The quick checks (one minute)
- Volume and mute on the TV, the streaming device and the soundbar. The app may have its own mute too.
- Another app on the same device. If a different app has sound, the TV and cables are fine.
- Another channel. If some channels have sound and others don’t, the cause is the audio format of those channels. Carry on below.
- The audio track. Open the player’s menu during playback and look for audio or language tracks. A channel with several tracks may have selected an empty or unsupported one. See subtitles and audio tracks on IPTV.
Why some channels are silent: audio formats
Channels carry sound in different formats. AAC is common and plays almost everywhere. Dolby Digital (AC-3) and Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) are common on HD and film channels and are the usual cause of silence. Not every app can decode them itself, and not every TV or soundbar can play them when they’re sent through untouched.
| Your setup | Try this |
|---|---|
| TV speakers only | Set the streaming device’s audio output to PCM or stereo so it converts Dolby to plain audio |
| Soundbar or receiver that supports Dolby | Set the device to passthrough or auto so the soundbar decodes it |
| Some channels silent in one app only | Change the app’s player engine or enable its software audio decoding option |
Our Dolby Digital guide explains which format does what.
Passthrough and HDMI settings
- Passthrough sends the audio unchanged for a soundbar or receiver to decode. If the device at the end of the chain can’t decode it, you get silence.
- PCM or stereo makes the streaming device decode the audio itself. It’s the safest choice for TV speakers.
- If your soundbar is connected by HDMI ARC or eARC, make sure the TV’s audio output is set to that soundbar, and that its own input is set correctly.
Bluetooth audio
Bluetooth headphones and speakers can drop out or stay silent when the device switches formats. Disconnect them and test with the TV speakers. If sound returns, reconnect the Bluetooth device after the channel has started playing.
When it’s the stream
If one channel is silent on every device and in every app, its audio is missing at the source. Report it to your provider. For lip-sync problems rather than silence, see audio out of sync.