Forum Discussion

kjdunn29680's avatar
kjdunn29680
Reel Rookie
3 months ago
Solved

Audio Locked on Standard Mode on Roku TV with Samsung soundbar

I have a Roku-branded TV. I recently noticed that I lost the surround sound. I am using a Samsung soundbar with rear speakers and a subwoofer. I also noticed that the TV audio is locked in standard mode. I am connected to the TV via ARC. I have seen others with this issue but never a clean fix for it. In the audio output in settings, it is set to my soundbar. I have seen others with this problem, but never a clear solution. Responses say it may be a channel causing this. How do I check settings per channel when the issue is across all channels? This looks like a common problem. Is there a common solution? I want to enjoy surround sound again. 

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  • RokuRhea-V's avatar
    RokuRhea-V
    3 months ago

    Hey kjdunn29680,

    Thank you for keeping us updated. Could you please check this with your Samsung Soundbar setup?

    • Is DTS or Dolby Digital enabled?
    • Do rear speakers and sub work when testing directly through the soundbar’s test mode or native Samsung sound modes?
    • Make sure it’s not on “PCM only”, which downmixes to stereo.

    In the meantime, you can try these steps:

    1. Unplug the soundbar and TV for 10 seconds, then plug them back in
    2. Try a different HDMI cable, especially a certified High-Speed HDMI with Ethernet.
    3. Ensure CEC (1-touch play) is turned on on both devices to help HDMI sync up correctly.

    Let us know how it goes

    Roku Community Team

5 Replies

  • RokuRhea-V's avatar
    RokuRhea-V
    Community Moderator
    3 months ago

    Hey kjdunn29680,

    Thanks for reporting this issue here! 

    If the sound mode on your Roku TV appears to be locked, it may be because the audio settings are configured to a specific mode. This could be due to a setting for a particular channel or a pre-configured audio output on your TV. Additionally, it’s a good idea to check if your Roku is set to automatically detect the best audio format, as this could be causing the sound mode to stay fixed on a specific setting.
    I hope this helps!

    Thanks,
    Roku Community Team

    • kjdunn29680's avatar
      kjdunn29680
      Reel Rookie
      3 months ago

      I'm not using a Roku box. This is a Roku branded TV set.  I have tried every suggestion even doing a factory reset. Still not resolved. Telling me what might be causing it, doesn't help me fix it. Like give me the steps to see if it's a channel causing this.

      All settings are chosen for the soundbar I am using. Nothing is set to automatic. 

      • RokuRhea-V's avatar
        RokuRhea-V
        Community Moderator
        3 months ago

        Hey kjdunn29680,

        Thank you for keeping us updated. Could you please check this with your Samsung Soundbar setup?

        • Is DTS or Dolby Digital enabled?
        • Do rear speakers and sub work when testing directly through the soundbar’s test mode or native Samsung sound modes?
        • Make sure it’s not on “PCM only”, which downmixes to stereo.

        In the meantime, you can try these steps:

        1. Unplug the soundbar and TV for 10 seconds, then plug them back in
        2. Try a different HDMI cable, especially a certified High-Speed HDMI with Ethernet.
        3. Ensure CEC (1-touch play) is turned on on both devices to help HDMI sync up correctly.

        Let us know how it goes

        Roku Community Team