Samsung LCD TV connection to Panasonic Sound Bar problem troubleshooting

[ianp5852]

Hello,

Using the above combination the sound emanating from the soundbar cuts off about 5-10 mins after power up. (After re-setting it occurs at relatively infrequent random times thereafter) Initially I thought this was a problem of compatibilty of the HDMI-CEC system implemetation so have eliminated this by turning off such links in both devices and making the connection SOLELY by the optical cable. The problem persists. The TV's internal speakers are not affected (so it's not the TV's source connection that is faulty).

Now, when the sound bar output has silenced I can re-instate it by :

1) power cycling the TV or 2) power cycling the sound bar or 3) selecting - on the sound bar- a different input for a moment and then re-selecting the TV as the source.

I have tried this with a friend's identical sound bar and the problem is the same. (So, it's not the soundbar or cable) I have tried feeding the sound bar directly from the TV's source, an elderly Sky+ box and the problem does NOT occur. (Confirms to me that soundbar and cable are OK)

At this point, I conclude that the TV's optical (and HDMI-ARC) outputs are at fault.......BUT....

What has got me really confused is that I BELIEVE (and this has been corroborated by both the retailer's and manufacturer's technical support people) that the optical link is uni-directional from TV to sound bar. So, how does cycling the soundbar re-instate the sound? Am I being misled by the thought that the optical cable works uni-directionally or is there some signalling from soundbar to TV?

I'm sure someone out there will be able to help me. I have a member of the retailer's troubleshooting team coming in a couple of days but would like to understand the problem myself beforehand if possible.

Oh, two other facts...if I watch the TV using it's built in tuner the problem has not yet manifested itself. The old Sky+ box is connected via a SCART to HDMI adaptor (supplied with the TV) Please reply to group - email address is not monitored Ian

[Andy Cap]

Well I can't pretend to be an expert but I've had a somewhat similar experience with my Samsung TV. Initially I bought a Boston Accoustics Sound bar and it would intermittently swap inputs. Simply cycling the input back to the TV solved the problem. The retailer was very co-operative and readily swapped it with another. This did exactly the same thing! A look on the internet indicated others had experienced this with the Boston but the retailer said they had received no reports and there must be a problem with my set-up. Despite that I paid another £100+ for a Yamaha YAS-201 and have had no further problems. In fact I'm delighted because it has a far better build quality, though only two optical inputs, which I've overcome by buying a phono/optical converter which works well enough. Perhaps none of this has any bearing on your case but it does all seem to point to a compatibility issue with some (Samsung?) gear.

Andy C

Apologies for replying to email address, b****y Thunderbird !

[The Natural Philosopher]

sound bar is wedged sofwtare wise and resetting either its input by cylcing the TV or cycling it itself results in restoration..

THAT is WEIRD.

[Dave Liquorice]

Sort of indicates it's not a physical fault with the soundbar but it could be a firmware fault.

And that the data steam from the Skybox is OK.

It reboots it... Power cycling the telly also makes the bar resync with the optical and/or HDMI-ARC data.

Pretty sure TOSLink is one way only. HDMI chatters away in both directions.

Looks to me like the TV (or the SCART to HDMI convertor) is introducing a glitch or data error into the audio stream which is causing the soundbar to get confused and mute.

It would be normal to connect the Sky Box to the sound bar via HDMI and the sound bar to the telly also via HDMI. The HDMI sorts out what audio to use depending on the source selected on the telly, at least it does here... If I select anything but the HDMI input that the speakers use the speakers use the HDMI-ARC from the telly, select the HDMI "speakers" as a source (in our case really a Bluray) they take the direct multichannel sound from the Bluray. Do it box to telly to speakers, you only get stereo out of the speakers. Well ish the internal tuners can give multichannel down the ARC but anything else (and the optical all the time) is 2 channel only.

