Question Why is streaming sound quality so bad compared to a disc? Is there anyway of making it sound better?

[R2D2]

On Apple TV for example I have to turn the volume right up for it to sound ok still not great though. If everything is going streaming surely there is a way to improve the sound quality? Can you Stream DTS:X? Dolby Atmos you have to turn the volume right up. Most of the music concerts I have bought on Apple are Dolby 5.1 I would like a higher quality than that, is it possible?

 

[Messiah]

Personally I find streaming to be pretty good but I don't use Apple TV so I am not sure why you need such a volume increase (is that compared to Blu-Ray?).

The amount of bandwidth needed to stream HD/4K picture AND uncompressed audio for several channels is high so streaming services do compress it considerably.

The following article shows Blu-Ray runs up to 128mbps compared to streaming at 17mbps so I'm not surprised streaming services will look/sound inferior.

I watched a 4K Blu-ray for the first time in years – and was left disappointed

The good, the bad and the disappointing when it comes to 4K discs vs 4K streaming

www.whathifi.com

 

[davidf]

Because it's all based on Dolby Digital, something Laserdisc and DVD was using 30 years ago. Even Dolby Atmos used Dolby Digital as a base layer.

As for picture, modern, digitally shot films can look good because they're such clean digital captures, but can be a bit of a different story with movies shot on film, especially older ones. Either way, streaming is highly compressed compared to UHD discs and even Blu-ray Discs.

 

[davidf]

Personally I find streaming to be pretty good but I don't use Apple TV so I am not sure why you need such a volume increase (is that compared to Blu-Ray?).

The amount of bandwidth needed to stream HD/4K picture AND uncompressed audio for several channels is high so streaming services do compress it considerably.

The following article shows Blu-Ray runs up to 128mbps compared to streaming at 17mbps so I'm not surprised streaming services will look/sound inferior.

I watched a 4K Blu-ray for the first time in years – and was left disappointed

The good, the bad and the disappointing when it comes to 4K discs vs 4K streaming

www.whathifi.com

Not sure what player he has (I skimmed the piece), but my old Panasonic BD65 is painfully slow, but it's over 20 years old, and my Sony BDP-5000ES isn't exactly zippy. My Sony X800m2 is fine.

 

[abacus]

As mentioned it is all down to bandwidth, which cost company's a lot of money. (There is no technical reason why they cant be as good as physical disc)

Bill

 

[davidf]

As mentioned it is all down to bandwidth, which cost company's a lot of money. (There is no technical reason why they cant be as good as physical disc)

Bill

And they'll always use the bare minimum they can get away with, as most people don't care.

 

[daytona600]

Like all things in life , can be better if you have the Budget !

Apple 4K Average 25–30 Mbps
Bluray 4k Average 30-45 Mbps
Kaleidscapes Average 65-100 Mbs basically Commercial cinema
Main drawback £20-35 per film & £4,000 to £20,000 for the video streamer

Kaleidescape Movie Store

Browse, buy & download movies directly to your Kaleidescape system. With thousands of titles to choose from, you'll find something for everyone in your family.

www.kaleidescape.com

 

[Shrek]

On Apple TV for example I have to turn the volume right up for it to sound ok still not great though. If everything is going streaming surely there is a way to improve the sound quality? Can you Stream DTS:X? Dolby Atmos you have to turn the volume right up. Most of the music concerts I have bought on Apple are Dolby 5.1 I would like a higher quality than that, is it possible?

Are you using the Apple TV App or the streamer ? if you are using the streamer go to settings set audio format to Auto make sure reduce loud sounds is off. Im not sure if the settings are the same on the App.Ifind the sound excellent .

 

[R2D2]

Personally I find streaming to be pretty good but I don't use Apple TV so I am not sure why you need such a volume increase (is that compared to Blu-Ray?).

The amount of bandwidth needed to stream HD/4K picture AND uncompressed audio for several channels is high so streaming services do compress it considerably.

