2020 Samsung qled + AppleTV 4K + Arc = no sound

  • 14 August 2021
  • 37 replies
  • 4726 views
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  • dren
  • Contributor II
  • 7 replies

Here’s my setup:

Apple TV —> HDMI to 2020 Samsung qled

Sonos Arc —> HDMI eArc to TV

Here’s the problem:

I get sound when clicking around on the AppleTV menus, but no sound when I play anything. Nothing through Netflix, Hulu, Disney, or iTunes. 
 

I DO get sound when I don’t use AppleTV and just use the apps through the TV. 
 

I know this is an issue that others have, but Apple doesn’t have a solution besides turning off all surround sound and I haven’t seen Sonos provide any support to resolve it. 
 

All new brand name tech and they don’t work together??

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37 replies

Ken_Griffiths

@ritu_o0o just checked and i’m also getting the TV Speakers / Receiver thing with my AppleTV. Really am starting to think it’s an Apple TV bug. 

The thing I notice with Apple TV is that the CEC implementation is very ‘sticky’ .. it’s controlling features often stay in place even after it’s switched off, until the device is fully rebooted, so I still wonder if it’s CEC control is attempting to steal focus away from connected Home Theatre products. I’ve personally left the tvOS CEC feature switched off now and things have been fine for me with it set that way.

D

@ritu_o0o just checked and i’m also getting the TV Speakers / Receiver thing with my AppleTV. Really am starting to think it’s an Apple TV bug. 

R

I have more weird issue! my setup: Samsung QN90A 85Inch TV, Connected to Sonos Arc and Gen 3 Sub over eArc, I have Dreamlink T2 connected to TV, and Apple TV4K 2nd Gen connected to TV.

With Dreamlink, I see TV identifying Sonos as HDMI eArc Receiver and everything works just fine.

With Apple TV as an input, I see TV does not identify Sonos as HDMI eArc Receiver it shows “TV Speakers” in sound menu. TV’s Sound Setting and Expert settings are like, eArc is enable (set to Auto), Digital Audio output Format is “Auto” as “Passthrough” is disable, Dolby Atmos Compatibility option is disable.

Somehow once for Apple TV input, Samsung TV Identified HDMI eArc Receiver as Sound output that time I could select the Digital audio output format as “Passthrough” and Sonos was playing Atmos sound for that movie. As soon as I switched to other content there was no sound, I had to disable Samsung TV’s eArc setting to off and then Auto, since then Samsung TV did not identify eArc receiver as a sound output device, Apple TV plays stereo PCM to the SONOS.

Any help!!     

D

Same for me, just upgraded my TV to a QN90A and paired it with a Beam. Getting really unreliable sound in all apps (ATV+, Netflix, Prime and Disney+) I initially thought it was just Atmos, but it also happens with DD5.1 tracks. One thing i’ve noticed is that if it not playing Atmos then DD5.1 will work and if DD5.1 is playing up then Atmos works. A type switching issue????

One consistent is that the sound on the autoplay Netflix promos never plays (which is a win of sorts 😀 )

Ken_Griffiths

Same issue for me. Brand new setup 3x amps, sub, latest gen ATV, 2022 Frame.

 

audio cuts out on Hulu whenever the commercials start. Have to flip out on ATV, flip back repeatedly and then starts working. Wife getting really mad pls help!

Have you tried the suggestion of switching off HDMI-CEC on the Apple TV?

M

Same issue for me. Brand new setup 3x amps, sub, latest gen ATV, 2022 Frame.

 

audio cuts out on Hulu whenever the commercials start. Have to flip out on ATV, flip back repeatedly and then starts working. Wife getting really mad pls help!

Ken_Griffiths

Same issue for me.

QN 75 2021

sonos arc w sub

AppleTV

CEC enabled

hdmi e-arc plugged in and showing enabled

 

Every morning my arc magically switches to my Spotify and doesn’t return to tv sound even if I choose TV on the app.

it happens to Apple TV and happens to the apps on the tv.

TV shows audio output as receiver, no longer eArc
Unplugging hdmi fixes the issue. But I don’t want to do this forever.

Does the issue stop if you switch off CEC on the Apple TV?

S

Same issue for me.

QN 75 2021

sonos arc w sub

AppleTV

CEC enabled

hdmi e-arc plugged in and showing enabled

 

Every morning my arc magically switches to my Spotify and doesn’t return to tv sound even if I choose TV on the app.

it happens to Apple TV and happens to the apps on the tv.

TV shows audio output as receiver, no longer eArc
Unplugging hdmi fixes the issue. But I don’t want to do this forever.

 

 

Ken_Griffiths

@LeeASD,

Perhaps try switching off Mutichannel LPCM audio on the Apple TV and use Dolby compressed audio instead and see if that will pass through the Samsung TV ports any better for you.

L

I built an entire house system after moving out of Samsung TVs and Sonos.

The Samsung TVs have such limited app selection I added Apple TVs.

Samsung does not even have the NBA App and the native sucks at staying online. Whatever, Apple TV should fix that issue. Added them.

Now I cannot stream with consistently available sound ever. Netflix, Hulu, etc doesn't matter. I get to click in and out of the app over and over and over until I get sound.

The integration between these products is so bad I want to throw up and now I am stuck. Does anyone have any solutions?

Do I have to sell my Apple TVs to use my Sonos?

D

+1 on this. So annoying. Following this thread to stay in the loop if we hear a fix. 

