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Alternate between two sources

  • January 4, 2023
  • 9 replies
  • 623 views
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I have a projector (want to coonect to a chromecast) and a TV (want to connect to an android box) and I want to be able to watch both at the same tine but be able to choose which plays audio through a Sonos Beam - I plan on connecting Bluetooth headphones to the other. I may want the sonos audio to play on one or other device depending on what is on at the time. 

So I have two separate hdmi cables (one from the chromecast and the other from the android box ) and then have an hdmi audio extractor with multiple inputs and one output that I can use to connect either the TV setup or projector setup to the beam. However, as there is only one output this set up doesn't work for connecting both devices to the Sonos and being able to switch between them... Any ideas?

Many thanks 

Best answer by Corry P

Hi @Ross Christie 

I should have said that the hdmi audio extractor (see link below) has an optical link

It’s okay - I inferred it. And then I got totally fixated on getting the feed from both TV and Projector to the Beam, rather than on that the sources are supposed to be connecting to both too.

I suppose my problem is that by having the hdmi cable from the chromecast (hdmi 1) and the hdmi cable from the android box (hdmi 2) connecting to input 1 and input 2 of the extractor and also the toslink to the Beam then I can get sonos for each individually but I can't watch both the projector and the TV at the same time given that there is only 1 output. 

Any ideas on how to get both working at the same time? 

Yes. I think I now fully understand what you are looking to achieve, and the device you probably need is an HDMI Matrix switch with HDMI-ARC options, or a switchable optical output. A matrix switch will allow you to pipe any input to any or all outputs. Different inputs to different outputs at the same time too. One with a switchable optical output would, I presume and if they exist, allow you to also pipe audio from any input to a sound-bar.

You can get away with a 2x2 switch, but if you’re ever likely to expand the number of sources, get a 4x2 instead (not 2x4, which would be for 4 TVs). Keep 4K in mind too, even if not needed right now - it saves upgrading later. Again, I can’t recommend any in particular, so you’d want to search “hdmi matrix switch 2x2 4k optical” or “hdmi matrix switch 4x2 4k optical” as I think getting a HDMI-Sonos link is a long-shot with these devices. I don’t really know much about these matrix devices, other than that they exist and are generally used for business premises (casinos and bars, for example) so may not cater to sound-bar needs. If there’s a need, there’s a market, however, so I think your chances of getting all this working are good - with the right matrix switch.

At this point, I don’t think it’s a surprise that this would also be unsupported - no guarantees, I’m afraid. And, be wary of planning to use TV apps or antenna - that would require full HDMI-ARC support from a matrix, or use of the optical switch I originally suggested in tandem with the matrix (which wouldn’t then need ARC or optical).

If you do get a matrix switch, you won’t need your current audio extracting switch.

I hope this helps, and is clear.

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9 replies

Corry P
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  • Corry P
  • Sonos Staff
  • January 5, 2023

Hi @Ross Christie 

Thanks for your post!

When Beam connects via HDMI, it joins a special network created by the TV/Projector - if it doesn’t successfully join, you won’t hear any audio. You’d need an ARC-capable HDMI switch - I don’t know if they exist in the configuration you need. While switching back and forth from TV to projector with HDMI may work, I’m not convinced it would be at all reliable, and it’s certainly not supported.

You do get TOS-Link optical switches, however, and as the optical link is unidirectional and involves no handshaking, using one should be much more reliable. It’s use is still unsupported, however - just a heads-up. A search for “optical switch toslink” will yield results, but I can’t recommend any specifically. You will need to utilise the HDMI-Optical adaptor that came with your Beam.

Using Optical will probably help your Bluetooth headphones connect more reliably too.

I hope this helps.

 

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
Airgetlam
R
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  • Ross Christie
  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • January 5, 2023

Many thanks @Corry P 

I should have said that the hdmi audio extractor (see link below) has an optical link and that I have the HDMI-Optical adaptor that came with the Beam.

