If you’re serious about your home theater setup, this is the streaming box you need

Although nothing quite matches the big screen at a movie theater, you can come close at home with the right setup. The biggest thing you need is a projector that can stretch your screen size out, but that’s not the only important thing. Sound is a major factor that shouldn’t be forgotten about. Whether it’s a soundbar or an actual speaker setup, just about anything is better than using your projector or TV speakers.

Many high-end soundbars have Dolby Atmos support, and while they don’t compare to the real-deal setup, it’s close enough for a lot of people. Unfortunately, there has been a problem with Dolby Atmos output for Apple TV 4K owners, mainly an audio sync issue that could become very frustrating. More specifically, people with wireless setups involving HomePods would often run into problems where the sound is noticeably off, and it was better to just not use Atmos at all. The latest tvOS update fixed this, and with this change, it further cements Apple’s lead for home theaters. At this point, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to have an Apple TV 4K paired with your home theater.

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Apple TV 4K positions itself as a high-end streaming device, and that makes perfect sense considering it’s the most expensive option on the market. The Apple TV 4K comes in two models, $130 and $150 respectively, and that puts it above both the Roku Ultra and Google TV Streamer. In an effort to justify the cost, Apple keeps on sending out updates to the Apple TV 4K, and I’d say they are starting to pay off.

Having Dolby Atmos available with wireless speakers opens up all sorts of possibilities, and it’s a huge win. If you’re using AirPlay-compatible speakers, like HomePods, you don’t even need to have a receiver for the best sound. This saves you a lot of money in the long run, but you’ll likely still want that receiver for content you’re not watching on your Apple TV 4K. Atmos is widely considered to be the best audio format around, so seeing a nagging issue fixed is a big deal. If you pay for the most expensive tiers of most streaming services, you’ll get access to it. This includes Disney+, HBO Max, and Netflix, so you’re getting a big upgrade here.

On top of the audio fix, the Apple TV 4K has support for many different aspect ratios. This is good for projector owners because you’re not just limited to the regular 16:9 that fits most TVs. You could really get your home theater feeling like a real theater with a different aspect ratio. The downside here is you need a third-generation Apple TV 4K to take advantage of any of this. Sadly, I’m still sitting on a first-gen model, so I don’t get the benefits. These still cost $130 or $150, so it’s a pretty penny to upgrade, but it could be worthwhile if you have a setup that can benefit from it.

At the end of the day, no other streamer is doing it quite like Apple. For the vast majority of viewers, a cheaper device or even a streaming stick would work just fine, but Apple isn’t going after that type of consumer. The Apple TV 4K appeals the most to enthusiasts looking to get the most out of their viewing, and I’d say it delivers in a big way. It’s not a perfect device by any means, but nothing is. There are still many things I’d like to see Apple do — audio passthrough is near the very top of my list — but even without it, the Apple TV is arguably the best device.

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Don’t get me wrong, I love that Apple is focusing on this niche of owners because it makes it feel like there’s a real reason to grab an Apple TV 4K over the rest of the competition. However, I wonder if there’s a problem that Apple is targeting this range. Despite how cool it is to turn your living room into a home theater, the reality is that most people don’t do anything of the sort.

When nobody is buying a product, it’s common for the company to discontinue said product. I don’t know if Apple is thinking about doing that, but I find it interesting that a new generation of Apple TVs hasn’t been announced yet. The third generation was released back in 2022, so we’ve waited longer than we ever have before for a new product. That could be the writing on the wall, or it could be Apple thinking there’s nothing worth upgrading. I don’t know what the line of thinking is, but it has me mildly concerned. If a large chunk of the population is fine with a Roku Streaming Stick, it doesn’t leave a good spot for the Apple TV 4K. I’ve already talked about how Apple should try to target the budget-conscious buyer, but there’s been a lot of resistance so far. Just look at how long it took to release a budget iPhone as an example.

My first-gen Apple TV 4K is already woefully outdated, so an upgrade is needed sooner rather than later. It still works, but it’s missing out on many of the features that make one worth having, at least home theater-wise. I want to upgrade, but I want to make sure what I’m upgrading to isn’t at the end of the line. A third-gen device would likely last me years and years, considering my first-gen model is closing in on a decade old and still runs fine outside some freezes here and there.

If there is another generation on the horizon, I imagine it’d be announced at some point this year, especially since rumors are pointing toward that being the case. As much as I like my Roku Ultra, I don’t think it compares to the feature-rich Apple TV 4K. For most people, sure, but for somebody who has dreams of one day picking up a projector for my basement, I hope Apple sticks with the Apple TV 4K for at least another generation.

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