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  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Tests
  4. Latency
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Intro
  3. When It Matters
  4. Our Tests
    1. Audio Latency: ARC
    2. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    3. Audio Latency: Optical
  5. Conclusion
  6. Comments

Our Soundbar Connectivity Tests
Latency

Updated
What it is: The time delay between when a source device provides an audio stream to the soundbar and when the soundbar actually presents that audio to the listener through its speakers.
When it matters: When using the soundbar alongside a display to present a synchronized audio-video signal, such as when watching movies or playing video games. The audio latency of the soundbar should match the video latency of the connected display as closely as possible to minimize AV synchronization error. This is especially important when using a display with low video latency, like a gaming monitor.
Score components:
Score distribution

Latency is a delay between the audio you hear and the image you see on your screen, and you're most likely to notice it when characters speak on screen. High amounts of delay can ruin your experience by taking away from the immersive feel and causing lip-synching errors. Depending on how you connect your soundbar to your television, you may experience different amounts of latency. Whether you're watching movies, TV shows, or playing video games, you'll want to avoid issues like lip-synching delay.

When It Matters

High amounts of latency take away from the immersive feel of your media, especially with movies and TV shows. You want the action on screen—whether it's dialogue shared between characters or explosions taking place in the background—to match what you hear. Similarly, if you're a gamer, you'll want to ensure that latency delays don't impact your success when playing against other people. While wired connections can help reduce this issue, especially compared to wireless connectivity options like Bluetooth, they aren't immune to these issues. Some manufacturers, like Samsung, include audio sync features that let you control the delay manually, while certain TVs and apps compensate for latency differently. However, we don't currently incorporate these tools into our testing process.

Our Tests

Our tests measure audio latency, also known as the time delay between when an audio stream enters a soundbar and when that audio is played through the soundbar's speakers. We record measurements over three wired connections: ARC, Optical, and Full HDMI In, as audio latency can vary depending on the connection type. Similarly, audio latency can vary depending on the audio format you use. A Murideo SEVEN Generator measures a particular soundbar's audio latency when connected to a Samsung Q80T TV over various audio formats, such as Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos. Unfortunately, DTS formats aren't supported at this time.

Audio latency is only part of the story, though. To better understand how these measurements affect a soundbar's performance in real life, we also record videos designed to represent the AV synchronization error. Essentially, this represents the amount of audio latency subtracted from the amount of video latency. Video latency refers to the delay between when the video signal is inputted and then displayed on the screen, and it varies depending on the display you use. To film these results, we set up a camera phone on a tripod approximately 5.75ft away from the TV. Then, we play the audiovisual latency video seen down below and record the process.

In our videos, there's an audible ping that occurs once every second. Each ping should ideally be in time with the moment when both the left and right white circles are full. We play our video at a regular playback speed, then slowed down by 25% to more easily see the delay.

Also, we film an approximation of both high and low AV synchronization errors. That's because our TV likely won't perform in the exact same way as the display you use. Video latency varies based on your TV, so this gives you a better range of what to expect in real life.

Over an ARC connection, the Samsung HW-Q990C has an amazing audio latency performance. The ping is audible at roughly the same time that both white circles are full.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 has an okay audio latency performance over an ARC connection. When you hear the ping, the circles aren't full.

We record these videos using an Apple iPhone using slo-mo mode at a rate of 240 frames per second, so the precision of the extracted error is 4.1 ms. It's also worth noting that some apps and devices compensate for latency, so your experience can vary. Lastly, your equipment, like the device you're using to watch and listen to this test video, could have latency in itself and could change the perception of the video.

Ideally, you want the AV synchronization error to be as close to 0 ms as possible. It's worth noting that some TVs and apps have ways of compensating for latency on their own, and some soundbars come with features that allow you to manually adjust the AV synchronization.

