Sony Tv with Sony sound bar, issues

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David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#243698 26-Dec-2018 19:30

Hi all,

I have just setup a brand new Sony Bravia 9500f TV and have hooked my Sony sound bar to it via HDMI ARC, the TV detects the sound bar so cuts off the TV speakers to have the sound going to the sound bar, the problem is now that I have turned the TV off, when I turn it back on I am not able to get the sound bar working with the TV again.

I have unplugged it from the ARC in the TV and plugged it back in again, this got it working for a few seconds after a bit of delay, then it just stopped working again.

I really cant see what I am doing wrong here as the connection is so simple, the is one HDMI on the sound bar, and I have it linked to the TV via HDMI cable into the HDMI ARC port in the TV. In the TV's settings I also have the sound set to "Audio system" rather than "TV Speakers". When I change the setting back to TV Speakers the sound comes from the TV, but as soon as I switch it back to Audio System no sounds works anywhere.

Is there anyone who has experience with this? I have heard you need good quality HDMI cables for ARC, but the thing is I think the cable I have must be fine as it looks quite flash and the sound bar was working all afternoon with the TV sound going on to it, like I say its just now that we have turned the TV off then on again we can not get the sound onto the sound bar.

Any advise would be much appreciated!

_David_

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3885 posts

Uber Geek

#2150818 26-Dec-2018 19:39

Sorry just a general comment...when I was researching and eventually purchased a sound bar, all the salespeople told me to not bother with HDMI/ARC as it was incredibly “flakey” and prone to problems. I went with optical connection and it’s been perfect. Perhaps try with an optical connection instead?

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2150834 26-Dec-2018 20:15

Hey yeah I was looking into the difference between optical and HDMI and from the information I found it seems the general consensus was that the HDMI ARC provides a much better sound quality than the optical cord.

Not sure if it's true or not but like I say most of the info I got pointed to that so that is the option I am wanting to use.

_David_

richms

28168 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2150838 26-Dec-2018 20:25

Things in other HDMI ports can mess it up as well. Try with those unplugged and see if that helps. If it does there are CEC blocking adapters that will stop them from messing with the CEC bus between devices.

Richard rich.ms

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2150869 26-Dec-2018 21:51

David321: Hey yeah I was looking into the difference between optical and HDMI and from the information I found it seems the general consensus was that the HDMI ARC provides a much better sound quality than the optical cord.

Not sure if it's true or not but like I say most of the info I got pointed to that so that is the option I am wanting to use.

Optical and ARC will give you the same audio quality... in fact, in its current guise ARC is 2-channel only (2 pins in the HDMI configuration are used for stereo audio), while optical offers lossy 5.1 audio (you would need a 5.1 speaker system to take advantage of this, not the Sony soundbar).

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#2150874 26-Dec-2018 22:11

Dunnersfella:

David321: Hey yeah I was looking into the difference between optical and HDMI and from the information I found it seems the general consensus was that the HDMI ARC provides a much better sound quality than the optical cord.

Not sure if it's true or not but like I say most of the info I got pointed to that so that is the option I am wanting to use.

Optical and ARC will give you the same audio quality... in fact, in its current guise ARC is 2-channel only (2 pins in the HDMI configuration are used for stereo audio), while optical offers lossy 5.1 audio (you would need a 5.1 speaker system to take advantage of this, not the Sony soundbar).

All my advice was that optical was just as good, if not better. I certainly have no complaints, sounds better than my old 5.1 system. I have helped out 2 others at work with ARC issues with sound systems with inconsistent performance (sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn't). Following my recommendation both changed to optical and the problems disappeared. I would have thought same brand TV/Soundbar should be OK but perhaps not. Mine detects the optical input and turns itself on and likewise turns off with the TV, I can't see what ARC actually achieves over optical.

Sorry I know that doesn't answer your question, but if you don't find an answer it might be a viable alternative.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2150903 27-Dec-2018 06:07

Hey guys, thanks for the info so far, a few google search results show me that HDMI ARC carries the higher sound qualities where available such as some Dolby formats sometimes found on Blue ray, as I am trying to set all of my gear up to perform at the highest level it possibly can I'd like to master the HDMI ARC connection just because of its ability to carry the better sound when its available.

If all else fails ill go for the optical connection, but like I say I would really like to try out the really high quality sound on my sound bar, I would be happy with optical if I just watched my TV for normal TV programmes where the optical cable would be just the same quality as the HDMI ARC.

Its just strange how the sound bar worked for the whole afternoon then when I turned the TV off then on again a while later it has not worked, except for a few seconds before cutting out again.

Nothing worse than getting a few new toys and you cant get them to work to the best of their abilities!

_David_

sdavisnz

1015 posts

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#2150906 27-Dec-2018 06:48

When you go to your soundbar hdmi input on the TV is there a menu you can navigate with the remote?

If so make sure you have fast boot or standby enabled. If it goes into full shutdown it may be the issue.

Also go into the Sony TV settings and go to hdmi settings, sync menu and press enable to make sure its paired properly.

Make sure your hdmi cable is at least hdmi 1.4b.

Also make sure you have software updated soundbar and TV.

Failing that, soundbar may be faulty, get s replacement.

