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dbwhite77
Contributor I
October 29, 2016
Question

Multi-device setup with a receiver, replacing 5.1 speakers with Sonos

  • October 29, 2016
  • 15 replies
  • 1318 views
Hey all. I'd like to replace my current speaker setup, which is a 5.1 Energy setup, with a playbar, sub, and two play 1s. I currently have a Pioneer VSX-1019AH that is acting as the brains for TV, Roku, Mac Mini, etc. The TV is mounted above and only connected to the receiver via HDMI into the one and only HDMI out port. Since the Playbar only has optical audio, I don't know how to do this and still have my receiver run everything.

How do others set up a system with multiple sources with a Playbar and receiver? Seems like it was designed to only plug into the TV. I'd rather not have to go buy a new receiver to do this and I can't plug everything directly into the TV.

Thanks for the help!
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    15 replies

    Paulw123
    Paulw123
    Virtuoso
    October 29, 2016
    Can't you use the optical out from the tv to the playbar, then anything showing on the tv, the sound will be passed to the playbar.
    Your problem will come with DTS decoding, and whether your tv will pass DD5.1 through the optical lead, many do not. In which case your will only get stereo, stereo with simulated surround, or no sound at all with DTS from dvd player.
    dbwhite77Author
    Contributor I
    October 29, 2016
    I guess my biggest question is how to get the playbar and other Sonos to play from sources other than the TV in that scenario? Right now the receiver controls what device is playing at the moment and routes the sound and video to the proper places. If the Soundbar is only connected to the TV, how do I play sound from the Roku or a DVD player?

    I was thinking about getting something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DKECVAO/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2RNQR12E7XN07

    Does the community think that switcher will work in my scenario with my receiver?
    Paulw123
    Paulw123
    Virtuoso
    October 31, 2016
    Most people seem to use a switcher with the playbar, to overcome their TV not passing through optical DD5.1
    Maybe something with more connections would give future connection possibilities, like this:-
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017MUWYLS?psc=1
    Just the first one I looked at.
    You could then sell the receiver?
    dbwhite77Author
    Contributor I
    October 31, 2016
    This device looks awesome! Anyone on the community used one? Also, just curious, does the playbar then sync with the sub and surrounds in order to play any source through all 4 speakers (playbar, sub, surrounds)?
    AjTrek1
    AjTrek1
    November 1, 2016
    just curious, does the playbar then sync with the sub and surrounds in order to play any source through all 4 speakers (playbar, sub, surrounds)?

    The switch in the link provided by Paulw123 will allow the one (1) HDMI connection to your TV and optical to the Playbar to keep things neat. The Playbar becomes the "Brains" for audio as the Sub and Surrounds are BONDED to it. Simply put ....yes everything will be in sync. Hopefully your TV remote is IR or if RF came with a blaster so that you can use it to control the Playbar volume. If your remote is BT there is another work-a-round. You will still have to go to your TV's speaker menu and set the speakers to external. The Sonos Controller App for Playbar setup will help you silence your TV speakers. Good Luck!

    Cheers!
    Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
    dbwhite77Author
    Contributor I
    November 1, 2016
    Thanks again! I am using a Harmony One remote so hoping I can include the remote from the HDMI switcher on it. Looks like I have a solution, thanks to all!
    dbwhite77Author
    Contributor I
    November 2, 2016
    So I just ordered all the speakers and the switcher but I have another question as I think about the setup. Once i'm using the HDMI switcher, ideally with my Logitech Harmony remote, how do I control volume? Will I need to take out my phone every time I want to adjust the volume? That will kind of suck if so.
    Paulw123
    Paulw123
    Virtuoso
    November 2, 2016
    You should be able to program the harmony remote to work with playbar
    https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2022/~/programming-the-logitech-harmony-remote-to-control-the-playbar
    Sonos works with hub based products
    https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/harmony-experience-with-sonos
    dbwhite77Author
    Contributor I
    November 2, 2016
    My suspicions are confirmed! My old Harmony One won't work because its IR based. Shoot!
    The LHC
    November 2, 2016
    My suspicions are confirmed! My old Harmony One won't work because its IR based. Shoot!


    The Playbar has an ir receiver, why wouldn't that work?
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