Hi All, I have also experienced CEC related problems, Soundbar not turning on with a TV etc and raised this as an issue with Samsung UK CEO's office.  Their response is as follows:   We have slightly amended the steps removing that to turn on the TV.  In essence the guide is to have everything on and as detailed and then connect as per instructions.   Settings > General > Reset Turn on Sky Q & ensure it is on a channel without the Sky Guide on screen Turn on the BD Player Turn on the Soundbar Connect Sky Q & BD to Soundbar, then Soundbar to TV Complete the Set Up with all devices connected in their final configuration.   My system is stable (ish) at present so I haven't tried the above directions myself.  I would also say that I've set up a script in the Smart Things App so that the Soundbar will always power on when the TV is on.  This is obviously done over the internet so it can take a few seconds if it hasn't already powered on via HDMI CEC. ... View more

Hi @shaunevo  You're right in that the products are not fit for purpose which is frustrating, crazy in this day and age and not acceptable. Hope you get the outcome you want. ... View more

Hi @shaunevo  I am sceptical about what Samsung have reported to you, or at least the context of their reported test.  The lip sync problem is caused by the TV OCB processing audio signals from external sources connected to it via HDMI.  The internal TV tuner and TV apps do not suffer the lip sync problem.  Therefore, if the test configuration only included a TV and your Soundbar connected via HDMI ARC then there wouldn't be a lip sync problem anyway. The lip sync issue  is not a problem within the Soundbar, regardless of whether there was a fault within your unit. ... View more

Hi all,   I asked the UK CEO's Office if they could confirm a date for the eARC update.  Their response is as follows:   'Our Product Specialists have confirmed that eARC is “imminent” but we cannot commit to a specific date currently.'   Watch this space! ... View more

Hi @userjYtfoTda0t  Valid points, especially that wrt the TV OCB delaying the audio signal more than the video signal and I don't profess to know the answer.  I am hoping that the 'eARC update' will include some fixes to the HDMI CEC related problems being experienced over the HDMI ARC interface between the Q series TV and Soundbar.  I've connected my external sources into the Q90 Soundbar so I'm not experiencing lip sync problems but I have had CEC problems, particularly with the Soundbar.   ... View more

Extract: Relevant to us here is eARC , or enhanced Audio Return Channel. While Dolby Atmos can be passed over regular ARC today (via Dolby Digital Plus) eARC offers improved bandwidth for higher-quality Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio streams, including Atmos. The new format also has lip-sync compensation built-in. ... View more

Yes I hope so too!  I've been in fairly regular contact with the UK CEO's office about these issues, so I'll email them again this afternoon to see if they can verify the eARC update timescales. ... View more

Many thanks @bcab17  and @akz786  for replying and for the clarification.  I will certainly consider changing to an optical configuration if I get continual recurrence of HDMI CEC related problems. I have 2 external devices connected via HDMI into the Soundbar.  HDMI 1 connected to a SKY Q 1TB box which is my primary source for watching TV channels.  HDMI 2 connected to 4K Blu-Ray player which I only use occasionally.  Q90R Soundbar connected to Q90 TV via HDMI ARC. I find that if I'm only using the SKY box the system is relatively stable and HDMI CEC works OK, however, if I use the Blu Ray player, then switch back to the SKY box the system can become unstable with respect to CEC operation.  This usually requires a power cycle of TV and Soundbar to resolve. I have experienced problems with the Soundbar not auto-detecting input on HDMI 1, however, this seems to be a SKY box problem not outputting a signal (apparently a known fault with SKY Q boxes which requires a power cycle to clear). Thanks again. ... View more

Hi bcab17 I'm interested in understanding your System configuration and how many external devices you have connected via optical?  Are you using an optical switch, if so which one?  Could you please post a description of your system and how you have connected your devices.  Thanks. ... View more

Hi@slomar thanks for your reply and suggestion.  Yes I sometimes have a similar problem when using the SKY Q remote to turn on the TV and Soundbar, there doesn't appear to be an input source (audio or video).  Pressing the Home key on the SKY remote usually fixes it, but not always.  I wasn't sure if this was a SKY Q box issue not outputting a signal (I've seen that before in different set ups), or the Soundbar not recognising the signal or passing through the video signal.  I'm sure Ive also had audio on the Soundbar but no video signal similar to the problem you describe. My Soundbar is now turning on with the TV via the SKY Q remote although I didn't do anything to change it.  Anecdotely I have a suspicion that there is a time factor involved with the Soundbar power off/on.   If I power off and on again within a short time frame, say 5 minutes I get the problem with the Soundbar not turning on.  However, if I leave it powered off overnight then the Soundbar turns on OK with the TV.  It's as if there are 2 phases within the standby mode?  I'm monitoring this one!  Anyone else noticed this?   ... View more

