ARC not working via Anynet, but Optical audio has issue too?

[WhyBuy]

Using a hu6950 55 inch "Smart" TV, the setup is STB to Marantz receiver to TV. HDMI 4 is used for ouput via receiver with ARC turned on both TV and receiver. 

Tried to play video from apps (Netflix or Amazon video) and like many others posted on the net, The Anynet + CEC through ARC (HDMI4) could not have consistent handshake between receiver and TV. Gave up the ARC idea and hoping to get discrete channel audio via Optical audio, this does not work either.

Tried out many options, set audio to PCM, turned off Instant power on, TV factory reset, smart hub reset, audio reset, different HDMI ports, different HDMI cables, powering up sequence, manual switch to Audio out... etc. Not only is Anynet not working, I could not get Optical audio to turn on either (no light through the cable). Video quality is great, if only I enjoy silent videos.  The only available sound option is through TV speakers or through analog RCA output.

Tested out the Optical cable directly from STB to receiver and it is working fine. Is there a way to force this smart TV to be dumber so it could turn on optical audio output always?

Had a LG TV prior and never seemed to have issue this frustrating...

[usertXZrEtpVyv]

Never buying samsung products again. I have the qled 60 and 70 and same thing happened to both. Thought it was the samsung soundbars i had on them. I purchased the q70 soundbar on cyber monday and returned it the next day thinking that was it.  Had my eye on the jbl 5.1 but went with the samsung. Smh. Ended up getting the jbl and lost out on the sale price for cyber monday on it. Hooked it up and same issue. Followed your directions and worked like a charm. Thanks again!!  The jbl sounds 100 times better do glad I exchanged it. 

[userYv3d5irzXX]

YES THIS WORKED! I had such a big problem with my Samsung soundbar (HW-M550) disconnect for no reason. The stupid thing said receiver and when selecting via HDMI & it didn't work. I don't know why. Randomly, it just stopped working.

I tired the following

restarting my tv to factory settings (didn't work)

Changed HDMI cable (didn't work) 

played with different settings (Bluetooth and optical worked ARC did NOT)

Turned it on and off. 

Tried figuring out how to install firmware (couldn't)

Then stumbled on this... and it worked. 

I could never figure out why it just stopped working, drove me nuts. All night long. 

[userdY9Ox1KyWm]

Hi, how did you solve this? 

I am having the same issue and cannot get my Onkyo receiver to be detected by the Samsung tv (UM8500).

Use various chords, but get same result.

Only way to get audio is through the optical, but cannot control receiver or even volume with the samsung remote.

Could the samsung connect unit be bad or needing replacement?

[userPxcX2Mgx7a]

I had the same issue with my SS TV (un60ju7090) and Sony STR DN1080. The ARC set up was functioning as expected until last month and then av stopped recognising ARC. I tried all possible solutions, disconnected all HDMI cables over night and reconnected them, reset both devices, used remote help from SS and the support user basically reset my TV and asked to reset my receiver which worked until restarted my TV. 

I swapped my HDMI cables to rule out the faulty cable possibility. I had it working for a while when I turned off my sat TV box (Motorola Verizon VMS1100) the very next day arc was gone. 

I accidentally removed my sat TV box connection from my receiver, unplugged arc hdmi and plugged back on - bingo, everything works as I expected.  The culprit in my case is the Motorola Verizon sat box (VMS1100). 

I'm yet to find out why Verizon box is messing my ARC set up.

-update

Found an article on the web confirming this as a Verizon box issue.

https://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/fios-tv-cable-box-breaks-samsung-anynet-sync-need-help-34604...

[usertGgBsq4aVl]

I had the same issue with my 85" QLED 85 TV QN85Q7DRAFXZA except that it turned to be a laptop that I had plugged into my PioneerVSX-LX303 receiver.  So thank you for your tip as I was at my wits end as to why it quit working and would hang on "Checking the arc connection" when doing setup on my Pioneer Stereo.

[userV75L7EKBu3]

This worked for me, go to:

“Settings”

“General”

“External Device Manager”

         Be sure Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) is

         Highlighted

“Device Connect Manager”

“Device List”

“Edit”

Select “All” for “Smart Device”

         All boxes will be checked

“Close”

My TV-ARC connected right away.