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Jhonndee
Contributor I
August 10, 2024
Answered

Sony - HDMI ARC No Sound Issue

Hi everyone, I’m having trouble with my Sony TV and soundbar setup. The soundbar occasionally stops producing sound when switching between different HDMI sources. Initially, it would only occur when switching from an HDMI source like my gaming console to a streaming app. The problem was temporarily fixed by toggling the TV's sound settings from HDMI to TV speakers and back. However, now the issue persists even when watching content directly from the TV’s internal apps. Sometimes, after an episode finishes, the sound doesn’t come back for the next one, and switching the sound source setting resolves it. I’m using HDMI ARC and passthrough, and have verified that all settings are correct. Despite following suggestions from both Sony and the soundbar manufacturer, including disabling various power-saving options, the issue remains unresolved. Has anyone else encountered this problem? Could it be related to HDMI handshake issues?

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Corry P
Corry PAnswer
Sonos Staff
August 20, 2024

Hi @Jhonndee 

Welcome to the Sonos Community! And, apologies for the delay.

Sorry to hear of this no-audio issue your are having with your Sonos Beam and Sony TV.

There are several steps that you can take that may address this issue. I’ll list them in what I think is the order of easiest to that requiring the most work, but feel free to try them in any order:

  • Reboot the TV by unplugging it from power for a full minute, at least.
  • Check to see if the TV has any software updates pending.
  • If you have any HDMI devices other than the Beam connected to the TV, please turn off the TV, disconnect those devices, then turn the TV on again and ensure the ARC device (the Beam) is selected as the audio output device before testing.

If you find that the last step is the one that fixes it, you will either need to instruct the disconnected device to not use it’s HDMI-CEC functions (they are typically to do with changing the input on the TV when a source starts playing, or turning the TV off when the source is turned off), or, if that is not possible, fit a cheap CEC-less adaptor to it’s HDMI cable, before reconnecting it to the TV. This would be a CEC conflict, which could accurately be described as an issue with the HDMI handshake, yes.

A less desirable fix would be to use the Sonos Adaptor that came with your Beam to connect it (using the HDMI cable) to the TV’s optical output port instead of the TV’s HDMI-ARC port - you’d need to instruct the TV to output to it’s optical port instead (or S/PDIF, or TOSLink - it’s all the same). If you do this, you may need to tell your TV remote to use IR (if it doesn’t already), and program your Beam to accept it’s IR codes. See our Control Sonos home theater with your TV remote help page for more details.

I hope this helps.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
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1 reply

Corry P
Corry PAnswer
Sonos Staff
August 20, 2024

Hi @Jhonndee 

Welcome to the Sonos Community! And, apologies for the delay.

Sorry to hear of this no-audio issue your are having with your Sonos Beam and Sony TV.

There are several steps that you can take that may address this issue. I’ll list them in what I think is the order of easiest to that requiring the most work, but feel free to try them in any order:

  • Reboot the TV by unplugging it from power for a full minute, at least.
  • Check to see if the TV has any software updates pending.
  • If you have any HDMI devices other than the Beam connected to the TV, please turn off the TV, disconnect those devices, then turn the TV on again and ensure the ARC device (the Beam) is selected as the audio output device before testing.

If you find that the last step is the one that fixes it, you will either need to instruct the disconnected device to not use it’s HDMI-CEC functions (they are typically to do with changing the input on the TV when a source starts playing, or turning the TV off when the source is turned off), or, if that is not possible, fit a cheap CEC-less adaptor to it’s HDMI cable, before reconnecting it to the TV. This would be a CEC conflict, which could accurately be described as an issue with the HDMI handshake, yes.

A less desirable fix would be to use the Sonos Adaptor that came with your Beam to connect it (using the HDMI cable) to the TV’s optical output port instead of the TV’s HDMI-ARC port - you’d need to instruct the TV to output to it’s optical port instead (or S/PDIF, or TOSLink - it’s all the same). If you do this, you may need to tell your TV remote to use IR (if it doesn’t already), and program your Beam to accept it’s IR codes. See our Control Sonos home theater with your TV remote help page for more details.

I hope this helps.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
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