Trending Lyricist I

Multichannel PCM 5.1 dropping out since 14.10 update

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Anyone else experiencing the same issue? Multichannel PCM 5.1 blanks out for a second every 1-2 minutes. I don’t think it’s a bandwidth issue as it works flawlessly with Multichannel PCM 7.1 (thorough test) and Dolby TrueHD Atmos (quick test). And it may have been caused by the Sonos 14.10 update. Setup is PS5→ LG C1→ Beam 2 (via earc).

2 weeks ago before the 14.10 update, I watched a bluray film wherein I had my PS5 transcode the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio to Multichannel PCM 5.1 (as the C1 does not support DTS) and had no issues. Earlier today, I played a bluray film for the first time in 2 weeks and I encountered consistent audio dropouts every 1-2 minutes. It had the same setup where DTS-HD MA 5.1 → Multichannel PCM 5.1. I tested other bluray discs including the one I watched 2 weeks ago and they all now have the same issue.

Curiously, I’ve been gaming heavily on my PS5 the past two 2 weeks and haven’t had any audio issues. Then I realized that I’ve been using Multichannel PCM 7.1 when gaming on my PS5. So I made some changes under the PS5 sound settings to make it output Multichannel PCM 5.1 instead. Lo and behold, I am now getting the same consistent dropouts in games and even on the PS5 main menu.

I think it’s due to the Sonos 14.10 update as that’s the only firmware update I’ve done in the last 2 weeks. No PS5 update, no LG C1 update. Well actually while I was composing this post, I received and applied the latest LG C1 firmware update and I still have the same issue.

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Pinned Reply By Corry P

Hi @throwawaybeam2 et al

We now recommend you reach out to the TV manufacturer (LG) as this behaviour is also occurring with different soundbar manufacturers (so it’s not a Sonos-specific issue).

Alternatively, please utilize different audio formats from McLPCM 5.1 (e.g., McLPCM 7.1, DD+, etc).

I hope this helps.

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Fendera

Lyricist III

Looks like i have 2 options now. Buy an arc or kick the TV through the window. Neither good options considering the amount of money i have spent on everything. I love both of them why cant they just get along lol. Im going to contact LG this coming week and see what they say. If not i will have to buy the arc. Are you sure the arc doesnt have these issues? I have read in some of these forums that it can go the same way. Thanks for the replies trying to help me out guys.

All I can say is that I had the Beam Gen 2 with the audio cuts on HDMI 3 and 4. I tried literally anything but nothing that worked in the end. Only the HDMI 1 port was unaffected by the issues. I've encountered several other users online who had the same problem with the Beam 2 and LG OLED TVs. Never heard of cut out issues with the Arc in combination with LG (not saying there aren't others with issues but I've never heard anything).

A friend of mine also has the Arc with an LG G2 and he never had any issues as well. I did some testing on his system just to be sure. I also have not encountered these cut outs since I have the Arc, that's why I can confidently say that the Arc works fine.

First time I'm hearing that even with the HDMI 1 port trick, the issues remain, maybe it has something to do with the new models C4/G4 I'm not sure?

Some users also recommended to replace the HDMI cable that came with the Beam, because apparently it can cause some issues as well. It is recommended to use a HDMI 2.1 cable in combination of eARC due to bandwidth.

It's very frustrating, especially when buying premium products like the LG G4 or a Sonos sound system, just to find out that there are deal breaking issues in combination of both.

Like you said, try out the replacement cable first, maybe do another reset of the TV or Sonos after plugging in the new cable. Also try out the LG customer service, I wonder if they have any recommendations, probably nothing that helps, but at least more people make them aware of this issue that is going on for more than a year by now.

Important TV settings:

DTV Audio Setting: Auto

Select HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream

Digital Sound Output: Pass Through

eARC Support: On

If nothing helps, I recommend replacing the Beam with the Arc before selling your Sonos system. It's great when it works, so I encourage you to keep trying.

D

Donstuarty

Lyricist III

Looks like i have 2 options now. Buy an arc or kick the TV through the window. Neither good options considering the amount of money i have spent on everything. I love both of them why cant they just get along lol. Im going to contact LG this coming week and see what they say. If not i will have to buy the arc. Are you sure the arc doesnt have these issues? I have read in some of these forums that it can go the same way. Thanks for the replies trying to help me out guys.

All I can say is that I had the Beam Gen 2 with the audio cuts on HDMI 3 and 4. I tried literally anything but nothing that worked in the end. Only the HDMI 1 port was unaffected by the issues. I've encountered several other users online who had the same problem with the Beam 2 and LG OLED TVs. Never heard of cut out issues with the Arc in combination with LG (not saying there aren't others with issues but I've never heard anything).

A friend of mine also has the Arc with an LG G2 and he never had any issues as well. I did some testing on his system just to be sure. I also have not encountered these cut outs since I have the Arc, that's why I can confidently say that the Arc works fine.

First time I'm hearing that even with the HDMI 1 port trick, the issues remain, maybe it has something to do with the new models C4/G4 I'm not sure?

