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Apple TV eArc no sound

Neil Harrison

Neil Harrison

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 5, 2020
533
368
I have an Apple 4K TV connected to the tv via eArc to play the sound from my HomePod

Yesterday it was working perfectly but I Have just updated TV Os and HomePod OS both are on 15.2

In Apple TV it’s saying connected but there is no sound from TV, it recognises the connection on TV and suggests it’s changing volume but nothing happens

Can anyone help?
 
Same issue here. Apple TV 4K, LG GX, Sonos Arc, started the moment I updated to tvOS 15.2. Switching between apps that use different sound formats (e.g. from YouTube to TV app with a Dolby Atmos track) sometimes restores sound temporarily.

I will try changing up some remote settings tomorrrow. Perhaps changing the way the remote changes volume from HDMI to IR could be a workaround.
 
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ozthegweat said:
Same issue here. Apple TV 4K, LG GX, Sonos Arc, started the moment I updated to tvOS 15.2. Switching between apps that use different sound formats (e.g. from YouTube to TV app with a Dolby Atmos track) sometimes restores sound temporarily.

I will try changing up some remote settings tomorrrow. Perhaps changing the way the remote changes volume from HDMI to IR could be a workaround.
Click to expand...
Mine just came back to normal, I had reset the eArc on many occasions
 
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ozthegweat said:
OK, just started working again out of nowhere?
I will also try power cycling the TV and the Sonos Arc...
Click to expand...
Yeah was very odd, after I had turned off and on the audio setting to tv. I got fed up so left it. When I turned everything on again later it was working
 
Thank you. The issue is not resolved. The startup sequence is as follows:
  1. I start everything by pressing the TV button on the Apple TV remote.
  2. The TV shows the home screen of the Apple TV, and when moving focus between apps with the Apple TV remote, the clicks are played back through the TV's speakers.
  3. The Sonos Arc has finished starting so the TV switches to sound output via eARC, which leads to the screen turning black for 2 seconds.
  4. After that, no sound is played back when moving focus between apps. As soon as I open an app (YouTube, TV etc.), sound is back, even when exiting the app again and again moving focus between apps.
I restarted everything, everything is up-to-date, I even re-paired the Apple TV remote. The only thing that changed was updating to tvOS 15.2.
 
I have my Visio surround sound hooked up via the optical cable on the TV and I'm not using eArc at all. And like above, I turned off the speakers on the TV.
 
Maybe this is what is happening to me? I upgraded from an old Sony 1080p and previous version ATV 4K. Never had any audio issues at all with Hulu, Netflix, etc. Now I have a Samsung 4K and have a soundbar hooked up via eArc. Sometimes the audio is not working even though I hear the audible noises while navigating the AppleTV. I back in and out or switch to a different app and it will work again. I just switched the ATV audio settings to stereo instead of 5.1, so hopefully that will do it for now.
 
I also was having eArc issues with my Samsung 4K TV, ATV 4K and Samsung soundbar. Everything was fine then it stopped. Checked the settings on TV, switched them back to the soundbar as output. Still was having issues.... Then I realized I was having a problem with one or more of my HDMI cables. Started swapping them around and then viola, all back to working normal again. The issue is probably caused by a hardware cable issue, it most certainly isn't TVOS 15.x as the issue is communication from TV to the soundbar and not ATV to TV.
 
Soondae said:
I also was having eArc issues with my Samsung 4K TV, ATV 4K and Samsung soundbar. Everything was fine then it stopped. Checked the settings on TV, switched them back to the soundbar as output. Still was having issues.... Then I realized I was having a problem with one or more of my HDMI cables. Started swapping them around and then viola, all back to working normal again. The issue is probably caused by a hardware cable issue, it most certainly isn't TVOS 15.x as the issue is communication from TV to the soundbar and not ATV to TV.
Click to expand...
I did order a new hdmi cable which is being delivered today. I am hoping that is the issue.
 
Hello, first time forum poster here. I have a similar problem — but with a bizzare twist.

Here's my set-up: a Samsung NeoQLED 90A 4k TV, eArced to a Samsung HW-Q900A 7.1.2ch Soundbar with SWA-9500S Wireless Rear Speakers, and an AppleTV 4K (running tvOS 15.2). When I am using the AppleTV as the input source, it mostly all works together and it's fantastic. But every once in a while (it seems random), when I go to watch something, I get no sound. Again, it seems random as I can't isolate it to a specific app (e.g. Netflix, ATV+, Prime). So here's where it gets weird.

