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olly79
Avid Contributor I
Feb 7, 2014 7:38 AM UTC

Sonos Playbar 2 with HDMI and other additional features

I completely understand the problem to add DTS re-coding to the current Playbar due to the fact
of introducing audio delay. And since the Sonos Playbar is only
responsible for audio, this delay can't be added for video as well.

Therefore, I would like Sonos to make a Sonos Playbar 2 or Sonos PlaybarHDMI which takes care about audio and video. DTS and other sound formats could be easily re-coded into a supported audio format and the audio/video sync could be kept.

But it could also address other improvement possibilities:
- Display "Volume" onscreen
- Support IR remote controls (and others as well) to adjust night mode and speech enhancement
- Multiple HDMI inputs / HDMI switch
- Display currently played music (while not in TV mode)
- Possibility to steer music with basic controls via IR (Play/Pause, Next track, Previous track, radio stations)
- Possibility to add two front channels (Playbar + 4x Play:1 + Sub)
- Possibility to increase width of Playbar to fit it to the size of the TV
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      43 replies

      olly79Author
      Avid Contributor I
      Mar 1, 2014 5:14 PM UTC
      No support?!
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      ken4000
      Lyricist III
      May 15, 2014 10:40 AM UTC
      This could be so great! The only reasons I haven't bought a Playbar are because my SmartTV don't use IR, it doesn't support DTS and HDMI ARC. Great idea with 4 Play1s, center Playbar and Sub. I hope Sonos will produce such a product or similar soon 🙂 Best regards Kenneth
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        Chye
        Lyricist I
        Jun 10, 2014 7:06 AM UTC
        I would believed that using the optical cable for audio is still the best option rather adopting a hdmi approach. I have blue ray player, playstation and an apple tv occupying 3/4 of my tv hdmi ports and keeping the last port for some other device. Best if SONOS could support more audio formats. The grill cloth collects dusts pretty easily and it is difficult to clean and it is non changable.
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        Kav99
        Enthusiast I
        Jun 16, 2014 5:49 PM UTC
        I would believed that using the optical cable for audio is still the best option rather adopting a hdmi approach. I have blue ray player, playstation and an apple tv occupying 3/4 of my tv hdmi ports and keeping the last port for some other device. Best if SONOS could support more audio formats. The grill cloth collects dusts pretty easily and it is difficult to clean and it is non changable.
        And you're listening to all but the TVs integrated tuner in a pseudo surround sound effect. With HDMI inputs all your devices would supply 5:1 audio to the Playbar.
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        ken4000
        Lyricist III
        Jun 16, 2014 8:33 PM UTC
        I would believed that using the optical cable for audio is still the best option rather adopting a hdmi approach. I have blue ray player, playstation and an apple tv occupying 3/4 of my tv hdmi ports and keeping the last port for some other device. Best if SONOS could support more audio formats. The grill cloth collects dusts pretty easily and it is difficult to clean and it is non changable.
        Not many TV's output 5:1 or passthrough the sound from devices --> TV --> Optical Out. Most TV's downsample it to PCM 2.0 Stereo and from that signal, Sonos will try to make surround again. It works, but not as good if it were a direct line from device to Playbar
        I know that Sony do passthrough and some LG's can do it after a change in a service configuration.
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          Zlim
          Trending Lyricist I
          Jul 25, 2014 7:14 PM UTC
          @Sonos, please build this, it will sell. Other playbars for the same price are offering 2+ HDMI ins, a connected subwoofer and IR support. I will buy this INSTANTLY once it hits the stores.
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          T_O_double_D
          Lyricist II
          Jul 27, 2014 12:25 PM UTC
          I agree - instant purchase, and currently not purchasing out of the small hope that Sonos will get their act together on this 5.1 sound issue.  Just purchased a $2,300 4K TV and willing to drop the same amount of cash on sound if only the desired features were available on a product with the sound quality of Sonos.  Have not spent enough time looking at other systems and already own a couple Sonos pieces in other rooms in the house -- but getting itchy to set something up, Sonos or not.
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          Justin_40
          Lyricist I
          Jul 27, 2014 7:42 PM UTC
          I too am holding out for a playbar with HDMI support.  Can I overcome the fact that my TV (Panasonic VT-30) does not provide 5.1 over optical for HDMI inputs?  Sure, add an HDMI switcher or AV receiver.  But this would not provide the type of seamless, easy to use experience for my whole family, that I've come to expect from Sonos.
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          ken4000
          Lyricist III
          Jul 28, 2014 5:56 AM UTC
          I could not wait. I have bought a Sonos Connect, a Denon x1100w and a Raspberry Pi.

          Okay the setup are sounds more advanced than it is. In the Pi, I have developed a Java service (it can also run on some NAS or Server) which watches the Connect. When it goes from off to on it will turn on the Denon, sets the input to Sonos and the volume at a specified level, as I control the volume on the Sonos app.

          It does it through the network as the Denon has an api and I could add more receivers, if they have an api to control them.

          I call the service The little helper  If others are interested I could go public with it...
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          User788212
          Lyricist I
          Oct 28, 2014 1:25 PM UTC
          +1 to instant purchaser.
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