Some users also recommended to replace the HDMI cable that came with the Beam, because apparently it can cause some issues as well. It is recommended to use a HDMI 2.1 cable in combination of eARC due to bandwidth.

It's very frustrating, especially when buying premium products like the LG G4 or a Sonos sound system, just to find out that there are deal breaking issues in combination of both.

Like you said, try out the replacement cable first, maybe do another reset of the TV or Sonos after plugging in the new cable. Also try out the LG customer service, I wonder if they have any recommendations, probably nothing that helps, but at least more people make them aware of this issue that is going on for more than a year by now.

Important TV settings:

DTV Audio Setting: Auto

Select HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream

Digital Sound Output: Pass Through

eARC Support: On

If nothing helps, I recommend replacing the Beam with the Arc before selling your Sonos system. It's great when it works, so I encourage you to keep trying.

I love the TV and i love my sonos. I guess they just dont love each other. Looks like i am going to have to save and buy the arc. I was intending to upgrade anyway. Just wasnt expecting it to be so soon after paying out a lot of money for the LG. Thanks guys

Y

yofalat611

Enthusiast I

If you’re not yet trapped within the Sonos ecosystem, this might be a good time to start over with another brand instead of going Arc / Arc 2. Hard to continue putting my trust in Sonos after seeing their track record (e.g. ignoring this issue, only addressing the longstanding Atmos pop issue after coverage by The Verge, the disastrous new app rollout, etc)

D

Donstuarty

Lyricist III

If you’re not yet trapped within the Sonos ecosystem, this might be a good time to start over with another brand instead of going Arc / Arc 2. Hard to continue putting my trust in Sonos after seeing their track record (e.g. ignoring this issue, only addressing the longstanding Atmos pop issue after coverage by The Verge, the disastrous new app rollout, etc)

Well the story so far. It started working ok, i dont know why. Im not sure if it was because i changed it to hdmi 1 as in a previous suggestion. But it just started working about 2 days later. I bought the arc as i wanted to upgrade anyway and it seems to be working ok. HDMI 3 i have my firestick plugged in and was watching star wars on disney plus and it was dropping a lot. I changed the sound to passthrough and didnt have any more drop outs. For now everything seems good. I get the odd dropout while watch normal tv on my set top box but im putting it down to bad signal. Its very rare. I have the sonos sub mini and 2 era 100s so changing it wouldnt have been an option anyway

T

thehowl

Lyricist II

I hade the same problem as everyone in this thread, for some reason I have had no problems with the sound cutting out on my ps5 with LG C1 and Beam 2 for like a month. Didn’t switch out any cables or changed any settings. The ps5 is on HDMI 3. Anyone else with similar results? I hope I didn’t jinxed it.

D

Donstuarty

Lyricist III

I hade the same problem as everyone in this thread, for some reason I have had no problems with the sound cutting out on my ps5 with LG C1 and Beam 2 for like a month. Didn’t switch out any cables or changed any settings. The ps5 is on HDMI 3. Anyone else with similar results? I hope I didn’t jinxed it.

Hi Howl,

It seems to be a problem with the LG TVs. Not sure if it is only the new ones or not. I had the beam 1 and then bought the arc and both are doing the same thing. HDMI 1 seems ok. I have ordered an HDMI switch that i am going to plug into HDMI 1 and then all my boxes and stuff will plug into that. The switch is coming today so i will report back and let you know if it works. Its not ideal but hopefully it will work until some kind of fix comes out for this.

Fendera

Lyricist III

I hade the same problem as everyone in this thread, for some reason I have had no problems with the sound cutting out on my ps5 with LG C1 and Beam 2 for like a month. Didn’t switch out any cables or changed any settings. The ps5 is on HDMI 3. Anyone else with similar results? I hope I didn’t jinxed it.

If the PS5 is set to Dolby Atmos in the sound settings, then there aren't any sound cut outs. This only occurs when setting it to PCM 5.1 and using HDMI 3 and 4.

T

thehowl

Lyricist II

I hade the same problem as everyone in this thread, for some reason I have had no problems with the sound cutting out on my ps5 with LG C1 and Beam 2 for like a month. Didn’t switch out any cables or changed any settings. The ps5 is on HDMI 3. Anyone else with similar results? I hope I didn’t jinxed it.

If the PS5 is set to Dolby Atmos in the sound settings, then there aren't any sound cut outs. This only occurs when setting it to PCM 5.1 and using HDMI 3 and 4.

My ps5 I set to linear PCM 5.1. Tv has bitstream and passthrough on.

Y

yofalat611

Enthusiast I

@thehowl This issue appears to come and go seemingly at random. Maybe you’re just on a (very) lucky streak? Hard to believe someone somewhere fixed something else they’d have announced it by now.

Y

yofalat611

Enthusiast I

Tested for around 10 minutes on my C1’s HDMI 3 and there were no dropouts. Can’t even recall the last time I tested for this. So either it’s my “lucky” day as well or something did change (maybe as a byproduct and they didn’t even know lol).

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