Apple Music Atmos to an AVR, but no Apple TV, how?

[Tom C]

How much of that would apply to Mac Mini ? (New to IOS here; also have AppleTV (also using homekit for lighting, etc) (last years model).)
and
What are the improvements for the upcoming AppleTV over one shipped about this time last year?
Seems hard to get detailed info on their new products - I saw something about Thread only available on 64G models - figured that out thanks to Giigle, but wonder what other features only 'sneak' in on higher upcoming end models.

I'm not looking necesarily to upgrade from NUC8 (audo/HT only), but am planning on getting a new TV someday soon and may use it occasionally instead of my older projector.
Also highly unhappy with JRiver, so looking at Roon.
If any of the (affordable) apple gear would play better with AV HT use that'd be nice to know.

Why are you unhappy with JRiver?

 

[Neddy]

Not going to wash linen in public, but generally its inconsistent behavior (esp wrt USB inputs failing to be recognized, repeatedly) and general lack of any discernable architecture...and the incesssant begging for 'upgrades' w/o ever stating (until fairly recently) what's in them.
Links about specific topics that lead to general item discussions, etc etc.
I spent decades doing apps dev management and app architecture and apps regression testing, and this doesn't come even close to meeting my standards.
It IS extremely powerful, and highly customizable, and very low cost, which I do give full credit for - and esp like the remote app for streaming to other bluetooth devices in the house.
Bottom line - too fussy for day to day operation for me now, and doesn't (apparently) do the obvious things I'd like it too.

 

[Jazz]

It is much easier to just buy an ATV 4K (2021 or 2022 model), plug in the HDMI to an Atmos AVR and get on with life for Apple Music in Atmos as well as streaming apps for movies and shows.

 

[Head_Unit]

Is this still the status in 2024?
And, does this mean everything upsamples from 44 to 48k as Apple TV used to do and I presume still does? (Begging the question is the Atmos at 48k or 44k or what?)

 

[voodooless]

Yes, AppleTV is 48kHz exclusively. And all Amos content on Apple Music is as well.

 

[OG1950XXX]

Other than an Apple TV, how do you play Apple Music Atmos/Spatial Audio music to an AVR*, which has HDMI ports?
There must be some kind of second option.

*Yamaha TSR-700 7.2 Channel AV Receiver with Dolby Atmos DTS - the USB port on it is still, sadly, only for thumb drives!

FiiO R7

 

[DeLub]

The Apple Music app on LG TVs now supports Atmos.

 

[Jazz]

The Apple Music app on LG TVs now supports Atmos.

ONLY to LG brand speakers!

 

[DeLub]

ONLY to LG brand speakers!

Not sure what you mean by this. I can play atmos music in the LG Apple Music app and send it to my denon AVR over HDMI (e-ARC).

 

[middlemarch]

Since this is still alive, as you may or may not be aware, the upcoming version of MacOS, Version 15, will support Atmos over HDMI. So you can then use your computer as an Apple TV. But if you just intend to do streaming, the ATV will do it just as well and at around $100, much more cheaply, and at lower power consumption and with a remote. Works for me.

 

[Axo1989]

Since this is still alive, as you may or may not be aware, the upcoming version of MacOS, Version 15, will support Atmos over HDMI. So you can then use your computer as an Apple TV. But if you just intend to do streaming, the ATV will do it just as well and at around $100, much more cheaply, and at lower power consumption and with a remote. Works for me.

I think the new feature is not so much that you can use a Mac as an Apple TV (eg as a video source including Atmos from the TV app etc on macOS, which I have done for some time) but that passthrough means in addition to the currently-supported Atmos delivery via Dolby Digital Plus (lossy) it would support Dolby TrueHD (lossless) from sources that provide it (and passed through, then decoded by downstream gear).

Why not just use an Apple TV box? Per the thread topic, I also use Mac as Apple Music source, because I can run Sonarworks (or you could use Dirac) to take care of system-wide EQ for room correction, etc. Which sounds a lot better.

 

[just1n]

Apple Support HDMI Passthrough on their support page. In case anyone wants to read it.

I hope to test REW using my new MacBook for measurements soon. I was holding onto an old windows laptop to measure my 5.1.4 setup for that and really want to let it go for good.

 

[Tom C]

I think the new feature is not so much that you can use a Mac as an Apple TV (eg as a video source including Atmos from the TV app etc on macOS, which I have done for some time) but that passthrough means in addition to the currently-supported Atmos delivery via Dolby Digital Plus (lossy) it would support Dolby TrueHD (lossless) from sources that provide it (and passed through, then decoded by downstream gear).

Why not just use an Apple TV box? Per the thread topic, I also use Mac as Apple Music source, because I can run Sonarworks (or you could use Dirac) to take care of system-wide EQ for room correction, etc. Which sounds a lot better.

So, you run Mac to AVR, turn off EQ/room correction on the AVR, and do all EQ on the Mac? Does that work in pass through mode?

 

[Axo1989]

So, you run Mac to AVR, turn off EQ/room correction on the AVR, and do all EQ on the Mac? Does that work in pass through mode?

No, I don't personally. I was saying that this Apple feature works for people who use an AVR downstream from their Mac (whether said Mac is source, or another source upstream).

I just use Mac to DAC (in this case an 8-channel model) then amp and speakers. And streaming from the macOS TV.app usually, so while this delivers Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus, that's not Dolby TrueHD that I could get from different sources (but I don't care enough to go that way, so far anyway).

I can't actually test pass-through to an AVR as I don't have one. And right now I'm just listening to stereo, I haven't added amp channels and speakers for surround (I could do 5.1.2 from Mac with the current DAC, which was the plan) or upgraded Sonarworks to multichannel.