Last notable change 20-Sep-2023 (Recent changed marked with |)
This thread is for all versions of the Apple TV but naturally the discussion tends to focus on current models. Blue text in [] is a link.
With the release of tvOS 12.2 Apple rebranded the ATV (4th generation) as the ATV HD.
With the release of the 2021 ATV4K (model id AppleTV11,1) Apple rebranded the discontinued ATV4K the AppleTV 4K first generation and the 2021 model is called second generation.
On 20-April-2021 Apple introduced the "2nd" generation AppleTV 4K and discontinued sales of what is now called the 1st generation. Notable changes include HDMI 2.1 (no details provided), increasing the input HDR streaming frame rate maximum to 60fps and a new remote.
On 19-October-2022 Apple introduced the "3rd" generation AppleTV 4K and discontinued sales of the prior version. Notable changes include a Wi-Fi only version that doesn't have Thread, a gigabit Ethernet + Wi-Fi version that supports Thread and HDR10+ video support. Apple has an HDR support document [HT208074] that notes that HDR10+ is limited to the 3rd generation. [Flatpanel HD review]
Not all movies migrated via redemption to Apple will be in UHD even if the source is UHD.
Apple TV manuals can be found here: [Apple TV manuals/guides]
The ATV2g/3g update document is here: [About software Updates 2g/3g]
The ATV4x tvOS 9,10 update document (archived) is here: [About 4g updates]
The ATV4x tvOS 11 support document is here: [About Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD (4th generation) updates]
The ATV specifications:
[Apple Feedback page]
[Apple System Status page]
With iOS17+tvOS17 Apple added a degree of recovery for "bricked" devices that don't have an external USB port. See HT213828 [If your TV shows an iPhone next to an Apple TV]
Apps on the ATV should be considered the responsibility of the author not Apple. Application capability varies from device to device for various, generally undisclosed, reasons but the competitive relationships between Apple, Amazon and Google result in various rendering issues. HDR (10 or DV) and Atmos are not reliably available in Prime Video. These issues are well know and not limited to the ATV.
|Summary of ATV4K audio.
Summary of ATV4K video format settings
The video format controls the ATV Home screen (the UI).
If Match Range and Match Rate are enabled the ATV4K will change range (SDR/HDR/DoVi) and rate (24/25/30/60) to match the content specification.
If either or both of the Match settings are off the ATV4K will force content to match the UI setting.
Some apps may not honor the Match settings.
So well-behaved apps will send the canonical 4K@24/DoVi for Dolby Vision content even though the UI is set to 4K@60/SDR.
Things to know:
Cable testing with an ATV4K.
The table attached from Acoustic Frontiers lists bandwidth requirements for legal HDMI 2.0a formats. See also the attached HDMI 2.0 4K chroma format support graph.
In the table below 2K is 1080p. 600MHz (593) pixel clock is 18Gbs (17.8). Typically there won't be a chroma choice. You cannot select bit depth.
[Harmony
Dealing with Faults and Issues
Amazon Prime Video
Search this thread for Amazon or Prime Video for previous discussions/complaints many and varied issues.
How to leave the beta program ATV4K
Notes about Atmos:
|The FlatpanelsHD review of the gen 3 has a table of all three 4K models.
Apple TV 4K power consumption from the Apple TV 4K Environmental Report
Finally: I recommend [Steve Yedlin's*] [meditation on the perceptual relevance of spatial fidelity] regarding the importance of post-production in the visual quality of a motion picture. Spoiler: resolution is a red herring and "real or fake 4K" sites are pointless (as at least one admits).
*DoP Star Wars: The Last Jedi
This thread is for all versions of the Apple TV but naturally the discussion tends to focus on current models. Blue text in [] is a link.
With the release of tvOS 12.2 Apple rebranded the ATV (4th generation) as the ATV HD.
With the release of the 2021 ATV4K (model id AppleTV11,1) Apple rebranded the discontinued ATV4K the AppleTV 4K first generation and the 2021 model is called second generation.
On 20-April-2021 Apple introduced the "2nd" generation AppleTV 4K and discontinued sales of what is now called the 1st generation. Notable changes include HDMI 2.1 (no details provided), increasing the input HDR streaming frame rate maximum to 60fps and a new remote.
On 19-October-2022 Apple introduced the "3rd" generation AppleTV 4K and discontinued sales of the prior version. Notable changes include a Wi-Fi only version that doesn't have Thread, a gigabit Ethernet + Wi-Fi version that supports Thread and HDR10+ video support. Apple has an HDR support document [HT208074] that notes that HDR10+ is limited to the 3rd generation. [Flatpanel HD review]
Not all movies migrated via redemption to Apple will be in UHD even if the source is UHD.
