Apple TV 4K and Dolby Atmos/Vision streaming services
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 8:27 am
An Apple TV 4K UHD connection to Denon Audio Visual Receiver (AVR-X1600H) Dolby Atmos/Vision capable system for testing the streaming services to ascertain the format support from streaming services in vision and audio.
I did consider buying the Sonos system for Dolby Atmos but it is too expensive and not as good as a full Dolby Atmos setup, I'd recommend that nobody invests in a rubbish overpriced Sonos system especially considering its yesterday's technology and the 2.4Ghz wireless band with latency and interference issues! And the Sonos Arc will not work with a wirelessly connected Sonos setup.
Netflix - Dolby Atmos/Vision 4K UHD
An excellent collection of movies and programmes in Dolby Atmos & multi-channel Dolby Digital Surround, and 4K UHD Dolby Vision.
Amazon Prime - Dolby Atmos 4K UHD HDR10
Limited quality of Dolby Atmos and in fact, we could only find 1 programme series in the Dolby Atmos format but there is loads of content in multi-channel Dolby Digital and zero films or programmes in 4K UHD Dolby Vision.
Apple Movies/Programmes/Apple TV+ - Dolby Atmos/Vision 4K UHD
Extensive Dolby Atmos and 4K UHD Dolby Vision in the film and programme category.
TIDAL Hi-Fi - Dolby Atmos
Excellent Dolby Atmos Music collection for streaming and the only known music service that works through the Apple TV 4K.
DIsney+ - multi-channel Dolby Digital/Dolby Vision 4K UHD.
Even though several films are described as Dolby Atmos they are only multi-channel Dolby Digital Surround but do have 4K Dolby Vision as described (tvOS beta 14 seems to have fixed the Dolby Atmos issue).
Britbox - Stereo and HD 1080P (1080i).
The service offers streaming quality to HD 1080P (1080i) and has a great quality of British programming at least half of it in low-quality SD format. The audio is terrible offering only stereo. One can only assume that Britbox has a licensing issue with Dolby!
Netstream 4Sat/MyTV (SAT->IP) - Stereo and 1080P (1080i)
Even though the Netsream app on Apple TV 4K does display Dolby Digital (DD) it does not play it through the Denon AVR-X1600H. Licensing issue.
Apple Music - Stereo (Dolby Atmos from today (8th June 2021) on RC 14.6 tvOS & iOS 14.6 RC)
Even though the UI is excellent it could do better in its streaming quality, and I hope it'll offer Dolby Atmos music later. It now supports HD and broadcast-quality audio up to 192Khz/48 bit.
Amazon Music HD - Stereo, the app does not work for HD service which is in Dolby Atmos on their environment only, and it's an HD smart speaker!
I could not get this service working at all on the Apple TV 4K, it just comes up with "Network Error" when attempting to access the service, I did contact Amazon who was unable to help and stated it's not supported even though they have the Amazon Music app on Apple TV.
iPlayer - Stereo and UHD 4K programmes in beta.
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
ITV Hub - Stereo and HD 1080P (1080i) (advertisement blockers cause the app to exit)
whitelist:[slb-barb-pool17.2cnt.net ssl-itvappletv.2cnt.net]
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
4 - Stereo and HD 1080P (1080i).
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
My5 - Stereo and HD 1080P (1080i).
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
Vevo - Stereo and HD 1080P.
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
YouTube - Stereo and 4K 30fps (latest tvOS 4K). HDR10.
Dolby Digital 5.1.
NowTV - Stereo HD 720P (1080p since 15th Dec 2020). (advertisement blocking causes the app not to work)
whitelist:[dpm.demdex.net gslb-2.demdex.net edge-irl1.demdex.net]
NowTV app needs updating which NowTV is working on and is now in production, and has been in for about 2 years in beta for Apple TV (internet CDN traffic management & shaping by Sky occasional blurry 5-second stream at 1080p DD 5.1 with NowTV Xbox One X app hope it'll be better with Apple TV once released!). This is on a wired ethernet connection with 225Mbps downstream throughput from the internet and 48Mbps upstream with no more than a 5% to 10% utilisation. DD 5.1 works with Apple TV. NowTV now working in DD 5.1 on Apple TV with 1080p since about September 2023 which requires the boost service which is an additional payment.
