APPLE / STREAMING PLAYER

Apple TV 4K + Vertex

This guide gives the exact Apple TV 4K settings for Dolby Vision through the Vertex: native DV on a Dolby Vision TV, or LLDV on an HDR10 TV or projector. It also covers frame-rate matching, chroma and Atmos.

Covers all three Apple TV 4K generations: 1st gen (2017, A1842, HDMI 2.0a), 2nd gen (2021, A2169) and 3rd gen (2022, A2737 Wi-Fi / A2843 Wi-Fi + Ethernet). All three output Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG; HDR10+ only on the 3rd gen. No generation outputs more than 4K60, so every mode fits inside the Vertex's 18 Gbps. Apple TV HD and older Apple TV models have no 4K or HDR output and are not covered. Menu names follow Apple's current tvOS user guide.

DOLBY VISION WITH THIS SETUP

Apple TV 4K is the easiest Dolby Vision source for the Vertex: it sends native DV to a DV TV and LLDV to an HDR10 display when the Vertex presents an LLDV EDID.

Native Dolby Vision: YESAll generations send standard (TV-led) Dolby Vision when the EDID they see lists Dolby Vision. The Vertex then shows RGB 8-bit while DV plays; this is normal.
LLDV via the Vertex: YESHDfury lists Apple TV 4K as an LLDV source for all content. When the EDID advertises low-latency Dolby Vision, Apple TV offers 4K Dolby Vision and sends LLDV. With Format set to 4K Dolby Vision and Match Dynamic Range off, even SDR and HDR10 are sent as LLDV.
HDR10: YESHDR10 and HLG on all generations, HDR10+ on the 3rd gen (2022) only. Maximum output is 4K60 on every generation.

Before you start

Update tvOS; the menu names below follow Apple's current Apple TV user guide.
Set the Vertex EDID first (the TV's own EDID with DV, or an LLDV EDID). Apple TV only offers Dolby Vision when the EDID it sees lists Dolby Vision.
Every time the EDID changes, Apple TV asks to run a Dolby Vision test. Accept it and confirm the picture (HDfury Arcana FAQ).
Apple TV has no signal-info screen. Use the Vertex OLED/OSD to see what is really sent.

1. Basic picture and sound settings

All picture output settings are in Settings → Video and Audio.

Base output formatSettings → Video and Audio → Format4K SDR 60Hz (4K SDR 50Hz if you mainly watch 50Hz European TV)Menus stay in SDR; with Match Dynamic Range on, Apple TV switches to HDR10 or Dolby Vision only when a title needs it (HDfury Arcana FAQ).
Match Dynamic RangeSettings → Video and Audio → Match Content → Match Dynamic RangeOnApple: Apple TV 4K matches its output to the original dynamic range of the content.
Match Frame RateSettings → Video and Audio → Match Content → Match Frame RateOnApple: the refresh rate follows the content at 60, 50, 30, 25 and 24 fps, so 24 fps films play at 24Hz.
ChromaSettings → Video and Audio → Chroma4:2:0Apple: 4:2:0 works with most TVs and HDMI cables; 4:4:4 needs a high-speed cable. Chroma does not change how Dolby Vision is sent.
HDMI OutputSettings → Video and Audio → HDMI OutputYCbCrApple: YCbCr is preferred for most TVs (the other options are RGB High and RGB Low).
Check the HDMI chainSettings → Video and Audio → Check HDMI ConnectionRun the testChecks that the HDMI chain (including the Vertex) supports your current settings.Current tvOS; Apple does not list which generations have it
Test a format Apple TV did not verifySettings → Video and Audio → Format → Unverified FormatsSelect the format to run the display testApple: lets you test a format that Apple TV did not detect automatically.
Audio for an AVR / AtmosSettings → Video and Audio → Audio FormatAuto (recommended); Dolby Atmos OnDo not choose Convert to Dolby Digital 5.1 or Stereo Only if you want Atmos. On older tvOS, HDfury's FAQ says Change Format must be off for Atmos.
TV and receiver control (HDMI-CEC)Settings → Remotes and Devices → Home Theater ControlTurn On Your TV with Your Remote (no receiver) or Control TVs and Receivers (with receiver); Volume Control: AutoCEC passes through the Vertex BOTTOM output only. If power or volume control misbehaves, switch these off and use IR (Volume Control has IR options).

2. Dolby Vision on a Dolby Vision TV

The Vertex must pass the TV's Dolby Vision capability (see Vertex part A). Then choose one of these two options.

