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Prodan
Avid Contributor I
November 3, 2017

If you're experiencing audio delay issues, read this

I've been living with lip sync issues (audio behind the video) since I got my Playbar about a year ago but I finally decided to do something about it. After multiple conversations with Sonos support and the LG's support people (they kept blaming each other for the audio delay), I decided to email Sonos' CEO about the issue.

After a few hours, I got a reply back from him, CCing a team manager who was going to look into the issue. We scheduled a call and he had me send various diagnostics to him. He said that the engineering team was going to investigate and get back to me.

A week later, I got an update. He told that they are still working on the issue. He also said that only one other person had reported the same issue (I assume that means that only one other person with an LG TV). So, if you're having audio delay issues and you've tried all other troubleshooting, reach out to Sonos support and have them look into it. If it helps you might mention my reference number, which has already been escalated:

Keep in mind that my setup is pretty straight forward (LG C6 OLED TV connected directly to the Playbar via Optical, audio playing from the built-in apps) and every single thing LG and Sonos suggested, including going into the TV's service menu and changing things there.

I know there are multiple post on the topic so hopefully we can solve at least some of the issues causing audio delay.

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    551 replies

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    Ken_Griffiths
    Ken_Griffiths
    February 21, 2021

    Matt87,

    How about the LG Sound Sync option in your last screenshot above, does that help to resolve the sync issue?

    Matt87
    Lyricist III
    February 21, 2021

    It’s greyed out - think it only becomes active if you connect via optical cable. But I only see a hdmi connector on the back of the Beam...

    Ken_Griffiths
    Ken_Griffiths
    February 21, 2021

    It’s greyed out - think it only becomes active if you connect via optical cable. But I only see a hdmi connector on the back of the Beam...

    Ah okay - my thoughts were the ‘digital sound out’ set to pass-through, should have solved the lip-sync issue anyway.
     

    The Beam will only play the audio when it receives it, so perhaps try powering off all (not standby) (TV/Beam/Cable Box) for at least 30 seconds now that you have set the pass-through option and then power them back on, TV first, to setup the HDMI handshake again and see if it solves the issue.

    Matt87
    Lyricist III
    February 27, 2021

    Was a solution to the lip sync issue ever found? (that doesn’t involve using optical- which is hardly a solution in 2021).

    I have a LG CX48, a Sonos Beam, two One SLs set up as surrounds, with Beam connected to TV via hdmi going into the TV arc port.

    Waa a combination of the Sonos app settings / LG tv settings that fixes the issue ever found? (I feel like I’ve already tried every permutation there is...)

    Think I’ll have to pack all the Sonos gear up and return it if not…. :-(

    Ken_Griffiths
    Ken_Griffiths
    February 27, 2021

    Was a solution to the lip sync issue ever found? (that doesn’t involve using optical- which is hardly a solution in 2021).

    I have a LG CX48, a Sonos Beam, two One SLs set up as surrounds, with Beam connected to TV via hdmi going into the TV arc port.

    Waa a combination of the Sonos app settings / LG tv settings that fixes the issue ever found? (I feel like I’ve already tried every permutation there is...)

    Think I’ll have to pack all the Sonos gear up and return it if not…. :-(

    I have the LG C9 with the audio set to ‘pass through’ and not had a lip-sync issue. If you’re continuing to have issues try renegotiating the HDMI handshake by powering off all devices for a minute or so. If that fails then I’d speak to LG because the Sonos Beam can only play the audio when the TV sends it in a timely manner - so the issue will be with the sending of the audio, rather than the Receiver itself. 

    Matt87
    Lyricist III
    February 28, 2021

    Thanks - tried turning everything off at the plug, then turned on TV first, then turned on the Sonos - in an attempt to reset the handshake - but alas, no impact on the sound being out of sync :-(

    Ken_Griffiths
    Ken_Griffiths
    February 28, 2021

    Thanks - tried turning everything off at the plug, then turned on TV first, then turned on the Sonos - in an attempt to reset the handshake - but alas, no impact on the sound being out of sync :-(

    I would perhaps speak to the LG support desk and if need be, to the Sonos Support desk too and see what they each suggest.

