I'm starting to consider upgrading my HD TV to a 4K. The new 4k TVs have such small speakers that I definitely want to purchase a soundbar, but I'm unfamiliar with the setup. I see that most of the ones I'm looking at have an HDMI input and an HDMI output. Does that mean I run the ATV into the soundbar and then run the soundbar to the TV? Will that impact the ability of the ATV to control the on/off function of the TV? Are there any downsides to a setup like that?
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ATV4K Through Soundbar
- Thread starter hinesmj
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Not an expert here but this is what I did recently and was able to control the soundbar volume with the Apple TV Remote App. Get a TV with ARC, get a soundbar with ARC. Plug the soundbar into the TV using the HDMI ARC and plug the video sources into the TV. This doesn't require the soundbar to support Dolby Vision 4k passthrough. I got a good deal on a Samsung Mate soundbar and thats working but its rather chunky and wish I had gone with my original choice which was the Yamaha YAS-108 which is $200.
to expand on what rdowty said
arc is your friend
it stands for audio return channel
one port on the TV (HDMI 2 in my experience, it'll be labeled) supports sending audio out from the tv "backwards" down the cable.
then whatever audio is on the tv will go back down that HDMI cable to whatever's connected
If does mean one input is taken up for audio output, so if you've got a lot sources, you might run out of places to plug them.
on the bars with an in and out, you need to make sure that bar supports all audio and video formats you are trying to pass through, which can be limiting. Also it can only grab the audio of whatever is passing through, so if you route the aTV through the soundbar, then you won't be able to use it for the cable box.
on my tv (LG E6 OLED) there is an option for internal or external speakers, and can change back and forth as needed.
the remote (either TV or aTV) controls whichever is selected.
I just got the new Sonos beam, it's pretty solid, although it's a little more expensive at $400
but it's got...
-- alexa built in
--using airplay 2 you can send audio from any apple device directly to the bar without turning on the TV.
-- it's got it own on board media player that connects to many different services (Spotify, apple, google to name a few)
-- you can add a pair of speakers and they'll become surrounds (connect wirelessly, just need power)
-- you can add speakers (either singles or stereo pairs) in other rooms, and send the TV sound to that (can see the TV from the kitchen, but not quite hear it... this will fix that)
-- and it supports HDMI-CEC which allows the other remotes to control it's volume.
arc is your friend
it stands for audio return channel
one port on the TV (HDMI 2 in my experience, it'll be labeled) supports sending audio out from the tv "backwards" down the cable.
then whatever audio is on the tv will go back down that HDMI cable to whatever's connected
If does mean one input is taken up for audio output, so if you've got a lot sources, you might run out of places to plug them.
on the bars with an in and out, you need to make sure that bar supports all audio and video formats you are trying to pass through, which can be limiting. Also it can only grab the audio of whatever is passing through, so if you route the aTV through the soundbar, then you won't be able to use it for the cable box.
on my tv (LG E6 OLED) there is an option for internal or external speakers, and can change back and forth as needed.
the remote (either TV or aTV) controls whichever is selected.
I just got the new Sonos beam, it's pretty solid, although it's a little more expensive at $400
but it's got...
-- alexa built in
--using airplay 2 you can send audio from any apple device directly to the bar without turning on the TV.
-- it's got it own on board media player that connects to many different services (Spotify, apple, google to name a few)
-- you can add a pair of speakers and they'll become surrounds (connect wirelessly, just need power)
-- you can add speakers (either singles or stereo pairs) in other rooms, and send the TV sound to that (can see the TV from the kitchen, but not quite hear it... this will fix that)
-- and it supports HDMI-CEC which allows the other remotes to control it's volume.
Thanks...this is helpful. I was looking at the YAS 207. I just want the siri remote to work on everything without having to switch back and forth.
looks like the yas207 will do HDMI pass through or ARC.
I'd use the arc function, as it would only be 1 HDMI to the bar, and any TV audio will go.
It also supports HDMI-CEC, so your aTV remote will control volume on it over HDMI.
Make sure your TV also supports CEC, most new 4K should.
if that's the case, you can also use the TV remote to control the aTV and volume on the bar. (the aTV remote is very good about hiding, so my TV remote is always handy)
different makers call CEC different things (for example... SimpLink, anynet) Click here for a full list
and CEC vs IR for TV power control is much more reliable since you don't have to make sure the front of the aTV remote is pointed at the TV.
If you "miss" using IR, i normally have to get up and turn the TV on manually, since it only seems to send the power on the first press. (my bedroom is IR, Living room is CEC)
I'd use the arc function, as it would only be 1 HDMI to the bar, and any TV audio will go.
It also supports HDMI-CEC, so your aTV remote will control volume on it over HDMI.
Make sure your TV also supports CEC, most new 4K should.
if that's the case, you can also use the TV remote to control the aTV and volume on the bar. (the aTV remote is very good about hiding, so my TV remote is always handy)
different makers call CEC different things (for example... SimpLink, anynet) Click here for a full list
and CEC vs IR for TV power control is much more reliable since you don't have to make sure the front of the aTV remote is pointed at the TV.
