5 tips and tricks to get better sound on your Apple TV

Alex Bracetti, CNN Underscored
·4 min read

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Jason Cipriani/CNN Underscored
Jason Cipriani/CNN Underscored

The best streaming sticks and devices provide countless hours of entertainment. They let us watch our favorite movies and TV shows, and even provide access to the best music streaming services so we can enjoy our favorite tracks and podcasts on our TVs.

Most of these products also come with features and settings that upgrade the listening experience in multiple ways. Such is the case with the top-selling Apple TV.

This premium digital streamer has been touted as a must-have for all Apple users, thanks to its excellent ecosystem integration and robust app support. Those who own the flagship Apple TV 4K gain access to several audio and video formats for near-universal compatibility with the best headphones and earbuds and best smart speakers such as the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen).

Apple ingeniously programmed its streaming boxes to “automatically play sound in Dolby Atmos or surround sound if it’s available with content that you watch,” according to its website. However, audio output can still be lackluster, depending on your setup. Everyone who has purchased the Apple TV deserves premium sound quality — and these 5 tips, tricks and hacks will get you just that.

Apple TV 4K

Apple
Apple

Apple TV 4K may cost more than the competition, but it's also faster and packed with a wider variety of apps than most other streaming sticks. Anyone with an iPhone, AirPods, HomePods and other Apple gear will prefer how well it works within that ecosystem.


1. Give your Apple Music playlists the lossless treatment

This applies to Apple TV owners who love playing Apple Music on their TV background. You can listen to supported songs in Dolby Atmos when paired to a HomePod or compatible home theater system. However, you can go a step further and switch the streaming quality from AAC (high quality) to ALAC (lossless), which brings out more details on original recordings.

How to do it: Settings > Apps > Music > Audio Quality > Lossless

2. Make speech more prominent through Enhance Dialogue

Alex Bracetti/CNN Underscored
Alex Bracetti/CNN Underscored

Apple recently introduced Enhance Dialogue via the tvOS 17.1 update. This feature separates dialogue from background noise and projects it to the front channel, so you can hear conversations clearer in a movie or TV show. It’s essential for video content and makes a noticeable difference for those with hearing deficiencies. Keep in mind that Enhance Dialogue only works with the Apple TV‌ 4K and HomePods running the latest software.

How to do it: Settings > Video and Audio > Enhance Dialogue

3. Turn on Spatial Audio

Doing this will make content sound more immersive and natural. You’ll need an Apple TV running tvOS 15 or later, along with the best Apple headphones that support Spatial Audio. We recommend the AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning or USB-C version), AirPods Max or any of the current best Beats headphones.

How to do it: Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth > Select AirPods or Beats model > Select Spatial Audio while playing multichannel content

3D audio is progressively becoming a standard feature on the best noise-canceling headphones and best true wireless earbuds. Certain brands (like Samsung and Sony) have their own proprietary technologies, while others (like Jabra) rely on Dolby Atmos to power their surround sound.

Then there are companies like Bose, JBL and Yamaha that developed their own universal spatial audio formats to work with any stereo content. They aren’t tied to Dolby Atmos or hi-fi music streaming platforms or tiers. The Yamaha YH-L700A are an excellent audiophile option, if you can find it online, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra are hands down the best headphones for spatial audio.

4. Protect your hearing with Reduce Loud Sounds

Alex Bracetti/CNN Underscored
Alex Bracetti/CNN Underscored

Reduce Loud Sounds is exactly what it sounds like. Preferable for action movies and musicals, this feature will adjust audio performance to greatly reduce excessively loud noises.

How to do it: Settings > Video and Audio > Reduce Loud Sounds

Another way to stabilize volume is by normalizing the sound level of your music in the Settings menu. This will automatically adjust volume for music and videos.

How to do it: Settings > Apps > Music > Sound Check

5. Personalize sound on your speaker setup

Any Apple TV connected to a home theater receiver may experience audio latency. The same goes for TVs connected with an HDMI cord. Apple lets you fix this by using an iPhone to calibrate the audio signal on Apple TV, allowing all speakers to play audio in sync.

How to do it: Settings (Apple TV) > Video and Audio > Calibration > Wireless Audio Sync > Follow iPhone instructions

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