Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIf a KEF system is connected to a television by HDMI eARC but silent, start with the TV source and handshake rather than changing advanced sound modes. Select TV on the KEF device, use the television’s ARC/eARC socket, turn on HDMI-CEC, and set the television’s HDMI audio output to PCM. Then reseat or replace the cable, power-cycle the television for 10–15 seconds, and test optical audio set to PCM if HDMI still fails.
A silent HDMI connection usually means the KEF system is listening to the wrong input, the cable is in a non-ARC HDMI socket, the TV’s CEC handshake is disabled, or the television is sending an audio format the KEF troubleshooting path cannot decode. The sequence below follows KEF’s documented guidance for its TV-connected systems, including the LSX II LT instructions. Menu names vary by television, but the checks are the same.
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Start with the three settings most likely to restore sound
- Choose TV mode on the KEF device. Confirm that the TV icon or TV-mode indicator is shown. Make sure the system is powered on, not muted, and at a clearly audible volume.
- Use the television’s ARC/eARC HDMI socket. The cable must run from that labeled socket on the TV to the KEF HDMI input. A regular HDMI input will carry video devices but will not return television audio.
- Set HDMI audio output to PCM. KEF says PCM is the setting to use when there is no sound even though other functions work; Dolby Digital is often the television default. Check the audio-format setting inside the streaming app as well.
After changing these settings, stop and start the program or app. Some televisions do not renegotiate the audio format until playback restarts.
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The light pattern can tell you whether the problem is source selection, CEC, or the incoming format. The exact color or icon differs by model, so treat these descriptions as the documented clues for KEF TV-connected products rather than a universal code for every KEF device.
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| Indicator behavior | What it indicates | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| TV or light-blue indicator blinking | The television/HDMI connection has not been found. | Confirm the cable is in the TV’s ARC/eARC socket and reseat both ends. |
| TV or light-blue indicator pulsing | CEC is present, but ARC audio has not been established. | Enable HDMI-CEC in the television’s settings, then power-cycle the TV. |
| Light-blue and purple blinking on LSX II LT | The device detects a non-PCM signal. | Change the television and the active app’s digital audio output to PCM. |
| Muted-mode blinking indicators | The system is muted. | Cancel mute and raise the KEF volume before troubleshooting the connection. |
Follow a complete HDMI eARC troubleshooting sequence
1. Select the TV input and verify basic playback
Use the KEF remote or control app to select TV, not Bluetooth, optical, analogue, or another source. Look for the TV icon or the model’s TV-mode indicator. Play a television broadcast or an app video, then raise the KEF volume with the KEF control rather than assuming the TV volume is controlling it. Confirm that neither the TV nor the KEF system shows a mute symbol. If the indicator reports mute, clear that state first; changing cables cannot fix a muted system.
2. Confirm the physical HDMI path
Find the HDMI socket on the television labeled ARC or eARC. Connect that socket to the KEF HDMI input specified for TV return audio. HDMI sockets beside it may be ordinary inputs and will not send the television’s sound back to the KEF system. Unplug and firmly reconnect both ends so the plugs are fully seated. If the TV has more than one HDMI socket, only the one carrying the ARC/eARC label is the correct starting point.
3. Turn on HDMI-CEC
ARC and eARC use HDMI-CEC control signaling to establish the audio relationship. Open the television’s device-control or external-device menu and enable HDMI-CEC. Manufacturers use different names: Samsung calls it Anynet+, while LG calls it Simplink. A pulsing TV indicator is the useful clue here: CEC is being detected, but the audio return channel is not complete.
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After enabling CEC, turn the TV off, wait briefly, and turn it back on. If the indicator remains unchanged, continue with the PCM and cable checks rather than repeatedly toggling CEC.
4. Change the television’s digital audio format to PCM
In the TV’s sound or digital-audio-output menu, choose PCM. KEF’s official troubleshooting wording is: “Make sure the audio output of HDMI is set to PCM (this is often set to Dolby Digital by default).” This setting is the safest diagnostic format for the HDMI path described in the support instructions. Leave passthrough, bitstream, or Dolby Digital modes aside until PCM audio is working.
The label may appear as “Digital sound output,” “HDMI audio format,” or a similar sound-menu item. The important value is PCM, not the menu’s exact wording. Apply the change, restart playback, and listen again.
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5. Check the format selected inside the streaming app
A TV can be set to PCM while an individual application still requests another format. KEF specifically calls out Netflix and Disney+ in its LSX II LT FAQ. Open the app’s playback or audio-language menu and choose a PCM-compatible stereo or standard audio option when one is offered. Test a second app or a broadcast channel afterward. If only one app is silent, the app’s audio choice is more likely than the HDMI socket to be the cause.
