Table of Contents
Introduction
Smart TVs come with problems of their own. Sometimes the apps do not buffer, the screen is too dark or goes blank, or the sound quality is not good enough. Similarly, watching TV is no fun if there is lag or delay between the audio and video output.
Unfortunately, it is a common issue in most TVs and can occur anytime. However, it can just as easily be fixed. If you are also experiencing sound delays on your TV, it is most likely due to a basic issue that can be fixed instantly.
Continue reading this post to learn ten proven troubleshooting steps you can apply if your TV has a sound delay problem.
Reset your TV
Before anything else, try a power reset on your TV and the sound system. In most instances, a simple restart is all you need to fix various issues like apps not buffering, TV screen not responding, or audio delay issues.
For a power reset, turn off your TV and the sound system and pull the power cord from the main power source.
Wait for two to three minutes and re-plug them once the requisite time has passed to see if the sound issue has been resolved.
You may also want to flip a few channels to see if the audio delay issue is with one channel or for all the channels. If the sound delay is in one TV channel only and not other channels, there is no issue at your end. Some TV programs may sometimes have audio lags, most likely due to a lip sync problem.
However, if the problem is with all channels and is not resolved after a power reset, you must try other fixes.
Reconnect the TV to its Source Device
A bad connection can often be a major reason for the sound delay on TV. If there is a poor connection between the TV and its source device, it can cause a problem in audio sync. The source device could be anything like a set top box, DVD player, cable box, or Blu-ray disc.
If you connect an external source device to the TV and then connect the TV to a sound system, the audio signals have to travel a longer distance, which can cause audio delay. You can connect the external source device directly to the sound system, reducing the distance and preventing a sound delay.
Also, check the cables connecting the source device and ensure all the wires are securely connected. You can try disconnecting the cables from the TV and the source device and reconnecting them one by one.
If you suspect the cables, like the HDMI cable, are faulty and cause the audio delay, replace the existing cables with new ones.
AV Sync Adjustment
One reason for the audio delay on your TV could be the AV settings. Check the AV synchronization settings to see if an adjustment is required. The latest TV models are equipped with AV sync adjustment that you can use to fix sound delay on TV with a mere button press.
Modifying the AV sync adjustment settings allows you to reduce the lag between the visual display and the audio output, thereby reducing the sound delay.
Here is what you need to do.
Press the Home or Menu button on your remote control
Scroll to the settings menu and select Sound settings
Now tap on AV sync adjustment
Move the Audio Output slider upwards or downwards to lessen sound delays
Check your external speakers
In some instances, the TV’s external speakers or a sound bar could cause the TV’s sound to delay. When the audio and video signals are processed by the TV with an external output device, milliseconds are lost – causing the sound delay.
Sometimes, the device could be the issue, or the problem could be with the app or the video being played. You can run a sound check by using a different source and see if the audio is still out of sync. If a different audio format is in use to stream the content, it could cause an audio delay.
That said, if you are using a home theater system or a soundbar with the TV, you need to set the audio delay settings. Ideally, if you are using a soundbar, you should set the audio delay to zero milliseconds on the soundbar and select the desired delay on the TV.
Locate audio sync on your soundbar’s remote control and use the + or – buttons for audio delay settings.
However, if you have a home theater system that is not linked to the TV via an optical cable, the sound delay may be caused by the audio system processing delays and not by the TV speakers.
Check your Internet Connection
It is also important to ensure that your internet connection is reliable and fast. If there is a problem with the internet, you may experience sound delays when streaming video.
To eliminate this problem, try resetting your internet router or modem. Alternatively, connect your TV to the router via an ethernet cable, and you may need to move the router closer to the TV to connect.Â
Reset TV Sound Settings
Resetting TV’s sound settings is an easy and quick fix that may be all you need to fix the sound delay issue. Besides sound delay, resetting sound settings may also help in case you are experiencing no audio or an echo in the output.
