Question New popping sound from TV's audio out via HDMI and optical once every 5 or so minutes ?

Jun 20, 2024
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The TV is over a decade old (LG 42LM669T-ZC), so it could be that it's just done, but if anyone has any ideas of things that might be easy to repair I'd be grateful.

About a week ago I noticed that when watching TV a hissing sound would start. At first I thought this was an issue with the firestick I was using as I found that changing sound options in this could temporarily stop the hissing, though it seemed it was the changing the setting interrupted the problem rather than that one setting caused/solved the problem.

After a while of tinkering with every audio option possible that problem seems to have disappeared, but been replaced with the TV now doing an occasional pop sound, then a brief (less than a second) silence.

It's possible this doesn't happen right ways, but starts after watching for 15-20 minutes.

This only happens with audio from the TV to my amp and all other inputs are fine. It's a problem both via the HDMI and optical connections. I've checked all the cables are secure and clean. I tried to gently hoover the TV's vents in case there was a dust build up. I've again tinkered with every audio option I can think of. Nothing seems to have helped.

Any ideas?

It's possible that this doesn't happen when the audio is played through the TV's speakers, but I'm not certain and those speakers are so bad it's even worse using them than putting up with the pops.
 
You mention its a problem with both HDMI and Optical connections. Let's focus on the Optical one.

1- have you changed the input on the receiver to see if the issue persists? Eg. move the toslink from DIG1 to DIG2 and map DIG2 to the Input you're watching video on - Disable DIG1.

If it does, then the audio output of the TV is failing. Or the content you're watching is trying to be decoded and can't - Like Atmos is enabled and shouldn't be, etc.

This is assuming the cable you're using isn't cracked, or bent beyond it's curve radius - isn't damaged in some way.

I'm wondering why you're not just buying a new TV, with how cheap they are today at that size...
 
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Hi.

I just tried using a different optical input on the amp, and the same problem was there. I can see no issue with the cable.

As the same issue is already there when audio is sent from the TV to the amp via HDMI, presumably it's a problem that occurs earlier in the chain.

I don't have options like Atmos wrong.

"I'm wondering why you're not just buying a new TV, with how cheap they are today at that size..."

I'd rather save the money if I can, and there are environmental concerns with just chucking things out as soon as they show problems. I like to keep things going as long as is reasonable.

Thanks.
 
Next step would be to test either device by itself - either the TV with another receiver, or, the receiver with another source.
It's probably easier to use another source to test with the receiver. Find a DVD player with a SPDIF out and connect it to the same input on the receiver as the current one that's failing. Does the issue persist?
If it does then you know what you have to do, replace the receiver.
If the issue doesn't happen then you know the TV is failing.
Done.

Or just buy a new TV and upgrade quality of life for yourself.
Those "environmental concerns" are just in your head. There's a multi trillion dollar industry wasting materials to make all these products globally. Your 10 year old TV isn't going to hurt anyone but your eyes!
 
I'd already tried other sources (CD, blu-ray player. etc), so was pretty confident the problem was with the TV.

I just hoped it could be a problem others were aware of occurring, and knew of some trick for resolving.

I've just changed the way things are set up so that more inputs go to the TV via the receiver, bypassing the TV's failing audio. That should keep things going for a while longer even if I can't find the fix.

Individual action can only do so much with environmental damage, but I like to make some effort. I've found that putting up with things being less than perfect tends to extend their usage by about 50%. That adds up.

Thanks.