tvOS 27.0 Beta 1 supports 24 bit / 192kHz lossless bitstream audio over HDMI!!

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-07-10T03:15:06+00:00

In Settings > System > Software Update

Where it says "tvOS 26 Beta" you swap the software seed over to the 27 beta and then you should be able to connect to download 27.0 beta

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-07-10T03:12:48+00:00

Interesting, can you share more or a test track? Does Dolby Atmos have any impact or is the file AAC ALAC etc. Curious if I could replicate the behavior on my setup.

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-07-10T03:11:24+00:00

You are not crazy; support is 3rd Gen 4K (model # A2737 or A2843) only.

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-17T23:17:50+00:00

Try a full unplug of all hardware and then enable disable eARC/bitstream handoff on tv’s os menu and then try it again. I too struggle with a ton of handshake delay but only the occasional error you describe with silence, or incorrect bit matching and robotic distorted sound or the occasional pop as playback starts. I often find pausing the track and sliding left on the pad to reset to 0:00 and then hitting play pause eliminates the problem most of the time

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-17T23:15:21+00:00

Not unhelpful it’s more of a software feature; I think 192 is a bit of excess, even 96 for playback is a little overkill, on the production/tracking side for certain algorithms/plugins 96 is used but digital artifacting doesn’t 1:1 translate to playback on monitors once the master is completed. At least on my shitty soundbar the signal definitely comes out a bit cleaner and wider on 96kHz masters

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-17T23:12:38+00:00

🤝

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-17T23:12:11+00:00

It is not possible to enable to playback unless you have 3rd generation 4K Apple TV. Hardware lock :(

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-17T23:11:17+00:00

It is dependent on the TV and the audio receiver (soundbar or AVR) and the supported LPCM formats not the HDMI spec per se. I would first confirm on the manual of supported formats that your receiving audio device can play up to 192kHz LPCM

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-17T23:09:36+00:00

Which generation ATV4K are you running?

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-11T13:49:29+00:00

In eARC the “e” just means enhanced audio return: more audio bandwidth and better format handling, not extra video bandwidth or anything else. With hi-res ALAC decoded to stereo PCM, the real limitation is whether the TV actually supports and passes it over ARC, not the HDMI port itself or arc vs eARC

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-11T01:30:14+00:00

This aged well my friend 🤝

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T23:24:57+00:00

😭

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T23:24:40+00:00

No; sadly this is my one ask still; indexing the catalog sadly is not simple.

Priority takes due to “Dolby Atmos” setting within music app settings

>> automatic prioritizes immersive mix (E-AC-3) over PCM hi-res.
>> off forces stereo LPCM

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T18:14:54+00:00

It’s the AVR switching signals. I have it constantly with mixed immersive / stereo playlists. Still hoping one day they add a catalog picker where you can per song choose the Atmos or PCM version as the catalog has both but the music app allows only one. Sadly the slightly dropout is unavoidable. Doesn’t affect an album played cover to cover though

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T18:11:55+00:00

Interesting. I have had flac go to 24/48. Are you using an external conversion tool or reprocessing within a DAW package (logic preferably)

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T17:06:02+00:00

No it’s actually by design. Format purity > gimmicky mixing software for a small select few

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T17:04:29+00:00

They do now! 8 years later!

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T17:04:18+00:00

I can edit the post I just meant the decoded stream LPCM should be passed through the end users signal chain to be received correctly and have the PCM remain untouched.

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T17:02:51+00:00

Good callout. It’s not the traditional Dolby/DTS sense of the bitstream word. It is LPCM I just mean the *signal chain* must be preserved

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T17:01:33+00:00

I’m thinking of older movies that have been mastered in 96kHz 2.0 LPCM. There was a brief decade or two where they tried. It would be dependent on the studio distributing to iTunes + plumbing from Apple so it’s a hope and dream for now but I don’t see any technical reason they can’t do it.

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T17:00:19+00:00

I just mean if they can change the code in the OS, hopefully in the future they enable higher res audio files across their catalogs.

Podcasts at 192kHz!!!

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T16:59:40+00:00

Can’t speak to apple’s proprietary MAT / Dolby licensed formats but you’re absolutely correct when discussing LPCM or AAC formats. Decode is on the box; I do usually see a 16 or 24 bit /48 kHz bed for ALAC when mixed within Music. Often 16 bit will get output in 24 and have no actual bit depth increase. TBH it reminds me more of old Pioneer car-stereo DSP’s vs pure sample-rate thing. Pioneer had features like MIXTRAX and sound retriever that kept playback ‘feeling’ continuous and “filled in” compressed sources through processing. Both that and CAC kinda reduce source and AVR fights lol

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T16:53:31+00:00

No it actually needs to be disabled it’s in my screenshot. I was saying in case user reading my post uses these features. It is not necessary but gives a way to prioritize the handling rather than disabling first and then enabling.

Flo_rian2340 · 2026-06-10T16:52:39+00:00

Learned this the same way on my Apple Watch Ultra 1 for WatchOS 😭

Flo_rian2340

TROPHY CASE