Speech dialogue volume low on Apple TV via AV-receiver

Question

Level 1

5 points

Speech dialogue volume low on Apple TV via AV-receiver

Having issues with surround sound playing movies via Apple TV through Marantz AVR. Dialogue volume level is low and sounding flat whilst watching movies. I have an Apple TV (A1625 HD) connected to a Marantz NR1605 AVR connected to Dolby 5.1 speaker setup. Playing movie via Netflix app on the Apple TV. Dialogues sounds flat. But when playing the exact same movie via TV Set top box (in built netflix app), connected to the same AVR, same port on AVR, same cable, same settings etc. Sounds perfectly! Already tried forcing ATV sound settings to Dolby 5.1 or to Auto. In auto mode AVR detects only multi channel stereo actually making it worse.

Anyone came accross this issue as well and found a solution for it? I am bit running out of ideas...

Apple TV HD, tvOS 16

Posted on Dec 30, 2022 12:23 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Mario_MK Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 31, 2022 05:38 AM in response to Mario_MK

I found out when I matched the signal formats on both ends; ATV on AUTO (result sending PCM) and in AVR Input mode on PCM (result - Multi ch stereo), in general dialogues still sound quiet and muffled. I need to raise the volume of the center speaker at least +5 db to make especially in songs the voices clearly hearable. But the same time that will result the spoken audio in the normal quiter parts to be too loud and will sound distorted.

Will there be a difference somewhere in audiolevel or sound setting in the movie in case of normal spoken audio and when a song comes by? For example in a musical?

Reply

Answer 2

Urquhart1244

Level 10

145,674 points

Dec 30, 2022 02:14 PM in response to Mario_MK

In auto mode AVR detects only multi channel stereo actually making it worse.

In Auto mode Apple TV sends uncompressed PCM Multichannel, which isn’t stereo, but whatever is in the source up to 7.1 (likely 5.1 though, especially for Netflix), and that should sound exactly the same as forcing compressed Dolby Digital 5.1, for dialog (mostly for the Center channel). The decoding to uncompressed is lossless. Marantz calls this format “Multi-channel Linear PCM”, which is supported by your model, as expected for a 2014 AVR, according to the manual. If you get stereo, or stereo upconverted to 5.1, then something in your setup or settings isn’t right. There isn’t any filter in Apple TV to make changes in the audio. You could have your unit tested of course by an audio expert with their own equipment, but it is not a known issue for this model in general. The audio (and video) is handled in software, i.e the same version tvOS as for all of us, so that should not be different for any unit in particular.

Really puzzling what is going on. Does the Apple TV connect to the AVR directly, or does the signal go through the TV or any other equipment? In case of the latter, then the TV or other equipment could perhaps be a source of audio signal changes.

Reply

Answer 3

Mario_MK Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 31, 2022 02:32 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Hi thanks for the reply,

The Apple TV connects to the AVR directly. Only main output of the AVR goes to the TV. Nothing goes through the TV and back to the AVR in any way. All sources are connected directly and only to the AVR, all using the correct high bandwidth HDMI cables.

I do understand the explanation regarding the audio format. But just fail to understand why the same movie just played by another source (TV set top box) when connected to the exact same HDMI port on the AVR, using the exact same cable, exact same settings (in other words nothing is changed but just connecting another source to the same input) will result in a different playback of sound. Voices are perfectly clear (AVR shows DD+).

So what settings in the AVR could be changed to sort this out. Concerning we already know there are two different results by connecting two different sources using the exact same input routing?

Reply

Answer 4

Urquhart1244

Level 10

145,674 points

Dec 31, 2022 06:05 AM in response to Mario_MK

… and in AVR Input mode on PCM (result - Multi ch stereo) …

I read about sound mode type for input in the manual (p116–127), and found it quite confusing. Maybe it’s more clear when you have this AVR in front of you.

I think you should find a setting so that it says Multi Ch In instead. Multi Ch Stereo seems to be about up-converting the L and R to 5.1. That could explain the quiet dialog as well, if that ignores the original C Ls Rs LFE.

Reply

Answer 5

Mario_MK Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 31, 2022 06:32 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Sorry, was getting a bit confused about all formats myself as well. The actual current displayed format on the AVR is actually Multi Ch In. That sounds good for songs now. But in general, the average volume for normal speech still sounds a bit "distorted / too loud" now.

Need to meet somewhere in the middle, or still something strange going on with regards of how different audio levels are handled in different parts of the movie by the AVR

Reply

Answer 6

Urquhart1244

Level 10

145,674 points

Dec 31, 2022 06:48 AM in response to Mario_MK

Unless someone else chimes in with a good idea, I would recommend seeking advise from Marantz [1] or other NR1605 users [2] [3].

Reply

Speech dialogue volume low on Apple TV via AV-receiver

Similar questions