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General discussion

LN46A650 HDMI Audio Drops

Sep 9, 2008 4:13PM PDT

I recently purchased (Sep. 200Cool the LN46A650. I have my Cox Cable digital Motorola (3416) DVR box connected to my TV via HDMI. I am experiencing intermittent drops in audio.

- The drops are happening on both Hi-def and standard cable channels.
- I have connected to different HDMI ports.
- I have switched HDMI cables from different manufactures.
- I plugged into HDMI 2 and then ran L&R audio cables in conjunction with the HDMI.
- I tried to upgrade my firmware, but my TV firmware (2003.0) was newer than the one (2001.3) I downloaded from the Samsung site, so i left it alone.
- I am going blind trying to decipher all the conflicting information that Google searches have turned up, and none of them have been official positions from Samsung.

I really like this TV, but these audio drops are driving me crazy.

Discussion is locked

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Bump
Sep 18, 2008 4:38PM PDT

Still waiting for a reply. I see that other people are now reporting HDMI audio issues too.

Hopefully this issue can be resolved quickly before negative press spreads to other web sites like Consumer Reports, Amazon, Crutchfield, Reddit, Digg, and others.

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Audio problem with Samsung LN46A650
Sep 18, 2008 6:47PM PDT

I have the same problem it doesn't occur all the time but it gets really annoying fast. From what I have gathered from talking with others who have the same problem it seems to stem from the Motorola cable box for everyone. There is some kind of compatibility issue with Motorola and the tv. I did not do the firmware update due to the fact that mine was newer also. It seems to only happen to those of us with that firmware. I would suggest calling Samsung so they know that there are many that are having this problem with there firmware. The more that call the faster they may do something about it.

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Another Samsung with audio issues
Sep 23, 2008 3:59AM PDT

I'm helping friends with their LN52A650A1F with the same problem... intermittent audio loss. The setup they currently have is the Verizon FIOS cable box on HDMI 1, Samsung BluRay on HDMI 2, and a regular DVD on HDMI 3. So far the only input that is experiencing the audio drop out is the HDMI 1 cable box. The Verizon guys were out and said that there are Samsung incompatability issues with HDMI but I would think that if it was a Software/Firmware issue it would have the audio drop out on all 3 HDMI inputs. They recommended ditching the HDMI cable and going to the 5 wire composite connections which is what I have read in several forums but these forums date back over a year and I would think this would have been addressed by Samsung by now?? I also tried the Firmware update to find that the set had the latest version (2003) and the download was 2001.something so I did not install it.
I'm trying to contact Samsung and have had no reply from their tech help after 3 days. If I ever hear from them I will post the latest

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samsung audio drop solution
Sep 24, 2008 4:41PM PDT

I have the same problem too. I have the Samsung ln46A650
I also have firmwave 2003.1

I tried all tricks, still got intermittent audio drop.
I was thinking to swtich to Sony KDL-46w4100, but it costs $200 more,
and Sony's picture quality is not as great as Samsung.

So I use that $200 to buy a Samsung home theater system, and have
my Comcast's Motorola cablebox's optical output going into the
Receiver.

Rather than using extra $200 to upgrade to Sony, I got a home
theater system.

Now I have the best picture & good audio, no audio-drop now.
This is the easiest solution, guys

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Audio drops on LN52A650
Sep 28, 2008 10:28AM PDT

I am having the same audio problem with the LN52A650. I tried different cable wires, two different cable boxes, two different HDMI cables and have not solved the problem. I did connect using the 5 wire composite connections and the problem did go away...but what's the use of having 4 HDMI ports if you can't use them? I also have firmware 2003.0 and the drops occur on both high definition and regular channels. I am going to give Samsung a call and see what happens.

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bump
Oct 3, 2008 5:25PM PDT

I'm a little surprised there has not been a response from that Mr. Samsung forum mod dude.

Looks like Samsung has an issue here that they are not willing to admit to. They probably do not want to spend the money to repair the problem and probably will not do anything about it until they are reported to the Better Business Bureau, or is forced to respond to a class action lawsuit.

It's not like my model is the only one having the issues. Also, the problem is not isolated to a particular brand of of cables or DVR/Cablebox/Sat tuner. Time after time the common denominator is the Samsung.

Unfortunately I had to return to component cables with the RCA audio set.

Shame on you Samsung for not fixing this issue.

