Contributor I

Answered

Sonos ARC > Sky Q > Lip Sync Issue

48 replies
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Hi,

I have recently swapped an old 5.1 system out with the Sonos Arc. The 5.1 system had all components connected into the A/V receiver with one HDMI from the receiver to the TV (Sony Bravia KD49XE8005) and had absolutely no lip sync problems.

I’ve now set up the Arc (via ARC) and, I thought, everything was still fine. I had no lip sync issues on apple TV, PS4 and some Sky content. Sonos Arc is connected via ARC (HDMI 3 in my TV’s case) with the Apple TV, PS4 and Sky Q box connected via other HDMI inputs.

However, I have identified a very specific issue with Sky Q. When watching stereo content (i.e. non HD) I have no lip sync issues. When watching UHD Atmos content (output via DD+), there are no lip sync issues. However, when Sky Q outputs DD5.1 the audio and video go out of sync in the way that can’t be fixed (i.e. video is ahead of the audio).

I have tried a power cycle and the issue still persists. Additionally, when I set the Sky Q HDMI output to normal and it outputs in stereo the audio and video are in sync.

I really want to find a solution to this because the Arc sounds great and Atmos content is brilliant, but lip sync issues for what is likely to be the vast majority of my TV watching is a bit of a deal breaker!

Any ideas?

Thanks for your help!

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RussHill919Answer

Contributor I

I have the exact same issue with my recently purchased Philips OLED854. The Same set up with my previous Samsung Tv did not exhibit the problem at all. My only solution is to change the skyQ sound output to “normal” which kinda defeats the purpose of having a Dolby digital/Atmos sound bar. Logic suggests it has something to do with the way the tv is processing the Dolby digital signal which adds a delay. As the sound is behind the picture there are no adjustments via the tv, skyQ or the Arc that can help.

I feel your pain :(

After a ridiculous amount of research and a visit from the sky engineer, there’s nothing that fixes it. It seems to be something to do with the DD signal from Sky Q, it’s a pretty well documented problem! I even looked at returning the Arc and getting a different soundbar with multiple HDMI inputs so I can plug loads of devices directly in, but there doesn’t seem to be anything that does that and has good reviews.

What does work is plugging directly into the Arc via optical. So for now, I’ve resigned myself to an optical signal with a switch to plug everything into. There is a HDMI product called the Arcana from HDFury that will resolve the problem and allow full Atmos signals but is not available until October.

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ronaldianho

Lyricist III

I have the same issue with my Philips OLED TV and Sonos Beam. No other issues with lip sync with PS4, Firestick etc but only with Sky Q. Switching from Dolby Digital to Normal fixes it but I don't want to watch a UHD picture with Stereo 2.0 sound. I've reached out to Sky who say they are not aware of any issues!

If I went down the optical switcher option that is found to resolve it. But I fear I would have to use the switcher to move the audio each time I was to change source to my fire stick etc.

Depends who you’ve spoken to at Sky, I’ve been speaking to some of the right people and they’re aware of this issues and testing things in the background, I’ve been talking to one of them again this even and trying a few bits for them.

Ok that’s really good news. I hope they release an update soon.

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Daniel_82

Lyricist II

I too have this problem. With Samsung TV and Sky Q.

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RichH3nson

Lyricist III

Not sure how long it may take to be fair, at least the right people are now aware of it and starting to work on it 😁

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ronaldianho

Lyricist III

I have ordered a Toslink splitter as an interim measure until Sky find a fix. This was suggested to me on mother forum. I have a PS4 and Sky Q. The firestick and chromecast are obviously plugged into the TV so the optical from the splitter into the TV should allow sound to work for those two. For the PS4 I will switch the source on the splitter whenever I use it. Even if I use it until a fix comes in I'll be happy.

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horshamhector

Lyricist III

I’m also having the sound problems with my new Sonos Arc connecting to my brand new 2020 Samsung Q95T TV and Sky Q. I’ve spent several fruitless hours on the merry go round of phone calls with the retailer, Sonos and Sky. The usual response is it must be me as they are unaware of any lip sync problems, my connections are wrong or I haven’t plugged in the hdmi leads correctly. I like others, have now plugged in the optical converter connector supplied with the Sonos Arc from the Arc to the optical input on my TV which solves the issues except that Dolby Atmos doesn’t work as others have pointed out. The 5.1 sound I’m getting is an improvement on the TV sound (which to be fair is pretty good) but not what I’m paying a lot of money for. I’m still in my 30 day retailer return period. Do I return the Sonos Arc as a protest to get the attention of Sonos at least or is that a futile gesture? Do I keep the Arc and hope that a solution will be found in the future? How will I know if it has?

BMF

Prodigy III

The issue is in the Sky end, from what we can figure out.

Sky has always been “iffy” with lip sync, had issues for years with skyHD with different TVs and sound systems, they eventually sorted it.

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horshamhector

Lyricist III

I’m considering giving up my Sky Q TV package altogether which will save me a lot of money each month. I tend to only watch the main TV channels anyway i.e BBC, ITV, Ch 4 & 5. Plus Youtube, Netflix & Amazon Prime. Most I can get through the Samsung 2020 smart TV. I have an Apple TV and an Amazon Firestick available. What are the best alternatives to Sky Q?

Hey! Broadband have just laid fibre optic cables in my road and offering 1gb FTTP for £40 a month which is very tempting and covered by the Sky TV savings.

I also assume that by cutting out the Sky Q box I can then connect the hdmi cable from the Arc to the TV earc and get Dolby Atmos?

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Solosheep

Contributor II

Do we know which department in sky is looking into this? So if we were to call we could get a direct update?

for me on a Panasonic dx750 and sky Q and Sonos beam some HD channels are now out of sync but then they can also be in sync. It is very hit and miss but more miss. All connected via ARC.

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ronaldianho

Lyricist III

Despite the Toslink Optical switcher resolving the lip sync issues I've just discovered the next gen consoles (PS5/Xbox Series X) have no optical port so if I ever upgraded my PS4 I'd be stuck. If that happens I might have to resort to HDMI/Optical splitter instead, but not sure if that would cause the lip sync issues to return. Not ideal.

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Jessica21

Lyricist III

I have solved my lip sync issues with Sky Q 2TB Samsung Q80 series 2020 model and my Sonos Beam , Sub 2x SL2

Set all sound delays to zero on all three devices

Sky HDMI to Dolby Digital

Then on the TV in Sound Settings -Expert

HDMI -eARC Set to Auto

Digital output audio format to Pass-through

This last setting I think is the key to solving the delay

While not an expert I think this then allows the audio signal to be processed by the Beam and not the TV

The TV processing is causing the negative sync

Hope this may help

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