We have an Apple TV 4K and wish to listen using two methods simultaneously:
1: Using Apple AirPods
2: Using sounds bar via AppleTV4 HDMI out
Why? We have two people using this; one is hard of hearing the other is fine. We do not want to both people to have to use Airpods.
Here is the feedback from Grok, option #1 seems the easiest!
Apple TV 4K does not natively support splitting audio output to Bluetooth headphones (like AirPods) and HDMI simultaneously. When you connect AirPods via Bluetooth, it routes all audio to them, muting the HDMI output to your soundbar. This is a deliberate design limitation in tvOS to avoid audio sync issues, echoes, or latency problems between Bluetooth (which can have delays) and wired HDMI audio. It's a common frustration for mixed-hearing households, as confirmed across Apple Support docs, community forums, and user reports.
However, there are reliable workarounds to achieve simultaneous audio: one for the hard-of-hearing person via AirPods (with boosted volume/dialogue enhancement) and one for the other person via the soundbar. I'll outline the best options below, prioritized by ease, cost, and audio quality. These assume your AirPods are paired to the Apple TV (Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth) and your soundbar is connected via HDMI ARC/eARC or direct HDMI.
Recommended Solutions
1. Easiest: Use AirPods' Live Listen Feature (No Extra Hardware Needed)
This turns your iPhone into a remote microphone that streams amplified audio directly to the AirPods, bypassing the Apple TV's audio routing entirely. The soundbar continues playing normally via HDMI. It's ideal for the hard-of-hearing person, as you can boost dialogue and reduce background noise in real-time.
Steps:
Pros: Free, wireless, low latency, supports Spatial Audio. Works with AirPods Pro (best for hearing aid-like features) or standard AirPods.
Cons: Requires the iPhone nearby; ambient pickup might include some room noise (mitigate by placing it close to the TV).
Why it works: Live Listen operates independently of Apple TV's Bluetooth, so HDMI audio to the soundbar stays active.
Here is the feedback from Grok, option #1 seems the easiest!
Apple TV 4K does not natively support splitting audio output to Bluetooth headphones (like AirPods) and HDMI simultaneously. When you connect AirPods via Bluetooth, it routes all audio to them, muting the HDMI output to your soundbar. This is a deliberate design limitation in tvOS to avoid audio sync issues, echoes, or latency problems between Bluetooth (which can have delays) and wired HDMI audio. It's a common frustration for mixed-hearing households, as confirmed across Apple Support docs, community forums, and user reports.
However, there are reliable workarounds to achieve simultaneous audio: one for the hard-of-hearing person via AirPods (with boosted volume/dialogue enhancement) and one for the other person via the soundbar. I'll outline the best options below, prioritized by ease, cost, and audio quality. These assume your AirPods are paired to the Apple TV (Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth) and your soundbar is connected via HDMI ARC/eARC or direct HDMI.
Recommended Solutions
1. Easiest: Use AirPods' Live Listen Feature (No Extra Hardware Needed)
This turns your iPhone into a remote microphone that streams amplified audio directly to the AirPods, bypassing the Apple TV's audio routing entirely. The soundbar continues playing normally via HDMI. It's ideal for the hard-of-hearing person, as you can boost dialogue and reduce background noise in real-time.
Steps:
Pros: Free, wireless, low latency, supports Spatial Audio. Works with AirPods Pro (best for hearing aid-like features) or standard AirPods.
Cons: Requires the iPhone nearby; ambient pickup might include some room noise (mitigate by placing it close to the TV).
Why it works: Live Listen operates independently of Apple TV's Bluetooth, so HDMI audio to the soundbar stays active.
you don’t.
Apple TV 4K output to AirPods and HDMI simultaneously