Accept the Dolby Vision testPop-up after connecting or after an EDID changeRun the test and confirm the pictureApple TV asks again every time the EDID changes (HDfury Arcana FAQ).
Option 1 (recommended): each title in its own formatSettings → Video and Audio → Format = 4K SDR 60Hz; Match Content → Match Dynamic RangeOnDolby Vision titles play as Dolby Vision, HDR10 as HDR10, SDR as SDR (HDfury Arcana FAQ).
Option 2: everything in Dolby VisionSettings → Video and Audio → Format4K Dolby Vision 60Hz (or 50Hz)Menus and all content are then sent as Dolby Vision. This option only appears when the EDID lists Dolby Vision.

3. Dolby Vision (LLDV) on an HDR10 projector or TV

The Vertex must present an LLDV EDID, and the display must switch to HDR (see Vertex part B). Then choose one of these two options.

Run the Dolby Vision testPop-up after the new LLDV EDID is seenRun the test and confirm the pictureRequired after every EDID change (HDfury Arcana FAQ). If no pop-up appears, replug HDMI or check Format → Unverified Formats.
Option 1 (HDfury's recommendation): everything as LLDVSettings → Video and Audio → Format = 4K Dolby Vision 60Hz (or 50Hz); Match Content → Match Dynamic RangeOffSDR, HDR10 and Dolby Vision are all sent as LLDV, so the display stays in one HDR mode (HDfury Arcana FAQ).
Option 2: only Dolby Vision titles as LLDVSettings → Video and Audio → Format = 4K SDR 60Hz; Match Content → Match Dynamic RangeOnOnly Dolby Vision titles are sent as LLDV; HDR10 stays HDR10 and SDR stays SDR (HDfury Arcana FAQ).

THE VERTEX PART

Vertex settings for this setup

Dolby Vision TV: connect the TV to the Vertex BOTTOM output and follow part A — EDID "COPY BOT SINK" (or Automix with "DV Force Metadata"), No Scaling, InfoFrame tools off.
HDR10 projector or TV (LLDV): follow part B — upload an LLDV EDID into a free custom slot (CUSTOM 4–10) and select it for the Vertex input this player is connected to. Then make the display switch to HDR (part B2).
Connect the Apple TV to a Vertex input; for native Dolby Vision the DV TV goes on the Vertex BOTTOM output.
Apple TV only offers 4K Dolby Vision when the Vertex EDID lists Dolby Vision (native) or low-latency Dolby Vision (LLDV).
After every Vertex EDID change, Apple TV asks for a new Dolby Vision test (HDfury Arcana FAQ).
While standard Dolby Vision plays, the Vertex shows RGB 8-bit. That is normal (Vertex manual, Pro Tips).

VERTEX DOLBY VISION SETUP — ALL STEPS →

Switch these off

Settings → Video and Audio → Match Content → Match Dynamic Range (only with Format = 4K Dolby Vision for always-LLDV)HDfury's always-LLDV recipe uses Match Dynamic Range Off; with it on, SDR and HDR10 are not sent as Dolby Vision.
Settings → Video and Audio → Chroma → 4:4:4Needs a high-speed cable (Apple) and does not affect Dolby Vision; 4:2:0 is the compatible choice.
Settings → Video and Audio → Audio Format → Convert to Dolby Digital 5.1 / Stereo OnlyThese block Dolby Atmos; use Auto.

How you know it works

Settings → Video and Audio → Format shows the format you selected, not what is actually playing.
On the Vertex OLED Info page, the INP line shows the incoming signal. Standard (TV-led) Dolby Vision shows as RGB 8-bit: that is normal, because DV travels in an 8-bit RGB container (Vertex manual, Pro Tips).
For LLDV, the projector or TV must show that it is in HDR mode while the title plays.

Problems and fixes

4K Dolby Vision is missing under Format

The EDID Apple TV sees has no Dolby Vision. Check the Vertex EDID, unplug and replug HDMI, accept the Dolby Vision test, and look under Format → Unverified Formats.

Short black screen when a film starts

Normal. Apple says you may see a blank screen or flickering while the TV switches format or frame rate.

The Vertex shows RGB 8-bit during Dolby Vision

Normal for standard (TV-led) Dolby Vision; it travels in an 8-bit RGB container.

LLDV picture looks washed out or grey

The display is not in HDR mode. LLDV carries no HDR10 InfoFrame: enable the Vertex custom HDR InfoFrame (Vertex part B) or set the display to HDR manually.

No Dolby Atmos

Settings → Video and Audio → Audio Format = Auto with Dolby Atmos on, and check that the AVR's EDID/audio path through the Vertex offers Atmos.

NOT CONFIRMED BY THE MANUFACTURER

The exact LLDV signal format from Apple TV (often reported as YCbCr 4:2:2 12-bit) is not stated in Apple or HDfury documents.
Apple does not say which Apple TV generations have Check HDMI Connection.

CHECKED AGAINST

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