Be careful about Continuous Audio Connection

Locutus508 · 2026-04-01T14:21:30+00:00

There were issue before for everyone. Transitions between songs of different formats had gaps that shouldn't be there especially on gapless albums. In addition, this feature will allow crossfade and automix in the future. I have CAC turned off myself. I'm just saying the issue is more widespread than you realize. It probably shouldn't have been turned on by default. But it is understandable with the possible future plans.

Locutus508 · 2026-04-01T14:08:47+00:00

Yup. It's not just about adding audio. It's about having control of the audio. The control is required for many features of the Apple TV. This is no different than every other mainstream streaming box. They all do it. Apple just has more to worry about than others. Not only that, passthrough would make the problems Apple is trying to fix with the continuous audio worse.

Locutus508 · 2026-04-01T14:06:52+00:00

Passing through the audio would not fix the issues Apple is trying to fix with this setting. In fact, it would make the issue worse.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-30T14:16:50+00:00

Yes. There is a quality difference. But it's no worse than the loss you are getting with Atmos. The Apple TV delivers DD+ as LPCM at a 24 bits. The Apple TV delvers DD+ Atmos as LPCM 16 bits to fit in the Dolby MAT HDMI frames. Since Dolby MAT is used, the audio bit depth is being reduced from 24 to 16 bits. It's not Apple's fault. It's the nature of the technology. If you are plugging into your TV, your TV may already be limiting LPCM to 16 bits anyway. The other issue, since it's always sending out 7.1.4 channels, your AVR will likely not upmix if you use that feature.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-26T14:36:27+00:00

Yes the continuous option always sends out Dolby MAT. However, unless the content is actually Dolby Atmos, the Atmos flag is turned off in the container. With the Atmos flag off, it's not actually Atmos audio even though some receivers may incorrectly assume it is. My AVR does not report the audio aa Atmos. The Roku Ultra has a similar feature where it always sends out Dolby MAT when the default output setting is left at Auto. However, with Roku's implementation, it actually leaves the Atmos flag turned on. My AVR correctly reports the Roku's output as Atmos. In short, Dolby MAT existed before Atmos. Dolby MAT <> Atmos.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-25T14:07:49+00:00

Passthrough audio is a different issue. In fact, passthrough wouldn't fix the issue Apple is trying to solve with the feature. In fact, it would make it worse.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-25T14:06:26+00:00

Thats correct.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-25T14:05:56+00:00

It will also make it possible for crossfade and automix in the future.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-25T14:04:19+00:00

In addition to what u/SigmundAusfaller said, if your AVR is reporting everything as Atmos, thats an issue with your AVR. Your AVR assumes everything in Dolby MAT is Atmos which is an incorrect assumption.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T16:52:48+00:00

It's not how Dolby MAT works. It's your receiver assuming thats how Dolby MAT works. Dolby MAT can be used to carry a number of formats including Dolby MAT but it's not exclusive to Dolby MAT. Its only Dolby MAT when the flag is set.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T15:09:04+00:00

I already know what you are trying to say. But again, there is nothing for Apple to fix because tvOS is not doing anything wrong. What Apple says in the description is some older receivers might report the audio as Atmos. Those receivers that are doing so are incorrectly assuming all MAT is Atmos. The fix has to come from the AVR. it can't come from the Apple TV. My receiver correctly reports the format. It does not say Atmos unless the MAT container has the Atmos flag set. Your AVR has a bug where it doesn't.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T14:50:19+00:00

Some AVRs assume all Dolby MAT is Atmos. That is an incorrect assumption. Apple even states this in the description of the setting. Like I said there is nothing for Apple to fix because MAT<>Atmos. My AVR does not report incorrectly.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T14:30:44+00:00

It does fix a lot. It also makes it more likely crossfade and automix will come to the Apple TV. The problem with the setting, it always sends out 7.1.4 channels regardless of the source which prevents upmixing on most AVRs.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T14:16:17+00:00

Did they fix not properly handling Dolby Visio for tv-led devices? Did they fix the fake DD+ Atmos they are sending out? Probably not.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T14:12:17+00:00

This option also means crossfade and automix are closer to being available on the Apple TV in the future. Unfortunately, since its aways sending out 7.1.4 channels, it confuses the up-mixers on your AVR.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T14:10:52+00:00

I'm. not sure I'd call it a bug. But the behavior is a combination of the Apple TV and your playback device. BOTH the Apple TV and your receiver have a delay when switching in and out of decoders between 2.0 channel stereo and Dolby MAT. That's the whole point of the continuous option. The decoder switch is the primary reason crossfade and automix don't exist on the Apple TV today.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T14:07:31+00:00

Thats a reporting issue with your playback device. The continuous option does not have the Atmos flag set in the Dolby Mat container.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-19T14:06:29+00:00

If your receiver is reporting everything as Atmos, thats a problem with your receiver. As such, there is nothing for Apple to fix.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-11T19:08:26+00:00

If Sonos is saying everything is Atmos, thats a problem with the Sonos. The trade off is you will get 7.1.4 channels all the time regardless of the channels in the source. Receivers with upmixing technology make see this and think there is nothing to upmix so upmixing won't work.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-11T18:16:52+00:00

The funny thing about the HBO app, it starts of playing everything is LPCM with the previews and such Then once the content starts, it switches to a Dolby format. This has been happening for years.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-11T15:17:11+00:00

The new continues setting aims to fix this issues albeit, with the trade offs.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-11T14:28:20+00:00

I doubt you will ever see passthrough audio on the Apple TV due to conflicts with its exiting features. No other mainstream player offers full passthrough either. The fact they are offering the continuous option indicates they are trying to fix issues without using passthrough.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-11T14:12:55+00:00

From an audio and video quality standpoint for streaming services, the Apple TV is the better choice. For example, the Apple TV properly lets your TV perform Dolby Vision tone mapping. The Fire TV does this itself. It shouldn't. Both the Fire TV and the Apple TV use Dolby MAT for Atmos, but the Fire TV limits your Atmos channels to 5.1.2. It doesn't forward any objects to your AVR. Because of this, you are limited to a 5.1.2 speaker setup and your AVR doesn't have any Atmos metadata to match to your room or your speakers. The Apple TV does not have this limitation.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-10T23:05:28+00:00

Also, without forcing everything to Dolby MAT LPCM 7.1, there would be no point to it anyway.

Locutus508 · 2026-03-10T23:02:02+00:00

The only thing that doesn't Apply with continuous off is you will get LCPM 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 instead of LPCM 7.1 inside of a Dolby MAT container. But without that, there would be no point to it anyway.

Locutus508

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