Recent searches
Search options
Administered by:
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. 
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
@inthehands Stop watching TV. Not the solution you’re looking for, but that’s what I did.