It is ridiculous that Apple TV is lacking this fundamental characteristic in 2025

You’ve gotten extra decisions than ever earlier than in 2025 with regards to selecting out a brand new streaming system. Apple, Google, Roku, and Amazon are the heavy hitters, and it is best to do a little analysis earlier than deciding to tug the set off on one thing.

I’ve a Roku Extremely, Roku Streaming Stick, Amazon Hearth TV Stick 4K Max, and Apple TV 4K, so I do know a good quantity of what every streamer brings to the desk. Out of all of them, the Apple TV 4K is what I exploit in my lounge, which doubles as my major viewing space. It is my favourite streamer, however that does not imply it isn’t with out its points. A really annoying factor in regards to the Apple TV 4K is its lack of audio passthrough. It helps the Dolby Atmos format simply high-quality, which is sweet for folks paying for the costliest tiers of Max and Netflix, however there are extra audio codecs than that.

It is onerous to consider that in 2025 a high-end system just like the Apple TV 4K does not have fundamental audio passthrough, however that is the world we stay in. If Apple’s subsequent system does not include this selection, I do not suppose I will follow the Apple TV 4K. To me, it is inexcusable that we do not have it by default on any new streaming system.

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Apple may lose a buyer

I’ve my eye on Roku

Pocket-lint / Roku

I’ve a encompass sound setup at residence full with a set of satellite tv for pc audio system that act as Atmos audio system that I ought to actually improve quickly, however the level is, I take my sound a bit of extra critically than most. That is what makes Apple’s streaming field not passing audio by way of to my receiver much more annoying. The way in which it really works now’s the audio is mechanically dealt with by the Apple TV 4K, and meaning it could actually solely output what it is programmed to do. These embody Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1, and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, and to be honest, this covers loads of what streaming companies have to supply.

When the Apple TV 4K does not acknowledge the audio format, it isn’t like no sound comes out in any respect, but it surely as a substitute reveals on my receiver as “Multi In.” My receiver does its finest to get all of the audio to the proper audio system after the Apple TV 4K does the conversion, but it surely’d be significantly better if it may simply deal with the job with out the Apple TV 4K getting concerned. I haven’t got this downside once I pop issues into my 4K Blu-ray participant because it lets my receiver do the heavy lifting, but it surely’s a frequent situation once I stream content material.

There are such a lot of different choices on the market that may care for this for me, and it is to the purpose the place I do not even know why I am sticking with Apple. The less expensive Roku Ultra does not have this situation. Positive, there are no intrusive advertisements on the house web page and the Apple TV 4K is speedier than the competitors, however is it value sacrificing audio like this? I do know the variations are slim, however since I’ve a Roku Extremely in my bed room already, I might need to take a couple of minutes and swap the 2 units. If Apple proclaims the 4th-gen Apple TV 4K and there is no audio passthrough, I’d simply choose up one other Roku Extremely since I am a fan of it already.

I am not locked into the Apple ecosystem like different folks may be, so I will not have any second ideas about ditching the Apple TV 4K. It is the one Apple system I personal, and switching to a Roku would open up the power to solid by way of my Google House units. It is all the time good to have quality-of-life updates like that, so audio is not the one place I might see upgrades. I am not absolutely able to make the leap, but when Apple’s new system comes out with audio passthrough, then this first-gen mannequin will possible be the final Apple TV 4K I purchase.

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Apple has many irritating issues

Audio is only the start

Apple / Pocket-lint

It comes as no shock that firms need you to speculate deeper of their ecosystem for the most effective expertise, and that is no totally different for Apple. Sadly, I haven’t got an iPhone or iPad, and even AirPods, so I am leaving so much on the desk. Even fundamental options like discovering a misplaced distant are locked behind the necessity to have an iPhone. However, Roku is much extra forgiving in that space. A part of it may be the truth that Roku does not have the strong ecosystem that Apple does, but it surely’s nonetheless good to see an organization not punishing me for not absolutely shopping for in. Roku works properly with Apple merchandise, but it surely additionally has full integration with Google, so it does not matter what firm you go together with.

Going again to the Discover My distant performance, the Roku Extremely has a devoted button on the field itself to seek out it, so I do not even want my telephone round to trace down a lacking distant. There’s additionally an Ethernet port on the Roku Extremely whereas it’s important to pay $150 for the premium Apple TV 4K as a way to get one. It is the little issues like that that make the Apple TV 4K unfriendly to get into as your first product. You are actually pushed to select up extra Apple merchandise down the road. In the event you do not, you continue to get a completely purposeful field, however do not count on to get essentially the most out of it with out having an iPhone on the naked minimal.

When different firms provide aggressive merchandise, and on this case, for cheaper costs, it is onerous to disregard. All issues thought of, Roku merely matches into my residence ecosystem higher than the Apple TV 4K. If Apple does not provide much more with the next-generation Apple TV 4K, I simply do not see how I can justify selecting one up. Positive, it would nonetheless be the most effective streamer round, however once I can get one thing else for half the value which may take a number of extra seconds to load one thing, I feel it is nonetheless value it. I’ve little doubt Apple may make a robust streaming field, however I want they’d take a few additional notes from different firms to make it even higher.

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