If you have a Samsung Smart TV, here is how you can reset sound settings
Open your TV settings
Select Sound and navigate to Expert settings
Now scroll to Digital output audio delay and set it to PCM (Pulse code modulation)
As another example, if you have an LG TV, here is how you can set sound settings for an LG TV.
Open Settings on the TV and select Sounds
Select the Sound out option
Tap on PCM as the chosen audio format
If the issue persists after resetting the sound settings, you probably have another problem.
Clear your TV cache
In some cases, a certain app like YouTube or Netflix may be causing the audio delay on your TV. In this case, you can easily get rid of the audio delay issue by clearing the cache. For reference, the cache is where the memory is stored on TV, and it contains temporary data and enables apps to load faster.
If the cache is not cleared, it accumulates with time, fills up the TV’s memory, and may cause issues like screen freeze or sound delays.
Thus, to eliminate audio lags, here is how you can clear the TV cache.
Open settings on your TV via the Home button on the remote control
Select Applications and scroll to Manage Installed Applications.
Select all the apps one by one, and click on Clear cache
If you encounter an audio delay problem while streaming a particular app, try downloading that app to another device, like a video game console or a streaming box like Firestick TV, and see if the problem persists.
Disable Game Mode
In most TVs, the game mode feature allows the TV to bypass various video processors and reduces the time that the TV requires for processing video signals while playing video games.
Hence, when you enable the game mode, it can help lessen sound delay when you play video games. However, it is important to disable game mode when playing a disc or watching regular TV to prevent the problem of audio being out of sync.
Here is how you can disable or enable game mode.
Open the settings on your TV by pressing the Home button on your remote control.
Scroll to picture settings or picture adjustments and tap on picture mode settings
You can disable or enable game mode accordingly.
Update the TV’s firmware
If you are still experiencing sound delays, your TV might require a firmware update. Since updates are intended to fix any issues or bugs in the software, they may also help you fix the sound delay issue.
Connect your TV to the internet and navigate to settings via your remote control’s Home or Menu button. Scroll to system settings from the settings menu and select firmware or software update. If there are any pending updates, the process will initiate.
Apply Factory Reset
If you have tried all other troubleshooting steps, but the TV sound delay issue is still there, try a factory reset. Doing so will erase all the previous data except the pre-installed apps, and your TV will be restored to the status it was in when bought.
While a factory reset should be the last resort, it can help fix various issues like sound delays or the TV volume not working.
As an example, if you have an LG TV, here is how you can apply a factory reset to your TV
Open All settings from the menu via the remote
Tap on reset to initial settings
Press OK to confirm
Once done, restart your TV and see if the audio and video outputs are in sync. However, if the issue persists, you may need to call your Smart TV brand’s customer support for professional assistance.
FAQs
Why are the audio and video on my TV out of sync?
TVs usually take time to process videos, most likely due to video enhancement. On the other hand, the audio output takes lesser time to be processed. If your audio and video output are out of sync, it could be due to the channel, the application’s AV, or the source being out of sync.
How can I check the audio settings on my TV?
You can check the audio settings on your TV from the settings menu that you can access via the home or menu button on your remote.
How can I fix the sound delay on my TV?
To fix the sound delay on your TV, restart your TV or switch channels to see if other channels also have a sound delay. Check your TV sound settings, external speakers, network connection, or source device if the problem persists. You may also need to update your TV’s firmware or restore it to its initial settings.
Conclusion
Sound delays or out-of-sync audio are common issues that can occur due to a number of factors. The tips we provided in this post should help resolve the audio problems and remove lags, if any.
To summarize, you can begin troubleshooting by restarting your TV and checking if other channels have the same problem. If yes, you may need to check the connection, external devices attached to your TV, and your TV’s audio settings.
If you are still experiencing sound delay, you may need to clear your TV’s cache, update your TV’s software or reset the TV to initial settings. Your TV’s sound delay problem must be resolved by now.
So, which method worked for you? Let us know in the comments!