Potential Major Issue with 2020 Samsung tv's with One Connect and eARC

[Mike2020]

Hi All

Posted previously about my experience with a Q95T and Sonos Arc, and connecting via eARC. On enabling eARC to Auto on the Sound Settings, no sound is output from the device and thats from any source, in built apps/Dolby Atmos/4K Blu etc.

On turning eARC off, sound is restored through the soundbar.

I have contacted Sonos and Samsung directly with both blaming the other party for the issue and that's disappointing. 

On discussions with both communities, it now appears that users with the Q80T can connect via eARC, however many users with Q95T and Frame 2020 models cannot get sound via the eARC so potentially a big issue.

This also now sounds like a Samsung issue, as the standard eARC function not talking to the Sonos Arc via one connect, but other Samsung models are talking to Sonos Arc. I have seen evidence of this on a Q80T where eARC is working and the device shows as Reciever (HDMI eARC), on the Q95T, on setting to Auto you get Reciever HDMI.

Can this be escalated to samsung please as quite a lot of users are affected and returning tv's for other mfrs models?

Thanks

Mike

[pilske]

I was informed that the next update (08-12-2020) will solve the problem 

https://www.samsung.com/nl/support/model/QE55Q95TALXXN/

Firmware version at my TV is now 1460

[Nathancai91]

I own a Q80T and Sonos Arc too. Firmware version 1460.9

My experience:

1) It works most of the time.

2) Sound sometimes drop off when you switch channels in normal TV, but once you switch to another channel, it comes back.

3) Sound drop off for 1 or 2s every around 30min while playing Blueray disc in PS5. 

4) Sound drop off very occasionally while using internal APP (Netflix/Prime Video). Once this happens, I will have to reconncet the HDMI cable of Sonos Arc to fix it.

5) Still doesn't support Multichannel LPCM passthrough via eARC.

[Cambjones]

I downloaded 1460.9 firmware update on a USB and installed it 2 night ago.. no fix for the eARC and Sonos ARC... so I finally got around to calling Samsung... after a few call drop outs I got someone to remote access my TV.  They said the reset the HDMI eARC port... that fixed the problem.. for a few hours.. I could switch the TV off and on and the sound bar would work... then later in the evening, back to the same old behaviour.. sound drops... I could still plug in/out the HDMI plug and it would eventually work until I switch the TV off... 

On the phone again today and Samsung is going to get a Case Manager to call me back in 24 hours... it's weird they don't seem to have any internal database to search for know issues.. as every support caller I've spoken to was not able to find this issue having been reported previously.

[JakeT91]

(Unfortunately,) I already have a 55" The Frame 2020 and am currently thinking about getting a soundbar for it. I was thinking a Sonos Arc but I've stumbled onto alarmingly many of these threads. Currently I'm relying on the TV's built-in speakers.

Could someone please clarify if the issues (both the audio drops and eARC problems) are ONLY affecting the ability to get full Dolby Atmos TrueHD sound?

Can one still get a compressed version of Dolby Atmos without the audio dropping off? Or is the sound dropping off no matter if eARC is set to Auto or Off, rendering the soundbar completely useless? What is the best audio quality one can currently get out of the One Connect Box without disturbances?

I'm trying to figure out if it's worthwhile to buy a premium soundbar at all, which to me depends on the extent of the unavailable features, as the issues seem to remain unresolved.

Thanks in advance for the clarification.

[Jocke]

I have The Frame 65” 2020 and Sonos Arc. 
If you skip eArc completely, and use the optical hdmi adapter, shipped wit the Sonos Arc, when connecting to the One Connect box it works pretty well. As far as I know I get 5.1 sound this way, and no sound dropouts or no other noticed problems.

BUT this is not what I paid for. 😞

Perhaps someone else can confirm the 5.1 sound when using the optical adapter, since I don’t know how how/if this is visible somewhere (when playing Atmos material the Atmos logo is visible in the Sonos app, but noting similar when playing non-Atmos material)

[NotoriousEGB]

I don’t have the Sonos Arc, but I do have other Sonos products and can tell you how to confirm what signal you are receiving.  While you are watching your TV, go to the Sonos app and click settings —> system settings —> About My System —> scroll down to find your Arc and look at audio line in, here it will tell you the digital signal you are receiving. 

[mdiiorio]

Same problem here, and with the Q800T TV. Unselect/select Atmos in sound settings makes sound return. Very annoying.

[paul360m]

I have a Q95T and set it up yesterday with a Dali Katch One soundbar - i could not get it to work via HDMI ARC (I dont believe the Dali is E-ARC) so looks like its not just restricted to e-arc issues. it works with bluetooth......!

[AVpro]

I have a client with the Samsung QN85Q90TAFXZA, and we have a Sonos AMP GEN-2 Connected to it via the HDMI ARC port. The TV when turned off, kicks the ARC port closed, we have to move this monster TV and disconnect the HDMI Cable in the ARC Port to get the sound to come back. Samsung where's the fix?????????? 

[Elrao]

I am here as I have a Q95T (1460fw) and a Samsung Q950T soundbar and, with eARC set to Auto, I've developed the random audio drops (with soundbar showing it is switching hdmi source). This goes away if I disable eARC, as others have also confirmed.

I see a lot of people taking about streaming atmos and problems with eARC.

Netflix Atmos is DD+ Atmos, not Dolby True HD Atmos. I'd assume the same for any built in streaming Apps (Disney+ etc). Streaming lossless audio just takes too much Internet bandwidth, so they use the compressed versions.

It's definitely the case for Plex, which doesn't support pass through for TrueHD. The only way to get atmos on plex using the built in app is to have a DD+. You can get True HD Atmos from an nvidia shield Pro 4k, only if you connect it to the soundbar.

DD+ does not need eARC, it is only needs ARC:

https://developer.dolby.com/technology/dolby-audio/dolby-digital-plus/

So, unless I've misread something (I've read a lot) eARC is not required for anyone using Netflix, Disney, Plex etc apps on the TV that use Dolby Digital + (with or without Atmos).

Different story if you've got an external device capable of uncompressed audio and want to connect that to your TV and pass audio through to your soundbar, yes you need eARC.

This is more of a problem for people with a Sonos ARC as I believe you have to connect everything to your TV and rely on ARC to get sound to your soundbar. For me, with an Nvidia Shield Pro, I can connect that to my Soundbar and the Soundbar can pass through 4K HDR10 to the TV.