Dolby Atmos not working when using aux cable or third part wired earbuds

Fact is the Apple has introduced Dolby Athmos in  Music for ALL HEADPHONES on indicated IOS devices (option “always on” for Dolby Athmos in Settings-Apple Music.

This worked well until IOS 14.7.1. was released.

Excluding all other headphones than Apple Airpods from Dolby Athmos on IOS devices with 14.7.1. is a BUG and should be fixed asap

[Edited by Moderator] 

No, they’ve said you can listen to Atmos tracks on all headphones, which is correct. What you’re referring to is the treatment of Atmos tracks by the headphone. That is obviously headphone dependent, not all headphones. The indication tells you when the headphones are playing Atmos ball. Pre 14.7.1, if it was giving the all clear for all headphones, that was a bug, now fixed. It’s no longer doing that, which makes sense.

I do understand your disappointment and agree the description can be misleading. As for the tech, it is what it is. Sorry!

Interesting topic. I do agree that the documentation was misleading, although I do find it honorable to make the tech more consistent as Dolby Atmos badge led the typical Apple user to believe he is listening to 3D Audio, since these two are imho too intertwined. And that without talking about the Spacial audio coming to Music to…

Thank you hcsistas, but following your explanations, there are „other headphones“ that worked in Dolby Atmos and some don’t? 

And iOS14.7.1 detects those other (not) working headphones and is therefore (not?) displaying the Dolby Atmos badge?

Sounds very well engineered if at all possible. I do have difficulties believing it. On iOS 14.6 I could force Atmos to my Sony XM3s, which sounded bad and of course nothing close to 3D Audio either. So they obviously did something with it by interpreting it differently than Stereo, but nothing worth listening to.

So that is why Apple decided to not push the Atmos signal to such non compatible headphones, despite the always on setting? Don’t think that’s a lot more intuitive and user friendly than in 14.6 and I agree that both marketing, support docs and toggle in the settings should be clarified. To just state “listen to it on ANY headphone” means it plays but is than of course not Atmos in the end, ouch.

Is there a list of “Dolby Atmos compatible non headphones” available?

Are users following, who can confirm that they are using non headphones with Dolby Atmos on iPhone/iPad and 14.7.1 and on?

That’s correct, the badge depends on digital feedback from the headphone on how it’s treating the Apple Atmos stream. It wasn’t previously, giving a false 👍, but that’s since been corrected. Note that the signal is pushed irrespective to all (any) headphones, and will play in all cases but the audio quality will obviously vary and the badge won’t show. Hence the setting (as you have suggested): if the user knows or finds out the headphone isn’t compatible, Atmos can be turned off/set to auto.

As for Atmos-compatible headphones, all non-Apple headphones IMO should be assumed incompatible unless proven otherwise or confirmed independently by the headphone manufacturer (not Apple). In other words, the non-Apple guys need to upgrade their firmware to support Apple’s Atmos badge protocol, then test and update their literature accordingly. That’ll take time, obviously, and in some cases not happen at all.

Lossless doesn’t have these issues as it’s one way delivery with no handshakes/custom protocol. Which means it’ll work lossless end to end, don’t need statements from anyone. Lossless, it could also be argued, is the real thing, especially if the original recording wasn’t Atmos (i.e. almost all but the latest music). Many audiophiles actually want that instead of post-processed music.

Let’s summarize: If your headphone is non-Apple and Atmos doesn’t work to your satisfaction, switching to Lossless is IMO, the best course of action.

i don’t see the words orgasmic or sounds awesome in any of that mumbo jumbo! I’m just assuming by experiencing it that the speaker cones vibrate 360° and probably need headphones made for Dolby Atmos to get spatial stuff but I assume Apple doesn’t want to discriminate and says it works because there’s a sound quality enhancement as well as spatial stuff. It’s a sound quality you’d get and it probably should work, like they said, for all. It defaults to stereo, no matter “always on” or “automatic” if the device isn’t compatible such as car speakers and home speakers. Headphones should get the better quality. Both versions, Dolby and stereo, stream and download.

Looks like correct behavior- Apple’s Atmos is restricted to certain headphones and no Aux connections. If it worked before, it was probably a false indication, now fixed. Sorry!

👍

Listen to Atmos tracks, sure. What’s your issue, post a separate discussion please.

Plugged in third party headphones after 15.0.2 update and Dolby Atmos logo is there now. No convoluted answers needed, just the music.

Third party Bluetooth headphones work after 15.0.2 update as well.

That‘s great! Bug fixed!

Same here, my 3rd party InEars are playing Dolby Athmos again wirh IOS 15.0.2

Hey Gaucho777 … maybe you should think of trying AirPods or even beats flex (40 bucks now!) to get the immersive experience. You know, just to try, you can always return them.