How To Play Apple Dolby Atmos Music Over AVR

[luft262]

Is there a way to play Apple Spacial Audio Dolby Atmos music over an AVR without using an Apple TV Device?

 

[Tom C]

Just to clarify, are you wanting to avoid Apple TV sepecifically? Or avoid all Apple devices? For example, I’ve made it work with a Mac mini. I would think an Apple laptop would also work. Never tried to make an iOS device do Atmos.

 

[luft262]

It's not so much that I want to avoid them as I don't own any Apple devices. The last time I looked into it you had to have an Apple TV device hooked up to your AVR to get Atmos music from Apple Music via an AVR to surround sound system. I picked up Apple Music (free month) on my Android phone. The spacial sound isn't that impressive, IMHO, over headphones. I'd like to try it over my 5.1 system, but I'm not sure if it's worth buying a whole $150 Apple TV device that I'd have no other use for just to try it out. I guess if that's the only way to do it I can. If I don't like it I can just sell it or something, but I was hoping there was a way to do it from my phone or something.

 

[Tom C]

 

[luft262]

I'll try it again, but my understanding is that it won't output Atmos to an AVR from a phone, but thanks.

 

[Tom C]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but did you use an adapter/hdmi connection?

 

[luft262]

Yeah. USB to HDMI. Just does stereo. I'll keep playing with it. Thank you for your help!

 

[jacobacci]

Apple Music lossless is finally coming to Windows 11!

The new apple music preview app can be downloaded from Microsoft Store now, with lossless and hires options, but no dolby atmos. Hope they can add wasapi exclusive option and dolby atmos.

www.audiosciencereview.com

The Apple Music app for Win 11 does lossless stereo but not Atmos

 

[Monstieur]

Apple TV is the only way to bitstream E-AC-3 Atmos to an AVR. The next closest thing you can do is play 2-channel Atmos for Headphones from iOS / macOS to an AVR and upmix it with Dolby Surround Upmixer. iOS / macOS downmixes the E-AC-3 Atmos track using Atmos for Headphones, and the AVR upmixes it again using DSU. This produces better surround than upmixing the plain stereo track, but is obviously inferior to bitstreaming E-AC-3 directly from Apple TV.

 

[middlemarch]

I'm pretty sure macOS will do this from a laptop with HDMI out. At least an Apple laptop. But the ATV is definitely the better value

 

[Monstieur]

I'm pretty sure macOS will do this from a laptop with HDMI out. At least an Apple laptop. But the ATV is definitely the better value

Not anymore. Bitstreaming functionality is not preset in the Music app and has been removed from the QuickTime player as well.