Why doesn't my damn speaker bar work this way?

ice

ice

New member
I know there's a forum for this but there are like 4 posts from the last 30 days.

Basically, I hooked my speaker bar back up and got it working again when I'm just watching TV. If I want to hook my laptop up to it (mini display port -> HDMI on the TV) I get no sound from either the TV or the speaker bar. Even if I turn the TV off it still tries to control the volume of the speaker bar. Here is how I have it set up:

tKDoX9l.jpg


chq8HFy.jpg


The second image is where I usually plus my laptop into.

I used to have it working from my desktop PC to the TV via HDMI -> HDMI, is it the display port that's causing issues? I thought I had it working this way too. Even if I unplug the Tivo port and plug the speaker bar into that I get no sound.
 
From the image it looks like you're trying to get audio out to the speaker bar via the HDMI input on the TV. It says it does it via the audio return channel. My guess is it's not working properly with all the sources.

The digital audio out on the TV (looks like an optical connection) should be hooked up to the speaker bar, if it's possible. The TV should pass through all the audio from your HDMI sources hooked up to it out to the speaker bar.
 
are you using a macbook? apparently older versions of macbook don't send audio via their display port. no idea why.
 
DeathKnight said:
From the image it looks like you're trying to get audio out to the speaker bar via the HDMI input on the TV. It says it does it via the audio return channel. My guess is it's not working properly with all the sources.

The digital audio out on the TV (looks like an optical connection) should be hooked up to the speaker bar, if it's possible. The TV should pass through all the audio from your HDMI sources hooked up to it out to the speaker bar.
Click to expand...

Makes sense I guess, I'll see if I can come up with a cable like that.


jtpeace said:
are you using a macbook? apparently older versions of macbook don't send audio via their display port. no idea why.
Click to expand...


Nope, Surface Pro 3. I could have sworn I had it working the way I wanted it before with this but it may have just been my PC, which could handle the audio differently, though doesn't explain to me why it works when the speaker bar is out of the picture. The sound goes from the SP3 to the TV just fine.
 
I think it's an issue on the laptop end. Check to make sure that the laptop's audio is being sent out through the display port sound device, not headphones or speakers or what have you. Also make sure the computer is identifying the TV as the correct model/resolution/whatever. While there could be some strange limitation or incompatibility, I think this fault probably lies in software or configuration.


EDIT: not really sure how the speaker bar is hooked up. You have it plugged in through HDMI somehow?
 
make sure your HDMI 3 audio is set to accept digital audio over HDMI and not one of your other analog audio inputs.
HDMI 1 is your audio return channel...you can only hook up your soundbar there if you want audio through it.
 
DaJMasta said:
I think it's an issue on the laptop end. Check to make sure that the laptop's audio is being sent out through the display port sound device, not headphones or speakers or what have you. Also make sure the computer is identifying the TV as the correct model/resolution/whatever. While there could be some strange limitation or incompatibility, I think this fault probably lies in software or configuration.


EDIT: not really sure how the speaker bar is hooked up. You have it plugged in through HDMI somehow?
Click to expand...


Yep, speaker bar has two HDMI ports actually, I have it connected to the HDM1 port on the TV.

Payne3d said:
make sure your HDMI 3 audio is set to accept digital audio over HDMI and not one of your other analog audio inputs.
HDMI 1 is your audio return channel...you can only hook up your soundbar there if you want audio through it.
Click to expand...

That's where it's connected right now, through HDMI 1.


EDIT: Looking again, the other HDMI port on the speaker bar says BD/DVD player so I'm wondering if I need to connect that to the TV as well and then select the BD source when I change to the other HDMI.
 
ice said:
Yep, speaker bar has two HDMI ports actually, I have it connected to the HDM1 port on the TV.
Click to expand...


Interesting... I suspect this is related to the problem. It says it uses some technique to use fewer interconnect cables, but I think something in your chain isn't recognizing it or doesn't support it.

If the speaker bar acts like a pass through, you could try putting the laptop input into the speaker instead.... or something. Maybe if there's a BD/DVD dedicated port on the TV, maybe using that for the laptop?


Agree with the others, though, if you don't use this audio pass through over HDMI thing to the speakers and just use a dedicated audio input, the TV will be doing all the audio routing and it should simplify the system considerably.
 
Well, both the soundbar and TV have the ability to use an Audio Return Channel, so that means it shouldn't be too difficult.

The only thing that could be getting in your ways is making sure that HDMI control stuff is turned on. In this case, it looks like they call it Viera Link, but most of the time the Audio Return Channel requires HDMI CEC control on, so that would be something to look through the menus for. Also, double check that you've set the TV to output sound through a receiver/sound bar so that it turns "off" the normal speakers.

Second, double check that you're outputting the sound via HDMI on the laptop. You'll have to make it the Default Device
 
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I was about to write that my older plasma does not have ARC and that's why I have to use optical cable. So many components can lead to the issue...I was driving myself bat sheet crazy trying to get 5.1 with Netflix through my roku, soundbar...works with netflix through by blueray, but not roku...

long way of saying good luck
 
NWR_Midnight said:
Have you tried other cables? Possible the problem is with one or more of them?
Click to expand...

I have,.

Last night I got it working through randomly turning things on and off and switching cables, and now I remember having to do this all the time with the laptop. Some sort of combination of events leads to it working through the SP3 for the time being until I turn it off or disconnect it again, then I have to jump through hoops once more. Definitely a compatibility thing, all I can think of.
 
From the laptop, go to the TV.
From the TV, use optical cable to your soundbar.

Optical always works and is always sending sound.
Then turn off the TV speakers and use soundbar only.

You are one 15$ optical cable away from the solution.
 
MasterGoa said:
From the laptop, go to the TV.
From the TV, use optical cable to your soundbar.

Optical always works and is always sending sound.
Then turn off the TV speakers and use soundbar only.

You are one 15$ optical cable away from the solution.
Click to expand...

Yeah I just ordered one from Amazon, should be here Saturday.
 
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