Also make sure you have not paired the soundbar with the TV via bluetooth, that can mess up the ARC.

Voice gives context

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David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2150909 27-Dec-2018 07:01

Thanks ill check that out when I get home, after looking around on this site I have found that other devices plugged into other HDMI ports in the TV can mess with sound bars connected via HDMI ARC. I have a DVD player/sound system connected another HDMI port but it was turned off. I called my wife and asked her to unplug it and turn the TV on, she has told me the sound bar is now working now that the DVD player has been unplugged from the TV.

Although obviously this is not a permanent solution as I need the DVD player to work too, I have seen online that enabling HDMI CEC (called "Bravia Sync" in Sony TV's apparently) could possibly allow the DVD player to be connected via HDMI and also the sound bar to be connected and working. Will have to try this when I get home. Thoughts?

_David_

sdavisnz

1015 posts

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#2150911 27-Dec-2018 07:08

Turn off cec on the DVD player, or get a new one if it's old, they only like $50

Voice gives context

David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2150918 27-Dec-2018 07:44

Its actually a very old one and did not think it would have CEC? ill have to find out when I am home I guess. I am guessing CEC has not been around more than about 5 years though? My dvd player is coming up about 8 or 9 years old Id say.

_David_

dafman

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#2150991 27-Dec-2018 10:18

I had exactly the same problem as you several months ago - late model Sony TV, new Sony soundbar - the TV recognised the soundbar via HDMI ARC but no sound. If you search on GZ, you will find an almost word for word thread like yours!

Just like you, mine worked ok for a while, then died. I also removed all other HDMI connections from the TV, it worked again for a bit, then back to silence.

After several weeks of pulling out hair, I invested in an optical cable and ditched the HDMI ARC idea for good. The annoying drawback of optical is that you have to use two remotes - the TV for channel switching etc, and the soundbar remote for volume. So, we tend to use the TV speakers for general TV watching and switch to soundbar for movies.

David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2151009 27-Dec-2018 10:57

Yeah I cam across your post while searching, I subscribed also just in case someone posts a solution, the thing is I really do not want to go to optical when HDMI can carry the better sound (when available), I also dont want to use two remotes.

Have you tried all of the solutions in this thread? mainly the settings around CEC?

I found on another website its listed in the TV menu as "Bravia sync", apparently its usually off by default, you have to turn it on. Ill be trying that tonight, and also disabling CEC in my DVD player as that may be confusing the TV also and it is not required for the DVD player anyway.

_David_

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2151094 27-Dec-2018 12:47

David321:

Hey guys, thanks for the info so far, a few google search results show me that HDMI ARC carries the higher sound qualities where available such as some Dolby formats sometimes found on Blue ray, as I am trying to set all of my gear up to perform at the highest level it possibly can I'd like to master the HDMI ARC connection just because of its ability to carry the better sound when its available.!

For a start, I'd listen to @dunnersfella, he's pretty much an A/V guru.

And secondly, If you're plugging your bluray into your TV instead of your soundbar, you're already not performing at the "highest level it possibly can".

All ARC is is an audio return channel for whats on you TV... tv apps, free to air tv... none of which are going to be amazing to begin with.

I have a 2015 sony TV (X8500C) and a yamaha avr. I have all my gear plugged into my avr, but if I'm watching Amazon or Netflix, I still get 5.1, but only because I use optical. I only got stereo with ARC, so I disabled it.

You think, ARC on Sony TVs is normally on HDMI 4. Have you ever wondered why it's not on HDMI 1?

The answer to that is because it's crap, and only really any use to people that wall mount a TV and only want minimal cables showing, but don't care about it enough to actually get someone to hide cables in a wall, so therefore don't really give a toss about audio quality either. It's a compromise.

David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2151122 27-Dec-2018 13:28

blakamin:

All ARC is is an audio return channel for whats on you TV... tv apps, free to air tv... none of which are going to be amazing to begin with.

I would also be streaming some things from the net within the TV, I know free to air and apps would not have amazing sound, but considering HDMI ARC has the ability to carry the higher quality sound (when available) that what I would prefer to use. Plus with optical I would have to use two remotes (no thanks!).

_David_

blakamin

4431 posts

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Inactive user

#2151129 27-Dec-2018 13:55

David321:

but considering HDMI ARC has the ability to carry the higher quality sound

Except it doesn't... Listen to the guy I said was a guru. He's probably forgotten more than the BS sites you're getting that from.

I've also told you, with the inbuilt apps, the sound is inferior with ARC.. I have a 4k sony, and have for 3 years.

And like I said, don't plug your BR into your TV. That solves any dolby issues.

David321:

Plus with optical I would have to use two remotes (no thanks!).

If they're both sony, turn on bravia link, use one remote, and use optical... CEC works better than ARC (because it normally works). And if 2 remotes are too hard, get a harmony (or even a warehouse remote).

Hey, you're the one that said you wanted the best... ARC isn't it in any situation.

People with knowledge have told you what the best way to fix the issue is, but if you want to struggle and still end up with the inferior product, go hard, have fun. No skin off my nose.

Looks like you'll be trying to solve this for a long time.

Gets me why people buy reasonable quality gear and then ignore all advice for making it better.

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