How to Improve Startup Speed

The following TV setting adjustments can significantly reduce delay.

✔ 1. Disable TV Internal Speaker Auto-Switch

Some TVs briefly default to internal speakers before switching to ARC/eARC.
Disable automatic speaker switching if available.

✔ 2. Set TV Audio Output to PCM (Fixed)

Instead of:

• Auto

• Bitstream

• Dolby Digital+

• Atmos

Set the TV to:

PCM (fixed output)

This prevents repeated format negotiation.

✔ 3. Disable Audio Format Auto Detection

Turn off:

• Auto audio mode

• Dynamic audio switching

• Adaptive sound processing

Keeping a fixed output reduces handshake time.

✔ 4. Use a Certified High-Speed HDMI Cable

Use:

• Certified High Speed HDMI

• Ultra High Speed HDMI (recommended for eARC)

Low-quality cables can increase handshake time and cause instability.

✔ 5. Disable TV Power-Saving HDMI Delay

Some TVs include:

• HDMI deep sleep

• Power-saving ARC delay

• Energy mode affecting HDMI ports

Disable these features if available.

Expected Improvement

After applying the above settings:

• Startup delay typically reduces from 8–10 seconds

• Down to approximately 3–5 seconds

When to Consider Alternative Connection

In commercial or hospitality installations where faster startup is required, using Optical (Toslink) instead of ARC can further reduce handshake delay, as Optical does not require HDMI negotiation.

Summary

SoundSend is functioning as designed.
Startup delay is usually caused by:

• TV boot time

• HDMI ARC/eARC handshake

• Audio format negotiation

Optimising TV settings will significantly improve performance.