Desire for a single, technical enhancement in the upcoming Apple TV 4K remains, yet expectations of acceptance from Apple are slim due to its specialized nature.
The Apple TV 4K remains my go-to streaming device, beating out competitors like the PS5, Xbox Series X, and even my Sky Stream Puck. It's not just the stellar picture and sound quality that wins me over, but the convenience of using AirPods Max for late-night sessions without disturbing the family.
Apple's Spatial Audio, particularly through the AirPods Max, gets ridiculously close to the cinematic Dolby Atmos experience - so close, in fact, that it embarrasses the Xbox Series X and PS5's audio processing!
Now, here's where things get interesting. I can't help but dream of an Apple TV 4K equipped with multiple HDMI inputs. Imagine being able to connect all of your sources to one device and enjoy Spatial Audio throughout.
It seems that Apple could potentially achieve this using the existing eARC support, which allows sources to be routed through a TV and out to the Apple TV. However, making this work with AirPods may prove tricky.
A compact Apple TV device that handles HDMI switching and everything else it already does would be a dream come true. Reducing cable spaghetti would be an added bonus!
But alas, cables just aren't hip. A single input with passthrough might be more likely, though I can't picture Tim Cook unveiling a device filled with HDMI sockets.
However, if Apple doesn't deliver something like this with the next Apple TV 4K, I'm stumped about what other improvements they could possibly make. The current model is still the best standalone streamer, and it's hard to think of ways to significantly enhance it.
There have been whispers about an Apple-branded Dolby Atmos soundbar with integrated streaming smarts for years, but the possibility of its release seems to dwindle with each passing year.
So, Apple, if you're listening, give me the HDMI inputs I'm yearning for. It's high time I used Spatial Audio for everything!
For more, check out our Apple TV 4K review, see my Apple TV 4K Dolby Atmos hack, and read about my experience switching to Sky Stream.
[1] No current information indicates that the next Apple TV 4K will include HDMI inputs for connecting multiple sources.
[2] The Apple TV 4K supports high-quality audio processing yet does not function as an audio switcher with multiple HDMI inputs.
[5] The Apple TV’s HDMI port supports ARC and eARC functions, which enable audio from other sources connected to the TV to be output through the Apple TV, but it does not include multiple HDMI input ports for the Apple TV itself.
- The Apple TV 4K, despite its superior streaming capabilities and impressive audio quality, currently lacks multiple HDMI inputs for connecting various sources.
- Although the Apple TV 4K offers impressive audio processing, it doesn't function as an audio switcher with multiple HDMI inputs.
- The Apple TV's HDMI port supports ARC and eARC functions, but it doesn't include multiple HDMI input ports for the Apple TV itself.
- The dream of a compact Apple TV device handling HDMI switching and all its current functionalities, along with reducing cable spaghetti, remains just that - a dream.
- It's unlikely that Apple will unveil a device filled with HDMI sockets, given the current trend towards single inputs with passthrough.
- In the absence of HDMI inputs in the next Apple TV 4K, it's challenging to envision what other significant improvements Apple could potentially bring to the device, as the current model is already considered the best standalone streamer.
