Buyer beware - 2020 QLED eARC / LPCM issues

[userw2AUVAvFWa]

Be warned, the 2020 QLED TVs do not support uncompressed LPCM audio as advertised via eARC.

There are numerous threads complaining about this issue and Samsung has yet to respond.

This is a huge problem if you are planning to use a PS5 or Xbox Series X.  You cannot pass high quality audio back to your AVR or Soundbar (via eARC port 3)while going directly into the TV (port 4 HDMI 2.1) to use 4k 120hz.  All you will get is PCM 2.0 (stereo) or compressed DD using bitstream.

LG and Sony sets do not have this problem.  Samsung remains quiet.

[user9e7TKtN7Uj]

Nah. Works here 

[userw2AUVAvFWa]

Can you expand on this?  What is your configuration as you would be the first person who can get uncompressed multi-channel LPCM to pass through a 2020 QLED.  Many owners on this Community forum as well as AVSForum confirm this defect.

Below is my setup and reflects the problem many other owners have noticed.

PS5 goes directly into HDMI Port 4 on TV.  TV shows full HDMI 2.1 support being able to display 4k 120hz games.

PS5 is configured to output LPCM audio

eARC AVR is plugged into HDMI port 3 with eARC enabled and recognized by TV as eARC AVR.

My AVR only reads PCM 2.0 audio coming from TV for PS5 audio.  TV audio has been changed, Pass through, PCM... etc with no difference. If I switch PS5 to bitstream, I will get compressed DD or uncompressed Atmos if playing a movie.  LPCM will not pass through this TV as advertised when using a full eARC connection.

If I plug my PS5 directly into my AVR, my AVR will read 7.1 Multi-channel LPCM coming from PS5.

All cables are HDMI 2.1 capable and have been replaced.

[userw2AUVAvFWa]

No reply from Samsung?

[usermugOK4tFvg]

Just collaborating and not sure if it is something new (not a specialist here).

My setup:

TV: 2020 Samsung QLED Q80t eARC to JBL "9.1" soundbar
Streaming: AppleTV 4k connected to TV

The bar can decode Dolby ATMOS MAT (lossless), and the Bar shows Dolby ATMOS MULTICHANNEL PCM.

i believe that, for Dolby Atmos, the passthrough is (sort of) working LPCM.

Unfortunately I experience random sound drops, probably due to bad eARC implementation (maybe necessary badwitch to reproduce Dolby ATMOS plus to large on 2.0 eARC HDMI 3 connected to the bar).

i am sorry if anything I presumed is technically wrong, but I am just relating my experience.

[useraVCPGi5N1Y]

You are mistaken @user9e7TKtN7Uj. Perhaps you mistook multichannel LPCM equating to any multi channel audio? If not, please, elaborate on your setup as asked by @userw2AUVAvFWa. It will passthrough Dobly Digital, Dolby Digital +, Dolby TrueHD and reportedly Dolby Atmos but it will not passthrough multichannel LPCM for any of us out here - which is the only option for trying to get DTS media through the TV to an AVR.

[userWnepvXRMK6]

Same exact issue on my Q800T. It's extremely frustrating, I want to run uncompressed or dts:x through eARC but apparently it doesn't work as advertised. A lot of money for nice tv and avr for this nonsense. Is this a hardware or software issue?

[userw2AUVAvFWa]

Appears to be a SW/firmware problem.  I've heard of some owners who had service calls with boards being replaced that did not fix this problem.

LG had this same issue but they addressed it earlier this year via remote update.

Samsung???  Care to respond?

[RyanBlakeIT]

Agreed, it very much seems to be a firmware issue.  They offered to send a technician out for my TV as well but that would be a waste as it's not a hardware issue (as you mentioned).

Hopefully Samsung can reply to everyone and give us an update on the status of what they are doing to correct this issue.  Paying thousands of dollars for a TV that has sound issues brand new certainly doesn't do any favors for the Samsung brand.

[userw2AUVAvFWa]

Bump to see if Samsung will provide an update here.