I've seen a bunch of folks with semi-similar issues, but haven't been able to resolve this problem.
Got the S95B TV and Q990B Soundbar in Sept '22. I found this forum post, which was super helpful in getting everything configured properly for the best-quality video and audio:
However - more recently, I have been experiencing really bad sync issues when using the 'TV + Soundbar (HDMI-eARC)'/Q-Symphony setting playing anything Atmos. With just 'Soundbar' selected, everything sounds perfectly normal, and really good. The moment I turn on Q-Symphony, it's like someone put a massive reverb/echo effect on the audio output, sometimes to the point where it's so un-listenable that we have to turn the entire system off/on to try and re-sync everything. Which doesn't really ever sustainably work.
I am experiencing issues only with Atmos content. Latest Firmware on both the TV and Soundbar.
When I play something with Q-Symphony on that's 5.1 surround, it all plays as expected. No delay.
I normally am using an Apple TV 4K, but tested with Disney+ on the Samsung built-in apps. Same issue, so it's not connectivity with the Apple TV.
Just got a new HDMI 2.1 cable for the eARC connection of Soundbar > TV. All HDMI inputs are to the TV directly, not via the Soundbar.
All settings are set up properly on the TV... it's just this sync issue.
If I mess with the delay (either on the TV or the Soundbar), I have to set it at 200(ms) in order for the audio between the TV and Soundbar to be synced up for Atmos content. But then the video/audio sync is off.
What's bizarre to me is that the Soundbar technically is getting the sound info after the TV (since the signal is going into the TV then to the Soundbar via eARC), yet the TV audio output is the thing that is delayed, while the Soundbar is correct.
Just had Abt out here (where I purchased the system), and they didn't see any problems with any setup/connections. They're going to reach out to Samsung and see if they have any firmware addressing this issue that isn't public yet.
Has anyone else experienced this or found a solution? At the moment, the best I've gotten from anyone is "turn off Q-Symphony for Atmos", which kind of defeats the purpose.
**I haven't had the energy to call Samsung customer service yet, because I can only imagine what that process is going to be like... trying to explain this highly technical issue to people who are going to tell me to turn it off/on and do factory resets.
Some of the other forum posts that I've already checked out on here:
Hi there @Jim-Jam! Thank you so much for the detailed information within your post. You have tried all the troubleshooting steps that we would have recommended. We will tag your post for our engineers to see if we can look into this a little further, in the meantime we will leave the thread open if anyone has the same experience or any additional troubleshooting they'd like to provide.
Thanks! I've been trying to be active on other similar topics, but can't seem to find anyone who's found a good solution.
As I mentioned, I'm guessing this is some weird firmware issue where the signal is somehow getting sent to the Soundbar before it gets outputted to the TV sound output, resulting in this weird 200ms delay on the TV (which should be getting the sound signal before the Soundbar)
Happy to hop on a call with someone to troubleshoot live, if that'd be helpful. Would love to resolve or at least help find a fix.
@Samsung_Moderator any update? Still having this issue and consistently have to go through the many menus to get to the Sound Output option (changing from TV + Soundbar to just Soundbar for Atmos and then back for everything else)
Also, a suggestion - needs to be a quick way to change the sound output without having to hit the center remote button over and over to cycle through. Something to quickly get to the various sound output options.
Same thing w/ the 'connected devices' HDMI input selection. It takes too many clicks, in my opinion, to easily get to the page where you can select what input you want to use.
I have been using the new HW-Q900C with a QN85B tv for 4 days now with similar issues with echoing and q symphony. Weird thing is, it only happens with Disney+ and with dialogue. I was watching Spiderman Homecoming. It sounds like the actors are in a cave or bathroom and sounds like the volume has been turned down on just their voices. All other sounds/music is normal. The only solution was to disable q-symphony.
