FIXED: Sonos Playbar Remote Pairing with TCL TV remote – What Actually Worked

I messaged them about it today. Will post a reply. Until then, I am using my Harmony Smart Control remote. It’s a PITA to set up, but it basically works. It’s a hub-based remote so it still functions, even tho Logitech no longer supports the device.

https://www.reddit.com/r/logitechharmony/comments/1pfurov/comment/nspan2y/

Thanks! Im also trying to contact them, but i must say that TCL support is not the easiest to contact

Unhelpful TCL reply:

 

We understand how important it is to have seamless control of your devices, and we appreciate the effort you have made in attempting to train your Sonos Playbase with the TCL remote.

To clarify, the TCL remote is designed to operate using both Bluetooth and infrared (IR) signals, which can sometimes cause issues when attempting to program third-party devices through IR learning. For reliable and consistent functionality, the recommended and supported method to control the Sonos Playbase with your TCL TV remote is through an HDMI connection, if the Sonos Playbase supports HDMI, utilizing CEC (Consumer Electronics Control).

When the Playbase is connected to your TV via HDMI ARC and CEC is enabled, your TCL remote can control both the TV and the Playbase volume without requiring additional programming. This setup ensures smooth performance and eliminates the need to manually train the Sonos app with IR commands.

 

And incorrect, too. The PLAYBASE can’t receive CEC commands, as it is connected via optical, which doesn’t carry CEC. Which is why it has to work via IR. 

Yeah, tbf I didnt imagine they knew the Playbase specs.

I almost wanna get a Beam, but the PB sounds great and why spend more money?

Working fine with my Harmony Smart Control.

TCL says no way to get IR learning systems to learn from a TCL IR signal:


We would like to clarify that the only way to control external devices via TCL TVs is through HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control). Our TCL remote does not support learning or pairing IR commands to external devices, except for select cable box providers that are officially supported.

As a result, the TCL remote cannot be used to directly control other devices via IR learning systems, and volume or other IR commands may not be compatible with third-party IR learning systems.

We hope this clarifies the limitations of TCL remote functionality. Please let us know if you have any further questions.

But it’s Sonos that is ‘learning’ the IR codes, not the TCL remote. There is no ‘standard’ IR code that Sonos uses. 

I’m not sure those responding to you understand the issue properly. All you should be asking is how to turn on IR on the remote, not how to set codes. Once the IR has been turned on, you would follow the procedures by Sonos to ‘learn’ the codes sent by the TCL remote. 

Usually, you can configure a TV or cable box remote to send IR commands to an arbitrary model XYZ home theater system, then train the SONOS unit to use those Volume IR commands.

Ahh, I’ve tried that. I set the TV to IR only. Set the Sonos to learn the IR code (and my Harmony Smart Control hub too) - the only way it registers if you button mash the vol up/down command, which (a) doesnt actually work and (b) leads me to believe the command is in a non-std format.

As long as your TV remote and the Logitech remote are using the same format IR ‘code’, then Sonos can’t tell what device is generating the code. It’s just looking for whatever code it is told matches what is sent. 

I’ve never heard of a ‘non-standard’ IR code, but I suppose such a thing is a possibility, but I’d likely want to call Sonos Support to discuss it.