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Samsung and HDMI doesn't mix
Oct 3, 2008 11:26PM PDT

Agreed. My friends contacted the store they bought it from and they sent a tech who acknowledged that Samsung is having HDMI compatability issues. He ran an optical cable to the stereo and now it works fine from the cable box EXCEPT now they get no sound from the Blu Ray or their regular DVD because he disconnected the optical from the set to the receiver to plug in the cable optical. So I will be going to their house again to rewire with composite cables. I wish the Samsung had an optical in or they had a receiver with multiple inputs. HDMI was supposed to end all this nonsense but it doesn't look promising and Samsung makes such a great set.. oh well.

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well?
Oct 8, 2008 8:53AM PDT

class action lawsuit time?

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Problem solved?
Oct 16, 2008 12:19PM PDT

I called Samsung and they sent a technician to my house this afternoon. I know it's only been one night, but the drops seem to have disappeared. I have a feeling it's too good to be true. The bad news is that I was at work today and the tech left no paperwork at my house...so I have no idea what he did. My wife doesn't know what he did either...she can barely turn the tv on.

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Question about the audio problem
Oct 16, 2008 1:11PM PDT

Is this only happening with cable through HDMI for you or is it happening to everything. Does the audio drop with your dvd player or gaming system or is it only when your using cable. They told me it wasn't the tv because it was only happening through my cable box and nothing else. I tried using the optic out on the back of the tv and it was much worse. Please let me know.

SNSGUY

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The latest on my audio drop out issues
Oct 16, 2008 10:37PM PDT

My friend's system I am working with had HDMI 1 coming from the cable box (Motorola-Fios), HDMI 2 coming from the BluRay, and HDMI 3 coming from the DVD/ Receiver. The audio loss was only on the Cable Box circuit. It was extremely intermittent from 1 second to 2 minutes in length and could happen every 10 seconds or once every couple hours. With an optical cable from the cable box to the receiver there was no issue. Switching the cable box to another HDMI input did not relieve the problem. I finally ran the 5 composite cables and my friends have had no issues since. Apparently it comes down to an incompatibility issue between the cable box and the monitor but which one is not meeting the specs???

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hdmi
Oct 19, 2008 11:13AM PDT

I know this much... If any company were to give me an hdmi cable I would threw the damn worthless piece of **** cable in the trash. The thing with hdmi cables is the human eye can not tell the difference between component cables and hdmi and the (5) component cables have a lot less issues. Trust me I work for a cable company that has scientific atlanta boxes and the calls I go on with hdmi cables i switch to component and the issues are solved. Hdmi cables suck! EXPENSIVE JUNK!!

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FIX
Oct 26, 2008 3:00AM PDT

All you have to do is go to the samsung site and download the new firmware for your model. Mine is http://www.samsung.com/us/support/download/supportDownDetail.do?group=televisions&type=televisions&subtype=lcdtv&model_nm=LN46A650A1F&language=&cate_type=all&mType=FM&dType=D&vType=R&cttID=1897451&prd_ia_cd=02010100&disp_nm=LN46A650. After that everything works perfectly. I just got my set 2 days ago and the firmware is very outdated. Extract the files to a usb drive and plug into the TV. Then just simply go into setup and update. Perfect audio. Az

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Glad to hear
Oct 26, 2008 4:26AM PDT

The long awaited update is here! After speaking with many Samsung people who said there was something wrong with the cable box, I think I will send the link to them so they are aware that their company knew about the problem and got around to fixing it after 2 years. Maybe the next people to have this issue will be luckier than we have all been. Thanks to all for keeping me informed Happy
Dave

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Thanks
Oct 28, 2008 3:16PM PDT

I have a LN52A650 that I just purchased from Amazon and it has started to have a few audio drops. After reading all the posts I decided to return the tv. Still in the 30 day window. I really liked the tv too. Are the audio drops an issue with all of the Samsungs? Would like to get another.

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Still a great monitor
Oct 28, 2008 10:48PM PDT

I have installed 3 of these A650s and two had issues with audio drop out. One I eliminated with the composite cables and the other was not a problem when the signal video went through an AV receiver system (1 HDMI cable from the amp and all equipment to the AV receiver). The info on the latest firmware update 2007 alledgedly addresses the audio drop out issue but I am not going to go back to the HDMI until the customer gets an AV receiver, then we will rewire and see what happens but I'm leaving the composite cables in the wall just in case. I did do the firmware update anyway just to keep it up to date.

