CEC Error with BRAVIA + Teufel Cinebar 52 THX

CEC Communication

(1)

After turning on the Apple TV 4K, it almost immediately starts to issue <Active Source> commands:

02-09 13:49:46.648  1640  1640 I HdmiCecController: [R]:<Active Source> src: 4, dst: 15, params: 20 00
02-09 13:49:46.650  1640  1640 I HdmiCecController: [R]:<Active Source> src: 4, dst: 15, params: 20 00

Apple TV 4K as playback device has the logical address 4, soundbar as audio system logical address 5. 15 (0xF) is the broadcast address. So dst: 15 is processed by all devices.

(2)

Only after that do the devices report their physical addresses (Apple TV 4K=HDMI2=0x2000, Teufel Cinebar 52 THX=HDMI3=0x3000):

02-09 13:49:48.098  1640  1640 I HdmiCecController: [R]:<Report Physical Address> src: 4, dst: 15, params: 20 00 04
02-09 13:49:48.099  1640  1640 I HdmiCecLocalDeviceTv: Ignored while tv is transient to or in standby: <Report Physical Address> src: 4, dst: 15, params: 20 00 04
02-09 13:49:48.233  1640  1640 I HdmiCecController: [R]:<Report Physical Address> src: 5, dst: 15, params: 30 00 05
02-09 13:49:48.239  1640  1640 I HdmiCecLocalDeviceTv: Ignored while tv is transient to or in standby: <Report Physical Address> src: 5, dst: 15, params: 30 00 05

It looks like the BRAVIA isn't yet ready to process CEC commands which is probably the reason why the previous <Active Source> commands (see (1)) from the Apple TV 4K did not have any effect.

Q: Why does the Apple TV 4K try to set the active source before reporting the physical address?

(3)

The Apple TV 4K now seems to realize that it hasn't become the active source and asks who the active source is:

02-09 13:49:48.297  1640  1640 I HdmiCecController: [R]:<Request Active Source> src: 4, dst: 15

Q: Why does it do that? What is the Apple TV 4K doing with the information?

(4)

The Teufel Cinebar 52 THX answers:

02-09 13:49:48.418  1640  1640 I HdmiCecController: [R]:<Active Source> src: 5, dst: 15, params: 30 00

Q: Why does the soundbar answer even though nothing is connected to its HDMI switch? Does not make any sense.

(5)

The BRAVIA is now ready for the <Active Source> command, switching to the soundbar on HDMI3 as the soundbar pretends that it has something to stream by making itself the active source (see (4)):

02-09 13:49:58.049  3131  3150 D TIS_ExternalTis: onChange: device:Hardware: physical_address: 0x3000 port_id: 3 inputId:com.sony.dtv.tvinput.external/.ExternalTvInputService/HW4
02-09 13:49:58.057  3131  3150 I TIS_ExternalTis: onChanged: input change request from connected HDMI device. Change input

Please read on in the next posting for possible solutions...

vazandrew wrote:

The Bravia is what is setting off the issue, and it would require a fix from Sony. Best to give this information to them.

I don't really agree with your assessment.

All three parties could prevent the issue. My blame list is prioritized as follows...

(1) Teufel Cinebar 52 THX

The Cinebar should not pretend to be the active source if there is no device connected to it.

(2) Apple TV 4K

The Apple TV 4K is an always-on device. The BRAVIA is not. The Apple TV 4K is too quick in trying to make itself the active source. Furthermore there is no reason for it to query the active source.

(3) BRAVIA

It can probably be up quicker after deep sleep. The Apple TV 4K should however be able to cope with slow devices. BRAVIA isn't actually slow. It probably takes 3-5s until it can take in CEC commands...

vazandrew wrote:

The TV is the host device and is what determines how things respond.

I don't want to offend you but you obviously haven't read a single line of the CEC specification.

Possible Solutions

The problem could IMHO be solved in all three devices...

Apple TV 4K

Apple TV 4K should not query the active source (by issuing a <Request Active Source> command).

Teufel Cinebar 52 THX

Cinebar should not make itself the active source when receiving a <Request Active Source> query as there is nothing connected to its internal HDMI switch.

BRAVIA

The BRAVIA should by ready quicker after turning it on, processing the initial <Active Source> commands by the Apple TV 4K. This would result in the Apple TV 4K not issuing a <Request Active Source> which in turn would not result in an input switch to the soundbar.