AF8 + STR-DH790 A/V sync

[simonbruce1982]

I have owned my AF8 for a couple of years now and it's been a great TV, but I got to the stage where I wanted more cinematic sound to match the excellent picture.

So, I went out and purchased the well received and well priced DH790 receiver, paired with some Q Acoustics speakers. Sounds fantastic!

Unfortunately, I am struggling with lip sync issues.

Scenario 1 - Audio Behind Picture: When watching TV, or when using a build in app on the AF8 such as Netflix or YouTube, the lip sync is slightly out. I have checked this by setting the speakers to "TV" and then unmuting the receiver. A noticeable echo can be heard, with the receiver playing audio ahead of the TV. As such, adding delay in the receiver only makes matters far worse.

I have delved into the menus and have played with the 3 'A/V sync' options under Home and Auto, On or Off make no difference at all.

Scenario 2 - Audio Ahead of Picture: I have an Apple TV connected to the receiver and this has the opposite issue, where the picture is behind the audio, so I need to apply audio delay. This is fine, as I can do that via the receiver and achieve a perfect sync with the picture. Same goes for the Blu-ray player.

Can't seem to find a way of fixing the delay between the TV and the receiver. And for reference, I'm using a short, high quality QED HDMI cable.

Is it that the receiver is simply not up to the job and is taking too long to process the audio? Or should the TV be delaying the picture before sending the audio over ARC?

Anyone else had a similar issue?

[merseyswine]

I get the same problems with my AG9 Tv and Samsung sound system. When the source is connected directly to the soundbar and the picture is passed through to the TV, the picture lags the sound so I have to adjust the audio delay. But when watching a site ecthat is connected to the TV, the sound lags the picture. I switched on the TV’s a/v sync and that has reduced it so that it’s bearable.

i don’t thin the cables are to blame, as they introduce delays of only nanoseconds. It’s all due to the processing that’s required. Maybe someone knows how one can introduce a video delay. 

[Win_88]

Hi @simonbruce1982

I found this article on the Sony website. Maybe there are some steps you haven't tried yet:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00026069

I'd recommend using the simplest connection map. for example, connect the Apple TV to the TV and let ARC do it's magic by sending the sound to the amp. On the other hand, lip sync is a known problem when watching Digital TV, especially HD channels due to the processing required as @merseyswine said. This doesn't have a final type of solution as far as my research revealed so far.

Win_88

[simonbruce1982]

Thanks for your feedback. I am no further forward and have opened support dialogue with Sony.

Seems mad to me that the simplest TV to receiver setup can’t play audio in sync, and as the audio lags behind the picture slightly, adding delay at the AVR end only makes matter worse.

Tried the PS4 Pro connected to the AVR, but this required me to significant add audio delay to get in sync, which means I must be getting equal input lag, so hardly ideal for gaming. In fact it was evident when the speakers and controller were supposed to be outputting speech at same time, which was hugely delayed. Switched back to PS4 Pro connected to the AF8 directly, with the same audio lagging behind the picture a little as per built in apps and live TV.

Admittedly, the receiver is Sony’s entry level 4K AVR, but seems capable and well reviewed, plus the TV was best of the best only a couple of years ago. Surely someone has a similar setup functioning properly!

[merseyswine]

I forgot to mention - I sometimes get a severe lip-sync  problem on Netflix (watched via TV and soundbar) when I press “play” after having paused the program for a few minutes. To cure the problem, I have to go back to a higher-up part of the Netflix menu, so that I can re-select the show that I was watching.

i think that problem is with the Netflix app, I would say. It probably pauses the video first and the sound a fraction of a second later.

i don’t know if I would experience the same problem if I used only the TV’s speakers.

[simonbruce1982]

It would appear the issue lies with the DH790 rather than the AF8.

I have been through a second round of suggestions from Sony's support team, which included trying the receiver with a different TV. When playing live TV, i was experiencing the same slight, but noticeable delay, where the audio lags behind the image. Will await their response and post what they say for anyone else that may be interested.

Have done lots of testing now. Below are a list of the audio delays I have to add to achieve perfect lip sync.

• Apple TV  - 80ms
• UBP-X700 - 80ms
• Sony PS4 Pro - 60ms (hardly ideal for gaming if the image is lagging behind - TV on Game mode)

AF8 over ARC - Auto (audio is already behind the image by probably 60-80ms, but that's a guess)