If you "miss" using IR, i normally have to get up and turn the TV on manually, since it only seems to send the power on the first press. (my bedroom is IR, Living room is CEC)
The Siri remote can also “learn” the volume control signals for a soundbar or other audio device if that device does not support CEC. Then when the ATV is using that device the volume buttons on the Siri Remote work on the device. I have it working on an old hifi unit.
Yikes - looks awesome but would cost more than the TV i'm looking at. I do like the YAS-207 though.
I have the YSP 2500. My Apple ATV4, PS4 and PS3 are plugged directly into it with a cable running to the TV.
I control soundbar volume using the ATV remote but I can't switch the TV on or off with the ATV remote.
If you’re in the market for a sound bar, receiver, or speakers, I highly recommend Accesories4Less,
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/soundbars/speakers/soundbars/1.html
I’ve bought my Marantz receiver, a YSP and an Onkyo sound bar from them over the years. They are authorized reseller and have too notch stuff for half the cost. Bought this Onkyo sound bar for my 4K setup:
https://www.accessories4less.com/ma...ased-network-surround-sound-bar-system/1.html
Even the YSP-5600 for 40% off:
https://www.accessories4less.com/ma...wered-soundbar-w/dolby-atmos-and-dts-x/1.html
I have no affiliation with them, just a satisfied customer.
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/soundbars/speakers/soundbars/1.html
I’ve bought my Marantz receiver, a YSP and an Onkyo sound bar from them over the years. They are authorized reseller and have too notch stuff for half the cost. Bought this Onkyo sound bar for my 4K setup:
https://www.accessories4less.com/ma...ased-network-surround-sound-bar-system/1.html
Even the YSP-5600 for 40% off:
https://www.accessories4less.com/ma...wered-soundbar-w/dolby-atmos-and-dts-x/1.html
I have no affiliation with them, just a satisfied customer.
Also take the Samsung n950 soundbar (or n850 without rear speakers) into consideration; it does Dolby vision and HDR pass through, and also does DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. So you can keep using the full potential of the ATV 4K without worrying about formats. I pulled the trigger on one to replace my big and bulky 5.1 setup.
In this configuration, Does the Apple TV Remote turn the soundbar power on/off through CEC along with the TV? I currently have a similar setup with an older Yamaha soundbar connected through optical, and the only thing I need a second remote for is to power up the soundbar. I've been considering upgrading to the YAS-108, but haven't seen it explicitly stated that CEC would reach it from aTV -> Vizio TV -> Soundbar.
CEC is a single-wire bus: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...tv-over-hdmi-cec.1935105/page-5#post-25453637
But the implementation from various manufacturers is different enough, so that absolute compatibility can not be guaranteed, unless you test it yourself.
Either of you guys ever actually listen to the YSP-5600 for an extended period of time? How would you rate it against a 400 dollar (cheap) 5.1 setup (actual satellite speakers). I've never been sold on the idea however I've never had the pleasure of hearing it either.
We have it in the bedroom and living room. I bought one for the living room and figured if it worked I’d get one for the bedroom. It’s not like a legit atmos setup like we have in the home theater, but it’s pretty damn good. Needs a sub though. A bit “tinny” without it as it used very small speakers. Going to get another for the guest room.
I do not believe you would be able to decode atmos or dts-x using arc. To do this you would need to run the Apple TV into the soun bar and the sound bar to the tv. Arc does not allow lossless codecs to “travel down stream.”
That is correct, therefore I connected the ATV to the soundbar. Atmos can travel downstream as meta data in DD+ (not lossless).
True, but...
...not from appleTV!
This one always decodes DD+ into PCM 5.1 or 7.1 (according to number of channels in source stream).
The YAS 207 has 2 HDMI ports. Connect the HDMI ARC to the TV's HDMI ARC, and the Apple TV to the 2nd YAS 207's HDMI port. That's the best setup for a TV dedicated to the ATV. If you have extra devices (like a PS4) you may connect them to the other TV's HDMI ports and HDMI ARC will send the audio back to the YAS 207 via HDMI ARC. In the case of the PS4 you can choose Dolby bitstream for the audio, and that should bypass any compatibility issue.
Oh, the HDMI-CEC of my Yamaha AVR simply works great with the ATV and my Bravia TV. I am quite sure that technology is about the same in all recent Yamaha products. Also the ATV is quite smart, when pressing some buttons in the remote it sends a signal to inform that it is the active device (for example if I have my TV and AVR set on... TV, pressing the Menu button on ATV switches the TV and the AVR to the ATV 4K. Same if my stupid Bravia misses to switch the AVR to the ATV 4K).
Hi Lee
I also have this setup, apple tv4K connected to the soundbar via HDMI. So that it can support Atmos. However I have problems where the sound from Apple TV disappears on the soundbar from time to time...have you experienced this? Is there some special HDMI cable that you have connected it with? Thank you in advance
A Premium HDMI cable that explicitly states 18Gbps throughput, is a minimum.
Many cables are just labeled "Premium" on the package, but say nowhere about their guaranteed data throughput rate.
Belkin HDMI 2.1 cable (48Gbps) is a futureproof choice.
Most likely a bad/insufficient cable. I can't check for you as I ditched my Samsung n950 the same week. I never had any audio drop outs though.
Yes the Siri remote work on the device of volume buttons.The same applies with the mac .