If you're experiencing audio delay issues, read this

Just got a message from my client that had purchased the $9000, 77 inch oled. Has the sonos playbar, and a directv hd box. They are getting lip sync issues while watching DTV. I am not there with the client, but Ill double check the dolby digital and PCM settings. If I turn off dolby digital on the directv box, will this eliminate the lip sync issue. Any settings in the OLED I need to change as well?

Right. I have an LGB7 and had my beam yesterday. Over hdmi arc and Dolby digital the audio sync problems are there. Nothing can fix it as it’s an issue with lg and processing DD. I turned both the tv and my sky q to output pcm, and the issue completely disappears. I have had dialogue with Sonos and they have told me PCM is no different from DD for the beam, and there is no noticable difference. Can anyone confirm if this is true. If it is I am keeping my beam. If it isn’t, it’s going back!!

With PCM you won’t be able to get 5.1 sound if you decide to purchase orhers speakers to extend your system.

I recently bought a Playbase. Experienced lip-sync problems with dolby digital material from my ATV 4K to my LG C7 connected to the Playbase via optical. After trying almost every possible option on my ATV 4K and the LG C7, I finally managed to solve the problem by disabling the LG SIMPLINK feature (HDMI CEC) feature on the LG C7. HDMI CEC is still enabled on the ATV 4K and i'm still able to turn on/off the tv via the ATV remote. This is WIN-WIN situation. So, in my opinion this is some kind of software bug on the LG C7.

I recently bought a Playbase. Experienced lip-sync problems with dolby digital material from my ATV 4K to my LG C7 connected to the Playbase via optical. After trying almost every possible option on my ATV 4K and the LG C7, I finally managed to solve the problem by disabling the LG SIMPLINK feature (HDMI CEC) feature on the LG C7. HDMI CEC is still enabled on the ATV 4K and i'm still able to turn on/off the tv via the ATV remote. This is WIN-WIN situation. So, in my opinion this is some kind of software bug on the LG C7. The Apple TV 4K does not have the lip sync issue that most people talk about on here. You will see a lot of comments stating it works well. The biggest problem devices are cable boxes, Xbox One and PS4.

I solved all lip-sync problems on my 65B7D with the use of a HDMI switch:
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B071WVXZKY

For me it's the perfect device for a Playbar surround setup in combination with a LG OLED TV and it gets even better by using also an AppleTV (4K) and a Logitech Harmony. The switch has four HDMI inputs, one HDMI output as well as an optical SPDIF output.

As a result:
- 100% lip-sync out of the box on all devices (set top box, PS4, etc.)
- HDMI ARC is working for the LG TV connected on the output of the switch
- supports 4K @60Hz, HDR, CEC, Dolby Vision
- remote control included, works also with Logitech Harmony (Hub)
- with an Apple TV (4/4K) it adds AirPlay2 without the need to turn on the TV
- with an Apple TV (4/4K) it's possible to convert every audio signal to AC3 5.1 on the fly to get multichannel on the playbar

I'm really surprised that it works so smooth with the help of an affordable device. Most of the HDMI switches don't support HDMI 2.0 (HDCP 2.2), 4K at 60Hz etc. but this one does. It solves all my lip-sync issues which by the way is a prove that this is nothing more but a silly bug on the LG TV, it's not because of some picture optimization thing. It's possible to connect up to four devices plus the TV thanks to HDMI ARC. The sound of apps from the TV are also 100% in sync by using ARC. Make sure to connect it to the HDMI-2 port and activate ARC in the sound settings of the LG TV. For me it's the perfect device for the LG TV. So now I'm using my LG OLED TV basically only as a HDMI display (not Smart but Dumb-TV so to say). :D

By the way, since there are no lip sync issues when using the HDMI-2 ARC output on the LG, I would also expect that there is no lip-sync issue when using a Sonos Beam. The audio delay is only there when using the optical output on the LG TV.

