topic Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output in Android TV

Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:05:09 GMT

We have a Sony A95L 65" and it's worked flawlessly until about a month ago, when the optical audio output started failing randomly. It happens most often when you turn off the TV for 5-10 minutes and then back on again. If you fiddle around with the audio settings it eventually comes back, only to stop again hours or days later. It doesn't stop working when you're watching it, only ever when you turn the TV on.

Any ideas?

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

daveyh64 — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 18:18:22 GMT

Have you tried a different optical cable?

Have you done a Restart of the TV?

Have you done a full power cycle on theTV?

Are you sure it is the TV and its optical output that are causing the problem or is

it the audio device it is connected to?

If there are other devices connected to the TV either by HDMI or USB disconnect them

to see if they may have caused the problem with the optical output.

After having disconnected the other devices and the optical output starts to behave

then connect the HDMI or USB devices one by one to see which is causing the problem.

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:21:48 GMT

The forum is rejecting my reply, but with no specific feedback, so I'm going to paste my reply in line by line to see what fails:

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:22:01 GMT

Thanks for your reply.

No, I only have one optical cable, so I'd have to buy another to try one.
We've tried turning the TV on and off, and turning it off then switching it off at the wall for a while. Is the latter a "full power cycle"?
We have a Blu-Ray player connected via HDMI. It's been powered off throughout.

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:22:11 GMT

Of course, yes, it could be the DAC, but the TV is our only optical source, so we're not in a position to troubleshoot that. The amp works fine for music, and I've tried switching the inputs, so I know the input is fine.

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:23:15 GMT

My reasoning was that the cure every time it fails to work is..

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:23:58 GMT

to change the settings on the TV back and forth

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:24:09 GMT

switching things like PCM on and off, or switching between TV speakers / audio system. After doing that for a minute or so, it suddenly starts working again.

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

daveyh64 — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 11:42:37 GMT

Yes a power cycle is switching off and unplugging, waiting few minutes and the start up.

Can you borrow an optical cable from a friend or relative.

They are not too expensive if you want to buy another one.

Did you remove the DVDs HDMI cable from the TV, I only mention this as someone else was

having a problem with their optical cable and it turned out to be a problem with an HDMI cable,

strange, I know.

Is the tVs software up to date there was an update at the beginning of August,

download it from here,

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/oled-tvs-android-a95l-series/xr-55a95l/software/00299239

Perhaps the action of installing new software will overwrite a cash or file that may be causing the problem.

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 14:09:40 GMT

Thanks again.

I can't borrow an optical lead; I'd have to try another one. For now I've disconnected the HDMI leads (I was wrong earlier - there are two: Wii and Blu-Ray player), and checked that we have the latest software, which we do (and auto-updates are enabled). I'll report back if it breaks again.

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

Nick_K — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:33:17 GMT

Rob, did you manage to fix it? I have identical problem with my A95L, would truly appreciate some insight...

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:36:04 GMT

Hi Nick. Yes, but as usual, my posts are not being accepted. As before, I shall try bit by bit:

I tried everything, including a new cable, unplugging everything else, power cycling, and a full reset of the TV, but nothing worked.

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:37:07 GMT

I assume it was a known bug, because eventually a software update on the TV a few weeks ago changed the functionality. Prior to that update, both were active all the time and when it worked you just turned up the one you wanted to hear.

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:44:52 GMT

Now you can only have one active at once

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:45:20 GMT

To switch between them you need to

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:51:11 GMT

Press the spanner button from the remote

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:51:32 GMT

then press the central button to select Picture & Sound

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

RobManser — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:51:39 GMT

, press down four times, then right once to change from TV Speakers to Audio System. Then you can press back twice to return to what you’re watching. You have to do this every time you switch between the two. Annoying, but it always works

Re: Sony A95L - new problem with optical output

Nick_K — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 07:35:12 GMT

Rob, thank you very much for your prompt response, this is truly helpful! This is definitely something you don't expect at the top of the range device... Will experiment with it, and see what happens, Thanks again for your help!