to my Parasound P6 preamp/DAC, and I get 24/192 that way. I love it, sounds great, except that I can't view what is playing on the big screen.

 

[sbrom]

IGNORE THIS POST. My mistake this was the older HD model.
============
In case the price of ATV box is holding anyone up…..

1-day Prime Day sale (18 Aug) on Apple TV 4K (2021). $130 US (Normally $169). Must use link below, or search specifically for prime day sales.

 

[pti]

In case the price of ATV box is holding anyone up…..

1-day Prime Day sale (18 Aug) on Apple TV 4K (2021). $129 US. Must use link below, or search specifically for prime day sales.

https://www.amazon.com/2021-Apple-3...s=Prime+day+Apple+TV+4K&qid=1629292888&sr=8-6

That's the HD/1080P, -not- the 4K. The 32GB 4K is on sale for $169.

 

[marpow]

I find another helper for streaming via Apple 4K, there are some full albums in Atmos that I find easier to find using the Amazon Music app on my phone, then I just add them to my library, then when I go to my TV and top menu bar, click library, they the are.
I was having a hard time finding the whole album of Lean Into It by just using the search on the TV, was just getting individual tracks, now is easy.

 

[sbrom]

That's the HD/1080P, -not- the 4K. The 32GB 4K is on sale for $169.

My mistake! Apologies for the confusion.

 

[marpow]

I found out how to control the Apple 4K box via your iPhone Apple Music, see below. Unfortunately for me you need version iOS 12 or later, I have iOS 11. Good to know, now I can move on.
https://support.apple.com/guide/tv/use-ios-or-ipados-control-center-atvb701cadc1/tvos