Apple 4K streaming problem

[DaGodfadder]

Hi, I’ve got a strange problem.

I have an LG C9 and an Apple 4K box. Weirdly, whenever I stream 4K purchases or rentals from Apple they stream poorly (sometimes the quality isn’t even HD) - but when I switch over to Prime or Disney+ or Netflix, still on the Apple 4K box, the results are always perfect.

Last night I rented a 4K film from Apple for 99 cents (the weekly rental deal) and I was so aggravated by the terrible quality that I rented the same movie from Prime. The difference was obvious. Night and day. Prime was 4K whereas Apple was all over the place.

Sometimes I can get Apple purchases to stream in 4K, but typically the stream has major issues. It’s weird that Apple’s own box would work so well with other apps but not its own.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[JohnAV]

How about giving specifics? What was the 99 cent 4K rental? It might be just a typical HD title upscaled to 4K.

Are you using Apple TV + app and playing content or doing it from iTunes Movies?

We can assume you have your video matching and range matching enabled? Do you have it set to output the menu in Dolby Vision at 4K @ 60Hz?

see Turn on Match Dynamic Range or Match Frame Rate on your Apple TV

Change iTunes movie and TV show settings on Apple TV

Go to Apps > iTunes Movies and TV Shows and do any of the following:

• Change the video resolution for purchases and rentals: By default, you rent, purchase, and play back iTunes videos in the highest resolution possible, which requires a fast internet connection. If you have a slower connection, select Video Resolution and choose Good.
  
  See
• Turn Quick Start on or off: Select Quick Start to begin playing videos instantly in the best resolution available. You can turn this off if your internet connection is slower.
• Note: If Quick Start is turned off, 4K streaming and Dolby Atmos are disabled.
• Watch iTunes Movies and TV Shows in standard definition: Select Limit Purchases and Rentals to SD. If you have a slow internet connection, or want to use less data, turn this setting on.
• Set wish list sorting order: Select Sort Movies in Wish List, then select either By Date or Alphabetically.
• Set favorites sorting order: Select Sort TV Shows in Favorites, then select either By Date or Alphabetically.

Are you running the most current tvOS? You should be using tvOS 15.2 (19K53)

Just because Apple identifies content as 4K for rental, could mean they are merely upscaling from HD to 4K.

see Find movies with 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, or Dolby Atmos in the Apple TV app

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by DaGodfadder

Hi, I’ve got a strange problem.

I have an LG C9 and an Apple 4K box. Weirdly, whenever I stream 4K purchases or rentals from Apple they stream poorly (sometimes the quality isn’t even HD) - but when I switch over to Prime or Disney+ or Netflix, still on the Apple 4K box, the results are always perfect.

Last night I rented a 4K film from Apple for 99 cents (the weekly rental deal) and I was so aggravated by the terrible quality that I rented the same movie from Prime. The difference was obvious. Night and day. Prime was 4K whereas Apple was all over the place.

Sometimes I can get Apple purchases to stream in 4K, but typically the stream has major issues. It’s weird that Apple’s own box would work so well with other apps but not its own.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I would always recommend using ATV 4K box to stream iTunes movies.

Reasons:

1. The bit rate on Apple TV app outside ATV4K box is capped (6-17 Mbps as opposed to 14-31 Mbps).
2. iTunes extras aka special features.
3. Access to alternate cuts.
4. Chapter markers.

I found the built-in Apple TV app on my 77A80J to be a bit flaky based on my extensive testing but YMMV.

[Liquid_Swords]

Originally Posted by lgans316

I would always recommend using ATV 4K box to stream iTunes movies.

Reasons:

1. The bit rate on Apple TV app outside ATV4K box is capped (6-17 Mbps as opposed to 14-31 Mbps).
2. iTunes extras aka special features.
3. Access to alternate cuts.
4. Chapter markers.

I found the built-in Apple TV app on my 77A80J to be a bit flaky based on my extensive testing but YMMV.

Yikes.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by DaGodfadder

Hi, I’ve got a strange problem.

I have an LG C9 and an Apple 4K box. Weirdly, whenever I stream 4K purchases or rentals from Apple they stream poorly (sometimes the quality isn’t even HD) - but when I switch over to Prime or Disney+ or Netflix, still on the Apple 4K box, the results are always perfect.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

My guess is that somehow you limited iTunes playback to SD:

Adjust settings for iTunes movies and TV shows

Open Settings Settings on Apple TV.

Go to Apps > iTunes Movies and TV Shows and do any of the following:

Change the video resolution for purchases and rentals: By default, you rent, purchase, and play back iTunes videos in the highest resolution possible, which requires a fast internet connection. If you have a slower connection, select Video Resolution and choose Good.

Turn Quick Start on or off: Select Quick Start to begin playing videos instantly in the best resolution available. You can turn this off if your internet connection is slower. Note: If Quick Start is turned off, 4K streaming and Dolby Atmos are disabled.

Watch iTunes Movies and TV Shows in standard definition: Select Limit Purchases and Rentals to SD. If you have a slow internet connection, or want to use less data, turn this setting on.

Set wish list sorting order: Select Sort Movies in Wish List, then select either By Date or Alphabetically.

Set favorites sorting order: Select Sort TV Shows in Favorites, then select either By Date or Alphabetically.

[Lozin]

Originally Posted by DaGodfadder

Hi, I’ve got a strange problem.

I have an LG C9 and an Apple 4K box. Weirdly, whenever I stream 4K purchases or rentals from Apple they stream poorly (sometimes the quality isn’t even HD) - but when I switch over to Prime or Disney+ or Netflix, still on the Apple 4K box, the results are always perfect.

Sometimes I can get Apple purchases to stream in 4K, but typically the stream has major issues. It’s weird that Apple’s own box would work so well with other apps but not its own.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I had a similar issue when I was comparing the Itunes digital copy and 4K disc version of Avengers Infinity War, the Itunes version on Apple TV looked very low res pixelated. I run a hardwired connection and everything else was fine so I unplugged the Apple TV for 5 minutes and plugged it back in and the quality was back to normal after that.

[aizazshahud]

dont worry it will be fix by apple