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Apple TV 4K has gained an important new feature for home cinema enthusiasts. The Native Player 2.0 app enables playback of lossless Dolby Atmos in the TrueHD format and DTS, while also preserving height channels. It's a feature that popular players such as Infuse and Plex have so far lacked.
Dolby Atmos from Blu-ray without loss of quality
Native Player 2.0 allows playback of files from Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray discs while preserving full audio quality. The app decodes TrueHD Atmos and DTS tracks directly on Apple TV and then sends them to an AV receiver or soundbar over HDMI as multichannel PCM using Dolby MAT.
Configurations up to 9.1.6 in Dolby Atmos and 7.1.4 in DTS are supported. A compatible audio system is required to use the height channels.
Dolby Vision and NAS file support
The app also supports Dolby Vision, including content encoded in AV1, as well as HDR10 and HDR10+. Films can be played from a NAS or computer via SMB and WebDAV.
However, it's worth noting that Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL is not played back at full quality, as the app omits the additional image layer.
How much does Native Player 2.0 cost?
The app can be downloaded free of charge, but premium features require the Pro version. In the US it costs $4.99 per year or $24.99 for a lifetime licence.
Native Player requires tvOS 26 or later. According to FlatpanelsHD, the app delivers on its promises for lossless audio, although its interface still needs refinement.
Sources: FlatpanelsHD, Native IT, PRAD
