Question

Sonos Arc

  • 2 September 2020
  • 31 replies
  • 580 views

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Sonos arc connected to sony tv when try to select tv speakers it jumps back to audio system?


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31 replies

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I know what you are saying, but it worked with an older sound bar, and it worked with a different model sony tv and sonos arc in the Richer Sounds shop.

Userlevel 7
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Not that it is how you want it, but according to the HDMI-standards this is how it is supposed to work: using a soundbar with HDMI-ARC/CEC channels all sound to the soundbar. Other possibilities are closed.

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There is an option on the tv to use audio system (sound bar) or tv speakers, i have my HiFi connected to the tv via optical cable and to use this you have to go through the tv speakers, but when i select tv speakers it just flicks back to audio system.

Userlevel 7
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According to the HDMI-standards everything is working properly: when the Arc is connected it is always used for sound. Or do you have another problem?

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It is not about the expense of the thing, more of it all working properly.

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It is beyond me that you would buy an expensive speaker and not want to use it………

 

Though you are certainly not the first one to complain about it.

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Got the plug so far works well, what do you think of the Sonos do you have the full set up sub and rear speakers?

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Thanks still waiting on the plug hopefully today so will let you know how it goes.

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@Drea30 Happy to report that since that restart, the sound is working well through TV speakers.  I bought another smart plug for the Sub too so that everything is not always on.  Now I power up both the Arc and Sub with voice control via Alexa.  It’s working great! Hope your experience is similar. 

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@Drea30 Cool, lmk if it works for you without issue.  I had to restart the TV (pressed down the power button on the TV remote for 5 seconds) and then it worked again with the TV speakers (obviously not trying to do this each time).  

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I have sent for a smart plug i will let you know how it goes.

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@Drea30 Well, this morning, powered on the TVand no sound from TV speakers unless I power on the Arc. Ugh. Will update if I find another fix. 

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Thanks for the tip i will try that, although it must be an issue with the tv because i had another soundbar and it worked fine.

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@Drea30 I contacted Sony support via chat and they confirmed that there’s no way to override the eARC setting to force switch to TV speakers for audio without unplugging it from power. However, I found a workaround inspired by one of Peter Pee’s YouTube vids about Sonos and Smart plugs to reduce standby power consumption!  I connected the Sonos Arc to a wi-fi enabled smart plug.  This way, I can turn the Arc off and on from the app.  When the Arc is off, the TV uses the TV audio (no matter if you have the settings in Audio Output->Speakers→ TV Speakers or External- I tried both, it doesn’t make a difference).  When I want to listen to audio through the Arc, it take 20 seconds (timed) for the plug to power on and the Arc to connect.  The only quirk with this method is that when the Arc turns on and switches from the TV speakers to External, you have to press the up or down button on the volume to reinstate the sound.  To me, that’s not a huge deal and I’m glad I can listen to the TV without the bar on.  

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Yes the older tv only had ARC so it must be an issue with eARC, its beyond me.

 

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@Drea30 Does the older TV have ARC/eARC?  I think that’s still the issue that’s forcing the TV speakers to switch to the Arc.  It just keeps detecting external speakers b/c there’s the connection via eARC as Airgetlam mentioned.  For me, just an overkill to watch cable TV with the Arc on but not the end of the world I guess.  Thanks for sharing your findings.  

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I got in touch with Sonos people, they said it is a TV issue, i tried the sound bar with an older sony tv and there was no problems, so it must be this new model i have now, maybe it will be fixed with a future update.

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Thanks will try again tomorrow.

Sorry, it needs to be ‘on’ for the Sonos to work. I think in order to have your TV speakers to work, turning it ‘off’ is supposed to work, but you may need to reboot your TV, or possibly unplug the Sonos Arc’s HDMI cable.

This is not how HDMI CEC / ARC was designed to be used, so trying to force your way around the way the specification was written is problematic. The engineers (not Sonos) who wrote that spec didn’t expect people to want to switch between external and internal speakers.

But as I said, it’s much more likely the the Sonos reps might have access to information that I don’t...and honestly, this is a Sony issue, not a a Sonos issue, no matter what their CS reps told you. 

It needs to be on, per the link I provided. Perhaps, Drea30,  you might be better off if you were to call Sonos Support directly to discuss it.

When you speak directly to the phone folks, there are more options to assist, and it would be an easier process. 

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Turning it off doesn’t solve the problem.

No, standard HDMI ARC can handle the bandwidth necessary for Dolby Digital Plus, which can also carry Atmos. eARC is great, but not a requirement for Atmos. 

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eARC is an upgrade from ARC it can handle more bandwidth, it is needed to handle Dolby Atmos.

Looks like the call it what it is, eARC. Oh, and BRAVIA Sync.

See https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-oled-tvs-android-/xbr-65a9g/articles/00137387

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I had the Sony help people remotely go through the settings on my tv, they found nothing wrong and referred me to Sonos.