The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9's eARC connection occasionally drops audio mid-stream — most often during Dolby Atmos content from streaming apps or Blu-ray. Here's how to fix it.
Quick answer
- Replace the HDMI cable with a Certified Ultra High Speed cable — by far the most common cause
- Set the TV's Digital Audio Output to Auto or Pass-Through, not "PCM"
- Disable then re-enable eARC on the TV: Settings → Sound → Audio Output → eARC Mode → Off, then On
- Power cycle both devices for 30 seconds with the HDMI cable disconnected
- Update firmware on both the bar and TV — Sony releases eARC fixes regularly
Symptoms
- Audio cuts out for 1-3 seconds during Dolby Atmos content
- Sound disappears entirely; the bar shows "ARC" or "PCM" instead of "Atmos"
- Audio plays in stereo even though the source is Atmos
- Bar repeatedly cycles between modes (ARC → PCM → ARC)
- TV remote volume control stops working with the bar
Step 1: Cable test (single biggest cause)
The Bravia Theatre Bar 9 uses HDMI 2.1 eARC at up to 37 Mbps audio bandwidth. Older HDMI cables — including most "High Speed" and "Premium High Speed" cables — work for ARC but fail intermittently with eARC's higher bandwidth.
Replace the HDMI cable between TV and bar with a Certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable (look for the holographic certification sticker). This single change fixes most eARC dropouts. The cable bundled in the Bravia Theatre Bar 9's box is certified, but if you've swapped it out for a longer or shorter cable, that's likely the cause.
Step 2: Verify TV audio output settings
On the Sony Bravia TV connected to the bar:
- Settings → Display & Sound → Audio Output
- Speakers: Audio System
- Audio System Priority: Set to ON
- eARC Mode: Auto
- Digital Audio Output: Auto (not PCM)
- Pass Through Mode: Auto
If Digital Audio Output is set to PCM, the TV strips Atmos metadata before sending audio to the bar — the bar shows "PCM" instead of "Atmos" and Dolby Atmos features don't engage.
Step 3: Verify bar settings
On the Bravia Theatre Bar 9 (using the Sony | Bravia Connect app or remote):
- Setup → System → HDMI Settings → BRAVIA Sync: ON
- Setup → System → HDMI Settings → eARC Mode: Auto
- Setup → Audio → Sound Field: Cinema or Music depending on content (Sound Field doesn't affect dropouts but verify the bar isn't in Voice Mode which can suppress some Atmos channels)
Step 4: Full power cycle
If settings look correct but dropouts persist:
- Turn off both TV and bar via remote
- Unplug the HDMI cable from both ends
- Unplug both the TV and bar from wall power
- Wait 30 seconds (the bar's power supply has capacitors that need to discharge)
- Plug TV back in, then bar
- Reconnect HDMI cable to the eARC port on the TV (usually labeled "HDMI eARC" — check your specific TV model)
- Power on TV first, wait for boot, then power on bar
- Wait 60 seconds for HDMI handshake
This sequence resets the eARC state machine on both devices. Many post-firmware-update dropouts resolve here.
Step 5: Check the HDMI port
The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 must connect to the TV's eARC port specifically — not just any HDMI port. eARC support is on one port per TV:
- Most current Sony Bravia TVs: HDMI 3 (varies by model — check the label on the back of the TV)
- LG OLED: HDMI 2 (most models)
- Samsung: HDMI 2 or HDMI 3 (varies)
If the cable is on a different HDMI port, you'll get standard ARC at best — and intermittent dropouts as the bar tries to negotiate eARC and falls back.
Step 6: Disable BRAVIA Sync if conflicting
Rarely, BRAVIA Sync (Sony's CEC implementation) creates conflicts when other CEC-enabled devices are on the same HDMI bus.
- Settings → External Inputs → BRAVIA Sync settings → BRAVIA Sync Control: Off (temporarily)
- Test if eARC is stable
- If yes, turn BRAVIA Sync back on but disable CEC on other connected devices (PS5, Apple TV, Blu-ray player) one at a time to find the culprit
PS5 specifically can trigger eARC renegotiation when it changes resolution between menus and games. If the dropout always happens during PS5 use, this is likely.
Step 7: Update firmware
Sony pushes eARC fixes regularly via firmware updates.
For the Bar 9: open the Sony | Bravia Connect app on your phone → select the bar → System → Software Update → Check for Updates
For the Bravia TV: Settings → System → About → System Software Update → Software Update Auto Check: ON and Check for System Software Update
After updating either device, repeat Step 4 (full power cycle).
Step 8: Check the source device
If dropouts only happen with one specific source (e.g., Apple TV 4K but not Netflix on the TV), the issue may be at the source.
Apple TV 4K: Settings → Video and Audio → Audio Format → Change Format → Off (Use Best Available) — using "Change Format → On" with manual Dolby Atmos selection can cause renegotiation dropouts.
Disney+ / Netflix / Prime Video apps on Bravia TV: log out and back into the app. Atmos metadata can get stuck in a corrupted state.
4K Blu-ray player: ensure the player's audio output is set to Bitstream (not PCM) and the HDMI is connected directly to the bar's HDMI input, not through the TV.
Step 9: Test with a different source
If nothing else works, isolate the failure point:
- Disconnect everything except TV → bar (eARC cable)
- Play TV's built-in tuner or YouTube app
- If audio is stable, the issue is one of your external sources
- Reconnect sources one at a time and re-test
When the bar itself is the problem
If you've replaced the cable, reset settings, updated firmware, and the dropouts persist on multiple sources — the bar may have a hardware fault. Sony's warranty is 1 year on the Bravia Theatre Bar 9. Contact Sony support with:
- Your bar's serial number (printed on the back panel and in the Sony | Bravia Connect app)
- Firmware version
- A description of when dropouts occur (specific apps, time after power-on, with specific source devices)
Sony's authorized service centers can run diagnostics that consumers can't.
FAQ
Will the Sony HT-A7000 have the same eARC issues? Same root causes (cable, port, settings) but the HT-A7000 has had more firmware updates and most known issues are fixed. The Bar 9 is newer and still receiving early-cycle patches.
Does ARC work even when eARC drops out? Yes — the bar will fall back to ARC mode automatically. You'll lose lossless Atmos passthrough but keep basic audio. If you're getting ARC instead of eARC consistently, check that eARC Mode is set to Auto on both devices.
Can I run the bar via optical instead? Yes, the bar has an optical input. But optical cannot carry Dolby Atmos or DTS:X — it caps at compressed Dolby Digital 5.1. Use optical only as a temporary workaround while troubleshooting.
Why does this only happen during Atmos content? Atmos has higher bandwidth requirements than basic Dolby Digital. If the cable can carry Dolby Digital reliably but fails at Atmos data rates, you'll only see dropouts during Atmos content. This is the classic "cable not certified for eARC" symptom.