The short answer
Most TVs and soundbars have an audio delay or lip sync setting — adjust it while watching someone speak on screen. If the delay appears only on one app or one input, fix it on that device rather than on the TV, or you will break the others.
Sound arriving before or after the picture happens because video processing takes time. The television applies motion handling, upscaling and noise reduction, all of which delay the image, while the audio takes a shorter path and arrives early. The fix is to delay the audio to match.
First, find out where it happens
- Every source and every app — the TV or the soundbar. Adjust there.
- One app only — that app. Many have their own sync adjustment, and some simply have bugs fixed in later versions.
- One input only — the device on that input. A console or streaming box usually has its own audio delay setting.
- Only on Bluetooth headphones — that is inherent latency, not a fault. Some TVs offer a Bluetooth-specific delay.
- Drifts progressively worse through a programme — usually the source or the app, not the TV.
Making the adjustment
Find the audio delay setting
On the TV it is usually Settings, Sound, Expert or Advanced, named Audio Delay, Lip Sync or AV Sync. On a soundbar it is often on the remote or in its app. Adjust in small steps while watching a close-up of someone talking — news presenters are ideal because the framing is consistent.
Turn off picture processing
Motion smoothing and noise reduction add the delay in the first place. Switching to Filmmaker, Cinema or Game mode disables most of it, which often removes the problem at source rather than compensating for it.
Set the audio format to PCM
Compressed surround formats take longer to decode. Setting the TV or source to output PCM or Stereo reduces processing delay and is a quick test of whether decoding is responsible.
Power cycle the whole chain
Unplug the TV, soundbar and source at the wall for 60 seconds. Bring up the TV first, then the audio device, then the source. Sync is negotiated at startup and can be established wrongly.
Use Game mode for consoles
It bypasses most picture processing, cutting both input lag and the sync mismatch. Nearly every modern TV switches to it automatically if you let it.
Update firmware on both TV and soundbar
Lip sync handling over ARC is a common subject of firmware fixes, particularly where the two devices are different brands.
Wireless headphones and speakers introduce latency by design, typically 100 to 200 milliseconds, and sometimes more. Low-latency codecs reduce it but rarely eliminate it. For watching television, a wired connection or a dedicated low-latency transmitter is the only complete answer.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the sound ahead of the picture rather than behind?
Because the television is delaying the image with its processing while the audio takes a shorter route. That is why the fix is to delay the audio rather than to speed up anything.
Why does only one streaming app have this problem?
The app’s own playback pipeline is responsible. Check whether it has an internal sync setting, make sure it is updated, and reinstall it if the delay persists.
Does HDMI ARC cause lip sync problems?
It can, particularly with mixed brands, because devices negotiate delay compensation between themselves and do not always agree. Firmware updates on both ends address it more often than any setting.
Will a soundbar fix or cause sync problems?
Either. It adds another processing stage that can introduce delay, and it also usually provides its own adjustment. If sync was fine before the soundbar, adjust the soundbar rather than the TV.
Adjust the delay while watching someone speak, and turn off motion processing first. Between them the problem usually disappears.
