Bluetooth audio tools are changing a lot so as to improve their users’ experience at a more affordable price compared to other wireless devices. Together with TVs, you can even get a higher level of satisfaction about both viewing and listening.
Therefore, Apple has made much progress to combine this feature with many ranges of products. But how about Apple TV? Does Apple TV have Bluetooth audio?
Further reading: The Best HDMI Splitter for Apple TV
Does Apple TV have Bluetooth audio?
Except for Apple TV 3rd generation, it is simple for customers to listen to audio via Bluetooth devices on your Apple TV. However, Apple also offers another for viewers to use Bluetooth audio function with Apple TV gen 3.
To be more specific, Bluetooth speakers can not be supported on Apple TV gen 3. The only Bluetooth device available for this version is a wireless keyboard. In case you still want to listen to Bluetooth audio, you have to pair your devices directly to your TV or audio-video receiver (AV receiver).
The Bluetooth audio technology
Audio firms around the world have developed several codecs of Bluetooth so as to improve their sound quality through various wireless devices. Here are the popular audio codecs applied in Bluetooth devices nowadays:
- SBC: It can be found in any Bluetooth device. It is compulsory for any A2DP-accepted devices.
- AAC: It is used commonly for Apple products. Even though it can give a great sound quality, it consumes so much power which can have a negative influence on the battery life of your devices.
- aptX: It is given in Qualcomm Bluetooth chips. In spite of its popularity in many Android products, it is never available for any Apple device.
- aptX HD: This is a better version of aptX with a higher transmission capacity.
- aptX low latency (aptX LL): This codec is famous for tablet users which brings them better sound quality except for Ipads. Like other aptX, it is not supported by Apple products.
- aptX Adaptive: Companies start to apply this new codec for their products recently. It is able to manipulate its operation automatically to give the best combination of audio quality, low latency, and sustainable transmission.
- LDAC: It is one of the highly promising products from Sony. Several Android devices are now supporting it but not in the case of Apple devices. To use this codec, you have to turn it on within the settings of the developer. In return, you can get a faster speed of transferring data compared to those of SBC.
- LHDC: It is developed by Hi-Res Wireless Audio (HWA) Union and Savitech. In fact, it is more famous for low latency even rather than aptX LL indicated above.
- Low Complexity Communication Codec (LC3): It can be known as a part of the latest Bluetooth LE standard launched in the Consumer Electronic Show in 2020. It is expected to give customers better sound quality compared to SBC together with longer battery life in the near future.
Is Bluetooth audio available on Apple TV?
In fact, there are just 2 Bluetooth audio codecs mentioned above available on Apple TV gen 4 or later, including SBC and AAC. Among these two codecs, AAC is the one that receives much more preference from Apple users.
However, unlike some Android devices, you will not be able to change the codec in use into another one that you want or make other settings. The Apple TV box has no options for these adjustments. Therefore, you should choose the right products with suitable designs so that they can function well with your Apple TV box.
With Apple TV gen 4 or Apple TV HD, you can connect many different types of Bluetooth audio devices to your Apple TV. And Apple also offers you to pair up to two Bluetooth devices to your Apple TV at the same time. Thus, you can share your program with your family or friends easier without any noise interruption from the outside.
Some questions related to the Bluetooth audio connection on Apple TV
Does the Apple TV box have Bluetooth?
Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology are supported by Apple TV gen 4 and Apple TV 4K respectively. In case you want to get a higher quality as well as greater battery life, you should use wireless devices running at least Bluetooth 4.0. However, it does not mean that you can not pair any older kinds of devices.
Can Apple TV gen 2 connect to a Bluetooth speaker?
Unfortunately, Bluetooth function is not available on Apple TV 2nd generation. So you can not pair any Bluetooth audio devices to your Apple TV box. But in case you still want, you can get other options such as pairing your Bluetooth equipment to your main devices instead of an Apple TV box.
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Final thoughts
In spite of some drawbacks, with Bluetooth audio option, you can optimize your experience of your movies, games, etc without any noise or outside interruption on your Apple TV.
Based on customers’ experiences, Bluetooth audio technology has improved itself with newer codecs. With Apple TV, you can connect Bluetooth audio devices which support SBC or AAC.
It is very simple to listen to the audio via Bluetooth with later versions of the Apple TV box including Apple TV gen 4 and 4K. For older generations, you have to have connections through other indirect ways.
