How to play music to the Amplifier using Apple TV and not having the TV screen on?

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Level 1

4 points

How to play music to the Amplifier using Apple TV and not having the TV screen on?

I have an older Apple TV with an optical out, which means I can play music from my iPhone to the Apple TV and then optical out to the Stereo so I don't have the TV playing to get music, which is what you want when you're having people over for dinner or having a party.

Has anyone achieved this through the new Apple TVs which only have HDMI out, meaning you have to go into the TV and then optical out to the stereo? Under no circumstances do I want the TV to be on and ruining a dark dance floor. Can the Apple TV go into the TV and then out to the amp without the TV screen blasting light into the room?

Apple TV App,

Posted on Dec 26, 2022 3:35 PM

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Answer 1

beeclarke Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 26, 2022 7:15 PM in response to beeclarke

That was not the question. Optical audio on the 3rd gen Apple TV is brilliant and always works. If I get a new Apple TV can I play music through my Amplifier and not have the TV turned on? Or at least have the TV screen off, if I’m playing music I do not want to have the TV ruin the lighting at dinner time or a party. Currently the older system with optical audio out allows me to go straight to my amp and control the Apple TV from my phone. Can the latest Apple TV play music through HDMI to the TV and then out to the amp using optical audio?

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Answer 2

beeclarke Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 28, 2022 4:33 PM in response to hcsitas

That’s a real shame. I use Apple Music and I have no good way now to get music to the stereo. I’ll have to hang onto my older Apple TV with optical audio out. Apple should address this for future models.

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Answer 3

hcsitas

Level 6

12,902 points

Dec 27, 2022 12:27 AM in response to beeclarke

It can’t was @Rudegar’s point.

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Answer 4

Rudegar

Level 10

174,006 points

Dec 26, 2022 4:58 PM in response to beeclarke

it used to work with the first generation but people have since reported that optical is muted unless an active hdmi connection is seen at bootup of the appletv

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Answer 5

Rudegar

Level 10

174,006 points

Dec 28, 2022 4:37 PM in response to beeclarke

you can get an old airport express they connect to wifi and have a 3.5mm minijack connector and support airplay 2

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How to play music to the Amplifier using Apple TV and not having the TV screen on?

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