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

You’ve gotten extra decisions than ever earlier than in 2025 in terms of choosing out a brand new streaming machine. Apple, Google, Roku, and Amazon are the heavy hitters, and you need to perform some research earlier than deciding to tug the set off on one thing.

I’ve a Roku Extremely, Roku Streaming Stick, Amazon Fireplace 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 take advantage of in my front room, which doubles as my essential 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 advantageous, which is nice for folks paying for the costliest tiers of Max and Netflix, however there are extra audio codecs than that.

It is exhausting to imagine that in 2025 a high-end machine just like the Apple TV 4K does not have primary audio passthrough, however that is the world we reside in. If Apple’s subsequent machine does not include this feature, I do not assume I am going to persist with the Apple TV 4K. To me, it is inexcusable that we do not have it by default on any new streaming machine.

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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 dwelling 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 somewhat extra critically than most. That is what makes Apple’s streaming field not passing audio via to my receiver much more annoying. The way in which it really works now could be the audio is routinely dealt with by the Apple TV 4K, and which means it could possibly 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 providers 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, however it as an alternative exhibits on my receiver as “Multi In.” My receiver does its greatest to get all of the audio to the proper audio system after the Apple TV 4K does the conversion, however it’d be a lot better if it may simply deal with the job with out the Apple TV 4K getting concerned. I haven’t got this drawback once I pop issues into my 4K Blu-ray participant because it lets my receiver do the heavy lifting, however it’s a frequent challenge once I stream content material.

There are such a lot of different choices on the market that can handle 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 challenge. Certain, there are no intrusive adverts 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 may need to take a couple of minutes and swap the 2 gadgets. If Apple pronounces the 4th-gen Apple TV 4K and there is not any audio passthrough, I would simply decide up one other Roku Extremely since I am a fan of it already.

I am not locked into the Apple ecosystem like different folks could be, so I will not have any second ideas about ditching the Apple TV 4K. It is the one Apple machine I personal, and switching to a Roku would open up the flexibility to solid via my Google Dwelling gadgets. It is all the time good to have quality-of-life updates like that, so audio is not the one place I’d see upgrades. I am not absolutely able to make the leap, but when Apple’s new machine comes out with audio passthrough, then this first-gen mannequin will probably 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 take a position deeper of their ecosystem for the perfect expertise, and that is no completely different for Apple. Sadly, I haven’t got an iPhone or iPad, and even AirPods, so I am leaving lots on the desk. Even primary options like discovering a misplaced distant are locked behind the necessity to have an iPhone. Then again, Roku is much extra forgiving in that space. A part of it could be the truth that Roku does not have the strong ecosystem that Apple does, however it’s nonetheless good to see an organization not punishing me for not absolutely shopping for in. Roku works nicely with Apple merchandise, however it 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 you must pay $150 for the premium Apple TV 4K so as 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 choose up extra Apple merchandise down the road. When you do not, you continue to get a completely useful field, however do not count on to get probably the most out of it with out having an iPhone on the naked minimal.

When different firms supply aggressive merchandise, and on this case, for cheaper costs, it is exhausting to disregard. All issues thought of, Roku merely matches into my dwelling ecosystem higher than the Apple TV 4K. If Apple does not supply much more with the next-generation Apple TV 4K, I simply do not see how I can justify choosing one up. Certain, it would nonetheless be the perfect 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 believe it is nonetheless value it. I’ve little question Apple may make a strong streaming field, however I want they’d take a few additional notes from different firms to make it even higher.

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