Auracast in the LG C5 television is great … most of the time

Just before the World Cup, we upgraded our TV to the LG C5 42in after our older Panasonic started showing signs of its age. The C5 is one of the first to have Auracast built in as a standard feature, as well as having digital out so an external Auracaster can be added. 

We have already noted that adding a Bluetooth soundbar would switch off the Auracast, meaning we had to return the compatible soundbar to Richer Sounds, where we bought it. This is a shame as LG designed this to work with the television to give the richest possible sound experience. 

Thankfully, we are able to use our older soundbar as it uses digital audio out (TOSLINK). 

Advertisement

Our old TV had a GN ReSound TV Streamer+ plugged in, as we have found this to be the best Auracast streamer we’ve tried. Small and compact, it contains Velcro strips that mean it can be attached to the back of the television. It can also fit into a bag for travelling. 

However, it does not have an audio out, just audio in, so it’s not easy to daisy chain a soundbar. 

To remedy this, we are currently using the Adeara Audio Broadcaster. It’s slightly bigger – around the size of a pre-shrinkflation Mars bar – and crucially allows for a soundbar to be wired in, so that sound can go out from both the Auracaster and the soundbar. 

This isn’t an issue if you use the LG’s internal Auracast. 

But we’ve found that the internal Auracast is not without its flaws. 

It’s easy to set up, and LG has ensured it is not hidden away among several sub-menus, and this deserves to be commended. It can also be renamed and password-protected should you wish to ensure your neighbours don’t discover your addiction to endless episodes of A Place In The Sun or Homes Under The Hammer.

Compared to the Auracast streamer, it can be slow to appear in an Auracast Assistant. Instead of the near-instantaneous arrival on the menu, it takes a few more seconds to appear. So delayed is its appearance that it’s easy to assume the LG C5 has turned off the Auracast and it needed to be switched on again. 

And sometimes there is a delay in the signal itself. The latency can be adjusted on screen if it’s not in sync with the television’s output, so that is not a problem. But there is a problem with the sound not arriving in the hearing aids simultaneously. It’s a split-second delay but enough for the audio to be completely out of sync. 

We’ve tested this with both Oticon Intent and ReSound Vivia hearing aids, and the issue is the same in both. The solution is to turn the TV on and off again, but we’re baffled as to why this is happening. It doesn’t matter whether we are streaming a programme on BBC iPlayer or watching television live (Talking Pictures TV for us), so we can’t see a logical reason for it. 

Also, it is not an intermittent fault: it doesn’t happen when watching something; instead, it is either out of sync when connecting, or it’s fine. It is simply one or the other. 

In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t a big issue, but at the same time, it’s frustrating that it is happening. 

We will contact LG to see if they know why this is occurring and if there are any possible solutions. It could be a simple over-the-air firmware update that’s needed. 

Teething troubles like this are perfectly normal with new technology, and unless they’re reported, fixes can’t be made. So, LG, we’re letting you know. The Auracast is great, except when it’s out of sync!

Aurahear in your inbox!

Enjoy a weekly round-up of the latest Auracast news and views – direct to your inbox, and all free! You may be asked to complete a puzzle, and will be sent an email asking you to confirm your subscription, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

First name

Last name

Email

I accept the privacy policy

Advertisement