Audio Latency: ARC

What it is: The time delay between when a source device provides an audio stream to the soundbar and when the soundbar actually presents that audio to the listener through its speakers.
When it matters: When using the soundbar alongside a display to present a synchronized audio-video signal, such as when watching movies or playing video games. The audio latency of the soundbar should be as close to 0 ms as possible because most TVs will synchronize their ARC/eARC audio output and video output. This is especially important when using a display with low video latency, like a TV used for gaming.
Score components:
Score distribution

HDMI ARC stands for 'Audio Return Channel'. It's a protocol introduced as part of HDMI version 1.4 in 2009; since then, it's become a common addition to soundbars. This connector allows audio signals to travel to and from the soundbar and eliminates the need for a secondary cable to send audio from your TV back to your soundbar. The protocol also adds HDMI CEC, which allows you to control HDMI-connected devices with one remote control, meaning you can control your TV and soundbar with the same remote, for example.

Some soundbars also support eARC or 'enhanced Audio Return Channel', which allows the bar to play object-based surround signals and lossless formats such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, commonly found on Blu-ray discs. The HDMI Forum, a non-profit corporation that develops new versions of HDMI Specification, has also made 'Lip Sync Correction' mandatory on eARC, while it's only optional on ARC. It should ensure that video and audio are automatically in sync. In short, this connection is favorable if you like to watch high-quality surround content.

In the ARC Latency test, we connect an HDMI cable from the HDMI INPUT port on the back of our Murideo SEVEN Generator to the ARC/eARC port of the soundbar we're testing.

Most TVs synchronize their ARC/eARC audio and video output, so you'll want the soundbar's audio latency to be as close to 0 ms as possible over this connection.

Audio Latency: HDMI In

What it is: The time delay between when a source device provides an audio stream to the soundbar and when the soundbar actually presents that audio to the listener through its speakers.
When it matters: When using the soundbar alongside a display to present a synchronized audio-video signal, such as when watching movies or playing video games. The audio latency of the soundbar should match the video latency of the connected display as closely as possible to minimize AV synchronization error. This is especially important when using a display with low video latency, like a gaming monitor.
Score components:
Score distribution

If your TV or soundbar doesn't support HDMI ARC, some soundbars and TVs have a high-definition multimedia interface or HDMI connection, which can transmit uncompressed signals without losing quality. Unlike HDMI ARC, Full HDMI In can only receive audio. Some users prefer directly connecting devices like a Blu-ray player or console to the soundbar to play all sound codecs.

In the Full HDMI In Latency test, we use an HDMI cable from the HDMI OUTPUT port on the back of the Murideo to connect to the HDMI Input of the soundbar.

You'll want the soundbar's audio latency to match your connected display's video latency as closely as possible to minimize AV synchronization errors.

Audio Latency: Optical

What it is: The time delay between when a source device provides an audio stream to the soundbar and when the soundbar actually presents that audio to the listener through its speakers.
When it matters: When using the soundbar alongside a display to present a synchronized audio-video signal, such as when watching movies or playing video games. The audio latency of the soundbar should match as closely as possible the video latency of the connected display to minimize AV synchronization error. This is especially important when using a display with low video latency, like a gaming monitor.
Score components:
Score distribution

Optical is also known as a S/PDIF connector. It uses waves of light within fiber optic cables to relay audio signals from a source like your TV to your soundbar and support surround sound up to 5.1 channels. However, they can only relay audio, and you'll need a different cable to transmit video between devices. This connection is handy if you have an older TV or soundbar without an HDMI port.

For our Optical Latency test, we use an HDMI cable from the HDMI Output port on the back of the Murideo to connect to the HDMI Input of our Samsung Q80T TV. Then, we connect a TOSLINK optical cable from the Samsung Q80T TV to the optical input of the soundbar we're testing.

Again, it's best if the audio latency matches the video latency of your connected display to reduce AV synchronization errors.

Conclusion

Lip-synching issues and other audio delays are enough to ruin a great movie, TV show, or video game. Fortunately, many bars on the market are designed with low latency in mind, which minimizes the risk of out-of-sync audio and video. Others offer sync features that let you manually control the delay to improve your listening experience. That said, different tools compensate for latency differently, so depending on your TV or the app, you may notice a difference in your bar's performance. Unfortunately, we aren't able to test audio latency with DTS formats, nor do we test the latency of gaming modes.