|
||||||||
How to use a sound bar! |
![]() |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Valencia - Spain
Posts: 430
|
How to use a sound bar!
May be a simple enough issue but all new stuff for me!
I have a LG flat screen TV but the sound quality is dire and then I see you can buy a sound bar (eg LG NB2020A) OK I understand this is an alternative audio system for the TV which will connect to my optical output - but once it is connected do I keep having to use two remotes to listen to it - ie. can't I simply use the tv remote as a volume control or do I have t use the sound bar remote as well - and is it all going to be more complicated???? |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
|
You generally have to use the sound bar remote.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,735
|
i have a similar setup , but i just use tv remote to turn tv on/of and my bt vision remote to change channels and control volume on soundbar(volume function can be programmed)
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South West
Posts: 3,286
|
I recently bought a Humax HDR and after I'd had it for a while realised that the remote for it works as a universal remote, so I can use it to control the PVR, TV, DVD and audio.
Mind you, I can be a bit slow in working out what remotes can do. I had my Panasonic TV for 3 years before my son told me that the Hold button, which I assumed just referred to the Teletext pages, could also hold any image on the TV screen. |
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Valencia - Spain
Posts: 430
|
I was hoping there would be a system which means I can simply use the TV remote to control the volume on sound bar - all I want it to do is produce better sound and dont really see why this type of operation could not be possible. Seems a waste to have yet another remote to do a simple funcion whch is actually already catered for within the tv!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 690
|
Which LG screen do you have?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 14,718
|
Quote:
I was hoping there would be a system which means I can simply use the TV remote to control the volume on sound bar - all I want it to do is produce better sound and dont really see why this type of operation could not be possible. Seems a waste to have yet another remote to do a simple funcion whch is actually already catered for within the tv!
Does your TV have CEC? If so it should be able to control a soundbar that also has it. It may be called something like Viera Link depending on the make, if you are unsure then post your TV model and the model of the prospective soundbar. My comments above apply to a soundbar with HDMI, the one you linked just has a digital sound input. You should be able to control the volume with a learning universal remote ok (the TV would be in mute and the remote volume control would be set for the soundbar). Alternatively get computer speakers and plug them into the headphone socket if the TV has that, that will improve the sound of the TV. |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Valencia - Spain
Posts: 430
|
I think it is a LG 32LV355U (can't see it at the moment as its in another house whic I rent out) Its not a smart TV - pretty basic (3HDMI, 1scart, 1 AV, vga + usb inputs) but does have optical audio out which made me think a soundbar would be ideal.. Also like the idea of using pc speakers - should work also (but need to check that there is an output) so may use that if I cant get a suitable soundbar..
Don't know what CEC is so can't answer that - and as I have not heard of it I am assuming it hasn't got it. |
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 14,718
|
That TV does CEC (they call it simple link) so should link well with compatible soundbars such as those by Yamaha (and others).
|
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
|
Quote:
I was hoping there would be a system which means I can simply use the TV remote to control the volume on sound bar - all I want it to do is produce better sound and dont really see why this type of operation could not be possible. Seems a waste to have yet another remote to do a simple funcion whch is actually already catered for within the tv!
As the optical is digital it can't, and shouldn't, vary with the TV's volume control. |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 14,718
|
Quote:
The problem is caused by using optical, if you feed the soundbar from the TV's headphone socket, then the TV's remote will control the volume from the soundbar.
As the optical is digital it can't, and shouldn't, vary with the TV's volume control. The TV could vary the "level" of the digital signal though this is a bit yuk, the soundbar would need to be set to a reference level first and there would be a loss of resolution at lower levels. (The quotes are because it wouldn't of course be the level of the digital signal but different numbers transmitted). |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 6,572
|
As your TV is LG and the sound-bar is LG I would wager that the remotes are compatible and the TV one will control the sound-bar or vice versa.....Simples....
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
|
Quote:
As your TV is LG and the sound-bar is LG I would wager that the remotes are compatible and the TV one will control the sound-bar or vice versa.....Simples....