    Austiopath
    Contributor I
    March 25, 2021

    Has ANYONE been able to successfully use the Sonos Arc as advertised for AtmosDD+ or even DD 5.1 content via external devices (Roku, AppleTV, Xbox, PS, BluRay) routed through ARC/eARC without experiencing punishing lip sync audio delays?

    It seems like everyone’s experience boils down to one of these unsatisfactory outcomes

    • I use splitter device so I can bypass TV and send my digital audio straight to my Sonos (negating the simplicity of Sonos’ design)
    • I only use my TV’s internal streaming apps (which seem to be able to pass Atmos to the Arc without audio delay issues)
    • I’ve turned off digital bitstream and am just using PCM (killing Atmos and just giving you stereo)
    • I fiddle with the audio delay settings on the TV (if it even goes in the right direction) which works sometimes but of course the delay depends on the type of content, so therefore not a reliable fix.

    I also haven’t seen any evidence that eARC solves this problem. Lots of people are experiencing all these issues with eARC televisions according to what I read in these threads. 

    I would love a list of eARC compatible televisions that do not create delays when passing through Atmos bitstream content from external devices. If buying a new eARC television was the $2000 fix to this solution I would be open to it, but I have no confidence that this will fix it.  I notice people here are quick to blame the TV manufacturers here, but if Sonos releases a device that is MADE for Atmos and forces us to use a much more nascent technology (ARC and/or eARC) for that Atmos, and all new HDTVs including the new eARC ones from reputable manufacturers systematically introduce horrible delays, then this product isn’t ready for prime time. 

     

    Jimmy C
    Prominent Collaborator II
    March 26, 2021

    Has ANYONE been able to successfully use the Sonos Arc as advertised for AtmosDD+ or even DD 5.1 content via external devices (Roku, AppleTV, Xbox, PS, BluRay) routed through ARC/eARC without experiencing punishing lip sync audio delays?

    It seems like everyone’s experience boils down to one of these unsatisfactory outcomes

    • I use splitter device so I can bypass TV and send my digital audio straight to my Sonos (negating the simplicity of Sonos’ design)
    • I only use my TV’s internal streaming apps (which seem to be able to pass Atmos to the Arc without audio delay issues)
    • I’ve turned off digital bitstream and am just using PCM (killing Atmos and just giving you stereo)
    • I fiddle with the audio delay settings on the TV (if it even goes in the right direction) which works sometimes but of course the delay depends on the type of content, so therefore not a reliable fix.

    I also haven’t seen any evidence that eARC solves this problem. Lots of people are experiencing all these issues with eARC televisions according to what I read in these threads. 

    I would love a list of eARC compatible televisions that do not create delays when passing through Atmos bitstream content from external devices. If buying a new eARC television was the $2000 fix to this solution I would be open to it, but I have no confidence that this will fix it.  I notice people here are quick to blame the TV manufacturers here, but if Sonos releases a device that is MADE for Atmos and forces us to use a much more nascent technology (ARC and/or eARC) for that Atmos, and all new HDTVs including the new eARC ones from reputable manufacturers systematically introduce horrible delays, then this product isn’t ready for prime time. 

     

    I do not have those audio delays you describe with my equipment utilizing hdmi e-arc. As posted in this thread previously, all tvs with e-arc capability must include mandatory lip sync correction.

    I had some prior issues with audio dropouts via hdmi e-arc, but they were eventually resolved by a Sony firmware update (not Sonos).  And based on the reported firmware updates by other tv manufacturers (LG, Samsung) over the past year to address various hdmi related issues, its pretty clear to me that the tv industry’s hdmi implementation has fallen short of reasonable expectations. I wish I could tell you otherwise, but I cannot.

    HT: Arc + Era 300s + Subs (G3/G2) + Sony A80L + Sony UBP-X800M2
    Matt87
    Lyricist III
    March 26, 2021

    My lip sync issue persists

     

    LG 48 CX - audio totally out of sync with e arc on/ off

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