I suppose my problem is that by having the hdmi cable from the chromecast (hdmi 1) and the hdmi cable from the android box (hdmi 2) connecting to input 1 and input 2 of the extractor and also the toslink to the Beam then I can get sonos for each individually but I can't watch both the projector and the TV at the same time given that there is only 1 output. 

Any ideas on how to get both working at the same time? 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073TXX3KV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Corry P
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  • Corry P
  • Sonos Staff
  • Answer
  • January 5, 2023

Hi @Ross Christie 

I should have said that the hdmi audio extractor (see link below) has an optical link

It’s okay - I inferred it. And then I got totally fixated on getting the feed from both TV and Projector to the Beam, rather than on that the sources are supposed to be connecting to both too.

I suppose my problem is that by having the hdmi cable from the chromecast (hdmi 1) and the hdmi cable from the android box (hdmi 2) connecting to input 1 and input 2 of the extractor and also the toslink to the Beam then I can get sonos for each individually but I can't watch both the projector and the TV at the same time given that there is only 1 output. 

Any ideas on how to get both working at the same time? 

Yes. I think I now fully understand what you are looking to achieve, and the device you probably need is an HDMI Matrix switch with HDMI-ARC options, or a switchable optical output. A matrix switch will allow you to pipe any input to any or all outputs. Different inputs to different outputs at the same time too. One with a switchable optical output would, I presume and if they exist, allow you to also pipe audio from any input to a sound-bar.

You can get away with a 2x2 switch, but if you’re ever likely to expand the number of sources, get a 4x2 instead (not 2x4, which would be for 4 TVs). Keep 4K in mind too, even if not needed right now - it saves upgrading later. Again, I can’t recommend any in particular, so you’d want to search “hdmi matrix switch 2x2 4k optical” or “hdmi matrix switch 4x2 4k optical” as I think getting a HDMI-Sonos link is a long-shot with these devices. I don’t really know much about these matrix devices, other than that they exist and are generally used for business premises (casinos and bars, for example) so may not cater to sound-bar needs. If there’s a need, there’s a market, however, so I think your chances of getting all this working are good - with the right matrix switch.

At this point, I don’t think it’s a surprise that this would also be unsupported - no guarantees, I’m afraid. And, be wary of planning to use TV apps or antenna - that would require full HDMI-ARC support from a matrix, or use of the optical switch I originally suggested in tandem with the matrix (which wouldn’t then need ARC or optical).

If you do get a matrix switch, you won’t need your current audio extracting switch.

I hope this helps, and is clear.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
Airgetlam
R
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  • Ross Christie
  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • January 5, 2023

Many thanks again. 

I think the below could do the trick as it only has one optical output but it has a way of switching audio source with the remote between output A and B. So presumably if I have selected output A then I'll find a way of getting the sound from output B via Bluetooth headohones for the other device. 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ClimaxDigital-CHM0402200V2-Matrix-Output-Enabled-BLACK/dp/B01NA6W360/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Corry P
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  • Corry P
  • Sonos Staff
  • January 6, 2023

Hi @Ross Christie 

No promises, but that unit certainly looks like it will do the trick. It mentions ARC, but only mentions using input audio for the optical output, so please be sure to test that TV apps/broadcasts work as intended, before your money back guarantee runs out!

Happy viewing!

And, you are very welcome!

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
R
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  • Ross Christie
  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • January 9, 2023

This all works well so delighted, thanks again @Corry P 

Airgetlam
Corry P
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  • Corry P
  • Sonos Staff
  • January 10, 2023

Hi @Ross Christie 

Fantastic! Thanks for updating the thread!

 

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
Airgetlam
T
  • TathlonLa
  • Lyricist I
  • April 11, 2023

Thanks! 

T
  • TathlonLa
  • Lyricist I
  • April 11, 2023

The below device may be suitable as it only has a single optical output but allows you to swap the audio source through remote control between outputs A and B. If I choose output A, I can probably use Bluetooth headphones to listen to the content coming from output B on my second device. g

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