getting a weird static crackle or popping noise from the soundbar, especially during quiet scenes.

Diagnosis

The static crackle or popping noise occurring during quiet transitions on the LG S95QR is typically caused by "digital silence" gaps or a synchronization failure between the soundbar's Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) and the incoming bitstream signal. When a movie scene goes quiet, the audio signal drops to a near-zero voltage; if there is a mismatch in the sample rate or a handshake error in the HDMI-eARC protocol, the system interprets this drop as a series of rapid-fire digital spikes, which manifests as a sharp pop or a low-level crackle. This is frequently exacerbated by the "Auto" setting on the soundbar, which attempts to dynamically switch between Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and PCM. During these transitions, if the source device (like a Samsung or LG OLED TV) is sending a signal that isn't perfectly aligned with the S95QR's expected buffer, the resulting "jitter" creates audible artifacts. You can confirm this is a digital signal issue if the popping persists across different inputs (HDMI vs Optical) but disappears when playing a local music file via Bluetooth or Spotify Connect.

How to Fix It

To resolve signal-induced popping, you must force the soundbar to handle the audio decoding process more conservatively. Follow these exact steps:

1. Power on the LG S95QR and ensure it is in the "S-Cinema" or "Standard" sound mode to avoid AI-driven processing interference during testing.
2. Using the remote, press the SETTINGS button (the gear icon).
3. Navigate through the on-screen menu to Sound > Digital Output.
4. Change the selection from Auto to PCM. This disables the bitstream pass-through and forces the TV to decode the audio, which eliminates the "gap" that causes popping in quiet scenes.
5. If you are using an LG TV, go to the TV's Sound settings and ensure HDMI Input Audio Format is set to Bitstream rather than Auto.
6. Restart both the TV and the soundbar by unplugging them from the wall for 60 seconds to clear the HDMI-CEC handshake cache.

If That Didn't Work

• Replace the HDMI Cable with a Certified Ultra High Speed Cable: The S95QR requires massive bandwidth for 9.1.5 channel Atmos. If you are using an older HDMI 2.0 cable, you will experience "packet loss," which sounds like intermittent crackling. Replace your current cable with a certified HDMI 2.1 (Ultra High Speed) cable, specifically one rated for 48Gbps. Ensure the cable is no longer than 10 feet to prevent signal attenuation.
• Disable "Auto Power Volume" and "Night Mode": These LG-specific features constantly adjust the gain levels. In quiet scenes, the system aggressively boosts the floor noise to make whispers audible, which can amplify a faint electronic hum into a noticeable crackle. Turn these off in the soundbar's settings menu.
• Isolate Electrical Interference: The S95QR is sensitive to EMI (Electromagnetic Interference). If the soundbar power cable is bundled tightly with the HDMI cable or positioned next to a high-power device like a subwoofer or a gaming PC, it can induce a 60Hz hum or popping. Separate the power and data cables by at least 6 inches.
• Perform a Hard Factory Reset: If the issue is caused by a corrupted firmware state, a soft reboot won't work. While the soundbar is powered on, press and hold the Volume Down (-) and Function buttons on the physical unit (not the remote) for 5 seconds until "RESET" appears on the LED display.

Heads Up

• Avoid using HDMI switches or hubs between the TV and the S95QR; these almost always break the eARC handshake and introduce the popping noise described.
• Keep the soundbar firmware updated via the LG Soundbar App; LG frequently releases "stability patches" specifically for Atmos synchronization issues.
• Ensure the soundbar is placed on a stable surface. Because of the powerful upward-firing drivers, excessive vibration from a loose shelf can sometimes be mistaken for electronic popping.
• Check the rear subwoofer connections. If the wireless link to the subwoofer is weak, it can create a "thumping" pop that sounds like it's coming from the main bar but is actually a sync error with the LFE channel.