How do sound bars work?

[Andeh1]

As per title - the trick is in the name....

However - I do not want to faff around with two remotes simply to get better sound in the room.

Is there any tips, tricks or ways of using one remote to control the TV & sound bar together?

[randlemarcus]

Buy one with the same brand as your telly, it will probably all work off the main remote.

[SlowcoachIII]

Not sure if this would be the same as my surround sound speaker system that connects via HDMI.

Try plugging your sound bar into the ‘ARC’ HDMI port and changing the volume on the TV remote should send a signal back to the sound bar to change the volume at the same time.

[TheGuru]

I have a Sonos sound bar, optical out from the TV into the back of that. Then change the sound output setting on the TV to the optical out only rather than the TV speakers. I just use the TV remote and it works fine.

[ArsE92]

Have a look at soundbases too. Same principal but they contain woofers too, and you can often stand your tv on them.

I’ve got one arriving today to replace a dead Onkyo 5.1 setup.

[Mr Pointy]

TheGuru said:

I have a Sonos sound bar, optical out from the TV into the back of that. Then change the sound output setting on the TV to the optical out only rather than the TV speakers. I just use the TV remote and it works fine.

Yep, same here. The only time I touch the soundbase remote is to select the optical input if it's been powered down.

[anonymous-user]

I bought one for my mum. Same brand as the TV (LG). When you install it the TV remote switches from adjusting the TV volume to adjusting the soundbar volume instead. Seamless. Can't remember if it's fibre or hdmi connected.

If you plump for different brands and fibre optic you'll still need two remotes as you can't change volume levels over toslink / fibre.

[snuffy]

I've an LG TV and an LG soundbar. You change the TV sound setting to be "soundbar/external" and that's it. It's connected on optical since Bluetooth did not work properly. The only thing is is that when you change the volume you don't get a volume display on the TV like you do if it's using its own built-in speakers.

My TV remote controls the sound as normal, if you mute the sound then the soundbar goes into standby mode.

[Mr Pointy]

RogerDodger said:

If you plump for different brands and fibre optic you'll still need two remotes as you can't change volume levels over toslink / fibre.

Are you sure about that?

[soad]

Wish there was a mobile phone app to control the whole lot?!

[snuffy]

soad said:

Wish there was a mobile phone app to control the whole lot?!

My mobile will control my TV. You can ever wave it at the telly and it moves the cursor.

I used it all of once.

[RichTT]

Mr Pointy said:

RogerDodger said:

If you plump for different brands and fibre optic you'll still need two remotes as you can't change volume levels over toslink / fibre.

Are you sure about that?

No, my LG TV & remote quite happily controls my Sony soundbar over HDMI ARC.

[anonymous-user]

Mr Pointy said:

Are you sure about that?

Yes. Fibre optic carries didgital audio signal with no attenutation (volume) code. Purely audio content.

If you are connected to a sound bar with fibre optic and you can adjust the volume with your TV remote, it's because the soundbar is getting the volume command another way - i.e. from the remote, or via wifi/BT/app

[anonymous-user]

RichTT said:

No, my LG TV & remote quite happily controls my Sony soundbar over HDMI ARC.

HDMI ARC is totally sperate from fibre optic/Toslink

[gr1340]

soad said:

Wish there was a mobile phone app to control the whole lot?!

You mean this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Harmony-Companio...

I don't want to use my mobile for the TV so for the past few years I have had a Logitech Harmony 650 which is, without doubt, the best AV purchase I have ever made.
It controls the TV, the AV system, Sky, Nvidia Shield, XBox and my NAS box. The kids can work it as it has buttons to turn everything on in one go to watch Sky or watch Netflix/Amazon on the Shield etc and then one button turns the lot off.
Sure, it might take an hour or two to set up and then the odd amendment to the routine after the initial set up but then it is easy.

I think with the hub thing listed above, you can use bluetooth devices which I can't do with the 650 but as only thing I cannot control with the 650 is the PS4, I can deal with that as I need to controller to play anyway.

[Sparkov]

I have a Cambridge Audio sound base and it was easily programmed to respond to my TV's remote for volume up/down. Presumably other manufacturers have similar solutions.

[ecotec]

Get an HDMI ARC enabled soundbar - as long as your TV supports it - this will work perfectly.
You don't need to stick to the same brand as your TV.

Optical does not work in this slick fashion.

What TV model do you have?

[ecotec]

RogerDodger said:

HDMI ARC is totally sperate from fibre optic/Toslink

Yes!

[Andeh1]

Thanks very much guys, HDMI & ARC it is then!

ecotec said:

Get an HDMI ARC enabled soundbar - as long as your TV supports it - this will work perfectly.
You don't need to stick to the same brand as your TV.

Optical does not work in this slick fashion.

What TV model do you have?

Yet to buy it, it is a new setup for my parents so have flexibility, to some degree.

I love the Samsung Ribbon TV Interface for their Smart TVs (even though I swear by an external 'Smart' box & dumb TV - for parents it is the need for simplicity & fewer remotes hence preferring Samsung.

[MrThomo]

TheGuru said:

I have a Sonos sound bar, optical out from the TV into the back of that. Then change the sound output setting on the TV to the optical out only rather than the TV speakers. I just use the TV remote and it works fine.

^^ This ^^