Living Room Tech: Apple Tv and Audio Receivers

With the release of the 4th generation Apple Tv, many Hi-Def Audiophiles were left in the wind when they realized Apple had removed the Optical SPDIF audio output from the Apple Tv.

Many people with high end Audio systems that relied on the Optical output to connect the Apple Tv to their equipment were left wondering why Apple would leave them in the cold like this.

The main reasons, were cost and actual numbers. Basically, it would have added extra cost to a device which was already expensive enough, and Apple simply did not feel they could recoup the cost form the limited number of people that actually use the SPDIF out in previous models.

But fear not, all is not lost. There are a few ways you can still use that expensive high end audio equipment, and we will explore them here.

#1. Get a new Home theater or audio receiver that supports HDMI

This is basically: the replace your equipment or add an extra piece scenario

You'll need to go out and find a new receiver that can take HDMI input as its source. Things like the Yamaha RX-V479.

Alternatively, you may want to find something that offers an optical SPDIF audio output such as the Octava 4x1 HDMI Switch with Optical Output and chain it from the Apple TV to your current optical audio receiver. These however can be very expensive. And add complexity to home theater setup.

#2 The HDMI decoupler / splitter option.

These are little interface boxes you can place between the Apple Tv 4th gen and your high end audio receiver, and will split or decouple the audio stream for the HDMI video stream, enabling you to pipe it to your receiver's optical audio input. One such option is the Panlong HDMI Audio Extractor

#3. Use your TV's optical out.

Most HD TVs today include an optical SPDIF audio output option. You can plug your Apple Tv directly into an HDMI port on the Tv, and your high end audio receiver into the optical audio output of your TV. This is the easiest, and cheapest option. Since all you really need is the SPDIF cable from the Tv to the receiver.

So if you still have a high end optical audio receiver you want to keep using, or you are looking for options to use with the new 4th Generation Apple Tv, there are options out there for almost any setup.

Amazon Links for the above products: