Is Your Sony TV Having HDMI Audio Issues? A Fix Might Finally Be Here

By Nichols deCourville
A sony Bravia 9 II Google TV sits in a contemporary living space amongst two chairs, a larger chair with footrest, and a coffee table Sony
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Sony owners, if you've been experiencing issues with Dolby Vision or HDMI audio, the company is now releasing a fix. Affecting a variety of Sony TVs, primarily from the Bravia lineup, the issue stemmed from a faulty firmware update. At first, Sony failed to make any statements concerning the problem, but it's now releasing a new firmware update that may fix some problems while introducing new ones.

Originally found in the v114.603.050.1 and v114.602.080.1 firmware updates, Sony televisions with the MediaTek Pentonic 1000 chipset may have had problems with their Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC). According to users online, the problem would be with streaming content from external media sources, such as an external soundbar. TV models impacted include Bravia 5, Bravia 7 II, Bravia 7, Bravia 8 II, Bravia 8, Bravia 9, Bravia 9 II, and the Sony A95L.

While Sony may have been asleep at the wheel in responding, the company has now released firmware v114.602.170.1 to address user issues. If you find audio isn't syncing properly or you're getting a black screen with Dolby Vision, this firmware update may be for you. However, some users may experience entirely new bugs. Additionally, in June, Sony also released an update for older TVs to improve audio connections to newer devices. The company is also making major changes to its TVs, including changes to the TV Guide feature that many users may find disappointing.

Sony finally addresses firmware problem in select TVs

A Sony Bravia 5 Google TV displaying a kaleidoscope of yellow and blue colors sits on a TV shelf amongst some photo frames, a lamp, and two small books Sony

At the start of September, users across the internet (especially on Reddit) began complaining about audio problems with their Sony televisions, with one user saying the problem started in June. The original poster of a Reddit thread said that while they had perfect syncing with native Android TV apps, the audio desynced after moving to a device that required an HDMI connection. Other users also reported delays and lag.

The issue primarily lies in televisions that rely on the Pentonic 1000 chip alongside Android 14 (per FlatPanelsHD). While the latest firmware update addresses syncing and Dolby Vision issues, some users still report scan lines with Dolby Vision content. Reports suggest the issue may stem from Sony TVs moving from Android 12 to Android 14. Those using HDMI eARC audio may also still experience dropouts. Nonetheless, users may want to update their Sony TV firmware to ensure they're running the latest software.

Here are the steps:

  1. From your remote control, press Help.

  2. Choose System software update from the Help menu.

  3. Select either Software update or Check for a system software update.

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions if one is available.

Given the high cost of certain Bravia models (and Sony's reputation for customer satisfaction), it's surprising that the company has been asleep at the wheel on this issue. In fact, Sony only publicly commented on the issue through its Japanese support website, confirming the firmware issue. Though some problems have been addressed, users may need to keep their eyes peeled if they continue experiencing issues.

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