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Connecting my devices to soundbar


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Old 28-03-2014, 13:12
Scottyb
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I have a samsung hw-f450 on order and was wondering how I can connect my devices?
I can't have the soundbar above or below tv yet, I'm having it to the side of it where my ps3 and sky+ box is. I have my sky+ box and ps3 connected to my tv via 2 hdmi cables. There is no way I can connect anymore cables to my tv, as the capping I have my wires behind, will not hold anymore in. What is the best way for me to go about this?
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Old 28-03-2014, 13:32
chrisjr
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It will sound a bit crap to the side. The whole point of the soundbar is to focus the sound in the area of the TV. You will lose that to some extent by having the sound coming from an area away from the visual focus.

As for connections. What TV have you got? If it supports ARC then you can make use of that. What you need to do is work out which of the existing HDMi cables is plugged into the ARC compatible socket on the TV. Unplug that from whatever device it is currently plugged into and plug into the HDMI OUT on the soundbar.

Use another HDMI lead to connect the device that you removed the lead from above to the HDMI IN socket on the soundbar.

This will let you hear audio from the TV's internal tuner plus (hopefully) whichever device is still connected to the TV by selecting the appropriate input on the TV and the ARC input on the soundbar.

If you want to watch and listen to the other device connected to the soundbar you need to select the HDMI in on the soundbar and the HDMI In that the soundbar is connected to on the TV.

If the TV does not support ARC things could get messy as the soundbar has very limited connectivity so trying to do it using alternative audio outs on the Sky box and PS3 could get messy. It has one optical digital out and one audio input (which I assume is analogue). You could use those to connect to Sky box and PS3. Provided they have corresponding outputs. And you don't mind losing the ability to do Dolby Digital on whichever is connected via analogue stereo.
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Old 28-03-2014, 15:01
Scottyb
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Thanks for the reply. I know it's going to be abit crap but when I decorated, I didn't think to move some plug sockets around etc and the plug socket is far away from my wall mounted tv. I have managed to extend on my plug for the tv but there is no way I can get power to my soundbar if it is under or above my tv. I'm currently trying to work round this though.
I don't think my hitachi tv supports Arc. Good tv for the price. I will try search on net when home at the model and see.
I will try these methods and see what works. Thanks
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Old 28-03-2014, 15:15
chrisjr
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Thanks for the reply. I know it's going to be abit crap but when I decorated, I didn't think to move some plug sockets around etc and the plug socket is far away from my wall mounted tv. I have managed to extend on my plug for the tv but there is no way I can get power to my soundbar if it is under or above my tv. I'm currently trying to work round this though.
I don't think my hitachi tv supports Arc. Good tv for the price. I will try search on net when home at the model and see.
I will try these methods and see what works. Thanks
You say you can't get any more cables in the trunking. Presumably you can get into the trunking if needs be?

Just wondered if ARC is not an option it's possible the telly has a digital optical output. While you might not be able to force another HDMI lead into the trunking could you get an optical cable in? They can be quite thin so shouldn't be a problem I wouldn't have thought.

If the TV does have optical out and you can run an optical cable to the soundbar that should do the trick. The output on the TV should carry sound from whatever you are watching which would solve any problems of trying to remember what input on the soundbar matches what you have selected on the telly.
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Old 28-03-2014, 17:13
Scottyb
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You say you can't get any more cables in the trunking. Presumably you can get into the trunking if needs be?

Just wondered if ARC is not an option it's possible the telly has a digital optical output. While you might not be able to force another HDMI lead into the trunking could you get an optical cable in? They can be quite thin so shouldn't be a problem I wouldn't have thought.

If the TV does have optical out and you can run an optical cable to the soundbar that should do the trick. The output on the TV should carry sound from whatever you are watching which would solve any problems of trying to remember what input on the soundbar matches what you have selected on the telly.
The tv has a sub out and coax out and two hdmi ports.
Really wish had placed plug sockets behind tv like I have done in other room so that could solve this problem. Don't really want the soundbar away from the tv.
I'm trying to think of solutions.
The issue is really the plug socket being so far away and not being able to place another power cable in the trunking really.
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Old 28-03-2014, 17:31
chrisjr
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The tv has a sub out and coax out and two hdmi ports.
Really wish had placed plug sockets behind tv like I have done in other room so that could solve this problem. Don't really want the soundbar away from the tv.
I'm trying to think of solutions.
The issue is really the plug socket being so far away and not being able to place another power cable in the trunking really.
If you have a power cable running to the TV could you not just pull that one out and run a twin gang extension lead in it's place Depending on the room behind the TV you might be able to hide the socket out of sight.

Or if the TV has an IEC (sometimes called "kettle") plug on the end of the mains lead you can get IEC doublers that plug onto the end of the lead and give you two IEC socket outlets. You could then use a short IEC to IEC lead for the telly and fit a rewireable IEC plug to the mains lead of the soundbar.

Do you mean by "coax out" that the TV has a digital output on a phono socket? If so that can be converted fairly easily to optical to match the soundbar. Trouble is that needs a box with a power supply to add into the power mix!
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Old 28-03-2014, 18:36
Scottyb
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If you have a power cable running to the TV could you not just pull that one out and run a twin gang extension lead in it's place Depending on the room behind the TV you might be able to hide the socket out of sight.

Or if the TV has an IEC (sometimes called "kettle") plug on the end of the mains lead you can get IEC doublers that plug onto the end of the lead and give you two IEC socket outlets. You could then use a short IEC to IEC lead for the telly and fit a rewireable IEC plug to the mains lead of the soundbar.

Do you mean by "coax out" that the TV has a digital output on a phono socket? If so that can be converted fairly easily to optical to match the soundbar. Trouble is that needs a box with a power supply to add into the power mix!
The power to the tv is literally connected to the tv. I cut off the original plug to the tv and extended on to that so it would reach the socket. I don't think ahead when I planned it all out. Scratching my head with this one
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Old 28-03-2014, 20:30
Scottyb
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Just connected this via the aux cable and sounds good. Won't be as good as HDMI or optical I'm sure. I don't think my tv has HDMI arc but going to research. It actually doesn't sound that odd when it is to the side of the tv but I prefer it under the tv. Time to upgrade the tv I think
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Old 28-03-2014, 21:40
Winston_1
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. I cut off the original plug to the tv and extended on to that so it would reach the socket.e
So at that point you have a connection where you could splice another.
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Old 28-03-2014, 22:41
Scottyb
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So at that point you have a connection where you could splice another.
Sorry if I'm being thick (not electrician) but how would this work? Attach a new plug on to the tv and put a split socket on the old cable the tv was attached to?
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