Solving playback issues

[molvo]

I have intermittent audio when streaming Netflix with Roku Express.

Sometimes, all is well and suddenly the audio drops.

Sometimes (more frequently) I can get no audio at all from soundbar.

Resetting, power cycling, standing on my head, eventually the audio comes back.

Am using an LG sound bar...

I never have this issue with my Direct TV box.

Direct TV is HDMI 1 on TV

Sound Bar is using ARC on HDMI 2 on TV

Roku Express is using HDMI 3 on TV

I have unplugged everything for 2 or 3 minutes, plugged back in and same issue.

Sure could use some suggestions...

[RokuDanny-R]

@molvo

Thanks for the post.

If you disconnect your LG soundbar, are you still experiencing the issue with your audio from your TV directly?

Please keep us posted.

Thanks,
Danny

[molvo]

There is audio from TV after disconnecting the soundbar.  After reconnecting the soundbar sometimes there is audio, not always.  There does not seem to be a pattern to this, either losing or regaining or even audio working first try. 

I am baffled.

Only thing I have left to try is to switch the Direct TV HDMI port and the ROKU HDMI port to eliminate the TV as an issue.  Have already switched the HDMI cable on the ROKU.

The intermittency of this is very strange...

Of course ROKU Express also has that issue where audio is not synced with the TV but a ROKU restart has always cleared that up.  Since this is a very common issue with ROKU, that is why I currently blame ROKU for my issue.

[molvo]

Switched HDMI ports...same issue.

Any suggestions?

[RokuDanny-R · Accepted solution]

@molvo

Thanks for the update.

If you are not experiencing the issue when you disconnect your soundbar, it's possible that the issue you are seeing is originating from your soundbar or its connection.

Thanks,
Danny

[molvo]

I understand your point of course...but remember I NEVER have this issue when using my Direct TV HDMI connection.  So the response does not apply here.

[molvo]

No one has suggestions? SWEET!

[molvo]

No suggestions

No Roku support

No more Roku for me...and of course I will badmouth Roku to anyone I speak to...I do not flame on the internet.

[Buck1982]

I have the exact same problem.

TiVo is HDMI 1 on TV

Sound Bar is using ARC on HDMI 2 on TV

Roku Express is using HDMI 3 on TV

The audio drops while watching the Roku box.  More frequently, the sound is absent when powering on the TV for the first time each day.  No sound from the soundbar and no sound from the TV speakers (but only because ARC active on the TV settings).  Once the sound drops, I am able to get sound from the TV speakers IF I change my TV settings back to "TV speakers only".  Changing it back to ARC?  Well, no sound again. 

The quickest workaround for me is to unplug the Roku box for a few seconds, and plug it back in.  When the Roku box is powered back on, it takes a few seconds for the TV and Soundbar to handshake, but the sound returns via ARC, regardless of the current input source.

Fact:  Unplug the Roku box, and I NEVER have audio issues via ARC/Soundbar.  

The Roku box interfere's with ARC.  HDMI cables can be left in place. 

I suspect a Roku update could fix this.

It's so ridiculous that I'm considering wiring an inline power switch for the roku.  

Buck

[Buck1982]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention.  Before purchasing the Roku Express, I had a BluRay player connected to the same HDMI port as the Roku.  The BluRay player NEVER interfered with the audio.  So the problem is not the TV.  It's not the TiVo box.  It wasn't the BluRay.  It's not the HDMI ports or cables.  The process of ellimination points directly to an issue with the Roku box.