The following article shows Blu-Ray runs up to 128mbps compared to streaming at 17mbps so I'm not surprised streaming services will look/sound inferior.

I watched a 4K Blu-ray for the first time in years – and was left disappointed

The good, the bad and the disappointing when it comes to 4K discs vs 4K streaming

www.whathifi.com

Yes, compared to Blu-ray, Apple Music and Sky.

 

[R2D2]

Are you using the Apple TV App or the streamer ? if you are using the streamer go to settings set audio format to Auto make sure reduce loud sounds is off. Im not sure if the settings are the same on the App.Ifind the sound excellent .

Apple TV App. I will have a look in a minute, just finishing my coffee.

 

[R2D2]

Are you using the Apple TV App or the streamer ? if you are using the streamer go to settings set audio format to Auto make sure reduce loud sounds is off. Im not sure if the settings are the same on the App.Ifind the sound excellent .

I still haven’t tried this yet, I keep forgetting! Later I will do though. Thanks. 👍

I really need to sort my streaming sound out.

 

[R2D2]

Just tried I can’t see anything in the App, I haven’t got to buy the streamer have I?

WHF are stating this Apple streamer has good sound quality but compared to what?

The Apple TV 4K is comfortably the best streamer, but only if you change these settings

Change these picture settings to get the ultimate picture experience

www.whathifi.com

 

[R2D2]

So I can buy this Apple streamer refurbished from Apple and it’s ok to return if the sound is no good:

Refurbished Apple TV 4K 64GB (3rd Generation) Wi-Fi - Apple (UK)

Discover award-winning Apple Original series and films — with other favourites on Disney+, Prime Video, Netflix, HBO Max, ESPN1 and more. Experience world‑class workouts, super-fun games and exciting ways to enjoy hit music you’ll find only from Apple. And explore thousands of other top apps in...

www.apple.com

What do you think guys and ladies?

 

[R2D2]

Seems the same price on Amazon brand new.

 

[abacus]

Apple TV 4K only has digital out, therefore the sound will be determined on what it is connected to, NOT by the box itself.

Bill

 

[R2D2]

Apple TV 4K only has digital out, therefore the sound will be determined on what it is connected to, NOT by the box itself.

Bill

Thanks Bill. I really appreciate it. 👍

 

[Shrek]

Seems the same price on Amazon brand new.

On Apple TV for example I have to turn the volume right up for it to sound ok still not great though. If everything is going streaming surely there is a way to improve the sound quality? Can you Stream DTS:X? Dolby Atmos you have to turn the volume right up. Most of the music concerts I have bought on Apple are Dolby 5.1 I would like a higher quality than that, is it possible?

Hi R2D2 here is a small insight into Apple TV Streamer for you and how you can fine tune the sound and picture Hi res needs to be turned on is just the start the platform is brilliant i believe there is a new one out soon.

worth every penny .Good luck .

 

[R2D2]

Hi R2D2 here is a small insight into Apple TV Streamer for you and how you can fine tune the sound and picture Hi res needs to be turned on is just the start the platform is brilliant i believe there is a new one out soon.

worth every penny .Good luck .

Thanks for the reply and pictures. I don’t have a Dolby Atmos setup and I am thinking the next sound will be Dolby Digital 5.1 unfortunately.

 

[Shrek]

Thanks for the reply and pictures. I don’t have a Dolby Atmos setup and I am thinking the next sound will be Dolby Digital 5.1 unfortunately.

you can set the streamer to 5.1 has well in the settings this turns the Atmos off.

 

[R2D2]

you can set the streamer to 5.1 has well in the settings this turns the Atmos off.

Same as the App then.

 

[davidf]

I don't know if it's sorted, but the Apple TV box had a habit of reverting back to the previously used settings when choosing to watch something. So the idiot May not be correct, or the HDR was incorrect. Big thing about it in the product thread on a certain AV forum...