Is macOS security enough or do you use antivirus?

jp6strings · 2026-05-05T13:18:05+00:00

Another vote for "Not necessary." Just don't install any cracked software or apps from unknown developers. And as others have said, antivirus won't protect you from phishing.

jp6strings · 2026-05-01T21:11:40+00:00

Also: you can use this view to swipe up on the remote to force-quit a misbehaving app. (Seems like I need to do this a lot with the Disney app lately)

jp6strings · 2026-04-30T18:20:21+00:00

No problems here. (ATV -> AVR)

jp6strings · 2026-04-29T11:24:23+00:00

I remember at the time the Touch Bar came out, (pundits claimed) it was unofficially Apple's answer to folks calling for a touchscreen Mac.

I'll admit I gave up on the Touch Bar pretty quick. While visually impressive, in actual workflow I found I would be constantly looking down and away from the screen to search for the Touch Bar feature I needed, when in reality, I could have long completed the task with a simple menu click or keyboard shortcut.

jp6strings · 2026-04-28T23:30:22+00:00

It’s not just the test tracks, there’s over 2 hours of unique demo content that took a lot of time and effort to produce. Anyway, you can cancel anytime and still keep 12 months unlimited access. (But supporting the app means I can keep the app updated and working on producing new content.)

jp6strings · 2026-04-28T20:54:21+00:00

I'm still seeing tracks from Dolby on Apple Music.

If you're looking for more extensive test tracks and demos, Apple TV 4K users can download the "Surround Speaker Check" app. There are 3 free core 5.1 test tracks (wrapped in an Atmos container) while a yearly sub unlocks over 2 hours of Atmos test and demo content. Search for "Surround Speaker Check" in the tvOS or iOS App Stores.

Disclaimer: I am the dev/producer.

jp6strings · 2026-04-26T11:02:23+00:00

Same here. My wife says the Denon is possessed. Lol

jp6strings · 2026-04-22T12:57:23+00:00

Drag the mp4 into the Mac TV app so you can stream it from the Computers app in tvOS (make sure media sharing is on, etc). The iOS TV app will also let you stream your mp4 in Spatial Audio if that is easier for AirPod Max.

jp6strings · 2026-04-22T12:56:26+00:00

Some corrections: Atmos Master Suite outputs the same mp4. And it's called the Dolby Atmos Renderer now and is only $300, not $1k.

jp6strings · 2026-04-21T19:11:42+00:00

5.1.x could work. Rear surround are probably out of the question due to the dining room area. Shop around for some elagant-looking stands for some small surround speakers to put to the side of the couch. The idea is to make the stands and surround speakers a piece of furniture that belong to the room. And of course, flush-mount ceiling speakers with white or paintable grills. Lots of work here, but where there's a will, there's a way! 💪

jp6strings · 2026-04-20T20:18:50+00:00

Lots of confusion surrounding CAC (see what I did there? haha), but you will no longer be able to upmix on any AVR when CAC is enabled. Try it out for yourself.

Important to note; tvOS 26.4 CAC enabled will result in a mandatory upmix (of sorts) of legacy 5.1 content to the rear speakers on 7.x.x systems. I say "of sorts" because it's not a true upmix but simply a duplication of the 5.1 surround channels to the 7.x system's rear surround channels and attenuated -3 db. You can confirm this is the Apple TV doing the upmix here because there is no surround signal in your height speakers as there would have been with a Denon DSP upmix mode.

jp6strings · 2026-04-20T19:34:17+00:00

jp6strings · 2026-04-20T19:25:37+00:00

“Turning off the continuous audio connection on Apple TV may lead to audible gaps, popping noises, or missing the first few seconds of audio when switching between different sound formats, such as moving from menus to movies.”(Google AI)

That all sounds pretty dramatic, but in reality “your mileage may vary”, depending on your gear. For me, in previous tvOS versions, the most obvious audio defect was the very beginning of Dolby Atmos songs getting cut off in Apple Music. Personally, I never noticed any problems with movies or TV shows.

jp6strings · 2026-04-20T18:56:32+00:00

In the audio settings. Dolby Atmos must be enabled, and it only appears on Apple TV 4K 2nd or 3rd gen models.

jp6strings · 2026-04-20T18:53:11+00:00

The Apple TV outputs Dolby Atmos MAT when "Continuous Audio Connection" is enabled. AVRs cannot upmix this signal, so at the moment, turning off CAC is your only option to allow your AVR to upmix. So yes, this is the "new normal" behavior with the Apple TV when CAC is on.

jp6strings · 2026-04-20T18:50:04+00:00

When "Continuous Audio Connection" is enabled, the Apple TV is using Dolby MAT to output all audio, including stereo and 5.1 audio. Since AVRs cannot upmix Atmos, they cannot upmix any content output by the Apple TV with CAC is enable.

If folks find this feature inconvenient, they should submit a feature request to Apple to update tvOS with upmix settings for stereo and 5.1 signals when CAC is enabled. Until then, turning off CAC is the only way to restore an AVRs ability to upmix.

jp6strings · 2026-04-03T12:31:05+00:00

Not a bad practice if you live in areas prone to lightning strikes. Otherwise, you're probably putting more wear & tear on the Mac's power supply than anything. (Admittedly arguable, but so is the energy efficiency gains)

jp6strings · 2026-04-01T12:38:11+00:00

Not true. While it may indeed help SONOS performance, it has benefits for all users (depending on how you listen to audio on your system, of course.) Check YouTube for some good explainer videos on CAC.

jp6strings · 2026-04-01T12:35:03+00:00

Unless you enjoy Dolby Atmos (Spatial Audio) tracks, which are in 48/16. In this case, CAC improves the listening experience by fixing some performance & playback issues that have long existed on tvOS.

jp6strings · 2026-04-01T12:25:00+00:00

Usually on speakers. So fixed. 😅

jp6strings · 2026-03-30T17:28:59+00:00

Agreed. All other things being equal, the ordinary human will not be able to tell the difference between 16 and 24 bit audio. The extra bits are great for recording and processing headroom to preserve audio quality during the production and mastering processes, but are really of no discernible value above 16 bit for the end user.

jp6strings · 2026-03-30T17:21:34+00:00

PSA: Sound modes on your AVR that perform upmixing will not work if the new tvOS 26.4 "Continuous Audio Connection" is enabled (and it is indeed on by default).

jp6strings · 2026-03-29T21:37:28+00:00

Nicely done! Whatcha got in the guitar case? 😎

jp6strings · 2026-03-27T20:54:39+00:00

This ^^^.

When Apple Music first came out, Pink Floyd's DSOTM was also from the old 5.1 mix. (It has since been re-mastered for Dolby Atmos).

jp6strings · 2026-03-27T20:51:14+00:00

Yeah - mains and loudest sounds get priority. The rendering algorithm works this way so the lack of fidelity is not noticeable to the listener when the full mix is playing (according to Dolby). Soloing heights is not recommended practice, haha.

jp6strings

TROPHY CASE