I have a Sonos Ray soundbar that I have recently purchased, and it is not connecting to my Xfinity cable box remote control. I have set up the speaker on the Sonos App. I could not connect the speaker to the remote control using App prompts. I called customer service, sent photos of remote control, supplied identification numbers from remote control battery compartment and the cable box console, and was told that Sonos is unable verify compatibility. The Xfinity remote operates the TV and cable box without line of sight, so I believe It works using radio frequency signals. A quick Google search shows that most Xfinity remotes operate using RF signaling. The Sonos Ray does not come with it’s own remote, and is apparently intended to operate through the customer’s remote or TV. Another quick Google search shows that Comcast Xfinity supplies more than 40% of the United States with broadband and cable, so I suspect that an extremely large population of the U.S. has the same remote control that I am using. It seems that a sound bar manufacturer would be aware of the issues with this popular remote control, and build their speakers to be compatible. Sonos could also make obvious alternate methods, on the app or website, to easily connect the two devices. At the very least, Sonos should apply a disclaimer in an inconspicuous location on the exterior packaging of the soundbar so that consumers are aware the soundbar is likely not compatible with Xfinity remote controls. This is the second Sonos soundbar I have purchased, the other was the Sonos Beam, and neither product was compatible with Xfinity remote. Ultimately, I am not interested in using a soundbar I cannot operate with my single cable remote. I don’t need multiple remotes, my phone, or to have to walk over to physically change the volume. This will be the second Sonos soundbar I have had to return. Definitely a waste of time.
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Did the previous Sonos Beam not work with your remote using HDMI-CEC?
I don’t know of any ‘third-party’ HT soundbar that connects over optical, that will work with an TV RF remote. It’s also unusual that a TV manufacture does not support IR for TV volume/mute/on/off functions aswell as RF control.
Note there are cheap third-party remotes for the situation you’re facing… see this example:
https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Control-Compatible-Playbase-Playbar/dp/B0C8W2PM25
Set the XFINITY remote to control an arbitrary home theater receiver, then set SONOS to respond to that receiver’s IR commands.
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