Samsung QN95a / games consoles blacking out intermittently...

[Swordfish86]

Hello. I’ve just bought a 55” QN95a - it’s connected to both a PS5 and an Xbox Series X. 

I've been having an issue, where when playing a game on either console, the screen/sound blacks out for about two seconds and then just goes back to normal. The game carries on in the background as it’s momentarily blacked out.

I’ve scoured the internet and it seems it’s a very common issue, particularly with Samsung Tv’s. 

ive been offered a replacement tv or just one connect box, and I’ve opted to try a new one connect (easier that packing up a whole tv etc) that should come in a couple of weeks. But I’m not convinced that it’s a technical fault, but rather something software / setting related.

Ive obviously spoken to Samsung, but as always, it’s just the usual, generic troubleshooting. I’ve tried factory settings, different hdmi ports, changing from 8bit to 10bit etc. But it persists.

Any other ideas? The tv works flawlessly otherwise, it would be wonderful to get to the bottom of this one issue

Thanks

[MarkBT52]

"audio out HDMI on the TV set to LPCM" is that even an option?

I'm talking about when an XBox or PS4/PS5 has the audio output to LPCM rather than (lossy) bitstream.

The TV setting for earc should then be "passthrough" to send uncompressed multi-channel audio to the audio device (soundbar / av amp).

That's the standard for "earc". However, Samsung choose to disable passthrough when the TV receives an LPCM audio feed and downscales it to 2ch.

So to get 5.1 you either have to set the console to bitstream and set earc to passthrough, or you have to go from the console to the audio device first and then the TV, but then you lose the 120hz 4k capability unless you have an an audio device with HDMI 2.1 support (unlikely).

Basically Samsung are not meeting the earc standards that they even publicise themselves

What eARC is and how to set on Samsung Smart TV | Samsung IE

This is basis enough to be able to reject the TV, but hopefully they will resolve it, because I don't want any of the currently available alternatives

[MarkBT52]

PS Sky doesn't send uncompressed LPCM, it's Dolby Digital / Digital+ so the passthrough option is enabled and that fixes most of the lip sync. 

It's consoles etc that can send superior uncompressed LPCM that Samsung themselves claim is supported in that earc definition

iPlayer is a TV app so not relevant for the passthrough sound. The iplayer issue is the picture clarity being greyed out (when playing, not in the iplayer menu)

[MarkBT52]

2 minutes ago - last edited 4 seconds ago ) in 

TV

"audio out HDMI on the TV set to LPCM" is that even an option?

I'm talking about when an XBox or PS4/PS5 has the audio output to LPCM rather than (lossy) bitstream.

The TV setting for earc should then be "passthrough" to send uncompressed multi-channel audio to the audio device (soundbar / av amp).

That's the standard for "earc". However, Samsung choose to disable passthrough when the TV receives an LPCM audio feed and downscales it to 2ch.

So to get 5.1 you either have to set the console to bitstream and set earc to passthrough, or you have to go from the console to the audio device first and then the TV, but then you lose the 120hz 4k capability unless you have an an audio device with HDMI 2.1 support (unlikely).

Basically Samsung are not meeting the earc standards that they even publicise themselves

(search for "Samsung earc definition", moderators don't like me posting the link)

This is basis enough to be able to reject the TV, but hopefully they will resolve it, because I don't want any of the currently available alternatives

[MarkBT52]

"audio out HDMI on the TV set to LPCM" is that even an option?

I'm talking about when an XBox or PS4/PS5 has the audio output to LPCM rather than (lossy) bitstream.

The TV setting for earc should then be "passthrough" to send uncompressed multi-channel audio to the audio device (soundbar / av amp).

That's the standard for "earc". However, Samsung choose to disable passthrough when the TV receives an LPCM audio feed and downscales it to 2ch.

So to get 5.1 you either have to set the console to bitstream and set earc to passthrough, or you have to go from the console to the audio device first and then the TV, but then you lose the 120hz 4k capability unless you have an an audio device with HDMI 2.1 support (unlikely).

Basically Samsung are not meeting the earc standards that they even publicise themselves

(search for "Samsung earc definition", moderators don't like me posting the link)

This is basis enough to be able to reject the TV, but hopefully they will resolve it, because I don't want any of the currently available alternatives

[MarkBT52]

2 minutes ago - last edited 4 seconds ago ) in 

TV

"audio out HDMI on the TV set to LPCM" is that even an option?

I'm talking about when an XBox or PS4/PS5 has the audio output to LPCM rather than (lossy) bitstream.

The TV setting for earc should then be "passthrough" to send uncompressed multi-channel audio to the audio device (soundbar / av amp).

That's the standard for "earc". However, Samsung choose to disable passthrough when the TV receives an LPCM audio feed and downscales it to 2ch.

So to get 5.1 you either have to set the console to bitstream and set earc to passthrough, or you have to go from the console to the audio device first and then the TV, but then you lose the 120hz 4k capability unless you have an an audio device with HDMI 2.1 support (unlikely).

Basically Samsung are not meeting the earc standards that they even publicise themselves

Search for it. Not hard to find

[MarkBT52]

"audio out HDMI on the TV set to LPCM" is that even an option?

I'm talking about when an XBox or PS4/PS5 has the audio output to LPCM rather than (lossy) bitstream.

The TV setting for earc should then be "passthrough" to send uncompressed multi-channel audio to the audio device (soundbar / av amp).

That's the standard for "earc". However, Samsung choose to disable passthrough when the TV receives an LPCM audio feed and downscales it to 2ch.

So to get 5.1 you either have to set the console to bitstream and set earc to passthrough, or you have to go from the console to the audio device first and then the TV, but then you lose the 120hz 4k capability unless you have an an audio device with HDMI 2.1 support (unlikely).

Basically Samsung are not meeting the earc standards that they even publicise themselves

Search for it. Not hard to find

[ChrisNRY]

Ahh OK.

Well all I know is that if the TV is set to use auto for HDMI audio out, Prime/Netflix etc. have no sound - this could be our amp as it's a bit old, Yamaha RX AV377. Maybe it can't decode the auto signal or can't talk to the TV properly.

So many settings between the TV/Consoles/SkyQ/Amp I forget which are what sometimes!

[MarkBT52]

PS to moderators I don't appreciate you deleting posts that are purely factual What is your problem???

[ChrisNRY]

Be sure to download and install the 1805 firmware, either auto-update from the TV or if not there yet, by USB download and follow the PDF guide.

So far it seems good here.

[jmrodrigues78]

Installed yesterday through USB, no issues so far.

[SpokkX]

Any more feedback from you running 1805.4?

Is it any better regarding dropputs on hdmi?

[ChrisNRY]

Not a single issue on PS5 so far, SkyQ we think flickered in the same way once yesterday on/off black screen...though it never did it again and I can't recall if it was when we first switched to the SkyQ HDMI input or if it was part-way through a show...

Overall, this is the only time we've seen this since the 1805.4 update...will be sure to report back either way in a week or so. In the past it could go for days with no issue then the black flicker on/off would occur and need a TV reboot to stop it...