My setup is straightforward: only the TV (The Frame 65" from late 2022) is connected to the soundbar's eARC port, and a network media player (HEOS HS Link) is connected to the soundbar's optical port, with no other HDMI devices involved.
I use the soundbar for music throughout the day, but two issues arise:
1. When using the digital input exclusively, the music intermittently stops for brief moments every 5 to 10 minutes, the soundbar's display reads eARC, then reverts to d-in. 2. When streaming music directly to the soundbar via Spotify (Spotify Connect over WiFi), it switches to eARC after 5-10 minutes and remains on eARC, requiring manual switching back to Spotify in the app or to WiFi using the remote.
Initially, I encountered only the first issue, but after reading about and installing update 1004, the second problem began.
Others have reported similar issues, which were resolved using a CEC blocker, but their setups included additional HDMI devices, whereas mine consists solely of the TV and d-in.
In general, apart from soundbars, brief stops tend to indicate a buffering problem over a network. Check download speeds using a speedtest on a phone. Are you on broadband or wireless? Both can suffer from reduction in download speed due to increased user demand. For cell/wireless you can use app called Aus Phone Towers to check coverage. If you have switched to 5G, 5G transmission covers a smaller radius. Internally wi-fi networks can suffer from other wi-fi networks from neighbours using the same frequency in the, for instance, 2.4Ghz band (there are 13 frequencies). Some modem software allows the router to choose the least used frequency or to lock onto a range e.g. 1-3, 6-8, etc. Trouble is finding what other wi-fi network is interfering. Some wi-fi analyzers will tell you - from Play Store.
For the soundbar is it using memory storage? Is it getting full slowing down transfer. Consider increasing hard drive capacity, not necessarily SSD, read up on the type of hardware best suitable for your use.
