topic Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays in Android TV

TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 14:02:03 GMT

In Nov 2020 I purchased a Sony Bravia KD43H8196 TV and HT-G700 Sound Bar as a package. Since then, I have had a problem, not a showstopper but nevertheless I find it annoying and have tried to get a solution from Sony Support since purchasing.
Basically, when using the small sound bar controller, I get a display of the volume level on the sound bar and no indication on the TV screen which is what I would expect.
If I use any other controller (the supplied TV controller, a Virgin Tivo controller, a DVD player controller) I get a volume display level on the sound bar but also a different sound level display on the TV. This is independent of the service I use whether HDMI or Internet (e.g. You Tube).
Sony have been unable to solve this so far and have suggested that it is a software problem and that’s how it should work.
My questions are …
Has anyone else had/got this problem? Have you fixed it? If so how?

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

LightFoot — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 14:49:24 GMT

Hi @MGB_Bloke

As my user name suggests I have using Sony TVs with Sony AV Amps and Soundbars for a considerable time. All I can say that it is “normal” for Sony to display the volume double on the TV than on the AV Amps and Soundbars. If Sony haven’t “fixed” this in over 30 years then the chances are they don’t care. Obviously for me this is the status quo but I can certainly understand how it could annoy new users. It’s everybody and every system, it is not just your setup.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 09:40:24 GMT

Thanks for your reply - I was expecting that same operation as my 20 year old Panasonic system but seemingly Sony are "different". There is another issue that is obviously not correct that I'm still pursuing with Sony.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

rooobb — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:56:34 GMT

A 20 five years old system cannot support HDMI-arc protocol so I assume yes, it behave differently... (not better anyway)

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 08:23:40 GMT

Thanks for your reply.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 12:46:30 GMT

I have had an independent specialist look at the system and they summarise that there is a software problem on the TV such as it doesn't fully recognise the sound bar.

There is still a mismatch between the volume shown on the TV and the volume shown on the sound-bar.

I am also unable to fully reduce the volume below a certain level using the TV remote control ( I can mute) I continue to pursue this with Sony but I am minded to return the TV to the situation when I received the equipment and re-build it. The sound-bar works as it should. I will continue to report Sony's responses if any.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

HannahEd01 — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:56:45 GMT

Hi MGB_Bloke, let us know what happens with the investigation please. I've seen this specific enquiry before here but non of the steps I thought about worked.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

rooobb — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 16:27:48 GMT

@MGB_Bloke ha scritto:

I have had an independent specialist look at the system and they summarise that there is a software problem on the TV such as it doesn't fully recognise the sound bar.

There is still a mismatch between the volume shown on the TV and the volume shown on the sound-bar.

For this specific "problem" I don't know who made the assertion that is a software problem, but it's wrong. There is nothing wrong with it, just the way it is.

Your tv most probably has a volume scale that is 1 to 100 while the soundbar 1 to 50, so when the tv is controlling the volume via HDMI -CEC it uses its own scale jumping 2 by 2 in sending the command to the soundbar (that is not able to manage 1 to 100). That is how it works also on mine 2013's HTCT350. Without the HDMI CEC feature (like in your old system) there is no data exchange between the two so you won't see anything on the TV display.

The second one could be some sort of problem in the communication, instead.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:30:42 GMT

Thanks your reply to my question. Did you contact Sony Support about your issue? I have been in touch for them for some months now about this.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:31:27 GMT

Thank you for your reply

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

rooobb — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:31:11 GMT

@MGB_Bloke ha scritto:

Thanks your reply to my question. Did you contact Sony Support about your issue? I have been in touch for them for some months now about this.

@MGB_Bloke if you are referring to me, as I said I don't have any issue. The display "incongruence" is not a fault, and I can lower down the volume in any way without limits

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:37:18 GMT

Thank you for your reply, yes my reply was to you.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:38:44 GMT

OK will do

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 11:17:01 GMT

Thanks - will do.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 11:39:56 GMT

Rooob - so do you think this is why the TV display shows level 1 for volume whilst the sound-bar shows 35?

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

rooobb — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 11:47:39 GMT

No. That's the reason why the tv may show 30 and soundbar 15

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 11:50:50 GMT

Thanks, but I haven't go that sort of correlation between volume level indications.

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 12:22:53 GMT

Just to make my situation even clearer - here's a summary of where I've been left. Since Sony support have been unable to come up with a solution, I'm just wondering if anyone else has had similar problems.

Using the Sony TV remote control (or VIRGIN TIVO remote control)

1. I press MUTE – no sound, crossed-through speaker symbol on TV plus volume level, MUTE flashing on soundbar.
2. I press MUTE again to cancel – still no sound, speaker symbol on TV plus volume level (not crossed out), MUTE flashing on soundbar.
3. To get sound back I have to increase the volume on the remote control or push MUTE on the TV remote control a second time, there is then a crossed-through speaker symbol on the TV with TV dis[played on the soundbar, then the sound is back on.
4. Also, If I reduce the volume to zero on the TV screen, there is still sound through the speakers (TV shown on the soundbar) and I am unable to decrease the volume and further using the remote control.
5. The volume indicated on the TV bears no relationship to that shown on the soundbar (e.g. I have level 1 on TV and level 35 on soundbar).

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

rooobb — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 12:57:21 GMT

I do not want to believe that there is an incompatibility between two Bravia sync product (btw they should be guaranteed as interoperable). Have you already tried the basic I assume (resetting to factory setting both TV and soundbar, disconnect and reconnect all the system, disabling/reenabling bravia sync, tried another HDMI cable) ?

Re: TV and Sound bar Level Displays

MGB_Bloke — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 13:18:27 GMT

Thanks for your response, yes I've tried all of those (probably twice now) under the guidance of Sony support. However, I may try this reset to factory again since I have, with the help of Sony support upgraded the soundbar software). Sony support, at their last call, informed me that this situation is normal - unless they are getting fed up with me! I am trying them again now though and wait a reply.