I solved all lip-sync problems on my 65B7D with the use of a HDMI switch:
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B071WVXZKY

For me it's the perfect device for a Playbar surround setup in combination with a LG OLED TV and it gets even better by using also an AppleTV (4K) and a Logitech Harmony. The switch has four HDMI inputs, one HDMI output as well as an optical SPDIF output.

As a result:
- 100% lip-sync out of the box on all devices (set top box, PS4, etc.)
- HDMI ARC is working for the LG TV connected on the output of the switch
- supports 4K @60Hz, HDR, CEC, Dolby Vision
- remote control included, works also with Logitech Harmony (Hub)
- with an Apple TV (4/4K) it adds AirPlay2 without the need to turn on the TV
- with an Apple TV (4/4K) it's possible to convert every audio signal to AC3 5.1 on the fly to get multichannel on the playbar

I'm really surprised that it works so smooth with the help of an affordable device. Most of the HDMI switches don't support HDMI 2.0 (HDCP 2.2), 4K at 60Hz etc. but this one does. It solves all my lip-sync issues which by the way is a prove that this is nothing more but a silly bug on the LG TV, it's not because of some picture optimization thing. It's possible to connect up to four devices plus the TV thanks to HDMI ARC. The sound of apps from the TV are also 100% in sync by using ARC. Make sure to connect it to the HDMI-2 port and activate ARC in the sound settings of the LG TV. For me it's the perfect device for the LG TV. So now I'm using my LG OLED TV basically only as a HDMI display (not Smart but Dumb-TV so to say). :D

By the way, since there are no lip sync issues when using the HDMI-2 ARC output on the LG, I would also expect that there is no lip-sync issue when using a Sonos Beam. The audio delay is only there when using the optical output on the LG TV.

It would be cheaper to go down the optical splitter route in my opinion. Also the Vorke box doesn’t fully support all display modes provided by the Nvidia Shield.

Otherwise a good solution.

It would be cheaper to go down the optical splitter route in my opinion. Also the Vorke box doesn’t fully support all display modes provided by the Nvidia Shield.
Maybe cheaper but since the Apple TV (4/4K) doesn't have an optical-out it wouldn't work. I'd also lose the ability to use AirPlay(2) when the TV is off. Plus if you're using smart apps from the TV itself, you need the HDMI-ARC possibility in order to avoid using the optical-out of the LG TV (which causes the lip-sync issues in the first place).
Which display options are not supported? Concerning the AppleTV, it supports everything up to Dolby Vision 4K. You just have to make sure to use the best/fastest possible HDMI cables because there are now always two cables involved with the HDMI switch (from the device to the switch to the TV). I had two cables which didn't work without distortions even though there was "highspeed" written on them.

It would be cheaper to go down the optical splitter route in my opinion. Also the Vorke box doesn’t fully support all display modes provided by the Nvidia Shield.
Maybe cheaper but since the Apple TV (4/4K) doesn't have an optical-out it wouldn't work. I'd also lose the ability to use AirPlay(2) when the TV is off. Plus if you're using smart apps from the TV itself, you need the HDMI-ARC possibility in order to avoid using the optical-out of the LG TV (which causes lip-sync issues).

People above said the Apple TV doesn’t suffer the delay. But for other HDMI only devices it may work. However for the Nvidia Shield it won’t.

The in built apps do not suffer the delay, only HDMI sources.

Thought I'd jump in here and share my two cents.

I do not own any Sonos products, but rather have a TCL Roku TV and a Vizio 5.1 Sound Bar and have experienced the same issue of audio delay/lag. From the reading I've done on the internet, it is clear to me that this is a universal problem. For whatever reason, TVs (and I'd say primarily this seems to be a problem with streaming services) are unable to process 5.1 surround sound properly, and we end up with a lag. This is not a problem isolated to LG or Sony or TCL, but a problem across the board.

My own suspicion is that TV shows and movies are still building an audio delay into the signal because the video should theoretically come after the audio, since there is so much more information. However, when surround sound is thrown into the mix, that all changes. I think the only true solution to this would be to put pressure on the TV manufacturers or streaming device manufacturers to include a setting that allows for adjusting av lag in both directions. It is clear that this audio lag is a widespread problem, and yet it is still only possible to compensate for video lag. So infuriating!!

