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Hi Sonos Community,

I’m having an issue with my Sonos Arc when streaming Dolby Atmos content via my Apple TV 4K. The audio intermittently drops out for 1-2 seconds during playback, especially on Netflix and Disney+.

Setup Details:

  • Soundbar: Sonos Arc
  • Streaming Device: Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen)
  • TV: LG CX OLED
  • Connection: eARC enabled with HDMI 2.1 cable
  • Network: Strong Wi-Fi connection with no noticeable interruptions

Troubleshooting Steps Tried:

  1. Ensured all devices are running the latest firmware and software versions.
  2. Replaced the HDMI cable with a certified Ultra High-Speed cable.
  3. Adjusted Apple TV audio settings between “Auto” and “PCM” modes.
  4. Reset both the Sonos Arc and Apple TV, but the issue persists.

Questions:

  1. Is this a known issue with the Sonos Arc when handling Dolby Atmos via eARC?
  2. Would switching to a wired Ethernet connection for the Arc improve stability?
  3. Are there specific settings on the Apple TV, LG TV, or Sonos app that could resolve the audio drops?

Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated! I want to make the most of my Dolby Atmos experience without interruptions.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Best regards,

Hi ​@miasmith 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

Sorry to hear of this issue you are having with your Arc having audio interruptions when playing content from your Apple TV.

Commonly, this issue can be resolved with a reboot of the TV - please unplug it from power for at least a full minute. I recommend telling the Apple TV to restart too.

If this does not solve the issue, please try something I found that worked when I had the same issue after a software update on my Hisense TV - I changed the audio output format on the TV from Passthrough to Auto. It might not be this specific change that’s needed (you have a different brand of TV for a start), but please try different settings here. Please do keep an eye on the Now Playing screen of the Sonos app when testing to ensure you are still getting Atmos.

Questions:

  • Is this a known issue with the Sonos Arc when handling Dolby Atmos via eARC?

I wouldn’t go that far, but such issues can happen - reboots usually fix them. Loose connections on the HDMI cable can be another cause.

  • Would switching to a wired Ethernet connection for the Arc improve stability?

Unlikely - if it were only the surrounds that were affected, maybe, but if the device with a direct connection to the TV exhibits the issue too, then it has nothing to do with networking.

  • Are there specific settings on the Apple TV, LG TV, or Sonos app that could resolve the audio drops?

Digital Audio Output Format (or similar - usually 3 of these 4 words are used) on the TV, as mentioned above.

Please note that high-speed HDMI cables are only needed for 4K content, and your Arc is not receiving a picture - the supplied cable will be fine unless more length is needed. If you ever get a new device to connect to the TV, I’d use this high-speed cable you now have for it rather than for the Arc.

I hope this helps.

I have this issue with my Samsung TV when watching Dolby Atmos video from the Apple TV. The audio would drop for -2 seconds every 18-20 minutes. Audio from other sources work fine with no drops.

I dont believe its a network issue because I have my Arc wired to my network, but, I have seen many posts about this issue with no fix. There are similar posts on the Apple community as well.

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