AppleTV X - I am playing with something new

[Xymox]

The actual written review Dean did is posted on Positive Feedback. There is more coming from them, this is the technical review.

Dejitter it Switch X - Positive Feedback

Dejitter it Switch X networking

positive-feedback.com

 

[Xymox]

I have a JVC NZ8. I just received my apple TVX a few days ago. Im having a hard time getting a good picture. SDR seems to be OK, but anything else is not sharp. Can I ask what settings you have on your NZ9 and your apple TVX?

Make sure to send him a PM as well

 

[Tontoverde]

Make sure to send him a PM as well

I’ll happy to reports that after many hours and experimentation I have my Apple TVX performing as I hoped. I think over 4 days I tried just about every combination of settings. Ultimately on the NZ8 the initial installer had the screen gain set at 1.2. I adjusted it to 1.0 and everything came into line. Picture is great, color is great, and sharpness is great!

 

[Rexp]

Slightly off-topic but does anyone know what the difference between 16 bit and automatic is? Automatic sounds better when connected via toslink to external DAC and Airplay.

 

[msimanyi]

Okay - I'll bite. Are you talking about a setting in the AppleTV-X system or somewhere else? I don't believe AppleTV with 4k supports toslink, which probably underlies my confusion.

And although I'm not the guy to answer, perhaps someone with the right experience can get you an answer with a little more info...

 

[Steve Bruzonsky]

Slightly off-topic but does anyone know what the difference between 16 bit and automatic is? Automatic sounds better when connected via toslink to external DAC and Airplay.

Since the Appletv4k only has HDMI output, I assume you are inputting its HDMI into either a tv or external DAC to convert to toslink?

The Appletv-X (or the 2021 Appletv4k on which it is modded) for audio has stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, or Dolby Atmos in its menu. These are the only choices.

 

[Rexp]

Okay - I'll bite. Are you talking about a setting in the AppleTV-X system or somewhere else? I don't believe AppleTV with 4k supports toslink, which probably underlies my confusion.

And although I'm not the guy to answer, perhaps someone with the right experience can get you an answer with a little more info...

My ATV is the older version, no worries, like I said it was off-topic.

 

[msimanyi]

I'm pretty sure this isn't helpful, but perhaps it strikes a chord for you. It's a 2011 question: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3052331?sortBy=rank

There's also this one, from 2023: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255253982?sortBy=rank

 

[msimanyi]

I tried finding a dedicated thread for the Switch-X product, but no luck. I could *swear* there's one for it though, so please PM me if you know the name of it and I'll delete this post and re-post in that thread.

I am trying to decide which to do first, so let me give a tiny bit of background. I stream from my Grimm MU1 over an AES connection directly to my Lampi Atlantic 3 DAC. I have also added a Mac mini (M4 chip) to my electronics "stack", and it handles not only the Dirac and other software for my Home Theater room correction, but also runs BACCH-DSP for Mac, which operates via Roon Bridge running on the mini, and outputs via USB to my DAC. (The MU1 is a Roon Core.)

For those that haven't heard it, the BACCH-DSP system is... impressive. I have the entry level, and eventually will upgrade that, but for now I primarily listen to my music run through that system.

So... I have two upgrades I'm considering: (1) add an external USB card (JCAT XE Evo: https://jcat.eu/product/usb-card-xe-evo/) connected to the mini via Thunderbolt connection to an external box (https://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo-express-se1-tb3/overview.html), with the expectation this will materially improve the quality of the USB output to the DAC and (2) a Switch-X/Wifi-X setup.

The former likely will considerably improve the BACCH-DSP for Mac playback. The latter will improve both playback methods - Roon playback from the MU1 as well as playback from the mini. In addition, it should improve my audio and video from my AppleTV-X.

The question I have for Switch-X owners is: in your opinion, is the Switch-X a huge improvement in your system, or is it a little more subtle than that? If it's huge - and I think it will be - I'd like to start with it and do the external USB card later.

Thanks for any comments.

 

[dminches]

Can someone post the recommended Apple TV-X settings or post a link to them? I just got a new projector and the 4kHDR picture is so dark compare to 4KSDR. I forgot which setting is recommended and also what to do with match content.

Thanks.

 

[msimanyi]

This isn't what you asked for, but you might read it for the background: https://appletvx.com/HDR.htm