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rmartin7
August 5, 2023
Answered

Sonos Arc, Apple TV 4K and eARC setting on LG OLED C3

  • August 5, 2023
  • 85 replies
  • 40189 views

I just bought a new Sonos Arc and LG 65OLED65AUA tv.  Everything seems OK but I am having problems with sound from my Apple TV 4K (latest version).  I only get sound when Dolby Atmos content is played, no sound with Dolby 5.1, HD, etc.  I spent and hour with Sonos phone  support yesterday.  We were unable to find a solution.  I tried different settings on the Apple TV and LG tv.  Today I turned off the eARC setting on the LG tv and now all is working.  I think with eARC there is more information transferred with ARC and there might be a slight difference in sound  with Dolby Atmos.  The eARC was turned on automatically when I installed the Sonos Arc on the LG tv.  Just curious why the eARC setting seems to fix the problem.  Thanks.

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Best answer by GuitarSuperstar

Set the TV to these settings:

HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream

Digital Sound Output: Pass Through

eARC Support: On
 

Set the Apple TV audio settings to this:

Change Format: Off

Dolby Atmos: On

 

Then do this:

Disconnect everything from the TV and unplug the Arc, Apple TV, and TV from power for a couple of minutes. Plug everything back in but keep everything disconnected. Make sure Simplink is enabled in the TV settings. Run TV Setup in the Sonos app and follow the app instructions. When the app instructs you, connect the Arc to the TV’s HDMI eARC port using the Sonos-supplied HDMI cable. After the Arc has been successfully connected, connect the Apple TV to the TV.

85 replies

GuitarSuperstar
Lead Maestro
August 6, 2023

Is the Digital Sound Output setting on the TV currently set to Auto or Pass Through?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
    rmartin7Author
    August 6, 2023

    I have it set to Auto now.  I tried the pass through also but the only thing that makes a difference is switching the eARC off.

    rmartin7Author
    August 6, 2023

    It is weird.  With pass through enabled  and either eARC on or off, the Apple TV Audio Format setting doesn’t give the option of Dolby Atmos.  With Digital Sound Output  set to Auto the Apple TV shows Atmos available with eARC on or off.  I just don’t get sound with content other than Dolby Atmos when eARC is on.

    GuitarSuperstarAnswer
    Lead Maestro
    August 6, 2023

    Set the TV to these settings:

    HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream

    Digital Sound Output: Pass Through

    eARC Support: On
     

    Set the Apple TV audio settings to this:

    Change Format: Off

    Dolby Atmos: On

     

    Then do this:

    Disconnect everything from the TV and unplug the Arc, Apple TV, and TV from power for a couple of minutes. Plug everything back in but keep everything disconnected. Make sure Simplink is enabled in the TV settings. Run TV Setup in the Sonos app and follow the app instructions. When the app instructs you, connect the Arc to the TV’s HDMI eARC port using the Sonos-supplied HDMI cable. After the Arc has been successfully connected, connect the Apple TV to the TV.

    "Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
      rmartin7Author
      August 6, 2023

      It sort of worked.  I followed your instructions.  After the Sonos Arc, the Apple TV was the first device I connected.  Everything worked as it should.  I then plugged in two other devices the Amino set top box for regular TV and a Roku Ultra.  I went back to the Apple TV and I am still having the problem as before.  I checked pass through and it had been switched to Auto.  I switched back to pass through and did a restart on the Apple TV but the only way I could get sound for every content was to change from passthrough to Auto and turn the eARC off.  With eARC off the only way to get Dolby Atmos from the Sonos Arc was to switch from pass through to Auto.

      Thank you for the concise instructions.  I was very hopeful the problem would be fixed.  I may try to repeat your instructions again.  

       

      GuitarSuperstar
      Lead Maestro
      August 6, 2023

      It sort of worked.  I followed your instructions.  After the Sonos Arc, the Apple TV was the first device I connected.  Everything worked as it should.  I then plugged in two other devices the Amino set top box for regular TV and a Roku Ultra.  I went back to the Apple TV and I am still having the problem as before.  I checked pass through and it had been switched to Auto.  I switched back to pass through and did a restart on the Apple TV but the only way I could get sound for every content was to change from passthrough to Auto and turn the eARC off.  With eARC off the only way to get Dolby Atmos from the Sonos Arc was to switch from pass through to Auto.

      Thank you for the concise instructions.  I was very hopeful the problem would be fixed.  I may try to repeat your instructions again.  

      The Amino or Roku Ultra seem to be causing the problem. Repeat the instructions above and just connect the Apple TV and Roku Ultra and test. Then repeat the instructions above again and just connect the Apple TV and Amino and test.

      "Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
        rmartin7Author
        August 6, 2023

        Not sure what I did but so far sound is working with eARC.  I repeated the process again as you instructed.  At first no sound except Atmos movies so I changed  the audio setting on Apple TV from auto to 16 bit and I got sound on other content.  I switched audio back to auto setting.    Currently I have eARC enabled and I switched from pass through to auto. The audio is set to auto on Apple TV.  So far so good.  Thank you for all of your suggestions.  You have been more helpful than Sonos or Apple tech support.

        rmartin7Author
        August 7, 2023

        I am back to using Apple TV with eARC off.  It seems if I unplug all of my devices and power on,  the Apple TV will work the first time I use it but after that only content with Dolby Atmos has sound.  Last night my LG OLED C3 got a WebOS upgrade but that didn’t make a difference.  There is one thing I would mention.  Maybe this will help someone until there is an patch.  My current Apple TV 4K is 128 GB with ethernet connection (3rd Generation).  I also have an Apple TV 64 GB with ethernet connection (Apple TV 4K 2nd Generation).  The Apple TV 2nd Generation works just fine with eARC on.  I plan to call Apple Support in a few days and I will update if I have any success.

        Juno8
        Lyricist III
        August 7, 2023

        I have struggled with this very problem for six months. My set up is an Apple TV latest version, cable box, as the only inputs other than the Arc plugged into the Earc input. my TV is OLED 65 G2.  Other than the current version of the Apple TV… Every other Apple TV works properly with Earc.  
         

        LG has replaced the motherboard and power supply twice.

        I have followed GuitarSuperstar advice a dozen times.

        There is nothing that will work around the Earc issue. 

          Juno8
          Lyricist III
          August 7, 2023

          The Sonos Arc isn’t compatible with the latest version of Apple TV.  

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