Why Is There No Sound from My Sonos Arc via HDMI ARC?

Problem Description

Your Sonos Arc is connected to your TV via HDMI ARC but there is no sound. Check the HDMI port on your TV — the Arc must be connected to the HDMI ARC or eARC port specifically (usually labeled HDMI 2 or HDMI 3 on most TVs). Using a regular HDMI port will not carry audio back to the soundbar. This guide covers port identification, TV audio output settings, and cable troubleshooting.

Why This Happens in Real Homes

When the Arc gets no audio over HDMI-ARC, it is almost always because the TV is sending a format the Arc cannot decode on that connection type. Standard ARC only supports stereo PCM and compressed Dolby Digital 5.1 — it cannot pass Dolby Atmos or uncompressed multichannel audio. If the TV's audio output is set to Auto or Passthrough, it may try sending Dolby Digital Plus or Atmos, which gets silently dropped on a plain ARC connection. Set the TV audio output to PCM or Dolby Digital. Also check that the HDMI cable is plugged into the port labeled ARC on the TV — most sets only have one ARC-capable port, usually HDMI 2 or 3.

Symptoms

• Speaker does not respond to wake word
• Commands are misunderstood frequently
• Speaker says it cannot help with that request
• Music stops playing randomly
• Voice sounds distorted or cuts out
• Speaker goes offline repeatedly
• Smart home commands control wrong device

Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.

Common Causes

• Microphones accidentally muted
• Background noise interfering with voice recognition
• WiFi connection unstable or weak
• Speaker software needs updating
• Voice profile not trained properly
• Too many similar device names causing confusion
• Account not properly linked in the app

Step-by-Step Solution

1

Check the HDMI port on your TV

The Sonos Arc must be connected to the HDMI port labelled ARC or eARC on your TV — not just any HDMI port. Most TVs have only one ARC-capable port, usually HDMI 2 or HDMI 3. Check the port labels on the back of your TV. If the Arc is connected to a non-ARC port, you will get no audio. Disconnect the HDMI cable, find the correct ARC/eARC port, and reconnect.

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2

Enable CEC and set audio output on your TV

The Sonos Arc requires HDMI-CEC enabled on your TV. The CEC setting has different names by brand: Anynet+ (Samsung), SimpLink (LG), BRAVIA Sync (Sony), Aquos Link (Sharp). Find it in your TV settings and enable it. Then set the TV audio output to HDMI ARC or External Speaker. On Samsung TVs, also check Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > HDMI-eARC Mode and set it to Auto. On LG TVs, enable Sound Bar Mode Control in the sound settings.

3

Power cycle everything in the right order

Unplug both the Sonos Arc and the TV from power. Wait 2 minutes. Plug in the TV first and let it fully boot. Then plug in the Arc. This forces a fresh HDMI handshake between the two devices. HDMI ARC is sensitive to the connection order, and a stale handshake is one of the most common causes of no audio. After both are on, switch to a TV channel or streaming app and check for sound.

4

Try a different HDMI cable

Not all HDMI cables support ARC reliably. Older or damaged cables may pass video but fail to carry the audio return channel. Use a certified High Speed HDMI cable or Ultra High Speed HDMI cable (needed for eARC). Cables longer than 6 feet are more prone to ARC issues. Try a short, known-good cable to rule out the cable as the problem. If sound works with a different cable, replace the original.

5

Run TV Audio Setup in the Sonos app

Open the Sonos app, select the room with the Arc, tap Settings > TV Audio Setup, and follow the prompts. This reconfigures the HDMI audio link between the Arc and your TV. If the Sonos app cannot detect the TV, disconnect all other HDMI devices from the TV temporarily — other devices can interfere with the ARC handshake. Reconnect them after the Arc is working. If sound works for some apps but not others, the issue is the audio format — set your TV audio output to PCM instead of Bitstream/Passthrough to force compatibility.

Quick Solutions

Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.

Need More Help? Sonos Support

Note: The contact information below connects you directly to Sonos's official customer support team, not Trunetto. They can help with warranty claims, device replacements, and advanced technical issues.