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Contributor II
September 9, 2024
Answered

How to connect Beam 2 via Bluetooth to Denon 760H receiver

I currently have my Beam 2 connected via HDMI eARC to my LG TV. It works perfectly. I can also use my iPhone to connect to it as well (testing purpose only). I would like to connect my Denon 760H receiver to the Beam 2 as well.

I’ve set the Denon for Bluetooth+Speaker, the Bluetooth Transmitter to ON, and pressed the JOIN button on the Beam 2. No luck. I even pressed the Bluetooth button on the receiver remote for three seconds to try and get it to connect, but it doesn’t find any available devices. I’ve tried the aforementioned with and without the SONOS app. The app can’t see any devices that want to connect when trying to connect to the Denon receiver. Of course, I’ve powered things on an off as well. No help.

My desire is to use the Beam 2 as my speakers for the Denon (in addition to the TV), and not use a pair of external speakers (I already got rid of the 30+ year old speakers).

Has anyone had any luck trying to do this? Or am I better off buying another speaker source for the Denon?

Thank you!

Joe

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YuCalJoeAnswer
Contributor II
September 10, 2024

Okay, I need to correct myself. I “ASS”umed that the JOIN button was for bluetooth. The salesman at Best Buy even said it had Bluetooth (maybe other brands do, but this one doesn’t). It even looks like a bluetooth symbol somewhat. But it really looks more like a “infinity” symbol after looking closer.

I can play Pandora from my iPhone, but it’s only after I add the Pandora SERVICE to the SONOS app, and giving the app permission to my Pandora account. It doesn’t use bluetooth for this. How it works is not known to me right now. I’m guessing that the SONOS has a computer like feature with a processor and memory for apps (just a guess right now), and it uses the network to talk.

So, this explains clearly why I can’t connect to the SONOS Beam 2 via bluetooth. The only way to connect my TV is via HDMI earc. This works fine. The documentation states that I can use Apple AirPlay to connect and play music as well. I haven’t tried this, and I don’t see a need to given that the SONOS app handles it for me.

So my receiver is still mute at this point (At least in the room it is located. Other speakers work fine). And will be until I get either a soundbar that supports bluetooth, or a new set of speakers (small ones, bookshelf size) that have good sound. I’m not really excited about using a HDMI earc switch. The prices for a good one are more than speakers. At least I can go to Best Buy and listen to some speakers, then order them from Amazon.

Given the aforementioned, I will terminate this post with an apology for not paying attention to the symbol on the back of the soundbar, for trusting the kid at Best Buy, for not pulling my head out of my (you know), not trusting the replies to my question, and not using basic logic and problem solving skills.

Thank you for tolerating my ignorance.

Joe

 

 

13 replies

Lead Maestro
September 10, 2024

The Beam isn’t designed to be used with an AV receiver. The Beam is also not Bluetooth compatible.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Airgetlam
September 10, 2024

You could, possibly, connect your Denon to your TV, then the Beam would play whatever the TV’s HDMI ports are receiving. 

Bruce
YuCalJoeAuthor
Contributor II
September 10, 2024

@GuitarSuperstar - It does work via Bluetooth with my iPhone. I mentioned that in the beginning of my question. I was able to play Pandora music from my iPhone through the Beam 2. The Beam 2 is Bluetooth compatible. But I do appreciate the reply.

 

@Airgetlam - That’s interesting. But I assume that the TV would have to be on?

 

Joe

MoPac
Headliner III
September 10, 2024

 Did you try turning off Bluetooth on your phone first before trying to get the Beam 2 to connect to the Denon?  Does the Heos app show Bluetooth connection?

Airgetlam
September 10, 2024

According to the tech specs, @GuitarSuperstar is correct, there are no electronics in the Beam (and Beam gen 2) to receive a Bluetooth signal, although it can receive an AirPlay 2 signal from an Apple device. 

In order for it to receive an ARC signal from the TV, the TV’s CEC computer would need to be powered on, which means the TV would need to be on. 

Bruce
MoPac
Headliner III
September 10, 2024

 Just read that the Beam is not Bluetooth compatible.  That surprises me.

Prodigy III
September 10, 2024

What do you have connected to the Denon amp that you are looking to keep and play through the Sonos? 

Senior Virtuoso
September 10, 2024

 Just read that the Beam is not Bluetooth compatible.  That surprises me.

Why? A soundbar’s principal use is as a speaker for a tv. The fact the Sonos ones can also received streamed music is great but the more inputs, the more electronics, the more dev-and-test, the more support, the more cost. 

MoPac
Headliner III
September 10, 2024

 I guess the only reason some would like to see Bluetooth support on their soundbar would be if a friend came over and wanted to play something he has on his phone.  Of course this would probably be a rare case.

 Samsung soundbars let you connect to a TV via Bluetooth or WiFi if you don’t wish to see the HDMI cable running from the TV to the soundbar.  They also have multiple HDMI inputs incase you want to connect a CD player and be able to play CDs without the TV on.

Prodigy III
September 10, 2024

 Just read that the Beam is not Bluetooth compatible.  That surprises me.

Why? A soundbar’s principal use is as a speaker for a tv. The fact the Sonos ones can also received streamed music is great but the more inputs, the more electronics, the more dev-and-test, the more support, the more cost. 

I find the principle reason people like soundbars is that they look a lot neater than traditional AV amps and speakers. This is a big factor for a lot of people. If you understand that, then using it for more than just TV makes sense (to me anyway...), it’s a speaker after all…