If it's not mentioned about issues then the App or/and service runs without issue at the maximum performance mentioned in that line/paragraph.
I did consider buying the Sonos system for Dolby Atmos but it is too expensive and not as good as a full Dolby Atmos setup, I'd recommend that nobody invests in a rubbish overpriced Sonos system especially considering its yesterday's technology and the 2.4Ghz wireless band with latency and interference issues! And the Sonos Arc will not work with a wirelessly connected Sonos setup.
Netflix - Dolby Atmos/Vision 4K UHD
An excellent collection of movies and programmes in Dolby Atmos & multi-channel Dolby Digital Surround, and 4K UHD Dolby Vision.
Amazon Prime - Dolby Atmos 4K UHD HDR10
Limited quality of Dolby Atmos and in fact, we could only find 1 programme series in the Dolby Atmos format but there is loads of content in multi-channel Dolby Digital and zero films or programmes in 4K UHD Dolby Vision.
Apple Movies/Programmes/Apple TV+ - Dolby Atmos/Vision 4K UHD
Extensive Dolby Atmos and 4K UHD Dolby Vision in the film and programme category.
TIDAL Hi-Fi - Dolby Atmos
Excellent Dolby Atmos Music collection for streaming and the only known music service that works through the Apple TV 4K.
DIsney+ - multi-channel Dolby Digital/Dolby Vision 4K UHD.
Even though several films are described as Dolby Atmos they are only multi-channel Dolby Digital Surround but do have 4K Dolby Vision as described (tvOS beta 14 seems to have fixed the Dolby Atmos issue).
Britbox - Stereo and HD 1080P (1080i).
The service offers streaming quality to HD 1080P (1080i) and has a great quality of British programming at least half of it in low-quality SD format. The audio is terrible offering only stereo. One can only assume that Britbox has a licensing issue with Dolby!
Netstream 4Sat/MyTV (SAT->IP) - Stereo and 1080P (1080i)
Even though the Netsream app on Apple TV 4K does display Dolby Digital (DD) it does not play it through the Denon AVR-X1600H. Licensing issue.
Apple Music - Stereo (Dolby Atmos from today (8th June 2021) on RC 14.6 tvOS & iOS 14.6 RC)
Even though the UI is excellent it could do better in its streaming quality, and I hope it'll offer Dolby Atmos music later. It now supports HD and broadcast-quality audio up to 192Khz/48 bit.
Amazon Music HD - Stereo, the app does not work for HD service which is in Dolby Atmos on their environment only, and it's an HD smart speaker!
I could not get this service working at all on the Apple TV 4K, it just comes up with "Network Error" when attempting to access the service, I did contact Amazon who was unable to help and stated it's not supported even though they have the Amazon Music app on Apple TV.
iPlayer - Stereo and UHD 4K programmes in beta.
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
ITV Hub - Stereo and HD 1080P (1080i) (advertisement blockers cause the app to exit)
whitelist:[slb-barb-pool17.2cnt.net ssl-itvappletv.2cnt.net]
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
4 - Stereo and HD 1080P (1080i).
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
My5 - Stereo and HD 1080P (1080i).
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
Vevo - Stereo and HD 1080P.
Licensing or poorly integrated app issue for Dolby Digital Surround on Apple TV 4K.
YouTube - Stereo and 4K 30fps (latest tvOS 4K). HDR10.
Dolby Digital 5.1.
NowTV - Stereo HD 720P (1080p since 15th Dec 2020). (advertisement blocking causes the app not to work)
whitelist:[dpm.demdex.net gslb-2.demdex.net edge-irl1.demdex.net]
NowTV app needs updating which NowTV is working on and is now in production, and has been in for about 2 years in beta for Apple TV (internet CDN traffic management & shaping by Sky occasional blurry 5-second stream at 1080p DD 5.1 with NowTV Xbox One X app hope it'll be better with Apple TV once released!). This is on a wired ethernet connection with 225Mbps downstream throughput from the internet and 48Mbps upstream with no more than a 5% to 10% utilisation. DD 5.1 works with Apple TV. NowTV now working in DD 5.1 on Apple TV with 1080p since about September 2023 which requires the boost service which is an additional payment.
If it's not mentioned about issues then the App or/and service runs without issue at the maximum performance mentioned in that line/paragraph.