Soundbar SE connection delay with Spectrum cable box
Hi, all. I recently purchased a Soundbar SE for use with my Insignia F20 Series (yes, it's a FireTV but we prefer the Roku service/interface). I got it all set up, followed all the instructions and guidance I found and it's working perfectly...on most inputs.
However.
When we either switch to the cable input or power on the TV directly to cable, there's a seven-ish second delay before the Soundbar connects to the TV sound (we can tell it's connected fully because the volume bar appears to inform us of the sound level). Once it's connected, there's no delay or lip sync issue whatsoever, and sound is crisp and clear, but that long pause of dead air at the start is strange to me.
I originally had it only connected via the HDMI ARC cable (directly into an ARC input on the television), but after some research, someone had suggested also using the Orbital — though this made no difference that I can notice. I've confirmed that all of the sound settings are correct — Standard sound (not movie or dialogue enhancer, etc.) on both TV and Roku; running PCM on TV audio settings; Roku Fast-On option set and screen reader shortcut off.
I'm starting to just assume it's a delay within the cable box itself (it's a Spectrum box and probably a bit outdated as they have recently been working on upgrading the system in my area) but I decided to check in here and see if this is a problem elsewhere and if anyone has any kind of advice?
Thanks in advance!
Hello theluceisloose,
Thank you for reaching out to the Roku Community!
Thanks for letting us know about the audio delay you're experiencing with your Roku Streambar SE. We're here to troubleshoot and get your sound back in sync!
Before we get started, could you let us know if you have any other external speakers connected to your TV other than the Roku Streambar? Also, is the issue happening on a specific channel or with certain content? Please try checking on a different channel as well.
Additionally, please keep in mind that you can only plug into one source at a time, not both simultaneously. It would be best to use ARC. The delay appears to be due to the soundbar taking some time to start up. One way to resolve this is to disable the soundbar's power-saving mode, preventing it from going to sleep and eliminating the delay.
For more detailed information and troubleshooting on this issue, please refer to our support page "Why is the sound from my Roku Streambar out of sync with the picture?".
We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to resolving this issue for you.
Best regards,
JharraThank you for keeping us updated, theluceisloose!
We want to clarify that you can only connect to one source at a time, not both simultaneously. It is recommended to use ARC.
It appears that the delay is caused by the soundbar taking some time to start up. One possible solution to this problem is to deactivate the soundbar's power-saving mode, which should prevent it from going to sleep and eliminate the delay.
Please try doing this to see if it helps with what you're experiencing.
Thanks,
JharraThanks for the update.
You can use the following steps to disable auto power savings.
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Scroll and select Settings
- Select System
- Select Power
- Select Auto power savings
- Uncheck the box next to After 20 minutes of no interaction
After you disable auto power savings, your Roku player will remain "awake" and ready to be used any time your TV is powered on.
If disabling auto power savings resolved your issue in the previous section, but you prefer to use the power-savings feature, there are a couple more things you can try.
Enable 1-touch play on your player
When enabled, a feature called 1-touch play tells your TV to automatically switch its active source/input to your Roku player when any button on your Roku remote is pressed. Open the Settings menu and enable 1-touch play using the steps below.
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Scroll and select Settings
- Select System
- Select Control Other devices
- Check the box next to the 1-touch play
Please click here for more detailed information on how to disable auto power savings on your Roku streaming player.
Thanks,
Arjiemar
