macOS Sequoia Brings Dolby Atmos HDMI Passthrough for Enhanced Audio Quality on External Devices

With the developer preview of macOS Sequoia, several Apple first-party applications now feature a new HDMI Passthrough functionality. This exciting update allows the transmission of uncompressed Dolby Atmos audio signals to connected external receivers or speakers, promising an unmatched auditory experience.

Dubbed HDMI Passthrough, this feature must be activated within the apps, including Apple TV, Apple Music, and QuickTime Player, among others. Apple's introduction of this feature aims to enable users to leverage HDMI Passthrough for playing audio in supported Dolby Atmos and other Dolby audio formats when connected to compatible devices.

In essence, if the source content being played supports Dolby Atmos or any other Dolby audio format, turning on HDMI Passthrough ensures that the external playback device receives the full digital signal. This allows for decoding and re-outputting immersive Dolby Atmos audio without any loss.

However, it's essential for users' external playback devices, such as AV receivers (audio/video receivers) or speakers, to support Dolby audio format decoding. Otherwise, playback might occur at the highest bitrate supported by the device.

Although it's currently unclear whether this feature will also be supported in tvOS 18, the inclusion in macOS Sequoia suggests a likely extension to Apple TV in the future. This would be equally beneficial for Apple TV users, offering improved audio quality when connected to Dolby Atmos-supported televisions or playback systems.