Skip to main content
Contributor I
March 8, 2014

Sonos playbar sound drops out randomly for a second or so.

  • March 8, 2014
  • 12 replies
  • 1114 views
Sonos playbar linked to samsung tv via optical cable. Sound drops out now and then, say once an hour for just a second, and then recovers. I am running the beta software but the problem was their before I changed to the beta. Any advise please.
    This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

    12 replies

    Ryan S
    Retired Sonos Staff
    March 13, 2014
    Hello User841304,

    Do you have trouble when you're playing TV audio or another source through the TV such as a DVD or Netflix? Can you please submit a diagnostic from your system and reply back with your confirmation number within a few minutes of having an issue?

    Cheers.
    Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.
    Contributor I
    March 13, 2014
    I also have a Samsung TV connected to Playbar via optical cable. My system uses two Play:1's for surround. I can repeat the audio cut out at will by starting up Archer Season 4 Episode 1 on Netflix. The audio encoding is Dolby Digital Plus 5.1.

    Diagnostics Confirmation #: 3479638
    Enthusiast I
    March 13, 2014
    Thus is because SONOS does not support Dolby Digital Plus or DTS. The only source that is OK is Dolby Digital which is not used that much by providers. Until SONOS upgrade the systems to newer CODECS this problem will continue.
    Contributor I
    March 14, 2014
    My diagnostic submitted just a few minutes ago 3482794. Watching BBC1 at the time, seem to get the problem with freeview TV and the blu ray. Have to say that for me things like netflix, bbc iplayer, amazon instant all seem to be okay. Playing music through the playbar is also without any issues. Set the sound output on the tv to PCM or dolby with similar results. Jason
    Contributor I
    March 14, 2014
    My diagnostic submitted just a few minutes ago 3482794. Watching BBC1 at the time, seem to get the problem with freeview TV and the blu ray. Have to say that for me things like netflix, bbc iplayer, amazon instant all seem to be okay. Playing music through the playbar is also without any issues. Set the sound output on the tv to PCM or dolby with similar results. Jason
    Not all Netflix content is Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. I wouldn't be surprised if you booted up Netflix and had the cutout problem with Archer Season 4 Episode 1.
    Contributor I
    March 14, 2014
    My diagnostic submitted just a few minutes ago 3482794. Watching BBC1 at the time, seem to get the problem with freeview TV and the blu ray. Have to say that for me things like netflix, bbc iplayer, amazon instant all seem to be okay. Playing music through the playbar is also without any issues. Set the sound output on the tv to PCM or dolby with similar results. Jason
    Unfortunately I don't seem to have series 4, anything else that sets it off for you?
    Lyricist I
    April 19, 2014
    I have sound drops when playing Netflix (using Samsung app) on m samsung Smart TV (I have playbar, sub, connect:amp)

    Any advise please
    Lyricist III
    June 14, 2014
    I also have this problem when watching my Samsung TV. The drop outs are very short - less than a second, but annoying and not what I expected.
    Initially I thought the problem might be my Humax PVR which plays through the TV, but if I rewind and play again the dropouts don't happen.
    Need this resolving or the Playbar is going back.

    Haven't noticed any problems when playing Google music.
    Lyricist II
    September 3, 2014
    I purchased the Playbar and Sub a few months back and soon discovered this dropout problem, but as I wasn’t going to buy the rear Play 1s for a while and the fact that Sonos said they were working on a fix I was happy to set my TV to PCM and wait for a while, the system is excellent especially with music streaming from my Nas and the internet radio, I’ve been extremely satisfied with it, now months later I’m ready to buy the rears to further enhance the system and enjoy surround sound, but a quick test shows the problem is still there despite another software update 5.1 which doesn’t address the problem. As a test I’ve tried connecting the Playbar directly to the TV, BluRay and PVR and the problem occurs with all of them.

    The dropouts mainly seem to occur during quiet parts, if for example 2 people are quietly talking to each other and there is a pause between the speech, it’s as if the Playbar shuts down and then wakes up when the person starts to talk but the first 2 or 3 words are silent.

    So having spent  £1200 on a soundbar and sub I don’t know what to do, wait for Sonos to deliver (pigs might fly), cut my losses and look for something else, stick with what’s a very good stereo soundbar and music streamer.

     

    Tested with

    LG 47LM670T TV (2012 model) which does pass through 5.1 sound

    LG BP630 Blu-ray / DVD player

    Humax HDR FOX-T2 freeview PVR
    Contributor I
    February 8, 2017
    This is happening to me while watching HBO Now via a Roku Ultra and sound through a new Samsung ks8000 tv