HDMI ARC issue - Amp keeps switching audio

[fourstardan]

Hi,

I've probably got to get a new amp as when I bought the TV it just about supported UHD (Pioneer VSX-827)

Issue I have is its connected to the TV for audio using HDMI ARC and every so often the sound channel seems to just revert back to TV Audio output.

It's quite annoying as the sound volume differences are high so it wakes the whole house up in the mornings lol.

Any ideas why this could be? Seems to be the majority of it happens when on SKY which is whats watched continuously the most.

[NorthDave]

You'll probably find the source doesn't matter so Sky is a red herring. One question though - why do you have sky plugged in to the TV and not the avr? You'll probably get better sound that way.

It is most likely the hdmi lead from TV to amp - try replacing it.

Can't you manually select TV audio and then turn it down so the volume isn't as deafening?

[normalbloke]

Run your sources via HDMI into the TV. Use the TV optical out to the AVR and use the AVR solely for sound, keeping the TV muted.

[stevoknevo]

normalbloke said:

Run your sources via HDMI into the TV. Use the TV optical out to the AVR and use the AVR solely for sound, keeping the TV muted.

By doing this you'll only be able to get Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS 5.1, and that's provided the TV supports passing those and not just 2.0 - possibly a HDMI handshake issue between TV and AVR or a duff cable?

Edited by stevoknevo on Sunday 2nd August 14:13

[Howard-]

ARC is crap. It's a non-standardised addon to the HDMI standard, alongside CEC. Every manufacturer has their own implementation and as a result it rarely works without issue. The best solution is to not use it, and if you want sound from your TV to your receiver, use an optical cable. Run your sources directly into your receiver where possible, using the TV just as a monitor.

[fourstardan]

Going to give Optical cable a go.

[fourstardan]

Ok so Toslink is on there now.

I've never used these, it seems to be outputting far better stereo quality than HDMI cables.

[Jinx]

Howard- said:

ARC is crap. It's a non-standardised addon to the HDMI standard, alongside CEC. Every manufacturer has their own implementation and as a result it rarely works without issue. The best solution is to not use it, and if you want sound from your TV to your receiver, use an optical cable. Run your sources directly into your receiver where possible, using the TV just as a monitor.

I've found it works fine for my Philips 7805 TV and Marantz NR1509. But then again I only use it for the smart TV sound (so freeview and apps) all other devices are plugged directly into the Marantz.(Virgin box, PS4 Pro, Switch, CD player) .
eARC is supposed to be the next big thing as ARC relies on the TVs sound processing abilities and instead eARC has the bandwidth to send it uncompressed.

[stargazer30]

I've tried ARC on several AV amps and different brand TVs and so fair its only worked on one combination without issues. Its not even hit and miss, its miss, miss, hit maybe, nope not working My current marantz AV and SONY android TV don't play nice with it either.

HDMI CEC and power control are also a bit nuts too, I turned them off.

[Jinx]

stargazer30 said:

I've tried ARC on several AV amps and different brand TVs and so fair its only worked on one combination without issues. Its not even hit and miss, its miss, miss, hit maybe, nope not working My current marantz AV and SONY android TV don't play nice with it either.

HDMI CEC and power control are also a bit nuts too, I turned them off.

I guess I got lucky - I did buy an optical cable just in case.....

[SS2.]

stargazer30 said:

I've tried ARC on several AV amps and different brand TVs and so fair its only worked on one combination without issues. Its not even hit and miss, its miss, miss, hit maybe, nope not working

Same here - ARC worked seamlessly with a Samsung TV hooked up to a Yamaha AVR.

No such luck with my current Panasonic TV and Pioneer amp.

[fourstardan]

Um ok so sat down to watch netflix through the TV app and no sound.

Any ideas how to get this working?

[SS2.]

Quick fix - unplug the optical cable and listen through the TV speakers.

Proper fix - ensure optical cable is still connected to the AVR, run through TV & AVR settings logically, checking (and eliminating) one item at a time.

[Jinx]

On my second TV (JVC) I do get an issue with sound that if I just change source and change back immediately fixes it I've never been able to work that one out.

As above - eliminate one thing at a time - though (as in my case above) sometimes it doesn't make any sense.

[stevoknevo]

fourstardan said:

Um ok so sat down to watch netflix through the TV app and no sound.

Any ideas how to get this working?

On our Sony TV you need to go into the main settings and set output preference, then you can go into quick settings and change it from TV out to AV out - it'll output via optical in the TV setting but only in stereo, need to switch to AV out to get DD 5.1 and it mutes the TV speakers.
Haven't set up the Panasonic I picked up recently with the AVR but does anyone know if I take HDMI ARC out from the TV into the AVR that doesn't have ARC (well it does but it's Anthem Room Control!) would the TV just act like any other source or would it not work correctly as its not getting any return?

[SS2.]

stevoknevo said:

Haven't set up the Panasonic I picked up recently with the AVR but does anyone know if I take HDMI ARC out from the TV into the AVR that doesn't have ARC (well it does but it's Anthem Room Control!) would the TV just act like any other source or would it not work correctly as its not getting any return?

It would need ARC at both ends.

[stevoknevo]

SS2. said:

It would need ARC at both ends.

Cheers, thought as much - only bought the receiver in January January with no inclination of going 4k, then herself decided we needed a new TV as we were taking the current one to the new caravan! Anybody fancy buying a pristine Anthem MRX 500...

[SS2.]

Just checked your AVR - nice bit of kit, although very surprised something reasonably high-end doesn't support an Audio Return Channel.

They show 'ARC' everywhere in the manual, but that's for their 'Anthem Room Correction' - very confusing, they should pehaps have considered another acronym !

Rather than binning the Anthem, for stuff like Netflix, Prime, iPlayer, All4 etc, you could always get a cheap Firestick and plug that into one of the amp's HDMI ports.

[fourstardan]

On my amp I needed to select the Optical Channel option on one of the Output Options to 01 (opticall 1).

Worked on BD channel if anyone is interested or having the same issue in future.

[stevoknevo]

SS2. said:

Just checked your AVR - nice bit of kit, although very surprised something reasonably high-end doesn't support an Audio Return Channel.

They show 'ARC' everywhere in the manual, but that's for their 'Anthem Room Correction' - very confusing, they should pehaps have considered another acronym !

Rather than binning the Anthem, for stuff like Netflix, Prime, iPlayer, All4 etc, you could always get a cheap Firestick and plug that into one of the amp's HDMI ports.

Unfortunately it can only pass through 1080p signals - there's a few 4k blu ray players with dual HDMI outs, one to AVR, one to TV, so I may just go down that route as the AVR does a very good job of movies and music which was what I was after. I really need to get it wired back up as I was reading earlier that any HDMI 1.4 spec should support ARC but I can't find what version is on the Anthem, only that it supports HDMI CEC.