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6. Replace or reseat the HDMI cable
For eARC, KEF specifies a high-speed HDMI cable with Ethernet. KEF also notes that lower-quality cables may fail to establish the connection. Replace a suspect lead with one explicitly identified as high-speed, Ethernet-equipped, and eARC/ARC compatible; this is a troubleshooting step, not a guarantee that every silence is a cable fault. Keep the new cable connected directly between the TV’s labeled ARC/eARC port and the KEF input while testing, without an HDMI switch, receiver, or other intermediary.
7. Power-cycle the television
When the settings and cable are correct but the link is still silent, unplug the television for about 10–15 seconds, reconnect it, and wait for it to boot fully. Then select TV mode on KEF and start playback again. This clears a failed HDMI handshake that a normal remote-control restart may leave in place.
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8. Use optical PCM as a controlled fallback
If HDMI remains silent after the preceding checks, connect the TV’s optical output to the KEF optical input, select the optical source on KEF, and set the television’s digital audio output to PCM. Optical bypasses the ARC/eARC and CEC return channel, so it helps distinguish an HDMI-handshake problem from a wider TV or KEF playback fault. It is a fallback test and does not repair a defective HDMI port.
PCM or Dolby Digital: which should you choose?
For this no-sound diagnosis, choose PCM first. Dolby Digital may be the TV’s default, but KEF’s support instructions specifically direct users to PCM when HDMI audio is missing. Once PCM is producing sound, you can test another format only if your model and television document support for it.
| Output setting | How it is treated in KEF troubleshooting | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| PCM | KEF’s recommended diagnostic output for HDMI; also the setting to use for the optical fallback. | Use first when HDMI or an app is silent, and when the LSX II LT indicators show a non-PCM signal. |
| Dolby Digital | Often the television default identified by KEF as a possible reason for silence. | Do not use it as the first troubleshooting setting; return to PCM if sound disappears. |
Decide whether the fault affects every source or one app
Source scope narrows the diagnosis:
- No source produces sound: Recheck TV mode, mute, volume, the ARC/eARC socket, CEC, PCM, cable seating, and the television power cycle in that order.
- Broadcast television works but one streaming app is silent: Inspect that app’s audio track or output format. Netflix and Disney+ are specifically named in KEF’s LSX II LT guidance.
- Optical works but HDMI does not: The KEF speaker and basic TV audio are functioning; focus on the HDMI port, CEC handshake, cable capability, or eARC negotiation.
- Neither HDMI nor optical works: Reconfirm that the KEF system is not muted, that the correct source is selected, and that the TV is actually playing audio before contacting support.
Testing a broadcast channel and a second app after each change prevents a single app’s audio setting from being mistaken for a system-wide failure.
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Connection choices and their requirements
| Connection | Required setup | What it helps diagnose |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI eARC | TV eARC socket, KEF TV input, HDMI-CEC enabled, and a high-speed HDMI cable with Ethernet. | Full HDMI return-audio path and the cable/handshake behavior described by KEF. |
| HDMI ARC | TV ARC socket, KEF TV input, and HDMI-CEC enabled. | Whether the television can establish a conventional ARC audio return. |
| Optical | TV optical output, KEF optical input, optical source selected on KEF, and TV digital audio set to PCM. | A fallback that bypasses HDMI ARC/eARC and its CEC handshake. |
Prepare a useful KEF support report
If the system is still silent, report the problem through KEF Connect App > Settings > Support. A precise report lets support distinguish a format mismatch from a connection failure. Include:
- The exact television model and KEF model.
- Whether you used HDMI eARC, HDMI ARC, or optical, and which TV socket was used.
- The HDMI cable type, including whether it is labeled high-speed with Ethernet.
- The KEF indicator behavior: blinking, pulsing, light-blue and purple, or mute indication.
- Whether TV mode was selected, CEC was enabled, and PCM changed the result.
- Whether television broadcasts, Netflix, Disney+, another app, or optical playback produced sound.
Do not describe the symptom only as “no audio.” State the last step that worked and the exact indicator pattern; those details are more actionable than repeating the entire setup.
Final setup checklist
- KEF is on and set to TV mode.
- Neither device is muted and the KEF volume is audible.
- The cable runs to the TV’s ARC/eARC-labeled socket.
- HDMI-CEC is enabled (Anynet+ on Samsung or Simplink on LG).
- TV HDMI audio output is PCM.
- The active app is not forcing a different audio format.
- eARC uses a high-speed HDMI cable with Ethernet.
- The TV has been unplugged for 10–15 seconds and restarted.
- Optical PCM has been tested if HDMI remains silent.
These checks separate a wrong source or mute state from a failed ARC/eARC handshake and from an app-specific format mismatch. If none changes the result, send the complete indicator and setup details through KEF Connect support.
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