Quick Answer
Do not buy Apple TV 4K 2026 expecting Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA bitstream passthrough: Apple has not announced support for it.
Dolby Atmos support does not automatically include TrueHD Atmos from local movie files.
Infuse can decode supported lossless tracks to multichannel PCM, but that does not preserve TrueHD Atmos or DTS:X object metadata.
Plex playback depends on the selected track, app and server conversion—not just the box.
Checked October 14, 2026. This is a documentation-based guide, not a hands-on test of the new hardware.
Does Apple TV 4K 2026 Have Audio Passthrough?
No TrueHD/DTS bitstream passthrough upgrade is confirmed. Apple's published audio list does not establish that capability. The careful buying conclusion is to treat it as unavailable unless Apple or a verified test demonstrates otherwise. Source: Apple technical specifications.
The distinction matters most for local movie libraries connected to an AV receiver. For the broader upgrade decision, see our reasons to skip the 2026 Apple TV upgrade.
What Does Audio Passthrough Actually Mean?
Bitstream passthrough
The player sends an encoded soundtrack to the receiver, which decodes it. For a home-theater buyer, the important question is whether the exact codec and its immersive metadata reach the receiver intact.
Decoding to PCM
The player decodes the soundtrack before HDMI output. PCM describes the output format; it does not tell you whether the source was lossless, lossy or converted earlier.
Transcoding
A server or player converts audio to another format. Conversion to a lossy format differs from lossless decoding to PCM. Avoid treating every conversion as the same process.
Plex separates Direct Play, Direct Stream and transcoding in its playback overview. These describe the server-to-client path; they are not a guarantee of a particular HDMI bitstream.
Dolby Atmos Streaming vs Dolby TrueHD Atmos
The same Atmos label can describe different delivery paths
Atmos can accompany different underlying audio formats. A streaming soundtrack and a disc-derived TrueHD soundtrack should not be assumed to behave identically. Check the selected track rather than the movie poster or service badge.
Firecore specifically documents E-AC3 Atmos support in Infuse, while TrueHD Atmos and DTS:X remain outside its documented immersive-audio support. That limitation is separate from ordinary surround playback. Source: Firecore audio capabilities.
Apple also documents Dolby MAT output. A receiver reporting MAT or Atmos does not prove that a TrueHD bitstream was forwarded unchanged. Source: Apple audio settings.
Which Audio Formats Are Supported?
Apple’s native specification
Apple lists Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Atmos, alongside formats including FLAC and Apple Lossless. It does not list TrueHD or DTS bitstream passthrough. The absence is a purchase limitation to verify, rather than proof that no third-party app can play those files.
Check Apple's full format list. Hardware specifications and third-party decoding capabilities answer different questions.
TrueHD and DTS-HD MA through Infuse
With the appropriate Infuse features, supported lossless tracks can be decoded to LPCM. Firecore documents output up to 7.1 channels, 24-bit and 48kHz; higher sample rates are converted. This preserves supported channel-based audio, without adding the missing immersive metadata.
Firecore explains the LPCM output limits; its Infuse product page lists codec support and Pro features.
Why Does Plex Transcode Audio on Apple TV?
Your library may contain a video stream the client can play and an audio stream it cannot use directly. That can trigger audio conversion without necessarily requiring video conversion. Container compatibility, subtitles, quality limits and available bandwidth can also affect the session.
Do not promise that every TrueHD file takes one fixed Plex path. Check the current client version and the actual playback session. A Direct Play label alone does not establish receiver-side TrueHD or DTS:X decoding.
Check the session before changing equipment
Open the Plex Dashboard during playback. Record the selected audio codec, whether audio and video are each playing directly or converting, and the receiver’s input format. Compare the same file with an alternative audio track, changing one variable at a time.
The Plex streaming overview is the starting point for understanding the server's decisions. It is not a new-model TrueHD compatibility test.
Can Infuse Fix TrueHD or DTS Playback?
Infuse is an alternative player that can connect to a Plex library; you do not have to abandon your library organization to evaluate a different playback engine. Firecore also lists Jellyfin, Emby and network-share connections.
Its broader codec support can make it useful when your priority is playing local files. Some capabilities require Infuse Pro. Choose it for the supported playback path, rather than expecting it to unlock every receiver format.
Source: Infuse features and supported servers. Its audio documentation still separates E-AC3 Atmos from unsupported TrueHD Atmos and DTS:X; changing apps is not evidence of a new HDMI capability.
Why Does My Receiver Show PCM Instead of Dolby or DTS?
A PCM label alone is not a fault. It can mean that decoding happened before the signal reached your receiver. Conversely, PCM output cannot restore information already discarded by a lossy conversion.
Inspect the input channel count and the playback app's selected track. Do not confuse the receiver's listening mode or upmixer with the incoming format. An upmixed height effect is not confirmation that the original soundtrack's object metadata survived.
Does eARC Fix Apple TV Audio Passthrough?
eARC cannot add a codec output that the player does not provide. It transports audio from a television to a compatible receiver or soundbar. The player, TV, return channel and audio system must all handle the chosen signal.
If audio is missing or limited, compare a direct HDMI connection to the receiver with the TV-to-eARC route, where your equipment permits it. That isolates the TV's handling; it does not unlock TrueHD passthrough inside tvOS.
Start with Apple's automatic audio selection. Forcing Dolby Digital 5.1 is a compatibility fallback that re-encodes the sound; it is not a lossless-audio upgrade. Source: Apple audio configuration.
Should Plex and Home-Theater Users Buy the 2026 Model?
Mainly watch streaming services
Judge the box by your apps, reliable playback and control preferences. A missing disc-audio feature may have little bearing on the content you actually watch.
Want lossless channel-based local audio
Evaluate a supported decoder-to-PCM workflow using representative files and your receiver. Confirm the output channels and avoid unnecessary lossy conversion.
Require TrueHD Atmos or DTS:X bitstreams
Do not purchase the 2026 model on the assumption that a faster processor solves this requirement. Demand explicit codec support and a verified test using the exact app and output path you intend to use.
For the confirmed hardware changes, read our Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 comparison. Our $299 buying guide addresses the wider value question.
ZEERA's verdict: the new box is not a confirmed solution to the TrueHD/DTS passthrough problem. Buy for a documented capability that solves your own playback requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an MKV file always require transcoding?
No. MKV is a container. The video, selected audio, subtitles and client compatibility determine the playback path.
Will selecting a Dolby Digital track help a difficult Plex file play?
It may offer a more compatible path. Check the session afterward; selecting an alternative track changes what you are listening to and does not preserve the original TrueHD Atmos presentation.
Does HDMI 2.1 guarantee TrueHD or DTS:X passthrough?
No. A port version does not confirm a player's codec support, app behavior or enabled audio output modes.
Is a Dolby Atmos light on my receiver enough to verify the file?
No. Compare the selected source track with the receiver's input information. Apple notes that Continuous Audio can affect how receivers identify the incoming signal.
Could a future tvOS update add more audio options?
That requires an announcement or verified implementation. Do not base today's purchase on an unconfirmed future feature.
Sources and Verification
Checked October 14, 2026. Apple sources establish the announced hardware and audio settings. Firecore documents its own player. Plex documentation explains general playback decisions. The new hardware has not been tested by ZEERA for this article; buying recommendations are editorial judgments.
- Apple: Apple TV 4K technical specifications
- Apple: October 2026 announcement
- Apple: Dolby Atmos and surround configuration
- Firecore: Audio Options & Capabilities
- Firecore: Infuse features
- Plex: Direct Play, Direct Stream and transcoding overview
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