There are many reasons why your Sony TV’s sound is not working.
Common issues include a temporary system glitch, incorrect sound settings, or problems with the TV’s firmware.
Aside from these, loose audio cables or damaged internal sound processing unit/mainboard can also be responsible.
Harry wrote Homespoiler:
“I’ve had this Sony smart TV for a good 7 months now. Managed to snag it during a Black Friday sale. Gotta say, it’s been smooth sailing so far. But I’ve started to notice a little issue lately. Whenever I stream shows, sound randomly cuts out. Often there have no sound no matter how I increase the volume. I even tried using a soundbar, but it’s same. Any thoughts on what I should do? Why my Sony TV sound isn’t working?”—Harry, Texas
In this article, I will walk you through how to fix the problem if the volume on your Sony TV is not working or if you’re experiencing a situation where your Sony TV has a picture but there’s no sound.
Let’s move on…
So, How To Troubleshoot A Sony TV That Has No Sound?
- On your Sony TV remote control, press the Home button.
- Select Settings > Display & Sound > Audio output.
- Make sure that the audio output mode matches your device’s capabilities. For example, if your device supports Dolby Digital Plus, select Dolby Digital Plus. If not, select PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) or Auto.
- If you are using eARC or ARC, make sure that your devices and cables support it. You can check this by looking at the labels or manuals of your devices and cables. If not, disable eARC or ARC by selecting Off.
- If you are using a soundbar or a receiver, make sure that it is turned on and connected properly to your TV. You can also try changing the input source or mode on your soundbar or receiver to match your TV’s output.
- If you are using a console, such as PS5 or Xbox Series X, make sure that it is set to output audio in PCM or Auto mode. You can check this by going to the settings menu of your console and selecting Sound > Audio Output.
Here are the detailed guidelines.
Step 1) If using a soundbar, audio transmitter, or AV receiver
[Skip this if you are not using a soundbar!]
Do the following things:
- Enter the “settings/options” menu using the remote.
- Scroll down to “speakers.”
- Change it to “Audio system.“
- Again go back to the “settings/options” menu.
- Select “Sound adjustment.“
- Choose “Advanced settings.“
- Turn OFF the “Dolby Digital Plus Out“
Now check if the sound coming out from the speaker.
If not, go to the third step.
Step 2) Using Roku or Amazon Firestick
If you happen to be using a TV box or Cable box like Roku or Amazon Firestick, do the following things:
- Go to the TV box menu.
- Then go to settings.
- From there, select Display & Sounds.
- Select Audio and scroll to Dolby Digital Output.
- Turn OFF “Dolby Digital Plus Out“
Now you should be good to go.
Before you turn off “Dolby Digital Plus Out” or change any other settings, must power cycle the TV.
Often a simple power reboot fixes this issue.
Tips: A less common but possible cause of no sound issue on Sony TV is Bluetooth interference. This can happen when you have multiple Bluetooth devices connected to your TV or nearby, such as headphones, speakers, controllers, keyboards, or phones. Simply turn off all the nearby Bluetooth device that is connected to your TV.
Step 3) Factory Reset the Sound Settings
If you don’t want to go through any hassle, resetting the audio settings might be the simplest choice for you.
Don’t worry!
This will not remove any of the TV’s downloaded apps.
Instead, this will just restore all the audio settings to their default values.
What I meant is, any customizations you made to the sound settings, will be erased and set back to their default values.
Here’s how:
- Press the “menu” button on the remote
- Select “Preferences” and then “Settings.”
- Scroll down to “sound” and click “Reset the sound system.”
- Select “OK.”
Once done, reboot the TV again. Now, check if the problem has been fixed.
If not, you have one last option to try—updating the firmware.
Step 4) Upgrade the Firmware
Sometimes the core file inside the TV gets infected by malicious viruses or malware.
When this happens, TV often starts to misbehave, such as auto-restarting, displaying a distorted image, blinking red light, or even not turning on.
The only solution for this is either resetting the TV to the factory settings or updating the system firmware.
Typically, when Sony releases a new system update, TV automatically catches it and upgrades its firmware itself.
But sometimes you need to check and update it manually. (If you turned off the auto-update option)
Here’s how to check for new updates:
- Go to “Settings.”
- Click on “Customer Support/Setup/Product Support.”
- Select “Software Update.“
- Finally, press “Network.“
If a software update is available, install it.
Chances are that the audio issue on your Sony TV will be fixed after successfully installing the new version of the software.
Don’t power off your TV or unplug it from the power outlet during the update process. Interrupting the update process may cause your TV to become unresponsive or require repair.
Tips to prevent sound issues on Sony TV
I hope you are now able to hear sound from your Sony TV. However, it’s important to be aware of how to prevent this issue from happening again in the future.
As the saying goes,
‘Prevention is better than cure.’
Therefore, here are some tips to help you prevent future sound issues and optimize your TV’s sound system for an immersive viewing experience.
Tips 1: Best Practices for Maintaining the Sound System in Your Sony TV
- Regularly check the cable connections and make sure that they’re secure.
- Avoid exposing your TV and sound system to extreme temperatures and moisture.
- Regularly clean your TV and sound system to prevent dust and debris buildup.
Tips 2: Recommendations for Preventing Future Sound Issues
- Keep the TV firmware updated to the latest version available.
- Avoid overloading the audio output device with too many devices connected to it.
- Regularly check and adjust the audio output settings on your TV.
F.A.Q.s
Q: Why Does My Sony TV Have Picture But No Sound
There are various reasons why your Sony TV might show a picture but no sound.
It can be due to things like your TV settings, connections with external devices, or software updates
Q: I’ve connected external speakers to my Sony TV, but there’s still no sound
If you’ve connected external speakers to your Sony TV and there’s no sound, double-check the audio connections between the TV and the speakers.
Ensure that the correct audio output settings are selected on the TV, and verify if the external speakers require a separate power source or volume adjustment. I
f the issue persists, try connecting the speakers to a different audio source to determine if they are functioning correctly.
Q: Why is my Sony TV sound out of sync?
Few possible reasons exist for this issue. It could be a problem with the audio, video, or even the HDMI cable.
Try the following troubleshooting tips to get the sound back in sync.
- Check the audio settings: Ensure the “Audio Sync” setting is turned on in the audio menu. This will help to correct any delays in the audio.
- Check the video settings: If the “Sync” setting is turned off in the video menu, the video and audio might not be in sync. Turn this setting on to fix the problem.
But If you’re using an HDMI cable to connect your TV to an external device, such as a Blu-ray player.
Q: Why do I have sound on some channels but not others?
If you have sound on some channels but not others, it could be due to issues with the broadcast signal or the audio settings on your TV.
Make sure the channels with no sound are not on mute or using a different audio language or audio track. If the problem persists, contact your cable/satellite provider for further assistance.
Abdul Kader, a handy guy and experienced founder of a TV repair shop in Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is mainly an expert in understanding and repairing different types of issues with Smart TVs and providing helpful insights on how to keep them in good working order. Read his Full Story.