Soundbar-improvement over 5:1 Blu-ray player

[Elroy Blue]

I’ve got a Samasung Q80 65” TV, running Sky Q ultra HD. It’s all connected to an elderly LG BH7440 all in one Blu-ray/5:1 surround sound system. It’s a bit temperamental and at times doesn’t always connect to the ARC setting so requires some faffing about. We never use the Blu-ray player, but it is still a vast improvement over the TV speakers.
Would a modern soundbar in the £300 range give any noticeable improvement in sound quality? It would be nice if it integrated with the TV a bit more efficiently as well. I have a fairly large living room, with the TV in one corner.

[justin220]

A £300 sound bar will be reasonable, but for me the problem is they can't quite replicate proper 5.1.

We've got a soundbar, LG with sub and its ok. We got it purely as the TV speakers are crap and needed more volume.

However, it's not a patch on proper surround sound

[Emeye]

My bro just got a sonos Arc. He says it is amazing. Not cheap but you have a TV that deserves it. You can add the smaller Sonos or IKEA Sonos speakers as true surround speakers if you want as funds allow, and a sub but apparently the sub isn’t necessary.

Quick question, do you get audio delay using arc with Dolby digital on SkyQ?

I have a similar Samsung TV to you and it is driving me nuts - I have tried everything. Other sources using arc are ok. Forums suggest it’s something to do with Samsung and the sky Q box.

[Elroy Blue]

Yes. Lip synch issues on the HD channels are a pain. It’s annoying because while you can add a + delay, you can’t add a - if that makes sense. I was told it was something to do with the one connect box that all the TV connections go into.
I run Netflix, Amazon etc using the TV apps rather than Sky, but it does spoil things.
It’s odd because some days it will be minimal, then another day on the same channel it will be terrible.
I was hoping a more modern soundbar might resolve it, but that’s looking less likely

[justin220]

What are the issues with your current 5.1?

[Emeye]

Elroy Blue said:

Yes. Lip synch issues on the HD channels are a pain. It’s annoying because while you can add a + delay, you can’t add a - if that makes sense. I was told it was something to do with the one connect box that all the TV connections go into.
I run Netflix, Amazon etc using the TV apps rather than Sky, but it does spoil things.
It’s odd because some days it will be minimal, then another day on the same channel it will be terrible.
I was hoping a more modern soundbar might resolve it, but that’s looking less likely

Mine is the 65” Q70R which doesn’t have the one connect box. Strangely I used my old Sky HD box for a month with my TV before the Sky Q was installed and I don’t remember experiencing the the audio delay.

A new HDMI lead helped slightly, but for the money the tech should just work. F1 isn’t too bad as everyone is wearing masks so you can’t see the delay!

My surround sounds system is an old panasonic - if I can be arsed I might move my old Sony 2.1 in the living room and see if that has delay issues.

Edited by Emeye on Tuesday 1st December 09:17

[Elroy Blue]

I’ve been looking at a Sonus beam. The hope was it’s not as temperamental and the Arc connection doesn’t keep dropping out. I thought a more up to date system might resolve some of the lip synch issues as well, but not convinced on that looking on the AV forums threads.

[Emeye]

Elroy Blue said:

I’ve been looking at a Sonus beam. The hope was it’s not as temperamental and the Arc connection doesn’t keep dropping out. I thought a more up to date system might resolve some of the lip synch issues as well, but not convinced on that looking on the AV forums threads.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking - I have read that people have issues with Sonos. I'm not sure if the problem is the TV or the Sky Q box.

Someone suggested they had fixed the issue by connecting and then disconnecting an optical cable and then finding the audio showing as delayed which they could then adjust to get rid of the problem.

You could always get the Sonos from Richersounds and return it if the problem is still there.

My friend has a marantz amp that allows him to adjust the delay both ways. Really I am happy with my surround sound system and don't want to buy a new one.

[Elroy Blue]

I’ve been looking at a Sonus beam. The hope was it’s not as temperamental and the Arc connection doesn’t keep dropping out. I thought a more up to date system might resolve some of the lip synch issues as well, but not convinced on that looking on the AV forums threads.

[Emeye]

I'm not sure what the next step is - it seems no one on the internet has managed to find a viable solution and no one wants to admit to the problem and fix it. If the xbox one audio is in sync going through the TV and arc connection, it suggests the SKY Q box it the problem.