S

Just wanted to chime in and let you guys know this isn’t just a Sonos issue. I have a QN85A, ATV 4K (Second Gen), and a Bose 900 with Sub, and have the exact same issue. I was searching for help with it when I came across this article.. definitely an issue with ATV or TV.. really frustrating. 

Ken_Griffiths

Same issue all of you have noted. I have to start and restart the content repeatedly and it eventually begins working. 

 

I have a Sonos ARC + Samsung Q8BA QLED + Apple 4k

 

I guess we’ll never get a fix for this which makes my $1000 soundbar absolutely useless as I dont use it at all for music. Has sonos even acknowledged this problem?

I would perhaps speak direct with both Samsung and Sonos Customer Support Staff to try to get the matter resolved. 

J

Same issue all of you have noted. I have to start and restart the content repeatedly and it eventually begins working. 

 

I have a Sonos ARC + Samsung Q8BA QLED + Apple 4k

 

I guess we’ll never get a fix for this which makes my $1000 soundbar absolutely useless as I dont use it at all for music. Has sonos even acknowledged this problem?

C

@codyl1992 - I suffer with these audio woes leveraging the latest Apple 4K HDR hardware.

Also, I wasn’t anticipating audio problem resolution - but sharing as an added factoid for the community - I’ve hard-wired my ATV 4K HDR via Ethernet connectivity versus WiFi and still have the same audio no-go challenges!

My solution for now seems to be just switch the ATV to Dolby digital 5.1 for everyday use and then if I want to watch an atmos movie, switch it back. 

M

@codyl1992 - I suffer with these audio woes leveraging the latest Apple 4K HDR hardware.

Also, I wasn’t anticipating audio problem resolution - but sharing as an added factoid for the community - I’ve hard-wired my ATV 4K HDR via Ethernet connectivity versus WiFi and still have the same audio no-go challenges!

 

C

Ugh, I have this issue with my QN85A tv, Apple TV, and Arc. For me the issue happens when Hulu’s live channels switch from 2 to 5 channel sound. I have seen occasional issues with Disney plus but the problem with Hulu is while watching tv all fir commercials are 2 channel and tv is 5 channel, so every time it switches I run the risk of the audio stopping. It doesn’t do it every time.  I was thinking of getting the new version of the Apple TV 4K but doubt that will fix it. 

M

+1 More

Assets - Samsung QN90A TV + Apple TV 4K HDR + Sonos Surround Setup with Sonos ARC / 2 x Sonos Sub (Gen3) / 2 x Sonos Fives

Problem - Random occurances of inability to obtain sound from the initiation of a movie or show from native ATV content and ATV installed applications (HBO, Netflix, Disney+). 

Audible ATV menu guidance click sounds ARE always functional, but upon selecting and initiating content there will be NO audio.  At other times the initiated content audio is simply delayed with starting by a few seconds. 

Workaround - Simply cancelling and restarting the content multiple times will ultimately result with sound properly functioning.  I’ve never NOT been able to get audio against selected content, but at times will have to restart the content half a dozen times. 

Haven’t proven with reliability yet, but a “restart from beginning” operation versus a “resume” operation potentially may be more reliable in triggering the proper initiation of audio. 

Comments - This is clearly a content based HDMI audio mode selection and initiation challenge somewhere within the sequence of ATV → Samusung → Sonos.  I lack audio expertise to describe with more robustness.  

THANKS! 

M

+1 2021 Frame TV, Sonos Arc and ATV4K

 

extremely frustrating when you think you are investing in top quality names/products and they don’t perform properly. 

A

For what it’s worth, another +1 to this issue. I have a 2021 Frame TV, ATV4k, and Arc. 

I’ve also noticed that when non-Atmos audio does work on Disney+ I usually get Stereo PCM sound, but streaming the same show through the TV itself comes in Dolby Digital surround. I prefer not to stream through the TV since Samsung sells so much viewing data.

This certainly is making it difficult to convince my family that this fancy audio setup was worth the money. 

Z

This seems to have been solved for me by putting my Samsung TV’s audio into pass through mode rather than processing. 

Z

Same issue here. Apple TV4K + Samsung QN90A neo QLED + Sonos Arc 5.1. Ugh 

T

Same-ish issue here. Samsung the frame 2021, Arc and ATV. Got the tv on passthrough.

With Atmos enabled on the ATV I do get great audio when playing atmos content in the original audio language. If I switch audio language or play something non Atmos there’s no sound.

If I force 5.1 from ATV I do get audio on most/all content but don’t get Atmos unless I switch back.

I wouldn’t be suprised if the issue is TV related since the frame has been the worst piece of hardware I’ve bought in a long time but can’t get hold of samsung support (supprise) so will try my luck from this end first.

H

Same issue here!

 

Samsung QN90 TV

Apple TV 4K

Bose Soundbar (I know this is Sonos forum)

 

Usually I can get it working by switching back and forth between audio languages. 
 

I finally gave up and switched to optical output, but the issue persists. 
 

This is extremely frustrating!

O

I have the same problem with a Samsung QN90, Apple TV (latest) and the ARC

It works fine with the ARC and the TV

But the Apple TV will play sound as you click through menu and apps but as I try to stream completely random if the sound plays or not - primarily HBO Max and Netflix 

On HBO Max it will sometimes play the sound before the skip me feature but as soon as it passes that section of the show, sound stops working. 
 

 

 

 

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