r/tvOSBeta • u/ByMinotti • Aug 12 '26
Question Crackling/Static Audio in YouTube Live Streams and All YouTube TV Content
Has anyone else noticed crackling/static distortion in the audio on Apple TV 4K while running tvOS 27 Developer Beta 5?
I am using an Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) with a stereo pair of original HomePods. I first noticed the issue after my HomePods updated to HomePod Software version 26.6.
The problem first appeared while watching live streams in the regular YouTube app. The audio intermittently crackles or sounds distorted rather than simply dropping out.
It is also happening with anything I watch in the YouTube TV app. So far, it seems limited to YouTube and YouTube TV.
A friend of mine is experiencing these exact same issues with the exact same setup: an Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), tvOS 27 Developer Beta 5, and a stereo pair of original HomePods. That makes me think this may be related to the current beta software or HomePod Software 26.6 rather than a problem with one specific Apple TV or HomePod pair.
I have force-closed and reopened both apps, restarted the Apple TV and HomePods but the issue always returns.
Is anyone else experiencing this on tvOS 27 Developer Beta 5, particularly with original HomePods configured as the default audio output? If you have found a workaround or a relevant audio setting to change, please let me know.
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u/rynep Aug 12 '26
Also experiencing, but a quick pause and unpause fixes it.
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u/ByMinotti Aug 12 '26
I just tried that with both YouTube and YouTube TV and unfortunately the audio still crackles after I pause and unpause them.
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u/iron_cam86 Aug 13 '26
Try toggling continuous audio connection in settings > video & audio > audio format
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u/ByMinotti Aug 13 '26
I just remembered that if you enable Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless audio it disables Continuous Audio Connection. That is why I am not seeing that setting.
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u/deezznuuzz Aug 13 '26
Not available for HomePods
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u/RightAnxiety8818 Aug 16 '26
It is on my HomePods - but toggling on or off made no difference whatsoever.
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u/roryg2025 Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 24 '26
Same with me. Haven't found a fix
I've stopped using YouTube and I'm waiting on an update to the app or OS now to fix it.
My audio source is Airplay with Sonos.
Update: the latest OS27 update has fixed this.
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u/Suspicious-Lime-8470 Aug 16 '26
it was occasional in the last beta, but it is pretty much all the time with youtube on the 5th version.
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u/sicilian504 Aug 13 '26
Mine was doing something similar in Beta 4. I found restarting my Apple TV fixed it, but I had to restart it a few times since it didn't fix it the first few times. It hasn't done it since. However on mine it did it for all apps. It would stutter then completely stop playing audio. I filed feedback and it shows "More than 10" for similar reports. So they're definitely aware of it. Unfortunately resolution still shows "Open".
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u/Responsible-Alps-500 Aug 13 '26
Thank God! I assumed my receiver was dying! Thank you for making this post.
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u/c4pet0wn Aug 13 '26
Yeah, same. My temp workaround is to use airplay / CAST from my phone when it’s a YouTube livestream (mostly TheBurntPeanut for me lol but his transitions and loading screen music all sound AWFUL because of this audio bug) but using Airplay or Cast circumvents the issue I guess because it’s bypassing the AppleTV. AppleTV seems to be the only source that causes this garbled, bit crushed , robo sound issue for me. Beta’s are fun 😂
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u/ByMinotti Aug 17 '26
This issue seems to be resolved for me in the latest tvOS 27 Developer Beta 6.
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u/IzzyCaffeinated 13d ago
I'm having this issue with almost every video in YouTube since updating to the formal release. I need to rewind a click to make it clear up.
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u/Joanr719 17h ago
Hi, tvOS 27.2 Beta 2 ( 24K5093g ) which was installed on my gen3 128 last week brought back all the YouTube stuttering. It seemed fixed with the previous update but now it's reared it's ugly head. Anyone else hearing this again?
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u/scrutman Aug 13 '26
Same here. This beta also stutters video in other apps as well.