HDMI handshakng issue?

Banzai_Joe · 20 Jan 2023 at 08:18

Hi all,
Had a sonos beam2 connected to my LG OLED via eARC for about a year now, and I’ve been plagued with the issue that very often when I turn the TV on (we only have freeview and streaming apps) there will be no sound for a good 10 secs. Sometime I get no sound at all, so I have to change the audio output to anything but what it’s currently on, then it seems to auto detect HDMI and I get sound back.
Also, often if I flick between HD and SD channels I could lose sound again and have to repeat the procedure above.
It bugs me because I got rid of my Denon AVR and 5.1 setup as it took about 15 secs from turn on before the audio handshake would complete and give me audio, so I thought the TV + sound bar would be the simpler setup. I do have 2 x sonos one’s acting as surrounds, but I had the audio issue prior to adding them into the mix.

I contacted sonos, and they blamed LG. I contacted LG and guess who they blamed?
The HDMI cable is high quality and latest iteration of the protocol. I’ve also swapped it out to no avail.

Any ideas or advice on how fix this please?

signs · 20 Jan 2023 at 12:03

hummm . would a optical cable work ?

Simmz · 20 Jan 2023 at 14:45

Could be a cec issue. Try add one of these into the mix from the soundbar to TV at either end. Can always return if doesn't work.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LINDY-HDMI-Less-Adapter-Female-Black/dp/B00DL48KVI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=346IFDOJO2CZ5&keywords=lindy+hdmi+cec+less+adapter&qid=1674225910&sprefix=lindy+ce%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Banzai_Joe · 21 Jan 2023 at 09:52

Simmz said:
Could be a cec issue. Try add one of these into the mix from the soundbar to TV at either end. Can always return if doesn't work.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LINDY-HDMI-Less-Adapter-Female-Black/dp/B00DL48KVI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=346IFDOJO2CZ5&keywords=lindy+hdmi+cec+less+adapter&qid=1674225910&sprefix=lindy+ce%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Ooh that does sound like what I need thanks.

Banzai_Joe · 24 Jan 2023 at 10:55

Hi, so i got one of those, but without fully testing it for audio (as its random) it breaks its connection to Alexa.
I have routine set up like "Alex, turn on the matrix" and she turns the lamps and TV on.
So, can't really use it.
Thanks anyway, was worth a shot.

dazzlaa · 24 Jan 2023 at 16:26

Not sure if it helps or if it’s relevant to your set up but I had a hand shake issue with my AVR and it turned out to be hdmi enhanced mode enabled that my receiver didn’t like. Disabled it and the CEC came back alive. Maybe worth investigating from your TV side of the equation.

Banzai_Joe · 25 Jan 2023 at 06:17

dazzlaa said:
Not sure if it helps or if it’s relevant to your set up but I had a hand shake issue with my AVR and it turned out to be hdmi enhanced mode enabled that my receiver didn’t like. Disabled it and the CEC came back alive. Maybe worth investigating from your TV side of the equation.

Thanks, I can double-check but I’m pretty sure I need eARC enabled for the Dolby atmos to work on the sonos beam.

Robert · 7 Feb 2023 at 07:51

Banzai_Joe said:
Hi, so i got one of those, but without fully testing it for audio (as its random) it breaks its connection to Alexa.
I have routine set up like "Alex, turn on the matrix" and she turns the lamps and TV on.
So, can't really use it.
Thanks anyway, was worth a shot.

How does it break the connection?

Banzai_Joe · 7 Feb 2023 at 07:59

Robert said:
How does it break the connection?

The Beam is my Alexa enabled device and when that thing is connected, it simply doesn't respond to alexa commands. Disconnect it and immediately Alexa works again.
I guess i could try changing which device listens for Alexa commands as i have an Echo Show in the same room. Yeah, that might work.
Watch this space......