[Brian Gaff]

So, if the input to the bar is silent for the time noted, I assume it turns off until some input is changed? Could be something as simple as a badly set output level though how you would get this via the connectors you are using is not really clear. Brian

[ianp5852]

Aha, the missing link in my logic is explained. I can now see it is entirely possible for the TV's OUTPUT to continue but the sound bar's INPUT to drop out for a reason related to the TV output. And cycling either unit can initiate the restoration of the link. I'm clear on that now. The result is that neither the soundbar nor TV are necessarily faulty but really just incompatible. Hence, a replacement TV (under warranty) may well not solve the problem. I'm sure the retailer's specialist will come to this conclusion so I'm pleased I've got the understanding clear before he arrives. Thanks.

Now I can' t _presently_ connect as I think you are suggesting 'cos there is no HDMI from the old Sky+ box....and the optical output introduces unacceptable lip-sync problems. However, a newer SkyHD+ box would allow this, I believe. It would also eliminate the possibilty of the glitch being sourced by the SCART/HDMI convertor.

If I can just confirm my understanding?...... I think you are saying that you actively select (on the sound bar) your Bluray when needed but when you deselect that input the soundbar uses whatever sound accompanies the source selected for the TV input. If I've got that right I can see - subject to new Sky box - that that would work in my case. I also have an old DVD recorder/player (used exclusively for archiving TV progs) connected to TV via composite. So, I'm thinking rather than replacement TV unit, or soundbar, an upgrade to the Sky box may be the best way forward.

Thanks Dave - and all the other responders. help was gratefully received Please reply to group - email address is not monitored Ian

[michael adams]

As Samsung market their own soundbars, its doubtful if incompatability with 3rd party equipment would qualify you for a replacement under warranty in any case.

I assume you're aware that on many Samsung TV's its possible to adjust the lip synch under -

Sound Settings\additional settings\SPDIF Output\Audio Delay (or similar) with a range of 250 mseconds

michael adams

...

[Dave Liquorice]

Well ish, "incompatible" is rather to strong a word IMHO. If that was the case it wouldn't work at all, produce digital hash or break up badly. They are talking the same but just occasionally a word is dropped in by one that completly confuses the other.

Yep anything domestic HD has to have HDMI as that is the only domestic format that can link bits of kit at HD.

In my case I don't have to fiddle with the speakers at all, they power up/down with the TV, the TV's remote will adjust the volume. I think their default power on is to their HDMI 1 input where the Bluray is connected. If the TV's HDMI input that the speakers are plugged into is selected as a TV source then the speakers switch to the sound that is passing through them, otherwise they take the HDMI-ARC from the telly. TBH I'm quite surprise how well the things talk to each other over the HDMI, it all "just works" with no silly if you want X you need to do Z and Y, the for B, Y with U etc...

It would be a way forward, might be worth trying to borrow a sky box with HDMI out just to check.

[ianp5852]

Well, that would be fair. I wouldn't want a replacement if it does the same, would I?

Thanks,yes,I had seen this but the point is that I need the audio delay when connecting the soundbar directly from the Sky box....and it ain't got an adjustment.

Please reply to group - email address is not monitored Ian

[ianp5852]

So, the retailer's Samsung approved professional visited yesterday. He insisted that the TV's sound setting should be "TV speakers" rather than "External Speakers" which seemed illogical to me. On being asked where the outputs which were controlled by the TV when in "External Speaker" mode were, he pointed to the 'Audio In' phonos and continued to maintain that the 3 phonos for component video also carried audio - until , when proving this to me by removing the audio in cables, the TV fell silent! However, on changing the TV setting to 'use' TV speakers the problem appeared to have been solved. Unfortunately, after he had left and after approx 90 mins viewing the sound cut off again....and again.

Hence, I'm back to square one and haven't got a 'professional' to help me any more. I've now asked the retailer who supplied the TV for a replacement.

I have also researched the possibilty of getting a Sky+HD box so that the TV's input can be HDMI rather than SCART. It seems that a lot of people consider that SD pictures from an HD box are far inferior to those from an SD only box. Is this the view of contributors hereabouts, please?

I'd also like to correct an item in my original post (highlighted by TNP's entirely appropriate "WIERD" remark) The SCART input to the TV is converted not to HDMI as my origianl post stated but to an "Ext(RGB)" connection - which does look a bit like an HDMI but, of course, isn't. My apologies. Please reply to group - email address is not monitored Ian