Have no sound or muffled/low sound issues when connecting devices to your Hisense TV via HDMI? Don’t worry; simple troubleshooting steps often fix this common problem.
The most likely causes of no sound or low sound on Hisense TVs when using HDMI are:
- Incorrect audio output settings on the TV
- The wrong input source selected on the TV
- Faulty/loose HDMI cable connection
- Outdated TV software/firmware
- Incompatible audio codecs between source and TV
- Conflicts between HDMI-CEC devices
Hisense TV Sound Muffled or No Sound: What to Do?
Follow the troubleshooting tips below to resolve your Hisense TV’s HDMI no sound or low sound problems:
Check TV Audio Output Settings
The first thing to check is the audio output settings on your Hisense TV. Make sure that:
- The correct HDMI input where your device is connected is selected
- The TV audio output is set to HDMI ARC or eARC if your device supports ARC/eARC
- TV speakers are enabled if you are using the built-in speakers
- The digital audio output format is set to Auto or Bitstream
Go to the Sound section in your TV settings menu to find the audio settings. Navigate to the options related to speakers, digital audio out, and audio formats to verify the correct settings are enabled.
If you have a home theater receiver/soundbar connected via HDMI ARC, ensure HDMI ARC is enabled in the TV audio settings. Sometimes, the TV may default back to TV speakers and disable ARC after a software update or factory reset.
Check Input Source Is Correct
Another possibility is that the wrong input source is selected on your Hisense TV.
Go to the input settings and ensure the correct HDMI port where your media device is connected is selected as the active source.
It’s easy to accidentally have the wrong HDMI or other input like an antenna or Smart TV selected, which would result in no sound if that port doesn’t have an audio source connected.
Try a Different HDMI Cable
Faulty or loose HDMI cables are a common culprit for HDMI audio issues. Try using a different HDMI cable between your media device and the TV.
Make sure the cable is properly inserted all the way into the HDMI ports on both ends. Also, try gently wiggling the cable ends while they are inserted to get a better connection.
If possible, use a tested and working high-speed HDMI cable to rule out the cable as the root cause. Damaged or deteriorating HDMI cables can cause signal issues that prevent audio transfer.
Update Hisense TV Software
It’s possible an outdated software/firmware version on your Hisense TV could be responsible for HDMI audio issues.
- Go to Home > Settings > About > System Update
- Check if any software updates are available for your TV and install the latest version.
Updating to a newer firmware release can sometimes resolve compatibility problems with HDMI devices and audio.
Enable ARC on Hisense TV
You must ensure HDMI-ARC is enabled if you are trying to get sound from your Hisense TV speakers for a device like a soundbar connected via HDMI.
ARC (Audio Return Channel) allows the TV to transmit sound back to a compatible audio device over an HDMI cable.
To activate ARC on a Hisense TV:
- Go to Home > Settings > Sound > Advanced Settings
- Turn on the HDMI ARC setting, choosing a port supporting ARC capability, like HDMI 1 or 2.
- Also, make sure CEC control is enabled on that input’s settings.
With ARC properly configured, your TV can send audio back to your sound system speakers via the HDMI cable.
These steps will help establish a proper HDMI ARC/eARC connection for sending audio from the TV to your home theater sound system.
Reboot Your Devices
If you have tried the other troubleshooting suggestions, a simple reboot of your Hisense TV and connected media devices can often resolve HDMI-related sound issues.
Power cycle the TV and devices by unplugging them from power for 1 minute. Then plug back in and turn on your devices. This resets the HDMI connection, and the audio should start working properly again.
Rebooting is an easy fix that is worth trying before moving on to more complex solutions. Often, a quick reboot is all that is needed to re-establish the audio connectivity with HDMI.
Adjust Audio Format/Codec Settings
Incompatible audio formats and codecs between your media device and Hisense TV could prevent proper audio transmission over HDMI.
Most devices auto-negotiate the best audio format. But sometimes manually changing audio settings to use a common compatible format like Stereo PCM can resolve HDMI no sound problems.
Look for audio output settings on your media player or game console to change formats like DTS, Dolby Digital, etc. Try switching to Stereo PCM or Auto first to see if that restores HDMI audio.
Similarly, adjust the TV’s digital audio output setting to Auto or PCM, which only enables the most widely supported audio formats. This narrows down compatibility issues with the source device.
Disable CEC Control
HDMI-CEC allows your Hisense TV and connected devices to control each other over HDMI. This can sometimes cause conflicts that interrupt audio connectivity.
Try disabling CEC functionality on both the TV and your media devices. After disabling CEC, reboot your TV and devices for the changes to take effect.
Locate the HDMI-CEC options in your TV and connect device settings to turn off this feature completely. This prevents CEC-related interference with the audio signal transfer.
If the sound is restored, you can selectively re-enable CEC control for certain functions, like controlling TV power, using your remote media device. This allows you to maintain compatibility while still using some HDMI-CEC features.
Factory Reset Hisense TV
If all else fails, resetting your Hisense TV back to factory default settings may be required to get HDMI audio working again.
Just be aware that a factory reset will erase all your custom settings, installed apps, preferences, etc, so you’ll have to re-set everything. It’s a good last-resort troubleshooting step if nothing else has worked.
To factory reset a Hisense TV:
- From the Home screen, go to Settings > Device Preferences > Reset
- Select Factory Data Reset and follow the prompts to wipe the TV back to factory conditions.
After the reset is complete, retest your HDMI device audio. HDMI audio should be enabled at factory settings so you can get sound. If not, your TV may require service.
Contact Hisense Support
If you have worked through all of the above troubleshooting and tips without success, it’s time to contact Hisense support for additional help.
Provide the details of your setup, the steps you have tried, and specifics of the HDMI no sound problem. Hisense support can provide customized troubleshooting guidance or determine if your TV requires service.
Support may recommend steps like updating HDMI board firmware, factory image reinstallation, or hardware repairs. Getting direct support is the best option when you have exhausted all standard troubleshooting methods.
In summary, here are the key steps to resolve no sound or muffled sound from your Hisense TV when connecting devices over HDMI:
- Check TV audio settings for the correct output mode
- Confirm the correct input source is selected
- Try a different HDMI cable and connection ports
- Update TV firmware to the latest available version
- Enable ARC on Hisense TV
- Reboot TV and connected devices
- Adjust audio formats/codecs for compatibility
- Disable HDMI-CEC control if causing conflicts
- Perform a factory reset on the TV if needed
- Contact Hisense support for further troubleshooting
Following this comprehensive troubleshooting guide should help you narrow down the cause and fix any HDMI audio issues on your Hisense television. Taking the time to work through these steps methodically can often resolve even the most stubborn no-sound problems.
