The reason why does my TV sound keep cutting out will be unclear before performing a thorough inspection.
There are many factors involved and this guide will help you identify the audio issue culprit as well as provide you with the best-working solutions available.
When the TV sounds keep cutting out, the first and most important step is to test whether the raw TV speaker’s output is cutting.
If yes, then the problem is on the TV’s side, so perform a factory reset and/or check for issues with the connected audio output device.
Let’s continue to unwrap!
Why Does the Sound on my TV Keep Cutting Out?
There are quite a lot of different factors involved in a TV audio system setup, which is based on the number of input and output devices.
This is why we’ve gathered all possibilities for audio inconsistency on any TV brand or model and listed them at your disposal to review:
- Faulty or loose TV audio-related wiring
- Temporal audio glitches with the TV
- TV OS freezing, or struggling to keep up
- Incorrect/unsupported TV audio mode
- Outdated TV operating system firmware
These are the reasons why the TV’s sound keeps cutting out so let’s troubleshoot!
6 Working Solutions When TV Sound Keeps Cutting Out?
Tip: Follow the steps in the order they are listed for most-effective troubleshooting!
1. Check for Loose Wiring!
The first and most important step is to ensure that the TV’s wiring is tightly connected.
If you’re using an HDMI cable or other way to transfer audio from a speaker to your TV, it’s likely that the audio is cut out because of a cable-related problem.
Follow the steps below to verify the TV’s cable connections:
- Unplug the HDMI, or RCA (component) from both sides!
- Closely inspect the input ports and cable connectors.
- Connect an HDMI cable to a different available TV port.
- Switch the TV Source respectively to the new audio input.
- Test different TV apps and content for any audio cutting.
In case the audio keeps cutting out even when your speakers are connected to a different port on the TV, as well as on different shows and movies, continue reading!
2. Power Cycle the TV Setup
Another easy and quick solution would be to reboot your entire TV setup. That would involve your television, connected input device as well as any audio output speakers.
In other words, disconnect ALL cables from the back of your TV to ensure proper power circulation.
For the method to work, the TV must be unplugged from the power, which is also recommended for the input devices connected.
Once your entire setup has been restarted, test whether the sound will continue to cut off without proper reasoning.
Tip: Try to identify any pattern or behavior of the audio cutting to be able to pinpoint the culprit!
3. Tweak Audio Mode Settings
One of the primary reasons why does my TV sound keep cutting out would be due to a bad configuration of the TV Audio Mode settings.
While there are many different modes to select from, the Balanced/Standard mode would be the recommended setting to test the raw TV audio.
Note: Keep in mind that the exact menus and labels depend on the TV’s exact model and firmware version, so it’s good to consult the user’s manual.
| How to Change Audio Mode to “Balanced/Standard”? | |
| Samsung TV | From Settings go to “Sound” and enter Sound Mode to select “Standard” |
| Sony TV | Navigate to the Settings > Display & Sound > Sound Mode > “Standard” |
| LG TV | Press the Settings remote button > Sound Mode > “Balanced/Standard” |
| Panasonic TV | On the remote press the Menu button and go to Sound > Mode > Standard |
| Hisense TV | Go to Settings > move right to the “Sound” tab > Sound Mode > Standard |
| TCL TV | Using the remote, go to Settings > Sound > OK > and adjust with the ▲/▼ |
| Vizio TV | Press the Menu remote button > Audio or Audio Settings > set to “ON” |
| Philips TV | Go to the TV’s Settings, enter All Settings, select Audio Syle > Original |
Tip: We recommend rebooting the TV after the audio mode has been changed and then testing whether the audio will keep cutting out.
4. Test Standalone TV Audio
This step will tighten the circle of possibilities, and works by checking whether your TV audio output is affected or the issue comes from the connected device.
The best course of action is to simply unplug all connected devices from the TV and test the raw, television audio output.
There are a couple of important factors to undertake so let’s check them out:
- Unplug ALL video/audio devices connected to the TV
- TV boxes, headphones, PC, consoles, and soundbars
- Unmute the television using the “Mute” remote button
- Increase the TV’s volume up to 85% using the remote
- Play a local (cable channel) or an app for smart TVs
In case the audio keeps cutting out even when the output does not go through a speaker, well chances are the TV is causing all this fuss.
The next step will address this possibility at once!
5. Update the TV’s Firmware
The TV’s operating system firmware plays a vital role in the video/output and causes many issues when it’s outdated or corrupted.
This is why the best course of action would be to update your smart TV to the latest firmware version available.
- Universally, you can update your TV from Settings > System > Update!
The TV must be connected to the internet while updating and the exact options and menu labels on your television might be different.
However, once the TV is up to date, it’s time for a reboot to apply the settings and then test whether the TV audio is still cutting out.
6. Factory Reset the Television
The final and ultimate solution, applicable for any TV model and brand is to perform a factory reset, which comes with a great downside.
This type of reset completely reinstalls the TV’s OS, which provides the user with a fresh bug-free experience, but erases all content and settings!
Here’s a universal guide on how to perform a factory reset on a smart TV:
- Ensure that the TV is turned on and working.
- Try to find a “Reset” button or a small pinhole.
- Press and hold the reset button for 15 seconds.
- Alternatively, go to Settings > System > Reset.
- Ensure to select the “Erase Everything” option.
As a part of the process, your TV will reboot and prompt you to configure the first-time startup, which takes a bit of time to connect to WiFi.
However, once the TV is set up, again, test with multiple different TV shows and content playouts to determine whether the audio issue persists.
Info: Resetting a TV to factory settings takes about 3 minutes on average!
Why Does the Sound Keep Cutting Out on my Cable TV?
If you’re using a TV, without connected computers, consoles, or soundbars and the sound keeps cutting out on cable channels, it’s primarily due to the Coax cable.
The coax cable comes from the wall and plugs into your TV or a TV Box, in which case the set-top box is also a suspect.
Tip: Test the raw audio of your TV without a connected cable box!
In case the audio doesn’t cut off on your standalone TV output, then inspect the TV box settings, reconnect the Coaxial cable and perform a power cycle.
In case that doesn’t help, it’s likely that the issue comes from the service supplier so don’t hesitate to call them for more information!
TV Hardware Failure?
It’s not excluded that your TV speakers are faulty due to extensive use of high volume, which is not a rare occurrence on older TVs.
If that’s the case the audio shouldn’t cut off when you plug headphones or a soundbar into the TV’s jack, so to clarify any HW issues earlier, test this first!
Reminder: Don’t forget to check whether the TV’s warranty is intact to be able to claim a replacement or a repair by contacting the supplier!
Quick Recap:
Well, now we know why does my TV sound keep cutting out, and we’ve learned that the issue can easily be solved by performing a power circulation.
In case that doesn’t help, we need to tweak the TV Audio Mode settings or perform a factory reset as a last resort.
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Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.