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Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

MOMO12 — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 21:27:16 GMT

Hi there,

Im looking for help after getting my BT pro TV box.

I previously had a sky Q box and this set up worked flawlessly.

I have a Samsung soundbar connected to the TV via an optical cable. Then the TV box is connected to the TV via hdmi. TV volume is set to zero, all audio should come through the soundbar.I

However, I can't get the ability to control the volume of the soundbar via the BT remote. What is it I need to do?

Thanks

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

Andy005 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 19:20:18 GMT

Hi @MOMO12 ,

I have a Samsung Soundbar connected via an optical cable to my Samsung TV, my BT Pro remote has no problem controlling the sound level of the soundbar, but it does it through the TV.

Why have you set your TV volume to zero?

In Settings on your TV, have you set Sound to Audio out / Optical?

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

MOMO12 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 19:30:31 GMT

Thanks for the reply @Andy005.

It is a Panasonic TV with no setting for specifying optical cable unfortunately.

I always had the TV volume set to zero otherwise sound comes out of the soundbar speakers as well as the TV speakers which causes an echo.

I've followed the instructions for setting the TV box up with a optical cable but doesn't work!

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

Andy005 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 19:47:08 GMT

You said in your first post that your optical cable is connected from your soundbar to your TV. If your TV has an optical audio connection then surely you should see it in Settings somewhere.

When my soundbar is on, the TV automatically mutes the built in speakers, the TV remote and the BT Pro remote both control the soundbar volume through the TV.

When you use the BT Pro remote does it change the volume on your TV, ie work normally apart from the soundbar?

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

MOMO12 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 20:11:32 GMT

Tried looking again there, it doesn't specify optical audio but it does have viera link which looks to be the settings of interest but can't seem to get it to work. The TV is a Panasonic tx-l50b6b, like I said, it was all working perfectly fine with the sky box 😞
Your setup sounds ideal!
Yeah the BT pro remote changes the volume of the TV no problem at all. Similarly if I change the remote settings from controlling the TV to the BT box, it changes the volume 'from the box' if that makes sense.

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

Andy005 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 20:28:16 GMT

There's a SPDIF connection on the back of the BT Pro box for audio out but I think that's different to Optical. It might be worth checking what connections your soundbar has, and searching to see what the differences are in the cables.

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

Andy005 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 20:32:27 GMT

Looking at the back of the BT Pro box @MOMO12 it does look like an optical out, try your optical cable between the BT Pro box, if it fits, and your soundbar.

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

MOMO12 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 20:47:42 GMT

Connecting the optical cable between the BT box and soundbar does work but still can't control the soundbar volume.

After a bit of messing around I've now tried with hdmi cables. Connected the BT box to the sound bar hdmi in. Then the hdmi out of the soundbar to hdmi in of the TV. Note, I've had to change the source on the soundbar to hdmi.

This is all fine but I also have a PC connected to the TV. But because the the BT box is using the hdmi input/output of the soundbar I need to use the optical cable for the audio of the PC. Which means I need to use the soundbar remote to change the source. Isn't ideal as my intent is to put the soundbar remote back in the drawer and use only one remote.
I appreciate any thoughts you might have!

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

MOMO12 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 20:49:41 GMT

I should add that with the BT box connected to the soundbar and then the TV via hdmi gives me control of the soundbar volume via the BT remote!

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

Andy005 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 20:56:13 GMT

I use all of my remotes, including the soundbar one if I want to change the sound settings etc. I find it easier than a single programmable remote, even though they aren't the easiest things to keep tidy.

If you haven't already done so @MOMO12 there's an option in settings on the BT Pro box to switch the HDMI audio between Stereo and Surround.

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

MOMO12 — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 21:14:04 GMT

I really hope there is an option to just use one remote. I had it with my sky set up, surely I can have it with BT as well?!

Yeah I saw that option but then that leaves me with no option but to use the soundbar remote for volume control. Back to square one!

Re: Control soundbar volume on BT pro TV box

JonMace — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:16:47 GMT

I have a 10 year old Panasonic TV, if i connect the Pro box to the TV and the TV (via ARC) to my Onkyo Amp I can control the Amp volume through the TV with pro remote, but the TV doe not pass through Dolby Digital. So plug the Pro into the amp and deal with multi remotes .