When it comes to watching TV, sound quality is just as important as picture quality. After all, what’s the point of having a stunning visual display if you can’t hear what’s going on?
Harry wrote Homespoiler:
“Hey buddy, I’ve had this Sony smart TV for a good 7 months now. Managed to snag it during a killer 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 mean, my Sony tv has no Sound. 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
Well, when a Sony TV has no sound, temporary system glitch, wrong sound settings, or issue with the TV’s firmware are typically the primary culprits.
Often, you can troubleshoot this issue just by power cycling the TV, but sometimes it requires some minor changes in the settings.
However, in this article, I will break down everything about why your Sony TV’s sound isn’t working and what you need to do exactly to get it working again.
Here we go! Let’s dive into it.
Why is Sony TV Sound Not Working?
As I mentioned above, Incorrect sound configuration, malfunctioning speakers, or temporary system glitch are the primary reasons for sound issues on a Sony TV.
Aside from these, loose audio cords or damaged sound circuits in the motherboard can also be responsible.
However, your Sony TV doesn’t have sound because of:
- Technical reasons such as faulty cables, incorrect audio output settings, or speaker damage.
- Software issues like outdated TV firmware or incorrect audio codecs.
- Environmental factors like power cuts or interference from other electronic devices.
How to Fix Sony TV no Sound?
- If sound isn’t working on your Sony TV, first reset the audio settings from the settings menu.
- Next, disconnect the TV from the power source completely.
- Wait for 60 seconds.
- During this time, press and hold the TV’s power button for about 15 seconds.
- Once done, power the TV back on and test the results.
Here are the detailed step-by-step 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 reboot the TV. Often a simple power reboot fixes this issue.
Step 3: Recovering audio settings to the default value
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: Performing a firmware upgrade
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 reset 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: I’ve connected external speakers to my Sony TV, but there’s still no sound. What could be the problem?
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: Can a software update fix the sound problem on my Sony TV?
Yes, a software update can potentially resolve sound issues on your Sony TV.
Manufacturers often release firmware updates that address known bugs and improve overall performance, including audio-related problems. Check Sony’s official website for available updates for your specific TV model.
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.
Q: My Sony TV has sound, but it’s crackling. What should I do?
A creaking, crackling, or popping sound from your television is typical and does not indicate a problem.
These sounds occur when parts of the room or your TV expand or contract slightly due to temperature changes. For example, you may hear the sound when you turn on or off your television.
Environmental changes, such as temperature or humidity, might cause the sound location to shift or become less detectable.
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.