This issue was eventually fixed with a firmware update last fall.
Hello,
HiSense TV with Sony STR-DH710 AV receiver connected via eARC/ARC HDMI ports. AVR worked fine with my previous TV.
I configured the sound to use the eARC through the Roku menu. The sound switches to the AVR and plays audio as expected.
After powering off and then using the TV another day, by switching on power on my power strip, then pressing the Roku remote power on button, the TV powers on, as well as the AVR, but no sound through the AVR. I see the Roku main menu after startup, the AVR is able to detect and respond to volume up and down commands from the remote. But no sound.
Workaround - If I manually set the audio output in the Roku settings menu to TV then back to eARC the Roku will handshake and AVR audio will work as expected.
Workaround 2 - With no sound, if I go to the back of the TV and replug the HDMI cable there will be handshaking and sound will work as expected.
I notice that when configuring through the Roku audio menu or re-plugging the physical cable, the Sony AVR will see some data and turn on its HDMI and Dolby indicators.
The Sony AVR takes a few seconds to initialize when powering on. If I had to guess, it might be the handshaking was sent from the Roku TV when the AVR was still initializing and so the setup didn't work.
I'd like to be able to hear audio after I turn on the TV without having to do these workarounds.
ma230598239 wrote:Hello,
HiSense TV with Sony STR-DH710 AV receiver connected via eARC/ARC HDMI ports. AVR worked fine with my previous TV.
I configured the sound to use the eARC through the Roku menu. The sound switches to the AVR and plays audio as expected.
After powering off and then using the TV another day, by switching on power on my power strip, then pressing the Roku remote power on button, the TV powers on, as well as the AVR, but no sound through the AVR. I see the Roku main menu after startup, the AVR is able to detect and respond to volume up and down commands from the remote. But no sound.
Workaround - If I manually set the audio output in the Roku settings menu to TV then back to eARC the Roku will handshake and AVR audio will work as expected.
Workaround 2 - With no sound, if I go to the back of the TV and replug the HDMI cable there will be handshaking and sound will work as expected.
I notice that when configuring through the Roku audio menu or re-plugging the physical cable, the Sony AVR will see some data and turn on its HDMI and Dolby indicators.
The Sony AVR takes a few seconds to initialize when powering on. If I had to guess, it might be the handshaking was sent from the Roku TV when the AVR was still initializing and so the setup didn't work.
I'd like to be able to hear audio after I turn on the TV without having to do these workarounds.
As you can see from my posts above, I have a very similar problem with a TCL Roku. Been in contact with TCL and they are playing dumb and pretending they've never heard of this issue and are having me jump through all kinds of hoops to help them "troubleshoot" the problem.
I just bought this TV in November but I'm past Best Buy's return period. TCL has been useless, Roku has been useless.
My solution is simple but unpleasant - I consider this TV to be a total loss. I also consider TCL's "warranty" to be non-existent. Best Buy's return policy is also garbage. I will relegate this TV to a bedroom in which I don't use an AVR or soundbar and buy a "real" TV from Sony. All current consumer electronics are garbage but what separates them is the support you get from the manufacturer and the seller.
From now on I will only buy from Costco and use external Roku devices that if they break, I'll be out $50 instead of $500. Given TCL's support, it'll be a while before I consider another TCL product. Their soundbars are also junk, imo.
100% it is a software fix. I put in a ticket with Roku's support. I had to be pretty persistent to get it sent to their engineers as they initially assumed I suppose I was clueless on either to hook it up or the hardware was bad.
I've worked with device software in a previous job so I'm not clueless.
For my case ( hopefully the same solution will work for your hardware when they release a new Roku OS update)... when the startup HDMI handshake fails the Roku OS should detect and handle it, then send another handshake attempt after 2-3 seconds and it will initialize properly.
I confirmed this today by first powering on my Sony AVR then turning on the Roku TV with the remote. The HDMI handshaking works ( I see the HDMI and Dolby indicators on the AVR and the sound works as expected.
The sound init fails every time when just turning on the TV with the remote ( the AVR powers on at the same time thru the HDMI ARC wakeup signal ).
Hopefully they will put out a fix fairly soon.
TCL finally got back to me and they want to send out a tech. Not sure what the point of doing that is if it's a software issue.
I just purchased this TV and had no idea about this issue. If I had, I wouldn't of updated when I set it up. ROKU! TCL! YOU NEED TO FIX THIS! You make great products. You set a new standard for an affordable great looking TV and great streaming capabilities with ROKU . Don't undo all of it by letting this slide. Please put your heads together and figure out the solution. I have 1 month to return this TV, so if it is not fixed by then, I'll have no choice but to return it. Please don't make me to that. I love everything about this TV and I want to support both Roku and TCL. Any sort of update you could give us in the mean time would be greatly appreciated.
PLEASE HELP AND PUT OUT A NEW UPDATE THAT FIXES THE DOLBY ATMOS/EARC ISSUE. PLEASE!
