Houston. We have a problem.

Verteuil Man

Verteuil Man

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I would like the considered opinion of informed technical bods.
I have a 43" Samsung smart TV which I have just purchased a sound bar for. When watching films on Fire Stick the sound is poor so the sound bar is to boost it.
The TV is connected to the Internet via a Cat5 patch cable to a Cat6 wall socket. It does not have either RCA outlets, wifi, headphone jack of Bluetooth. It does have an optical output.
The sound bar has optical, 3.5mm jack and Bluetooth, but not WiFi networking.
The sound bar works fine on Freeview via the aerial and Freesat via a Humax box on a HDMI port. The issue arises when I turn on the Firestick or select an option on tge Smart TV section. After about 5 seconds the sound becomes a scrabbled scream. Firestick is wifi to network and Smart TV ethernet cable.
I have moved the sound bar as far away as I can, but still the same result.

Any ideas?
 
Is the sound Ok from the Firestick / smart stuff if you just play it through the TV?
Does the Soundbar have a HDMI socket?
"Scrabbled scream"? do you mean it drops in and out or a weird noise?

Sorry for the questions but trying to work it out so need some feedback.
 
Optical - TV to bar.
Turn TV sound to minimum or mute
 
Vansflyer said:
Is the sound Ok from the Firestick / smart stuff if you just play it through the TV?
Does the Soundbar have a HDMI socket?
"Scrabbled scream"? do you mean it drops in and out or a weird noise?

Sorry for the questions but trying to work it out so need some feedback.
Click to expand...
The sound using the TV speakers is fine but a little lack8ng hence the sound bar.
The sound bar does not have a HDMI socket.
The scrabbled scream is just garbled nonsense not related to any speech on the programme. The sound is great for 5 seconds or so then garbled and remains garbled.
 
Verteuil Man said:
The sound using the TV speakers is fine but a little lack8ng hence the sound bar.
The sound bar does not have a HDMI socket.
The scrabbled scream is just garbled nonsense not related to any speech on the programme. The sound is great for 5 seconds or so then garbled and remains garbled.
Click to expand...
Ta for the info.

Worth checking the optical cable and the settings in the Tv for sound, Samsung have the option for PCM and something else but the wine has dimmed my memory. Whatever it is on swop it and try, also worth changing if you have the option from dolby digital output to stereo and visa versa. Same applies to the Firestick as it seems to default to "auto select" which can confuse some amps / speakers.
If the Firestick sounds OK on the Tv then the Soundbar is either being fed with the wrong signal or processing it incorrectly.
 
Have you tried unplugging the ethernet cable whilst using the firestick?

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Verteuil Man said:
No. But it is just not the Firestick any connection to a outside channel be it YouTube or iPlayer via the Internet causes the issue.
Click to expand...
Well apparently, Netflix and others have announced some changes they are making to who and how their 'services' can be accessed from now on.
We too have a ' modified' device and have been experiencing similar problems on reception and acces to stuff, but the soundbar works fine mostly, but we are not really now accessing stuff that requires a 'differing' subscription method, if that makes sense.
Not sure your problem is with your devices. But more with what the devices are 'subscribed ' to ( or not)!
 
Vansflyer said:
Ta for the info.

Worth checking the optical cable and the settings in the Tv for sound, Samsung have the option for PCM and something else but the wine has dimmed my memory. Whatever it is on swop it and try, also worth changing if you have the option from dolby digital output to stereo and visa versa. Same applies to the Firestick as it seems to default to "auto select" which can confuse some amps / speakers.
If the Firestick sounds OK on the Tv then the Soundbar is either being fed with the wrong signal or processing it incorrectly.
Click to expand...
The HDMI sound setting was Bitstream and I changed it to PCM. Made no difference. The second sound setting is PCM with other options greyed out.

More info in clips.

20231221_204906.jpg
 
Verteuil Man said:
The HDMI sound setting was Bitstream and I changed it to PCM. Made no difference. The second sound setting is PCM with other options greyed out.

More info in clips.

View attachment 846755
Click to expand...
It is the output you need to change, toggle that option please.

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It sounds like the HDMI chip on the control board is having an issue if this happens with all other HDMI sources. The low volume bit makes me think this as it is not receiving the full data stream. If it is just the firestick, there are reports of some issues and if fairly new Amazon will replace FoC. Can I also ask how the firestick is receiving it's USB power? if direct from the tv usb port, try from another source capable of providing up to 3a at 5v
 
TheBig1 said:
It sounds like the HDMI chip on the control board is having an issue if this happens with all other HDMI sources. The low volume bit makes me think this as it is not receiving the full data stream. If it is just the firestick, there are reports of some issues and if fairly new Amazon will replace FoC. Can I also ask how the firestick is receiving it's USB power? if direct from the tv usb port, try from another source capable of providing up to 3a at 5v
Click to expand...
The Firestick is powered by 240v/USB adapter. Also happens on Smart TV which is different from Firestick. The noise. Only short clip due to file size.

 
TheBig1 said:
It sounds like the HDMI chip on the control board is having an issue if this happens with all other HDMI sources. The low volume bit makes me think this as it is not receiving the full data stream. If it is just the firestick, there are reports of some issues and if fairly new Amazon will replace FoC. Can I also ask how the firestick is receiving it's USB power? if direct from the tv usb port, try from another source capable of providing up to 3a at 5v
Click to expand...
I have git these whilst the adverts are on. SWMBO is watching All Creatures Great and Small.

20231221_211434.jpg
20231221_211342.jpg
20231221_211312.jpg
 
Change the input and see what options are then available. Your issue is with the Firestick, not the Freesat.
 
That is a fault on the mainboard if it happens on other outputs not just firestick. The internals of a modern tv are much less than most people realise. The samsungs have a power board, a main control board and a video T-con board. This is a fault in the audio circuit on the main board

20231222_111119.jpg

Just one of the tvs in the workshop at the moment to show the inside
 
Have you tried connecting firestick to the sound bar via Bluetooth ( the Firestick has the option to sync sound because when using Bluetooth there’s some lag)
 
TheBig1 said:
That is a fault on the mainboard if it happens on other outputs not just firestick. The internals of a modern tv are much less than most people realise. The samsungs have a power board, a main control board and a video T-con board. This is a fault in the audio circuit on the main board

View attachment 846865
Just one of the tvs in the workshop at the moment to show the inside
Click to expand...
Thanks for that.

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Have you verified/compared the Firestick audio settings yet? (settings->display & audio->audio)

Should be something like this…
IMG_0738.jpeg

As someone mentioned earlier, as you’re having issues, I would try testing it on a specific setting (e.g. PCM) instead of relying on the device to choose best available.

If you have another suitable tv, could you test the Firestick and soundbar on that for a comparison? At least that may help to show if the tv is the issue.
 
RowleyBirkinQC said:
Have you verified/compared the Firestick audio settings yet? (settings->display & audio->audio)

Should be something like this…
View attachment 846888

As someone mentioned earlier, as you’re having issues, I would try testing it on a specific setting (e.g. PCM) instead of relying on the device to choose best available.

If you have another suitable tv, could you test the Firestick and soundbar on that for a comparison? At least that may help to show if the tv is the issue.
Click to expand...
I have been using the Firestick on the motorhome TV without any issues albeit not with this soundbar.
 
I have been doing some more tests and come to the same conclusion as TheBig1 . Something is banjaxed in the tele. I totally disconnected the Firestick and went to the Smart TV hub. Selected YouTube then a video file. Sound went bad again. It seems that if I connect to the Internet the sound is disrupted.

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