Samsung 55 S95C HDMI e-ARC problems

[FredMel]

Hi All,

I have a Samsung 55" S95C & have been using the HDMI e-ARC port to connect to my HiFi streamer/amp (Bluesound PowerNode 330).

The system worked well at first but recently I've found that the connection has dropped and reverted to the TV speakers. If I try to select the input manually it doesn't appear in the dropdown list (although HDMI Bluetooth does). I've been through the menus on both the TV and amp but nothing seemed to work, although the connection does sometimes reappear randomly. Have tried a new HDMI cable but the problem persists.

I subsequently discovered that if I enter the Samsung sounds menu, navigate to expert settings, scroll to HDMI-eARC mode, switch this from auto to off, then switch back to Auto the connection to the Bluesound amp works again, after hitting the volume button on my Samsung remote briefly. Not entirely satisfactory as I need to do this each time I switch the tv on, but at least I can get it to work now! A one else experienced this problem, or can offer advice? Thx

[Beta22]

I had a similar issue with mine, whereby it stopped recognising my soundbar. My setup did have a Bluray player connected to the soundbar and accessible to the TV via eARC.

A similar temporary workaround to disable and then re-enable eARC or sometimes HDMI-CEC seemed to work some of the time.

Eventually, I got fed up and reached out to Samsung tech support via phone, who connected to my unit via Remote Management. They ended up resetting a bunch of settings and then instructed me to switch off the TV and unplug all inputs, and then leave it for about half an hour before reconnecting. This resolved it for me and has been working perfect since.

[FredMel]

Thanks Beta22, that’s useful advice. 👍

[FredMel · Accepted solution]

Since discovered that my HDMI cable connected to the amp was not 2.1 compliant. Changing to a compliant cable appeared to cure the problem, however it reappeared after a couple of days. Will try the switch off, unplug, etc. suggestion next.

[JB607]

I have the same issue with EArc not staying synced. I go through all the settings including advanced and a few in support to get it working ( Q Symphony) and it can take up to 5 minutes) woo hoo it works NOT. As soon as leave and switch everything off upon returning and turn on the entire reconfigure starts over. I've spoke to Samsung tech support around 10 times now and no solution as they said all help is exhausted as no settings left to try. I raised a serious complaint which felll on deaf ears and no interest
Twice now I've raised a complaint so they could send a repair tech here and yeah you guessed it. No return call, email or solution. I spent over £3k at Christmas for a brand new Samsung QE55S95C also a brand new HW-Q900C Sound bar system. I had choices before this purchase but chose Samsung again but now regret it. I live alone work full time so it's not so easy to return items to Amazon as they will take them back but 7am to 7pm so a day off work to top up my frustration.

[FredMel]

Update. I switched off the ‘Auto’ setting in the sound - expert settings - HDMI-eARC mode section. This appears to have cured the problem. My amp now appears as (amp name)HDMI and volume is controllable via Samsung or Sky remote.

[Honzajz]

Hello,

I have the same problem with the QN95C and the Q990C soundbar

what version of FW do you have on the TV and Soundbar?

[FredMel]

I’m not using a soundbar, sound is channelled via a Bluesound Powernode amp to external speakers. My TV software version is T-PTMCDEUC-1310.3,, E1371400, BT-S and is currently up to date.

[RhomboidGoatcabin]

I’m having the same issue with an S95C (65”) and the Q800C soundbar connected via HDMI eARC. It loses connection to the soundbar and reverts back to ‘TV Speaker’. In fact, it’s happened twice today already and it’s only lunchtime! The fix is to power everything off at the mains and disconnecting all HDMI cables at the TV end. I the. Power on the mains and the TV, then power on all connected devices, one at a time in the following order; Sky Q, Blu-Ray, Xbox and finally the soundbar. This is a major PITA as I have to move the TV and soundbar out to get behind. Due to the stupid design of the soundbar where the HDMI cable plugs into the side of the recess, sometimes just moving the soundbar disconnects it (the HDMI cable is a decent one and has a thick braided cable so doesn’t fit well in the stupid recess at that angle). This means I have to repeat the process a number of times…). No amount of mucking around in the settings (turning whatever off and on again) will work.

According to Samsung Support, this is a known issue with the 2023 and 2024 models (so the S95C and the new S95D), and that a firmware update is being ‘worked on’, with no ETA on a release. I’m now phoning them and asking them to add another incident of the same problem to the ticket, i.e., making a nuisance of myself to them.

interestingly, I also have a 2022 model S95B (55”) and Q600C soundbar in my bedroom (which doesn’t have the One Connect box as the S95C and presumably S95D does), also connected via HDMI. The same problem does happen here. But very infrequently. The one thing that does happen is that it loses the Q Symphony and just uses the soundbar, but that’s a minor inconvenience.

I’ve lost count of the number of Samsung TVs I’ve bought (five at least), and have, at times but not exclusively, used their monitors too. I’m seriously thinking of returning the S95C and Q800C (the B and 600 are out of warranty sadly or I’d return those too). I certainly won’t buy anything Samsung from here on in, which is a shame, as when it is working, it’s fantastic (I also have the additional surround speakers for the Q800C).

I’ve been a software engineer for a shade under 35 years now, and if I was this inept, I doubt I’d have a job.

To say I’m mildly miffed is a vast understatement.

[FredMel]

Have you tried the trick I posted on 19/1/24 (switching off the ‘auto’ setting in the Samsung-sound-expert settings menu?