my a7000 makes a loud pop or crackle sound sometimes, especially when starting a new movie or pausing. is it broken?

— asked by Taylor

DIAGNOSIS That pop isn't a sign of a broken speaker. It's typically an audio signal handshake issue where the soundbar's amplifiers engage or disengage abruptly as the audio format changes (like from silence to a Dolby Atmos track).

FIX The main fix is to adjust a specific setting to smooth out that transition. 1) Grab your remote and press the Settings button. 2) Navigate to 'Audio Settings' and then look for 'A/V Sync' or 'Digital Audio Out'. 3) Change the setting from 'Auto' to 'PCM'. This sends a simpler, constant audio signal to the soundbar and often eliminates the pop. You can also try turning 'Dolby Dynamic Range' to 'Standard' instead of 'Auto'.

IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If the pop is happening specifically with HDMI ARC/eARC, a power cycle can reset the handshake. Unplug the soundbar and your TV from the wall for a full two minutes. Plug the TV in first, let it boot up, then plug in the soundbar.

HEADS UP This pop is more common if you have the 'Standby' mode set to 'Low' or 'High' (where the soundbar stays partly on for quick start). Switching the standby mode to 'Off' in the system settings might help, but your soundbar will take longer to turn on with your TV.

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