The picture and looks of these units are outstanding and the best I have seen in that price range so IMHO I would buy one for myself in a minute Happy Good luck

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help with hook ups; what are your suggestions
Dec 10, 2008 9:46PM PST

I have no idea how to hook up my new 650 with my sony blu-ray, upconverting DVD, comcast cable box, Wii, and Onyko 606 receiver.Can you help? What is the best way to hook up to get the best pic and sound?

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Audio problems with Samsung
Mar 3, 2009 9:11AM PST

Have you fixed the issue? I called them and they told me that I had to use an HDMI cable that was silver... not gold... ever HDMI cable I seem to be able to find is gold. Any suggestions?

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Workaround for me on the 650 Samsung LCD TV
Oct 29, 2008 11:08AM PDT

I simply reset my sound settings to factory default and no more drop outs.

Realize this is just a workaround, you will need to eventually update firmware.

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2007.0 Firmware available
Oct 29, 2008 11:46AM PDT
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Updated Firmware....Still Dropping
Oct 30, 2008 2:04PM PDT

I just received the LN52A650A1F today. I started experiencing the audio drop issue this afternoon. I updated the firmware this evening. I am still experiencing the audio drop issue. Any advice?

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Anyone else?
Oct 30, 2008 5:41PM PDT

Has anyone else installed the new software with similar results?

--HDTech

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I installed the firmware upgrade on my 46" Samsung 650
Oct 30, 2008 5:55PM PDT

And I don't get any more drop outs.

I had the set on for about 4 hours with no drops. I also changed my audio settings from Standard, Movie, etc. to Custom and still no drops.

I canceled my Comcast appointment because at first I thought it was the cable box causing the problems.

So far so good here, good luck.
-Kurt

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Talked to Samsung....problem is still recurring
Oct 31, 2008 8:55AM PDT

I spoke with Samsung today. When I updated the firmware, I didn't unplug the set and then plug it back in. I tried this with the technician on the phone. The problem came back when I tried it again. I am supposed to get service call soon.

I don't have another HDMI device right now to check the problem to see if its cable box related. Previous posts seems to indicate that the other HDMI sources will work fine.

I just bought the television from Amazon. I am thinking about sending it back before my window is up.

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Firmwire update solves the problem
Nov 3, 2008 9:44PM PST

I experienced the problem for 3 days after getting the LN46A650. After updating the firmwire, all sound glitched have dissapeared. It's amazing how quickly I go from loving a TV, to hating a TV, back to loving a TV.

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Audio drop out
Nov 30, 2008 3:16PM PST

I've had audio drop outs on my tv as well, however it only happens when watching through my cable box and with my DVR I can rewind and the audio drop out is still there where it happened. Probaly a dumb question and I'm 99.9% sure I'm right here, but this would be a cable box problem, correct?

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Cable box or Update....
Dec 7, 2008 12:00PM PST

Sorry, I must have missed your post earlier this week.

You may want to consider updating to the most current firmware for your set. If you provide the model number, I'll provide a link to it. Many units have a firmware update that fixes an HDMI handshake issue (to the best of my knowledge), and this could essentially solve the issue.

--HDTech

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Documentation out of whack?
Dec 8, 2008 11:49AM PST

I've occasionally been experiencing the audio dropouts on a PN58A550S1F connected via HDMI to a Bell ExpressVu HD PVR.
I believe that I need to update the firmware also; but I just want to confirm that I'm grabbing the correct firmware:
The documentation that is with the firmware update doesn't match what I'm seeing on my TV exactly; namely my system info reports
Module: T-SPNAUSC-1002.1, Date 2008-04-16 MICOM: T-SPNAUSM-1007 MTK-DRV 2.0.82.0 RFS: T-SPNAUS 20080103
The main difference is in the documentation it says
Module: T-SPNAUS-XXXX ....
Just want to make very sure because I really don't want to brick my TV.
(The link I was looking at was:
http://www.samsung.com/ca/support/download/supportDown.do?group=tvvideoaudio&type=tv&subtype=plasma&model_nm=PN58A550S1F&disp_nm=PN58A550S1F&language=&dType=G&mType=FM&vType=R

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Canada...
Dec 9, 2008 4:47AM PST

svanderw,

If your television was purchased in Canada, that is the correct firmware link.

--HDTech

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Re: Canada...
Dec 9, 2008 8:38AM PST

Yup; it was purchased in Canada.
Everything seems to have updated successfully; thanks for the quick response.