Audio delay between your TV and soundbar happens because the TV takes longer to process the picture than the sound, so the audio arrives early and looks out of sync. Fix it with the audio delay or lip sync setting on your TV or soundbar, and connect over HDMI ARC or eARC rather than Bluetooth or optical.
Why this happens
- Video processing lag. Modern TVs process the image with scaling, smoothing, and motion handling, which takes time, so the sound can play ahead of the picture.
- Bluetooth latency. A soundbar connected by Bluetooth adds a noticeable delay, often over a tenth of a second.
- Connection type. Optical, ARC, and Bluetooth handle timing differently, and some add more delay than others.
- Source processing. Streaming boxes and game consoles add their own processing that can shift sync.
- Format decoding. The soundbar decoding surround formats can add a small delay.
Is this normal?
A small amount of sync drift is common with soundbars because of picture processing. It is expected and adjustable, not a fault.
Does it cause any problems?
It only affects how well lips match speech and does not damage anything. Bad sync is tiring to watch, so it is worth correcting.
How to fix or check it
- Connect the soundbar to the TV's HDMI ARC or eARC port with an HDMI cable, which usually keeps audio and video better in sync than optical or Bluetooth.
- On the TV, find the audio sync setting (often called Audio Delay, Lip Sync, or A/V Sync) in the sound menu and adjust it until lips match speech.
- If the TV has no such option, use the soundbar's own audio delay or sync setting from its remote or app.
- Turn on the TV's Game mode or turn off heavy picture processing such as motion smoothing and noise reduction, which reduces video lag.
- Avoid Bluetooth for the soundbar when watching TV, since it adds the most delay. Use a wired connection instead.
- Match the audio format: set the TV to Bitstream or PCM and see which stays in sync with your soundbar.
- Test with different sources. If only one device is out of sync, adjust that device's audio delay if it has one.
- Power cycle the TV and soundbar, since a fresh handshake can reset a timing glitch.
Frequently asked questions
Should I delay the audio or the video?
Most TVs only let you delay the audio. Since the sound usually arrives before the processed picture, adding a small audio delay brings them back in line.
Why is Bluetooth worse for TV sync?
Bluetooth compresses and buffers audio, which adds delay. Some TVs and soundbars can compensate, but a wired HDMI ARC connection is more reliable for video.
Does eARC fix lip sync automatically?
HDMI ARC and eARC support automatic lip sync correction, and many TVs use it, but you may still need to fine tune the audio delay for a perfect match.