Apple TV manuals can be found here: [Apple TV manuals/guides]
The ATV2g/3g update document is here: [About software Updates 2g/3g]
The ATV4x tvOS 9,10 update document (archived) is here: [About 4g updates]
The ATV4x tvOS 11 support document is here: [About Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD (4th generation) updates]
The ATV specifications:
- ATV (3rd gen) [ATV 3 specs]
- ATV (4th gen) [ATV HD specs]
- ATV4K (1st gen) [Tech specs]
- ATV4K (2nd gen) [Tech specs]
- ATV4K (3rd gen) [Tech specs]
- | HLS specification for Apple devices [HLS Specification]. Note that the base document may require supplementary reading when new features are added (e.g. Dolby Vision profile 8).
[Apple Feedback page]
[Apple System Status page]
With iOS17+tvOS17 Apple added a degree of recovery for "bricked" devices that don't have an external USB port. See HT213828 [If your TV shows an iPhone next to an Apple TV]
Apps on the ATV should be considered the responsibility of the author not Apple. Application capability varies from device to device for various, generally undisclosed, reasons but the competitive relationships between Apple, Amazon and Google result in various rendering issues. HDR (10 or DV) and Atmos are not reliably available in Prime Video. These issues are well know and not limited to the ATV.
|Summary of ATV4K audio.
- Many owners find the output of the ATV4K low. If your AVR supports per-input volume consider increasing that for the ATV. Also be sure compression (Reduce Loud Sounds) is off.
- The Apple TV as of tvOS 17.3 does NOT support pass-through bit streams. Atmos is sent as Dolby Metadata-enhanced Audio Transmission (Dolby MAT) via LPCM. If Dolby Atmos is off the E-AC-3 audio is sent without metadata.
- Some services limit 4K/Atmos to video chains with a 4K display/EDID. E.g. Apple, Amazon, MoviesAnywhere and Netflix pass Atmos to 2K displays. Note that this is not affected by the Video Format setting but the actual display hardware.
- Apple sends multi-channel audio out as LPCM channels. Dolby Digital 5.1 output is [re-encoded from the LPCM channels]. This [tvOS device support] chart provides some insight (E-AC3/JOC [joint object coding] refers to input stream decoding). Note that Apple changed the audio options in tvOS 12 as part of Atmos support. What was previously Auto or Best Quality is now Change Format off.
- As implied above when selecting Dolby AC-3 (5.1) the ATV4K decodes the incoming (E-)AC-3 bitstream to LPCM performs local audio management and the encodes the LPCM to AC-3.
- Not all apps are 4K or 5.1/7.1. Many apps are limited to HD and stereo.
Summary of ATV4K video format settings
The video format controls the ATV Home screen (the UI).
If Match Range and Match Rate are enabled the ATV4K will change range (SDR/HDR/DoVi) and rate (24/25/30/60) to match the content specification.
If either or both of the Match settings are off the ATV4K will force content to match the UI setting.
Some apps may not honor the Match settings.
So well-behaved apps will send the canonical 4K@24/DoVi for Dolby Vision content even though the UI is set to 4K@60/SDR.
Things to know:
- Most of the conversation is about the most recent models which at this time are the Apple TV 4K generations.
- |The ATV4K 2nd generation and 3rd generation Ethernet+Wi-Fi support Thread and act as Thread routers. Since Thread is an IPv6 protocol there will be router-like IPv6 traffic from an ATV4K2gen (and a HomePod mini).
- How to use the click-pad Siri remote: Control what’s playing on Apple TV. Note that you might have to rest your finger on the clickpad ring to show the scrubbing indicator. This feature is not supported in all apps (e.g. Disney+ circa 2022).
- Apple uses variations on Apple and TV to represent multiple items.
AppleTV(Nth gen) or AppleTV4HD/AppleTV4K is the hardware. Apple TV (styled tv in a tvOS Home page icon) is a consolidation app that runs on multiple Apple devices and various third-party hardware (e.g. Samsung, Roku, LG etc.) -- the various devices have similar but not identical capabilities and none are currently as capable as the AppleTV set-top box. Apple TV+ (stylized tv+) is a streaming provider for Apple purchased/produced content. Apple TV Channels (styled tv channels) is set of streaming services well integrated into tv. A humorously exaggerated (with some minor errors) version of this can be found [here] -- the title is a play on [Turtles all the way down]. The [Apple TV page] at apple.com provides more direct insight.
- Amazon's Prime Video assets are inconsistent and unreliable on the ATV4K. This has been reported to Amazon many times to no apparent effect.
- The Quick Start option is found in Apps / iTunes Movies and TV Shows... Turning off Quick Start forces Apple content to HD content. Hence no UHD, HDR, Atmos or E-AC-3.
- The Match options will do content frame rate and or dynamic range matching if the app and content support that feature. There is no resolution matching.
