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Hey, AV nerds! I have a question / puzzler for you. The volume controls on my Apple TV don’t work, and I’d like to make them work.

I know •why• the buttons don’t work. 👉You do not need to explain in the replies!👈 What I don’t know is how to fix the problem.

Have I nerd sniped you? Here's the signal chain:

Apple TV
–[HDMI]→ Samsung TV
–[optical SPDIF]→ cheap DAC
–[analog]→ powered speakers

What's the problem? Well…

1/

The Apple TV correctly detects that the TV supports HDMI-CEC, and sends volume commands downstream. The TV, however, refuses to adjust the volume of its optical out, incorrectly assuming that the downstream audio device also has a remote. It doesn’t. Neither the cheap little DAC nor the speakers support a remote of any kind. (The speakers have a physical knob, that’s it.)

Result: volume buttons on the Apple TV remote make the TV say “OPTICAL” and refuse to adjust its volume.

2/

Possible solutions:

1. Make the Apple TV adjust its own output volume. (Apparently impossible?!?)

2. Make the TV adjust its optical audio output volume. (Also apparently impossible?)

3. Get a new audio device either just upstream or just downstream of the DAC that does nothing except respond to a remote control to adjust the volume. (Do such devices exist at non-silly-audiophile prices? What are they called?)

Any suggestions? I figure there must be something out there!

/end

tinydoctor

@inthehands Stop watching TV. Not the solution you’re looking for, but that’s what I did.