Sony A8 - TV switching between TV Speakers and Audio System

[deanogorman]

I have my new Sony A8 connected to my Sony STR-DN1040 receiver via HDMI. I use it for ARC audio from the TV. I never, ever want to use the TV for audio. I want the TV to be a screen only and I do not want it controlling my receiver.

The problem is that when you switch the TV on, it will change to TV audio and you need to manually change it to the receiver. This sometimes messes with the audio output quality (eg. I'd get DD 2/0 instead of DD 3/2.1).

There seems to be no setting on the TV to prevent this. Once you set the TV up for the external receiver it wants to take over control for this. Is there any way to switch this off??

[Win_88]

if you enable Bravia Sync, and turn the system on first it should bring the TV on and use Audio system by default

[Peter_S.]

Hi,

Can you please check if BRAVIA sync and/or HDMI control is enabled for both devices?

In addition I would recommend to use high quality HDMI cables only to avoid such issues.

Cheers

Peter

[deanogorman]

Yes, I had to enable Bravia sync to get the audio out via eARC to the Sony receiver.

I have a lot more to control in the room - satellite receiver, projector, pj screen so I use a Logitech Harmony. I don't want to use the TV remote and this did not happen with my previous TV - I do not want the TV trying to control the receiver. I simply want the TV speakers off permanently!!

[deanogorman]

Hi Peter, yes as above - BRAVIA sync and HDMI control is enabled for TV and receiver. The audio out via eARC would not work without this. HDMI cable is brand new 2.1.

I don't want the TV trying to control the receiver at all and this is the problem. Can the TV speakers simply not be disabled? It seems completely unnecessary that the TV keeps trying to use it's own speakers.

[deanogorman]

Any update on this @Peter_S.? 

This should really not be happening- the TV should not be deciding to use it own speakers instead of the audio systems.

To make matters worse, when I attempt to watch me satellite receiver (amp on Sat/Cat input), BOTH the TV speakers and the audio system speakers are on. What a mess!

Remember, both are Sony devices. Definitely a design flay now allowing the TV speakers to be completely disabled.  

[Joe_Dohn]

Have you tried the software update released at the end of last month (v6.5042)?

[deanogorman]

Yes, it is set to auto update and this was installed. 

What is in this release that would have helped here @Joe_Dohn ?

[Joe_Dohn]

Updates always have fixes and improvements under the hood regardless of what the update notes say (usually they're for major fixes/improvements or reported issues and such).

I was hoping this update would provide a solution to the simultaneous audio output, but the fact that the TV tries to "control" the receiver is normal, that's how Bravia sync works, you use the TV's remote to control everything connected via HDMI.

If you want to "disable" the TV speakers and the Bravia Sync control, you'll need to use an Optical cable (this was true in Oreo, not sure if it's the same after the Pie update though).

Hope this helps!

- JD

[deanogorman]

Thanks @Joe_Dohn but unfortunately that won't work - optical only gave DD 2/0 out to the receiver. The only way to get full surround through the receiver was to use ARC. This was confirmed by Sony.

This is obviously a problem - no way should two pieces of Sony kit be working this badly together (especially as the receiver is listed on the TV as a supported device!).

Is there a way that I can open a support ticked with Sony to get this investigated/corrected?