topic Intermittent Audio Return Channel in Other TVs

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

seano1 — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:42:19 GMT

I have recently purchased a Sony BDV-E370 Blu-ray Home Cinema System and a Sony Bravia KDL46EX703U.

Everything is great except the ARC!

I have an HDMI connection between the two. With the television on and the blu-ray off the sound comes out of the TV speakers. If I then turn on the blu-ray, the television displays ‘Audio System Active’ and turns off the TV speakers.

Only sometimes does the TV sound start to come out of the blu-ray speakers, and even when it does it sometimes then turns itself off again after a few minutes so I have no sound at all. I then have to turn the blu-ray off to get the TV speakers back.

The blu-ray plays disks fine, it is linked to the internet and plays things like BBC iPlayer fine, it also streams music from the home computer. It upgraded itself to the latest software yesterday.

Checked all the obvious settings and run out of ideas. The HDMI cable is one of the pretty cheap Amazon basic range – could it be that?

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

tristanmitchell — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:18:23 GMT

Hi,

Have you managed to solve this because I'm having exactly the same issue (with a KDL-32EX403), also using an Amazon Basic HDMI cable. The ARC works fine for a certain amount of time (varies hugely) and then audio just stops. Need to switch the BVD-E370 off and back on to get it to work

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

seano1 — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 11:53:34 GMT

Hi - that's exactly what I was getting.

I've just fitted a better quality cable, again purchased through Amazon but sold by and shipped from HD Zne UK Ltd:

1 of 2METER PRO GOLD RED (1.4a Version, 3D) HDMI TO HDMI CABLE WITH ETHERNET,COMPATIBLE WITH 1.4,1.3c,1.3b,1.3,1080P,PS3,XBOX 360,SKYHD,FREESAT,VIRGIN BOX,, £12.99*

So far so good, but I only fitted it today!

I'll report back in a couple of days to let you know if this has solved the problem.

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

tristanmitchell — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:13:50 GMT

Great, thanks. Somebody else suggested this to me as well so going to borrow their more expensive cable and see if it solves the issue. Kind of stupid of Amazon to recommend that cable if it's not good enough, an email to them might be in order as well!

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

seano1 — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:13:29 GMT

Well it's been fine all day now with the new cable - around about 9 hours as I've left it running. Given that the most the ARC had worked for before was less than an hour, and typically only a few minutes if at all, I'm pretty much certain the new cable has solved it.

I noticed the new cable required more of a firm push to insert it in the back of the BluRay, so it all sounds like a bad connection with the Amazon cheapy.

If it's still fine in a few days I think a warning post on Amazon will be in order!

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

Pcadjb — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:50:22 GMT

Hello Both,

I don't think the problem is cheap cables, the problem is compatibility with HDMI 1.4 (I believe).

The Amazon basics cable does not show that it is 1.4 compatible, therefore I cannot be sure it is.

Cheap cables are available with HDMI 1.4 compatibility.

Hope this helps

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

tristanmitchell — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:33:12 GMT

The cable I'm using is this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001T9NUJE/

which in the Product Description says that it supports the Audio Return Channel which is part of the 1.4 spec

Amazon are sending me a replacement cable so it will be interesting to see if that has the same problems

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

seano1 — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:38:30 GMT

That was the same cable I was using, and it was the cable that was the problem.

You do NOT need a special 1.4 cable to support ARC anyway, see:

http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/arc.aspx

Which says in particular:

All HDMI cables will support Audio Return Channel functionality when connected to Audio Return Channel-enabled devices. You can use your existing HDMI cables or choose a different cable type.

It's the Amazon cable that is just rubbish!

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

seano1 — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:43:05 GMT

As it was the cable, updated to say my question has been answered - by myself!

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

Catmambo — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:23:18 GMT

Good to know - seems one does have to spend a few quid on a decent cable, but not a 'Monster' amount

Thanks for updating

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

tristanmitchell — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:44:29 GMT

Just to put a spanner in the works....

Amazon's replacement cable (the same Amazon Basic cable I had before) arrived today and is working without issue.

Seems the first one I had was faulty, very odd as the Blu-Ray video signal was transmitted fine to the TV but the audio going the other way wasn't working.

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

technorobo — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:54:03 GMT

Your problem is likely to be a faulty cable as it works sometimes. I have just bought a Sony Blu-ray BDVIZ1000W and can get no sound from the TV. Discs play without a problem. Sound is brilliant.

My 46 in Sony is 3 years old. Information I have received is that nearly all Sony TV's over one year old are not compliant with ARC. So already I'm out of date.

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

mark-harri — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:43:22 GMT

Hello

It's been a couple of months since most of the posts here and I'm wondering if you can confirm that the new cables have solved the problem.

I have the identical problem to tristanmitchell, and an almost identical set up - KDL37EX503 to BDV-E370. Intermittent sound over ARC, and need ot turn off the BDV when the sound is lost.

There is If you guys are up and running with a better cable, I'll splash the cash myself. Think I'm on the amazon basics cable.

Thanks very much for posting an update

Mark

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

tristanmitchell — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:50:21 GMT

Hi Mark,

I called Amazon customer support intending to ask them to give me a better cable for free. All they would do was offer me a replacement basic cable as they said it must be faulty if it didn't work.

The replacement (Amazon Basic cable: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001T9NUJE/) worked fine and has been doing so for about six weeks now.

I would try getting your faulty cable replaced before spending any more money.

Hope you get it working,

Tristan

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

seano1 — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:13:56 GMT

Just to confirm that my set up has been working perfectly too since I replaced the HDMI cable.

Cheers,

Sean

Intermittent Audio Return Channel

mark-harri — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:25:18 GMT

An mine too - thanks for the support all.

Mark