![]() Certainly with Sony sound bars the remotes don't work each other, a little thought soon shows the flaw in that idea ![]() CEC enabled surround sound system do though, as the CEC allows communication via the HDMI lead, meaning the remotes don't have to be compatible. |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,597
|
An activity-based universal remote is going to be even more compatible not relying on flaky inter-species CEC inter-operability..
|
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 14,718
|
Quote:
An activity-based universal remote is going to be even more compatible not relying on flaky inter-species CEC inter-operability..
|
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,597
|
You do not have a Humax PVR then, just to pick one example out of thin air?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,923
|
Quote:
There's nothing flaky about CEC, certainly on mine it works every time. By contrast I've had problems with activity based remotes and I use my Harmony in device mode.
My own example is trying to play an audio CD on my Blu-Ray player via my surround amp. I put the disk in the player which wakes up and says "ohh a disk, you must want the telly on then". So it obligingly sends a wake up signal to the telly which turns on. But it's an audio CD, I don't need the telly. So I turn the telly off. Which sends a signal back to the Blu-Ray to turn off. Because I can't possible want to use the Blu-Ray player with the telly off can I?? ![]() ![]() So I turn the player back on which turns the telly back on. Turn the telly off and that turns the player off. There is absolutely no way with CEC enabled to use the Blu-Ray player without leaving the TV on. ![]() So basically I just turned CEC off on everything and put ME in control of the technology not the technology in control of me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 14,718
|
Quote:
Hmmmm CEC can be a royal pain in the wotsits at times though when it tries to be far too clever for it's own good.
I hate the activity based feature of my Harmony but stick with the Harmony because of the web based setting up which is excellent. The one real pain of the Harmony is that you can't change the order of the devices for some stupid reason. |
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,597
|
To be fair I do not let my Harmony remote automatically power on and off any of the various source devices, just the TV, AV amp and HDMI/Optical switch. I have added a pseudo-device though that has just the ON/OFF controls for all devices which is useful for cuing up or closing down devices not part of the current activity.
(I agree that it would be nice to be able to re-order the devices, not worked out how it does it. Sometimes updating a device moves it in the order and sometimes it does not) |
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Aberfeldy
Posts: 7,035
|
Quote:
May be a simple enough issue but all new stuff for me!
I have a LG flat screen TV but the sound quality is dire and then I see you can buy a sound bar (eg LG NB2020A) OK I understand this is an alternative audio system for the TV which will connect to my optical output - but once it is connected do I keep having to use two remotes to listen to it - ie. can't I simply use the tv remote as a volume control or do I have t use the sound bar remote as well - and is it all going to be more complicated???? What ever you watch on your tv from whatever source will send sound down the HDMI cable |
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
|
Quote:
what is the model number off your tv ?? hopefully it will have an ARC audio return channel , so you have one cable from tv to soundbar.
What ever you watch on your tv from whatever source will send sound down the HDMI cable They generally have optical in, and two phono's in. |
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Aberfeldy
Posts: 7,035
|
http://www.richersounds.com/product/...na-schtb20-blk
1 HDMI cable from the tv Nigel. So if you stick a USB stick in the tv or whatever you want , the sound will come down the HDMI cable into the soundbar |
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
|
Quote:
http://www.richersounds.com/product/...na-schtb20-blk
1 HDMI cable from the tv Nigel. So if you stick a USB stick in the tv or whatever you want , the sound will come down the HDMI cable into the soundbar
|
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Aberfeldy
Posts: 7,035
|
http://www.richersounds.com/product/...20a/lg-nb2520a
in fact here is a LG one . It has 3 INPUTS for HDMI and 1 OUTPUT to tv if your tv is older and doesn't have an ARC output It will probally work with your tv remote. Of course it depends on what your other equipment uses or can support . But with I guess the different sound modes available , you might not need Optical sound inputs ?? you need to listen to it |
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Caledonia
Posts: 5,687
|
Quote:
Bit of a weird thing, obviously the exception to the rule
![]() |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 16:58.