- Per [Guidelines for Apple TV 4K Development] "Dolby Vision and HDR10 content can play at up to 30 fps. SDR content can play at up to 60 fps.". At launch the 2021 ATV4K supports HLS (streams) up to 4K@60/HDR. Note that this is unrelated to the change from HDMI 2.0 to HDMI 2.1.
- If you set the UI default (Video Format) to other than SDR some (defective) SDR apps will request conversion to HDR. Some defective apps will match range but not rate. Some defective apps (e.g. Peacock) have complex rules for selecting the stream. There is no list of these defective apps but @mutelight [started a list in a Google sheet].
- Because defective apps are largely SDR-only the recommended default/UI setting is 4K/60Hz/SDR/RGB High. Use 50Hz rather than 60Hz if the bulk of your SDR content is 25Hz. 50/60Hz is recommended for a smoother UI, it's a matter of preference not technical recommendation.
- This [developer video] summarizes the operation of Match.
- Apple and Netflix (and perhaps others) have 4K, 2K, HDR and SDR assets. Which asset is streamed is controlled by combinations of settings. Which combination does what may not be obvious and the Developer HUD is the best/only way to see the stream codecs, resolution, bandwidth and other (HLS/RFC8216) parameters and debug information.
- See [this post] for information about the HUD/HLS display. [This is the referenced Stack Overflow article]. You will need the current Xcode(possibly beta) release (and a Mac). Apple's instructions are at the bottom of this page: [Pair Mac to Apple TV]
- Bit depth and chroma compression cannot be directly controlled for HDR content. There are chroma choices for the UI which will be honored by some SDR content.
- The [Aerial screen saver] (two links) is 4K@30/SDR or 4K@30/DV converted if necessary to the default video format.
- By default the foreground is slightly transparent. This can look like a discoloration in control pages.
- To disable foreground transparency set General / Accessibility / Increase Contrast / Reduce Transparency to on.
- Not all apps are 4K or 5.1/7.1. Many apps are limited to HD and stereo.
- Some services limit 4K/Atmos to video chains with a 4K display/EDID. E.g. Apple, Amazon, MoviesAnywhere and Netflix pass Atmos to 2K displays but Vudu does not.
- Amazon does not make it easy to distinguish SDR and HDR versions of shows but the TV app will select the best version for at least some content.
- Apple sends multi-channel audio out as LPCM channels. Dolby Digital 5.1 output is [re-encoded from the LPCM channels]. This [tvOS device support] chart provides some insight (E-AC3/JOC [joint object coding] refers to input stream decoding). Note that Apple changed the audio options in tvOS 12 as part of Atmos support. What was previously Auto or Best Quality is now Change Format off. Many owners find the output of the ATV4K low. If your AVR supports per-input volume consider increasing that for the ATV. Also be sure compression (Reduce Loud Sounds) is off. When selecting Dolby AC-3 (5.1) the ATV4K decodes the incoming (E-)AC-3 bitstream to LPCM performs local audio management and the encodes the LPCM to AC-3.
- The Apple TV as of tvOS 16.2 doesn't support pass-through bit streams. Atmos is sent as Dolby Metadata-enhanced Audio Transmission (Dolby MAT) via LPCM.
- Movies imported into Apple may show UHD but play in HD. If you purchased the movie from Apple contact iTunes support.
- If you didn't purchase the UHD version of an imported movie you can purchase it from Apple as a gift and redeem the code.
- Apple credentials can be connected to the Paramount+ app at the [cbs/apple] link. You may need to a mobile device to complete the sign-in.
- As of tvOS 13.2 the Library tab in the TV app has a section that lists all UHD/HDR titles.
- Apple has a public beta program] [discussed in its own thread[] which, while not risk-free, sometimes supports in-demand features (e.g. Match, Sony DV support, Atmos, 24.0fps).
- Note that being in the Beta program increases the number of updates and hence the chance of failure. If you "brick" (apple.com/restore error) an out-of-warranty ATV4K Apple should give you a replacement unit. Call support to arrange this. Previously they would give you a discount on a new replacement that has a 90 day warranty.
- A Siri remote and the Remote app have unique functions (voice/trackpad/HOME) but Apple has a [scheme for universal IR remotes] for the ATV4/4K which covers most actions including the HOME/TV button. As of tvOS 12 Apple provides an IP based remote control interface. Crestron and Control4 have announced products that use this interface.
- As of Feb-2018 the Harmony ATV4 "power off" command sequence (long press play/pause) is wrong. It now triggers the output selector screen.
Cable testing with an ATV4K.
The table attached from Acoustic Frontiers lists bandwidth requirements for legal HDMI 2.0a formats. See also the attached HDMI 2.0 4K chroma format support graph.
In the table below 2K is 1080p. 600MHz (593) pixel clock is 18Gbs (17.8). Typically there won't be a chroma choice. You cannot select bit depth.