I back out of whatever I am watching to the home screen of the Apple TV. I scroll between apps from left to right and from right to left and the Apple TV's feedback sound (i.e. the boop-boop-boop), while initially mute, gets progressively louder as I scroll. I then return to what I was watching and voilà! The sound is back. When I change the input source to Samsung's menu of apps (e.g. Netflix or whatever) rather than the Apple TV box, I have absolutely no problem. So if it's not an HDMI cord problem (they are all new and top-quality), it must be the Apple TV. Or am I missing something? Thanks in advance for any insights!
 
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Cheap Amazon HDMI cable arrived and installed. So far, there has been no audio issues since changing to the new cable and changing the setting back on the ATV to back to normal. I went back and forth to different apps without any issue so far.

Update... Lost sound again switching over to Netflix. Set audio back on ATV to stereo and it is working.
 
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I don't use eArc ATV to my Samsung and I think that may be why some of you are having issues. Try cabling the HDMI as follows; eArc the TV output to the Sound Bar, just use regular HDMI out from ATV to any TV input (non-eArc). In my Samsung firmware insure audio output show the sound bar selected. This setup works perfect for me including an android box supplied by my ISP for their TV subscription. When I turn on the ATV via the TV button on the ATV remote it powers up the TV which then the TV sends the signal to the sound bar to turn on and set to TV ARC mode. This way the TV controls the eArc sound to the sound bar which is why I made the comment earlier that the ATV no matter what firmware version is not the issue.
 
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I have the same issue as described. AppleTV 4K attached to 2021 Samsung Q80 TV with Sound Bar. The ATV would play a video, but no sound when switching between shows or streaming services.

I contacted Apple Support today and was told that this is a known issue and that the Apple Engineers are working on a fix which will be released in a future update. The support person knew about the problem as soon as I described the issue.

The temporary workaround (which I tested with Apple Support) is to change Audio Format to Digital 5.1. They also suggested changing Audio Mode from auto to 16bit as well.

Since implementing the temporary fix, my sound drop outs have gone away.

I guess it is a matter of waiting for the software fix. The Apple Support person did say that the more people who call Apple Support with this issue, the more notice the bug gets from Apple and the higher up the priority queue the fix will be. So call Apple Support and log your issue with them if you have not done so already.
 
InAustralia said:
I have the same issue as described. AppleTV 4K attached to 2021 Samsung Q80 TV with Sound Bar. The ATV would play a video, but no sound when switching between shows or streaming services.

I contacted Apple Support today and was told that this is a known issue and that the Apple Engineers are working on a fix which will be released in a future update. The support person knew about the problem as soon as I described the issue.

The temporary workaround (which I tested with Apple Support) is to change Audio Format to Digital 5.1. They also suggested changing Audio Mode from auto to 16bit as well.

Since implementing the temporary fix, my sound drop outs have gone away.

I guess it is a matter of waiting for the software fix. The Apple Support person did say that the more people who call Apple Support with this issue, the more notice the bug gets from Apple and the higher up the priority queue the fix will be. So call Apple Support and log your issue with them if you have not done so already.
Click to expand...
My older Samsung Soundbar does not support Dolby Digital so I have the best settings audio quality and work perfectly are PCM with DTS NEO: 2:5, hope that can help, also soundbar eARC out to Samsung TV eARC in is the correct HDMI configuration no soundbar HDMI in is necessary. All other devices just to regular HDMI inputs.
 
Neil Harrison said:
I have an Apple 4K TV connected to the tv via eArc to play the sound from my HomePod

Yesterday it was working perfectly but I Have just updated TV Os and HomePod OS both are on 15.2

In Apple TV it’s saying connected but there is no sound from TV, it recognises the connection on TV and suggests it’s changing volume but nothing happens

Can anyone help?
Click to expand...
This just happened to me starting 3 days ago
, now I am gaming on my Mac in silence

Should I report feedback to apple about the core audio API on macOS ?
72AF99D3-A715-48AC-BDB8-0B4CEC207025.png
 
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CKohkah said:
Fixed with todays beta.
Click to expand...
hell yea ! WOOOOOO
Mac Studio M1 Pro max with geforce now gaming experience back to normal now with now proper sound working
I can't imagine what kind of speaker I would want to buy if HomePod 1.0 stereo really breakdown and stop working in the future
 
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