Hi yes I've seen other people using Harmony remotes so that is a possible workaround.  My reluctance is that already having a plethora of remote controllers already (including Samsung’s Universal remote which is useless unless you have sources connected into the TV) then why should I have to purchase yet another one, especially for something that should work in the first place, this is not 'rocket science'. However, thanks for your suggestion. ... View more

I've implemented the workaround that Jesterh posted a while in go.  In SmartThings App set up an automation script whereby when the TV is on then the Soundbar is on.  This does work but is not optimal, the Soundbar can take several seconds to turn on after the TV and seems not to recognise the source on the HDMI input, in my case a SKY Q box.  Pressing Home on SKY remote usually works but not always. the HDMI-CEC on this set up is very flakey and may be a show stopper for me, I've had enough not knowing whether it's going to work from one day to the next. If anyone can recommend a better fix please post it. ... View more

Hi All, Changing the subject but related to above issues, has anyone had problems with Q series Soundbar not turning on with the TV?  In my set up (Q90 TV and Soundbar) this is very flakey, it was working fine over the weekend, then this morning I used my Blu-Ray player (connected into Soundbar via HDMI) and since going back to Using SKY Q box (also connected into Soundbar via HDMI) the Soundbar no longer turns on with either the SKY or TV remote control.  Previously it was turning on consistently with the TV when using the SKY remote.  I had this issue before and then it started working OK but I can't figure what I did, if anything, to make it work.  Flakey and infuriating to say the least. Anyone got an explanation and hopefully a fix? ... View more

Hi You have obviously done a lot more testing than I have with Atmos so it's interesting to hear your test results.  Mine is limited to a couple of Blu-ray Discs as this is the only Atmos compatible source that I have. ... View more

Hi @Buccaneerian  OK I've not used Netflix or Prime.  I've used the Rakuten and BT Sport Apps on the TV and the audio has been fine.  I have a SKY Q 1 TB box and that hasn't given any problems with audio via HDMI connected into either TV OCB or latterly into Soundbar. Ive only tried Dolby Atmos using my Panasonic 4K Blu-ray player and the Soundbar showed Dolby Atmos detected OK.  NB I had to disable the Viera Link control as that caused all sorts of confusion with the Soundbar not recognising the HDMI input and defaulting to TV speakers - most annoying until someone tipped me off about this issue. In summary, I haven't experienced the audio or video problems you have described. I agree about the volume level of the rear speakers it seems low in most scenarios except maybe playing a movie decoded in Atmos or Dolby Digital.  Having said that I haven't tried adjusting the volume level to +6 so I will do that later to see if there is any difference/improvement. Hope you get the result you want from the AV engineers visit. ... View more

Hi @Buccaneerian  Concur with your advice to @DoubleD39 Re your problems I have the same Q90 TV and Soundbar as you, I haven't experienced any problems with sound distortion or dropouts so it will be interesting to hear what the AV Engineer finds (if anything). Is this a general problem or does it happen with a particular source or audio codec?   ... View more

Hi @DoubleD39  I can partially answer your question. You will definitely need to connect your SKY Q box and BluRay player into the soundbar to avoid the lip sync problem. I'm not familiar with the IPTV box or Firestick but if you want any sound codec other than PCM I think they will need to connect into the Soundbar, which will be a limiting factor because of the number of HDMI inputs. TV update v1359 is not generally available yet but it doesn't resolve the lip sync problem. Hope the above helps. ... View more

Yes as I posted earlier on this subject, @slomar is correct with his answer about using the Soundbar for external inputs etc. Internal TV apps and terrestrial TV channels via the TV tuner do not suffer from the lip sync problem. ... View more

Hi again,   But yes agreed the TV OCB becomes somewhat redundant if you connect all external devices to the soundbar as you only need the HDMI-ARC, network and power cables as you have identified. ... View more

Hi Chris I only have 2 external devices, a SKY Q box (my primary source for watching TV) and a 4K Blu-Ray player (occasional use) so I can't comment on any loss of gaming functionality. Connecting external sources directly into the soundbar provides the best audio solution and is essential for say Dolby Atmos decoding from my Blu-ray player. I have a wall mounted TV with the Soundbar located underneath sat on top of a wall mounted media unit.  My external devices and the TV OCB are housed in the media unit and I have cut a hole in the top panel of the media unit underneath the soundbar, so it is a neat installation where all my cables are hidden from view. ... View more

