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

[Jocke]

Sonos ARC and The Frame 65 2020, latest fw for both of them installed. Still no change. When playing atmos material sound drops a few times per hour. 

So, still extremely disappointed....

[Chris Green]

I think is a major disappointment ever one is having these issues, so glad i now purchased a New LG tv, what amazes me no one from Samsung replies on this forum, on the LG forum they actually reply and help customers! I know where my business is going.

[MickPB]

Right there with you.  I thought maybe the firmware would help but it didn't really.  I tried the factory reset and it worked good until I left it on and the time limit turned it off.  The receiver has not turned on reliably with the TV since then.  
These would seem to be symptoms of a much bigger issue with Samsung heading down the same path that Sony did with focus that completely lacks a focus on customer satisfaction and product performance.  I have 3 Samsung TV's and will be going to LG.  In addition to this issue automation of the TV is supposed to be an open solution through SmartThings but a lot of really smart coders have only been able to get a small set of functions to work correctly via automation solutions connected to SmartThings and it appears much of this is due to undocumented changes in API's.  For example last years q90 can be controlled by Home Assistant but this years will only power on and off and maybe sometimes switch the source to TV but never to another app.  LG products have a rich ability to be connected to a variety of open source home automation solutions.   
It's really too bad.  For the money, I'm impressed with the picture but it's all wasted when your unhappy the remote doesn't even come close to being able to control it correctly.

[swemichael08]

I having HDMI issues with my old Samsung premium TV from 2017 and therefore selling it and looking for replacement. Was looking for a 2020 Qled with discount and prefer last year model as I thought there should be proper updated firmware and a TV working without issues after been on market for a year - but boy I was wrong reading this thread.

After reading this topic and also similar threads on you tube and other forums on all the problems with Samsung HDMI eARC issues I will go for a LG or Sony instead. If one google on issues and Sony or LG for HDMI there is very few hits often by people with bad cables or wrong settings in their TVs but for Samsung is viral on HDMI issues .

Samsung needs to get their ***** together when customer (including me) have experienced their products not working as expected and no fixes or proper response from Samsung. Otherwise the customers will move forward to other brands.

Now it will be a Sony instead for me after having 5-6 Samsung TVs last 15 years I moving to another brand. (also Tizen was good but now I want Android TV built in instead or preferably Google TV built in when available.)

I also have another Samsung TV in 2nd room - 2019 model Q70R and also have had alot of issues with picture and built in Atmos support from the apps. Now I have a Nvidia Shield connected directly to the AV as a workaround but 1-2 year from now then will probably replaced by a Sony or LG set.

Thanks

Michael 

[Gareth78]

it appears it has been fixed after the latest updates, I’ve not had any issues as of yet 🤞🏻

[HECTOR14]

Yes. Working fine now, finally. No issues at all. Very happy with my Samsung Q95T and Sonos Arc. 

[mdiiorio]

Well, in my case, having a Q800T TV and an ST5000 Sony soundbar, the issue still persists, even after upgrading the firmware of the TV. I understand that Sony should also release a new firmware, but it's not the case so far.

[swemichael08]

Last week I sold my Samsung TV from 2017 due to bad performance with HDMI ports and got real good price for it 550 euros. Plan was to buy a new budget Sony TV 800 series but when looking into the Picture at the store it was really bad compared to my now sold Samsung.

Was first thinking of buying the Sony 900 series but then there was a Philips (have not even consider philips before as TV - but starting read about the model and got very good reviews).

Got an 2020 demo TV - Philips oled805 55 inch for 900 euros (original price 2500 euros). What a fantastic picture and working flawlessly with all connections so easy to setup. And what an improvement to the sound system Pioneer atmos amplifier. TV support native surround sound direct output so getting atmos, dolby digatal for tv broadcast and netflix/disney sources. Also love the Oled picture. Only downside for the 805 model its not a gaming TV but this one I only use for TV and Movies.

Built in android TV is little slower compared to Google TV but more than enough so selling my Google TV dongle as not necessary to the Philips.

Planning to sell my main TV Q70R  switching to a new 2021 Philips oled806 77" (this model should have some kind of burnin protection and faster mediatek CPU compare to 2020 model)  and then I will probably never look into a Samsung TV again.

So happy with my Philips TV after having Samsungs for a decade....

[El Vikingo]

I am delighted to read your experience. It is still surprising to me that a company  size of Samsung, who have earned their prestige with the quality of the materials. On the other hand, the total disregard for the software is a deal breaker. What is worse. If they cannot be bothered to work with the interface, why not leave it as an Android TV device?

This is my first Samsung TV and it will certainly be my last. The quality of the sound is shockingly bad. My 12 year old Sony sounded better. The e-Arc setting is totally disfunctional. My receiver registers the input as PCM only, even when I use Netflix or Amazon Prime Video with Atmos. What is worse the sound stops every couple of seconds with a loud cracking or popping sound. I have checked all variations and connections, replaced cables and checked the hardware with alternatives. The result is a problem with the firmware, which has not been updated since the beginning of December.

Think seriously about buying a Samsung, when you can have an LG, Philips or Sony with much better customer care

[Chris Green]

UPDATE - My LG CX 55" is so much better than the samsung i had before, granted it was a UE55ks7000 so really it should be, but with having no confidence in Samsung the LG works, really works! All my sonos equipment is perfectly in sync with Sky q and i get full dolby atmos, and Dolby Vision on Netflix. Really do think twice about buying Samsung again Guys and Girls as they do not work properly