Audio Delays on your TV

Have you ever sat down to watch a movie or play a game and notice that the sound is out of sync with what you’re watching? If you have connected your TV to a soundbar or other external device, this is a common issue. Follow the troubleshooting guide below to fix the audio delay issue you are experiencing.

 Please Note: The information on this page is for Australian products only. Models, sequences or settings will vary depending on location and/or where the product had been purchased. To be redirected to your local support page please click here.

Why does an audio delay occur?

Depending on the broadcasting signal transmitted by the broadcasting station, an audio delay may occur in some or all of the TV programs they are broadcasting. There is a slight difference in processing speed between video and audio signals. Usually the difference is not notable, however sometimes it is.

If it’s not due to the broadcaster, another reason an audio delay often occurs is a bad connection to an external device you’ve connected to the TV. Sometimes, an external device such as a set-top box will produce a slight difference because of the transmission speed of the video/audio signal from the set-top box to the TV.

If you find your audio is delayed, see if the delay occurs with a pre-installed app e.g. YouTube, Netflix. If there is no audio delay with pre-installed apps, the issue lies with the content or source that you're trying to play. Follow the troubleshooting guide below to fix your audio delay issues.

Please Note: There are no settings that will resolve Bluetooth or wireless speaker audio sync issues. Streaming audio and video wirelessly may transmit data less quickly and can cause audio sync delays.

Samsung soundbar

If you're hearing an audio delay across all sources/channels and you have a Home Theatre System or other speakers connected to your TV, you can access the Audio Delay settings. Follow the steps below to find out how.

1 Press the Home button on your remote control and then head to Settings

Note: Images were taken from a 2023 model TV. Steps and layout may differ depending on the model of your TV.

Select Settings
2 Navigate to All Settings
Navigate to All Settings
3 Choose Sound and then Expert Settings
Select Sound then Expert Settings
4 Scroll down and select Digital Output Audio Delay
Digital Audio Output Delay
5 Increase or decrease the digital audio output using the slider. If the audio is faster than what is shown on the screen, move the slider to the right to increase the number.
Digital output audio delay slider.

Do you notice the audio delay when playing downloaded content such as movies? If so, then the audio of the content you are trying to play on your TV may not be synced correctly. Check the supported video codecs in the user manual of your particular TV model.

Here is an example below from a user manual.

tv supported video codecs

Note:

  • Because the specifications are based on the current 8K connectivity and decoding standards, future connectivity, broadcasting, and decoding standards may not be supported. Upgrading for meeting future standards may require purchase of additional devices.
  • Some third-party standards may not be supported. 
1 Press the Home button on your remote control and then head to Settings

Note: Images were taken from a 2023 model TV. Steps and layout may differ depending on the model of your TV.

Select Settings
2 Navigate to All Settings
Navigate to All Settings
3 Choose Sound and then Expert Settings
Select Sound then Expert Settings
4 Select Reset Sound
Choose Reset Sound

Update the firmware to the latest version to get the best performance from your TV. Simply ensure your TV is connected to the internet and then follow the steps below to update your TV software. For more information, head to our guide Update the Firmware on a Samsung TV.

1 Press the Home button on your remote control and then head toGear cogSettings
Select Settings
2 Navigate to All Settings
Navigate to All Settings
3 Select Support and then Software Update

Note: If Software Update is greyed out, please exit and change your TV source to Live TV. Then return to Software Update.

Select Software Update
4 Choose Update Now
Select Update now
5 The TV will begin to search for any available updates
TV will search for any updates
6 If there is any available update for your TV, you will be asked if you would like to update now. Select Yes to proceed
Select Yes to proceed
7 The new software will begin to download and install into your TV. Once this has been completed, your TV will restart with the new software installed
Your TV will update

For further assistance, please contact our Chat Support or technical experts on 1300 362 603. To find your Samsung product's User Manual, head to Manuals & Downloads.

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