I agree with Chris, having connected external sources into both the TV OCB and then into the Soundbar (Q90) via HDMI the latter is definitely the best option at this time given the lip sync problems with the TV decoding of Dolby Digital audio.  I've recently installed TV software upgrade v1358 and it does not resolve the lip sync problem.   Furthermore, if we were using an AV receiver/amp with our Q series TVs we would connect the external devices into the AV receiver and have an HDMi-ARC connection back to the TV for the video signal.  So this is the same concept as connecting the external sources into the Soundbar. ... View more

Hi I agree totally with your sentiments and this is exactly what I have been saying to the UK CEO's office.  Unfortunately, I am beyond the timeframe where I can return to my supplying dealer without obtaining a refund authorisation code from Samsung.  This is one option I am still considering pursuing. Do you know what you will purchase as a replacement?  Other disgruntled customers seem to opting for the LG C9 TV but not sure what soundbar? ... View more

Hi thanks for prompt reply.  Have you tried connecting your external source(s) into the Soundbar? When I first got my TV and Soundbar last October and tried this set up it seemed unstable with respect to control of the soundbar, source input auto-detection etc.  However, having just reverted to connecting my SKY Q box into the Soundbar via HDMI it seems to be stable and improved.  Whether the software updates since Oct 2019 have addressed these control issues I don't know, but at the moment it's behaving OK, albeit early days. I'm now enjoying Dolby Digital audio which is a huge improvement over PCM. Can you try this configuration? ... View more

Hi again me83,   Are you using a Soundbar? ... View more

Yes concur completely re v1359 Samsung say it's the best that can be achieved to reduce lip sync, but the result is still an unacceptable audio lag.  I don't think they'll do any more on this problem.  Hence why I've switched to connecting directly into Soundbar.  Lip sync no longer an issue but want to convince myself about other functionality.   ... View more

HI again, I should have said in my original post that with the SKY Q box connected to the Soundbar there is not a lip sync problem when using Dolby decoding and the audio is far superior to using PCM, as you would expect. ... View more

Hi, Further to me83's post I can concur with what has been said. I have been in email discussion with the UK CEO's office since December 2019 on the problems of Lip-Sync and HDMI control related issues.  The CEO's office have been courteous and communicative to date, albeit none of the issues have yet been resolved.  They sent me a copy of the TV software update v1359 last week for me to install.   I have a 2019 model Q90R TV and a 2019 model HW-Q90R Soundbar connected via HDMI-ARC.  I have a Panasonic 4K Blu-Ray player connected directly to the Soundbar via HDMI so that I can use Dolby Atmos and a SKY Q box connected into the TV OCB also via HDMI.  When I first set up the system I experienced problems with  selecting the input source on the Soundbar (it is very clunky and requires use of another remote control) hence I connected the SKY Q to the TV OCB as the control functionality is much better.  Of course, this scenario presents the well documented problem of negative lip sync where the audio lags the video. Having installed update v1359, as me83 reports, it does not resolve the lip sync problem with an external device connected to the soundbar when using Dolby audio.  Is it an improvement?  Possibly but only marginally and the audio lag is still evident enough to be annoying and distracting.  I reported this back to the CEO's office and got the same script reply that it was the minimum delay that could be achieved etc etc. I asked the CEO's office for the specification of 2020 model TVs and Soundbars and whether they would be eARC enabled?   The answer was that final specifications have not been released (even though products have been demonstrated at CES in January).  They have also stated that Samsung are working on a solution to upgrade existing products with eARC but could not provide any timescale for its release. I have just reconfigured my system by connecting my SKY Q box into the the Soundbar via HDMI and I am testing how it functions with respect to auto detection, source selection, on/off control etc as previously this was somewhat erratic.  Sometimes it worked OK but other times the Soundbar would not switch on with the TV or recognise the reLevant HDMI input in use.  I will report back further after a few days of trial. Finally, I too have expressed my extreme dissatisfaction with Samsung's products in terms of interfacing between their own flagship products that cost a lot of money! Hope this helps. ... View more

Hi davem2 I don't know what country you live in but Im in the UK and I've reported both the lip sync problem and HDMI ARC problems to the CEO's office in December 2019.  I've had several communications with them and they acknowledged there was a lip sync problem that was currently being investigated but did not offer any timeframe for a resolution.  I intend to take the issue up again in early February if a solution has not been advised during a January. I made contact with the CEO's office via the email link as it is obvious from reading various subject threads on the Samsung Community forum that the first line support is a waste of time and customers are just being 'fobbed off' as you have been.  I would encourage you to make contact with the CEO's office for your region.   ... View more

Thanks, I Purchased mine in October from Currys/PC World.  How long did you have your products before you returned them?  ... View more

@m-oc.  Thanks for your reply.  May I ask where you're located please? ... View more