Soundbar disconnecting from LG G4 TV when I game

[Hue]

Hey guys, wondering if I could get some advice please?

Back around May I purchased a LG G4 55" TV (based on very kind suggestions from this forum) and a LG 5.1 Soundbar with the intention of finally getting through some of my gaming backlog, however due to some unforseen health issues that was unfortunately put on hiatus for a very long time.

Now several months on (and health somewhat in check) I want to get back into gaming however I’m having an issue with my TV, specifically my Soundbar and wondered if anyone could provide some advice please?

We watch all our TV through TV apps (Netflix, Disney etc) and the Internal speakers work perfectly with our LG soundbar through WOW Orchestra.

The issue is as soon as I try and play on my Xbox Series X or Nintendo Switch the sound on the TV will default to the internal speakers and there is no way to get the TV to recognise the Soundbar again (without fully resetting the TV).

The LG soundbar is connected through HDMI ARC and the Xbox and Switch are connected directly to the TV via HDMI.

It seems to happen immediately after I switch the input to Xbox or Switch. The TV will just turn off WOW Orchestra and switch to internal speakers.

Whatever setting I use the TV will no longer recognise the Soundbar even when I switch back to a normal app (Netflix) and turn off the console.

The only way I can get the TV to recognise my soundbar again is to unplug the Switch and Xbox from the TV HDMI ports, so only the HDMI ARC is plugged in and then fully reset the TV. When I do this the soundbar is recognised again within seconds.

Does anyone have any advice about what could be happening please?

I was originally able to play on the Xbox or Switch using the soundbar without an issue for the first few months, it only seems to have happened while I’ve been ill and not playing.

[Kals_Els]

The only thing my dumb brain can come up with, is that your tv is pushing all the hdmi bandwidth to your consoles.

Have you tried disconnecting the sound bar before switching to the console, and try setting it up? See if having it connect after would get it recognized.

Maybe go into audio settings and see if anything is different between modes.

Also check if your audio is set up on Xbox or Switch settings to allow external sound bars.

[Hue]

@Kals_Els

The only thing my dumb brain can come up with, is that your tv is pushing all the hdmi bandwidth to your consoles.

Have you tried disconnecting the sound bar before switching to the console, and try setting it up? See if having it connect after would get it recognized.

Maybe go into audio settings and see if anything is different between modes.

Also check if your audio is set up on Xbox or Switch settings to allow external sound bars.

Thanks, I have tried lots of different combinations with settings and different ports, cables and unplugging/connecting etc.

I’ll have another go in the morning with the soundbar disconnected and then connect it directly afterwards.

[Kals_Els]

@Hue

Thanks, I have tried lots of different combinations with settings and different ports, cables and unplugging/connecting etc.

I’ll have another go in the morning with the soundbar disconnected and then connect it directly afterwards.

Also remember to check out the general volume and audio output settings on Xbox settings see if using different options on it helps.

[Hue]

@Kals_Els

Also remember to check out the general volume and audio output settings on Xbox settings see if using different options on it helps.

I have finally found a fix.. it’s something to do with CEC.

I purchased these two little adapters that block CEC for both the HDMI cables going into the Xbox and Switch and that seems to have fixed it.

Even though I tried turning CEC off in the settings it still seemed to be activating.