Hi all. I currently have a system in my living room which consists of an Arc Ultra, Sub Gen 4 and 2 x Era 300s. I use an Apple TV 4K and a 2021 Samsung Frame TV to watch all my content (through the Apple TV). Over the past 2 months I have been getting a very loud and rhythmic (almost like a heartbeat) thumping noise from my Sub Gen 4. It happens only when watching content (doesn't seem to happen when I listen to music through the app). When I pause the content on the TV, the thumping noise continues. I have tried removing the Sub from my system and re-adding it, done a factory reset, spoken to Sonos Support (who were nice but not very helpful) but the issue just won't go away. The issue has started a couple of months ago while before that I’ve been running the system just fine for about a year or so. Any help will be much much appreciated!
Sub Gen 4 Thumping Noise with TV audio
Wait for the problem, submit a diagnostic and call Sonos support to have it looked at.
When you spoke to Sonos support was it level 1? If so do as suggested by
Sure sounds like the ‘thumping’ is coming through the connection to the TV, even when there’s no other signal, otherwise I’d expect it to continue if you were streaming music.
In addition to the excellent suggestions above, I’d be awfully tempted to both check the TV itself for updates, and reset it completely by unplugging it from the wall for two minutes, then plugging it back in.
I’d also want to be mindful of the data in the wifi interference FAQ, it’s possible that something is being introduced into the cable connection between the TV and the Sonos soundbar, and then subsequently being sent to the Sub.
If this ‘thumping’ is coming from an outside source, I wouldn’t expect the Sonos to change behavior across a factory reset, exactly as you’ve seen. The Sub would continue to play what it is being handed.
As you say the “thumping” continues when the content is paused that suggests a low frequency signal is still emanating from the TV. Do you have another HDMI source besides AppleTV? Also, what happens if you adjust the output level of the sub?
Wait for the problem, submit a diagnostic and call Sonos support to have it looked at.
Thank you, Stanley. I did this as well. They were not able to see any issues with the hardware - thankfully I guess - but unfortunately no real solution yet.
When you spoke to Sonos support was it level 1? If so do as suggested by
I got to a level 2 assistant on chat. I then sent them a video of the thumping noise when no content was playing as well. But I’m just kind of going in circles with the support team.
When you spoke to Sonos support was it level 1? If so do as suggested by
I got to a level 2 assistant on chat. I then sent them a video of the thumping noise when no content was playing as well. But I’m just kind of going in circles with the support team.
Sure sounds like the ‘thumping’ is coming through the connection to the TV, even when there’s no other signal, otherwise I’d expect it to continue if you were streaming music.
In addition to the excellent suggestions above, I’d be awfully tempted to both check the TV itself for updates, and reset it completely by unplugging it from the wall for two minutes, then plugging it back in.
I’d also want to be mindful of the data in the wifi interference FAQ, it’s possible that something is being introduced into the cable connection between the TV and the Sonos soundbar, and then subsequently being sent to the Sub.
If this ‘thumping’ is coming from an outside source, I wouldn’t expect the Sonos to change behavior across a factory reset, exactly as you’ve seen. The Sub would continue to play what it is being handed.
Thank you for this! The only other device near my Sub is the Apple TV itself (and the TV). I will try moving the Sub a little further away to see if that helps in any way.
Do you have other sources for the TV than the Apple? Try them and eliminate it as an issue.
Pull the HDMI eARC cable and see if the thumping stops.
If support thinks they have eliminated internal issues pulling the cable might show something.
Got a second tv with an eARC or ARC port?
If you read the wifi interference FAQ, you’ll find that internal (tv based) sources are not the only possibility here. I don’t know about your situation specifically, but moving the Sub itself may or may not help. I do hope it does, though.
Do you have other sources for the TV than the Apple? Try them and eliminate it as an issue.
Pull the HDMI eARC cable and see if the thumping stops.
If support thinks they have eliminated internal issues pulling the cable might show something.
Got a second tv with an eARC or ARC port?
Thanks a lot, Stanley. Appreciate it. Quick question - when you say pull the HDMI eARC cable, do you mean connect it to a different HDMI port and see if the issue stops? Would that affect playing atmos content for instance?
Also, I do have another eARC tv. Do you suggest I use the Sub with that TV and see if that fixes the issue?
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