Question

CONNECTING THE AUDIO OUTPUT OF A SMART TV TO A SONOS SYSTEM

  • 2 January 2014
  • 13 replies
  • 3998 views

CAN I CONNECT THE AUDIO OUTPUT OF MY SMART TV TO MY SONOS SYSTEM? MY TV HAS A DIGITAL AUDIO OPTICAL OUTPUT

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13 replies

Userlevel 5
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Hello Malcolm,

To connect your TV via the Optical output you will need to purchase a PLAYBAR, this is the only device from Sonos with an Optical Input.
So there is no way to connect play:1 to smart tv whithout a playbar?
Userlevel 5
Badge +3
So there is no way to connect play:1 to smart tv whithout a playbar?
Exactly, as it can not connect wirelessly directly from the TV to the PLAY:1.
So there is no way to connect play:1 to smart tv whithout a playbar?
Tnx!
You can also connect the HDMI Audio Return Channel of your TV to any device with RCA inputs using a CYP AU-1HARC HDMI Audio Extractor (http://www.cypeurope.com/store/store/app/product/AU-1HARC ). It is only sold in Europe, but you can find a distributor that will ship to you at a reasonable price.  I used Future Shop (http://futureshop.co.uk/), but would also recommend Keene Electronics (http://www.keene.co.uk/).

Just make sure to specify US Power Supply Clips with your order.

I found similar solutions domestically, but at 3-4 times the cost of the CYP product. It is an amazing little product, and their catalog seems to contain other ingenious and cost-effective devices.

This setup allows me to send the output of the TV directly to my Connect Amp, and connect  my speakers and sound bar to the Amp.  With HDMI ARC/CEC, the AU-1HARC allows the TV to control the volume of the output to the Connect Amp, and use only the TV remote control for all functions.  Doing this, I was able to eliminate the home audio receiver, integrate to the Sonos, and simplify and clean up my entire A/V setup.  Plus, this greatly enhanced the Wife Acceptance Factor of our home entertainment system.

I had to do this since our TV (Samsung F Series), has fixed volume audio outputs for both the optical and analog audio jacks, so HDMI/ARC was my only hope to eliminate the receiver, and consolidate remote controls.

I hope this helps somebody with the same problem I had.

Good luck!

I love the Sonos.  I just wish their was a controller component that could at least display the Now Playing information on my TV.  It's always nice to see the artwork and such.  I used to be a big XBMC user, which has amazing playback information for it's music player, but no easy whole-home audio solutions.

Maybe an Android Dongle plugged into HDMI would do the trick?
Hello Malcolm,

To connect your TV via the Optical output you will need to purchase a PLAYBAR, this is the only device from Sonos with an Optical Input.

The Connect has an Optical Input but I can't seem to get it to register.
Hello Malcolm,

To connect your TV via the Optical output you will need to purchase a PLAYBAR, this is the only device from Sonos with an Optical Input.

The optical connection on the connect is only an output. Connect input is the analog red/white connections.
Userlevel 2
You can also connect the HDMI Audio Return Channel of your TV to any device with RCA inputs using a CYP AU-1HARC HDMI Audio Extractor (http://www.cypeurope.com/store/store/app/product/AU-1HARC ). It is only sold in Europe, but you can find a distributor that will ship to you at a reasonable price.  I used Future Shop (http://futureshop.co.uk/), but would also recommend Keene Electronics (http://www.keene.co.uk/).

Just make sure to specify US Power Supply Clips with your order.

I found similar solutions domestically, but at 3-4 times the cost of the CYP product. It is an amazing little product, and their catalog seems to contain other ingenious and cost-effective devices.

This setup allows me to send the output of the TV directly to my Connect Amp, and connect  my speakers and sound bar to the Amp.  With HDMI ARC/CEC, the AU-1HARC allows the TV to control the volume of the output to the Connect Amp, and use only the TV remote control for all functions.  Doing this, I was able to eliminate the home audio receiver, integrate to the Sonos, and simplify and clean up my entire A/V setup.  Plus, this greatly enhanced the Wife Acceptance Factor of our home entertainment system.

I had to do this since our TV (Samsung F Series), has fixed volume audio outputs for both the optical and analog audio jacks, so HDMI/ARC was my only hope to eliminate the receiver, and consolidate remote controls.

I hope this helps somebody with the same problem I had.

Good luck!

I love the Sonos.  I just wish their was a controller component that could at least display the Now Playing information on my TV.  It's always nice to see the artwork and such.  I used to be a big XBMC user, which has amazing playback information for it's music player, but no easy whole-home audio solutions.

Maybe an Android Dongle plugged into HDMI would do the trick?


Thank you Mark - your tip about the CYP product was invaluable. I too have the 'fixed audio output level' problem with a Samsung TV - why they do that is beyond me.

Brett
You can also connect the HDMI Audio Return Channel of your TV to any device with RCA inputs using a CYP AU-1HARC HDMI Audio Extractor (http://www.cypeurope.com/store/store/app/product/AU-1HARC ). It is only sold in Europe, but you can find a distributor that will ship to you at a reasonable price.  I used Future Shop (http://futureshop.co.uk/), but would also recommend Keene Electronics (http://www.keene.co.uk/).

Just make sure to specify US Power Supply Clips with your order.

I found similar solutions domestically, but at 3-4 times the cost of the CYP product. It is an amazing little product, and their catalog seems to contain other ingenious and cost-effective devices.

This setup allows me to send the output of the TV directly to my Connect Amp, and connect  my speakers and sound bar to the Amp.  With HDMI ARC/CEC, the AU-1HARC allows the TV to control the volume of the output to the Connect Amp, and use only the TV remote control for all functions.  Doing this, I was able to eliminate the home audio receiver, integrate to the Sonos, and simplify and clean up my entire A/V setup.  Plus, this greatly enhanced the Wife Acceptance Factor of our home entertainment system.

I had to do this since our TV (Samsung F Series), has fixed volume audio outputs for both the optical and analog audio jacks, so HDMI/ARC was my only hope to eliminate the receiver, and consolidate remote controls.

I hope this helps somebody with the same problem I had.

Good luck!

I love the Sonos.  I just wish their was a controller component that could at least display the Now Playing information on my TV.  It's always nice to see the artwork and such.  I used to be a big XBMC user, which has amazing playback information for it's music player, but no easy whole-home audio solutions.

Maybe an Android Dongle plugged into HDMI would do the trick?


My pleasure. I hope it helps!
So there is no way to connect play:1 to smart tv whithout a playbar?
The playbar is great, but for esthetic reasons it's not suited for my living room. I have installed a CONNECT AMP in the living room. I could attach the audio-in to the smart tv, but it's already in use.

Both the TV and  SONOS are on the same network. Why cant I just see the smart tv as an audio source in the SONOS menu? There must be a software based solution for this...
Userlevel 2
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Hi there,

I bought the CYP device and it certainly works. However, my Panasonic Viera suddenly brought up 'Home Theatre Volume' when I press the TV remote volume buttons but the sound is mute on the TV itself. I turned the TV on and off again and the volume was working normally again. I thought the whole point of the ARC technology was that it could handle more than one input for any given channel. Ideally I'd like the TV speakers to be on all the time, and my outdoor Sonos system to be an option which I control through the Sonos controller. Any ideas ?

Ben
If I purchase a playbar and connect to my smart TV would I be able to play sound from the TV to all my sonos speakers through out my house?
Yes, albeit with a 70ms delay to the other speakers.