How to Fix Sound Delay on a TV

Sound delay issues are not uncommon on modern TVs. They happen even to the best TVs on the market. If this happens to you, don’t panic! Several circumstances can lead your audio and video to be out of sync. In most circumstances, the audio format you are watching might have issues. If you have connected your TV with an external audio source like a soundbar or Home theatre and you are experiencing sound delays, it is probably not in sync with the TV.

There’s also the possibility that your external audio settings have not been appropriately configured, leading to a sound delay.

This audio delay can be a result of incorrect audio signal reception, as well as audio delay issues that arise from user-level sound settings. To ensure the best audio quality and avoid such audio issues, it is important to understand your audio devices and adjust the sound settings accordingly. If you have wondered what is a sound bar and if it will benefit you, check out our page to learn more. Do know that sound delay can be a problem but following this guide can help get your setup back to normal.

Regardless of the issue, in this post, we will outline how to fix sound delay on a TV. Although, if you don’t hear anything at all, you should check out our page on how to fix a TV with no sound but a picture. However, if you are wondering why does my TV make a popping noise? That could be a different issue altogether.

What causes the Audio Delay?

Before we get to the troubleshooting options, it’s worth understanding the issues behind sound delay on a TV. Fortunately, these issues are nothing complicated and typically come from a very simple place—TV and sound system connections. To learn more about audio capabilities, including a TV with ARC, our helpful guides can assist you.

If the connections are off, common issues like audio sync can arise. Fortunately, this is an easy fix and can be solved by accessing the settings menu on your TV and ensuring that all connections are properly linked.

The audio and video projected from your TV are produced by a source such as a video game console, Blu-ray player, Cable TV box, or even the TV itself. Anything projected will have two parts; picture and sound. To experience perfect sync, both audio and sound need to get to the outputs simultaneously.

And if you have been dealing with lag while gaming, check out our guide on reducing input lag on the TV to see if that solves the issue. Alternatively, if you’re unable to fix this issue, you might want to learn where to donate a TV.

Here’s where the problem occurs: picture and audio travel through different paths. For example, if you have a soundbar, the sound travels from the source to the TV to the soundbar, taking a relatively longer time than the picture, which travels a shorter distance from the source to the TV. Altering or fixing the screen resolution on tv may be one of the reasons for this problem. Properly setting up a soundbar can also decrease the likelihood of this happening.

If you are experiencing this problem, we have a fix.

Fixing Sound Delay on a TV

There are several reasons why your TV is experiencing sound delays, including the following:

• If you are using a Cable TV box, the broadcaster could have a bad connection or is experiencing technical issues.
• You could also have a poor connection with sources like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, or a Cable TV box. A poor connection can cause many problems with your TV. Something as simple as a loose HDMI cable can cause a blue screen on your TV. If the HDMI port is faulty it can cause a high-pitch noise to come from your TV. It is important if you have experienced either of those to read the guides we have.
• If your home theater is not connected to your TV with an optical cable, there may be an audio delay caused by processing delays in your audio system. This is not a problem caused by your TV speakers.

Resolving a Sound Delay Problem

After each of the following steps, check to see that the sound delay is resolved. Also, check the owner’s manual for more details.

STEP 1 Turn TV Off and Unplug the Power Cord

First, depending on the cause of the TV sound delay, it can be fixed by performing a simple power rest on your TV. Turn off the TV, unplug the power cord, let the TV rest for a minute, plug it back in, and turn it on.

STEP 2 Ensure the Latest Software Updates/Firmware Installed

If you own a Smart TV, make sure that it has the latest software updates/firmware installed. After installing the updates, turn it off and back on again.

STEP 3 Check Different Channels for Delay

If the sound delay issue happens while watching a TV program, change the channel to find if the problem persists on other channels. If it’s on one channel, it’s probably a technical hitch from a broadcaster.

STEP 4 Ensure Cables are Connected to the TV Properly

Ensure all cables are fastened on your TV and the source device.

STEP 5 Try Another Option

If it is because of some display problems, then you can find out how to fix tv color distortion before seeking other methods.

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