Article ID : 00150806 / Last Modified : 13/07/2020

There is no sound when using a TV or audio system (such as an AV receiver or Sound Bar) with the ARC/eARC feature.

    This solution is designed to assist when the ARC/eARC feature is not working and both the TV and audio system are compatible with the feature.

    IMPORTANT: To use the ARC/eARC feature, both the TV and audio system need to support ARC/eARC. If either of the products doesn’t support ARC/eARC, the connection of an optical audio or audio cable will be needed. For additional details, refer to the How to hear the television sound through the speakers of a stereo receiver or home theater system article.

    To fix this issue, check these suggestions.

    NOTE: If model-specific information is needed to complete any of these steps, or to determine if your product supports the ARC/eARC feature, refer to the manual supplied with the product.

    • The TV and audio system must both have the latest software installed

    • Make sure the Control for HDMI option of both products is set to On in the menu systems
      NOTE: If your TV is a Bravia, set the BRAVIA Sync option to On

    • In the HDMI related settings of the audio system, set the Audio Return Channel (ARC) or TV Audio Input Mode to On or Auto.
      NOTE: Depending on the product used, the setting name may be different, or may not exist at all

    • Make sure that a high-speed HDMI cable is being used and is securely connected to the HDMI ports labeled ARC or eARC/ARC on both products, and on the audio system side, connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI output terminal.
      NOTE: On some TVs with multiple HDMI inputs, the ARC/eARC feature will only be support on one of the inputs. In these cases, the input will be marked with the letters ARC or eARC/ARC

    If the issue persists even after completing all the steps above, follow these additional troubleshooting steps:

    1. Disconnect the HDMI cable from the TV and audio system, and then reconnect it.

    2. On the TV, change the audio output destination setting from TV Speakers to Audio System.
      NOTE: Just connecting the TV and audio system with a cable will not produce sound from the audio system.

    3. Press the INPUT button or TV button on the audio system remote control to switch the input to the TV.

    4. Turn on the TV and the audio system in the following order: TV first, then the audio system.

    5. Change the TV’s Digital Audio Output setting to PCM. If the audio system connected to the TV does not support compressed audio such as DTS or Dolby Digital, depending on the type of broadcast or video, audio may not be output.
      NOTE: For Android TV™, follow these steps to change the Digital Audio Output setting to PCM:

      1. Press the Home button on the remote control.
      2. Select  Settings.
      3. Select SoundDisplay & Sound, or BRAVIA Settings.
      4. Select Audio output.
      5. Select Digital audio out, then set to PCM.
    6. For Android TV, perform a Clear Data or Clear Cache procedure.
      NOTE: For details, refer to the How to perform the Clear Data and Clear Cache for app article.

    7. Perform a power reset on the TV and audio system, as follows:

      1. Turn off the TV and the audio system.
      2. Disconnect the power cords (mains lead) and HDMI cable from both the TV and audio system. Leave it disconnected for about a minute.
      3. Reconnect the HDMI cable to the ARC or eARC/ARC HDMI input of the TV and the ARC or eARC/ARC HDMI out of the audio system.
      4. Connect the power cords of both the TV and audio system, and turn on the power to both.
    8. Disconnect any third-party external devices like cable boxes, satellite receivers, or gaming consoles and perform the troubleshooting steps just with the audio system (Soundbar, Home Theater, or A/V Receiver) connected to the TV.
      NOTE: Third-party devices may cause the Control for HDMI or BRAVIA Sync function of the TV and the audio device to quit working.