Selecting a video format with [Match] on sets the Home screen, most of the UI and the Aerial screen saver to the selected format. With Match off almost all content is forced to the selected format. The values listed here are from an HDFury DIVA connected between an AVR and display. After the acceptance test page and some period of displaying the UI play protected content (an Apple movie in 4K) to check HDCP. Thirty seconds should be sufficient but longer is better. Note that as of tvOS 12 the HDMI test has been renamed from Check Cable to Check HDMI Connection and sends two minutes of video at the maximum bandwidth advertised by your video chain.
Code:
Format Chroma Pixel clock
480p60/SDR 444 8b 27MHz
2K@24/SDR 444 8b 74MHz
2K@60/SDR 444 8b 148MHz
4K@24/SDR 444 8b 297MHz
4K@24/HDR 422 12b 297MHz
4K@60/SDR 420 8b 297MHz
4K@60/HDR 420 10b 371MHz
4K@60/SDR 444 12b 593MHz
4K@60/HDR 422 12b 593MHz
[Harmony
Codes for the IR ATV interface -- collated by @m_snow
Home [sends long Menu not Home]
Skip Back Skip Forward
Pair UnPair
Reboot
Video Mode
Back
Direction Down/Direction Left/Direction Right/Direction Up
Fast Forward/Rewind
Menu
Pause
Play
Select
Stop
Harmony also supports Bluetooth instead of IR using the ATV4/4K keyboard interface. This device supports the ATV Home button.
— Manufacturer: Harmony Beta
— Model: Test Apple TV
Home [sends long Menu not Home]
Skip Back Skip Forward
Pair UnPair
Reboot
Video Mode
Back
Direction Down/Direction Left/Direction Right/Direction Up
Fast Forward/Rewind
Menu
Pause
Play
Select
Stop
Harmony also supports Bluetooth instead of IR using the ATV4/4K keyboard interface. This device supports the ATV Home button.
— Manufacturer: Harmony Beta
— Model: Test Apple TV
- If you're running beta code use the public beta thread.
- Assume the ATV4K is working correctly.
- Use the provided remote control and if it's behaving oddly or the IR LED is blinking then reboot the remote.
- Set the Video format to 2K@24 SDR or 4K@24 SDR
- Turn off transparency.
- Set audio to Best Quality Available (older tvOS) or Convert off (current tvOS).
- Verify your cables. As of tvOS 12 Check HDMI replaces Check Cable and is always available.
- Make sure your AVR and or display accepts 10b/12b and wide color gamut.
- Connect the ATV4K directly to the display if you expect to get HDR but you aren't.
- Test various formats working from low bandwidth (1080p) to high bandwidth (4K@60)
- If you've done a cable test and followed these steps please post the results and the details of your video chain if you're going to post a request for assistance.
Search this thread for Amazon or Prime Video for previous discussions/complaints many and varied issues.
How to leave the beta program ATV4K
At this time (Spring 2018 in the northern hemisphere) you can only install the current release of tvOS or a release that is considered newer. You cannot downgrade tvOS on the ATV4. An example:
For other questions regarding tvOS public betas please check the [ATV public beta] thread.
- 11.2.6 is installed.
- 11.3b6 public beta is available.
- 11.3 is available.
For other questions regarding tvOS public betas please check the [ATV public beta] thread.
Atmos support was released with tvOS 12. Apple is using an updated proprietary LPCM based system developed by Dolby called Metadata-enhanced Audio Transmission [V2] (MAT 2.x) for the console market that allows mixing local audio and generating Atmos in real-time. Dolby provides SDR [Atmos demo clips] in MP4 format. These can be imported into a Home Sharing Apple library and played with the tvOS Computer app without any further processing. Note that the links come and go -- try the demo link or search for dolby-atmos-trailer_ if they've moved. If you have any issues with Atmos it's crucial that you test with known good files since not all video chains will process MAT 2.x.
Posted in the public beta thread:
Posted in the public beta thread:
Apple TV 4K power consumption from the Apple TV 4K Environmental Report
Power Consumption for Apple TV 4K gen 3 @ 115V
Sleep/Network standby: 0.49W
Streaming 4K movies: 2.35W
Streaming 4K HDR movies: 2.31W
Power supply efficiency: 88.3%
Sleep/Network standby: 0.49W
Streaming 4K movies: 2.35W
Streaming 4K HDR movies: 2.31W
Power supply efficiency: 88.3%
Finally: I recommend [Steve Yedlin's*] [meditation on the perceptual relevance of spatial fidelity] regarding the importance of post-production in the visual quality of a motion picture. Spoiler: resolution is a red herring and "real or fake 4K" sites are pointless (as at least one admits).
*DoP Star Wars: The Last Jedi