My uncle has a traditional AV receiver and surround sound set up connected to his TCL Roku TV, and still has the same audio lag problems.

Let's put pressure on all the TV manufacturers to find a solution! Or perhaps it's time to get Dolby and DTS involved, since it's their product(s) that suffer.

I solved all lip-sync problems on my 65B7D with the use of a HDMI switch:
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B071WVXZKY

For me it's the perfect device for a Playbar surround setup in combination with a LG OLED TV and it gets even better by using also an AppleTV (4K) and a Logitech Harmony. The switch has four HDMI inputs, one HDMI output as well as an optical SPDIF output.

As a result:
- 100% lip-sync out of the box on all devices (set top box, PS4, etc.)
- HDMI ARC is working for the LG TV connected on the output of the switch
- supports 4K @60Hz, HDR, CEC, Dolby Vision
- remote control included, works also with Logitech Harmony (Hub)
- with an Apple TV (4/4K) it adds AirPlay2 without the need to turn on the TV
- with an Apple TV (4/4K) it's possible to convert every audio signal to AC3 5.1 on the fly to get multichannel on the playbar

I'm really surprised that it works so smooth with the help of an affordable device. Most of the HDMI switches don't support HDMI 2.0 (HDCP 2.2), 4K at 60Hz etc. but this one does. It solves all my lip-sync issues which by the way is a prove that this is nothing more but a silly bug on the LG TV, it's not because of some picture optimization thing. It's possible to connect up to four devices plus the TV thanks to HDMI ARC. The sound of apps from the TV are also 100% in sync by using ARC. Make sure to connect it to the HDMI-2 port and activate ARC in the sound settings of the LG TV. For me it's the perfect device for the LG TV. So now I'm using my LG OLED TV basically only as a HDMI display (not Smart but Dumb-TV so to say). :D

By the way, since there are no lip sync issues when using the HDMI-2 ARC output on the LG, I would also expect that there is no lip-sync issue when using a Sonos Beam. The audio delay is only there when using the optical output on the LG TV.

So I am experiencing the same lip sync symptoms as described here and have been playing around with both Sonos and LG settings to try to resolve this to no avail. Minor improvements but still not perfect

I have an LG OLED55B7T and Playbase connected via Optical Audio directly from the TV as well as following devices connected:
- ATV (3rd gen) via HDMI
- Laptop via HDMI

I have no problems with lip sync from LG inbuilt TV tuner and inbuilt apps (YouTube, Netflix, various Catch Up TV apps here in Aus). However there is typically lip sync issues from ATV content and the extent of that depends on the type of audio and which app, with Dolby 5.1 audio source typically having the worst lip sync and PCM generally being fine. Again this is consistent with what is outlined in this thread.
When I tried a friend's Chromecast HD, same lip sync issues occurred as as with ATV.

(As a note I had no lip sync issues using a previous 10 yr old Sony LCD TV with Optical audio out connected to the Playbase with the same setup)

So if the problem is the Optical Audio Out from the LG TV, rather than going the full HDMI 4-1 Switcher Option outlined above would it be simpler to connect the Playbase to the LG TV via an HDMI Audio Extractor as such:

LG OLED --> via HDMI ARC --> HDMI Audio Extractor --> via Optical Audio Cable --> Playbase

Eg. HDMI Audio Extractor
https://www.lindy.com.au/4k-hdmi-audio-extractor-with-hdmi-pass-through?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2P3Qj_zZ3AIVyqmWCh1EBwObEAQYASABEgLMLvD_BwE

Would this setup essentially solve the lip sync problem, while maintaining the LG TV to carry out as being the HDMI source switch since the Audio coming out of LG TV would be coming out through HDMI ARC not Optical Audio Out?

Or is the issue to completely bypass Audio Processing by the LG TV for any external HDMI sources?