TVOS 18.5: Improvements in the Dolby Atmos Replica

Apple submitted the package insert for the TVOS 18.5 published this week. In addition to various resolved security gaps, there is also a functional renewal for the multimedia box Apple TV. It is about supporting the surround sound protocol Dolby Atmos, which enables spatial audio for movies.

Subsequent synchronization also possible for the first time

Like Apple in his Release Notes writesDolby Atmos is now reproduced synchronized via AirPlay and Bluetooth. There is also a new feature called Wireless Audio Sync, which can be found in the settings for video and audio.

This makes it possible for the first time to remedy the situation with delays between the image and sound. If both went apart, you could only try to restart your hardware (both speakers and/or receiver and Apple TV) and hope that the problem will resolve. With TVOS 18.5 there is now a separate function for post -synchronization.

Only switch to Dolby 5.1 beforehand

It is commendable that it works for both Apple’s in-house streaming protocol and for Blueooth speakers. Accordingly, you are not forced to only rely on AirPlay. In cases of incorrect synchronization, users have so far found that dialogues and other audio signals were slightly asynchronous to the reproduced content, which could be found well in lip movements, for example. By switching to 5.1 surround sound, the problem could be remedied, but most users didn’t want that-after all, Dolby Atmos offers better sound and you also bought more expensive hardware.

It is unclear why Apple took so long to implement the subsequent synchronization – Atmos has been supported for a long time. How well the function in practice works is still unclear – we were not yet able to try it out live. Apple recently had trouble about AirPlay: security researchers had discovered heavy gaps in the streaming protocol, which led to external devices. Apple distributed updates that many consumer electronics companies have not yet implemented.