TV sound bars. How can they be so confusing??
 

I'm looking to buy and install a TV sound bar to improve the sound on my dad's TV.

It's a newish (2 year or so) standard small LED flatscreen (27 or 32 inch). So I'm assuming standard inputs/outputs.

What I need is something that will plug in, and, importantly, will not require a separate remote.

He has Cox cable.

I've looked on Amazon but it seems like most people say they need to use the remote that comes with the sound bar to control volume. That seems nuts. You have to use one remote to change the channel, and a separate one to control the volume??

This is a small TV in a small TV room (10x10 or less), so it doesn't require big power or anything. Just better than the tiny speakers that are stock in the TV (literally sounds worse than the speakers on an iPhone 7).

Can someone direct me to one on Amazon etc that I can just plug in and will not require 2 separate remotes?

There is usually (almost always) a setting in the TV to make the output of the connectors follow the TV remote. If you could find out the model # or at least brand of the TV you could check out the manual online and confirm. At this point it's pretty much a standard thing though. Should be just fine. SmileWavy

I have the Yamaha one from Costco and can control it with my Direct TV remote.

This one. It doesn't have the separate subwoofer speaker but puts out decent sound.I'm really impressed with it.
Yamaha ATS-1060 35" Soundbar with Dual Built-In Subwoofers

Small 10x10 room, IMHO soundbar is an overkill. I'd use a spare set of computer speakers, does TV have a headphone jack?

I've also got the Yamaha sound bar from Costco that craigster59 posted. I found that the remote would not operate well with the sound bar laying down in front of the TV. I made a 4" high wooden TV stand to raise the level of the TV and also allowed me to mount the sound bar under the TV, similar to how it would be mounted to a wall. There is an "automated" process to allow the sound bar to learn the remote control - mine works 99% off the AT&T Uverse remote. Sometimes it gets out of synch with the TV, so I keep the original remote for the sound bar handy in the coffee table drawer and hit the power button when it does not respond from the Uverse remote. Otherwise it is great.

Basically every tv will have an audio output, either an optical digital or RCA. Use that for the sound bar, turn off the tv speakers, program the remote for his sound bar. Or even easier, get the same brand sound bar as the tv and the remote will just work. I have a Visio sound bar both on two tvs, one with rear surround speakers, and am happy with both.

Thanks all, very helpful!

10x10 is being generous for the room size. It's just a small sitting/TV room, probably more like 7x9.

I'm pretty sure the TV has a headphone jack.

So if I get this, I just plug it into the headphone jack, plug the AC connector to the wall for power, and it's good to go? Volume will be adjusted automatically with the TV remote?

https://www.amazon.com/SHARKK-Computer-Speakers-Multimedia-Bluetooth/dp/B01AIIGO6C/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1478491572&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=computer+speakers&psc=1

Or these?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CD1PTF0/ref=psdc_172471_t1_B01AIIGO6C

But this seems to be the problem with using computer speakers plugged to the headphone jack:

"The Companion 2 Series III speakers will work with a TV as long as that TV has an analog out or headphones jack. We do not suggest using these speakers with a TV as the volume control is on the speaker and there is no remote for them. Thank you.
By AskBose MANUFACTURER on September 16, 2014"

It's a Samsung TV

32" Class J525D Full LED Smart TV

These are the inputs

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1478492898.jpg

So looks like no headphone jacks.

So if I get this Samsung sound bar, I just plug it in, and the volume works automatically with the TV?

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HW-J250-Channel-Audio-Soundbar/dp/B00UE9NKEK/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1478492945&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=samsung+tv+sound+bar

Any TV should have audio out. Plug the sound bar into that. Set the TV for external speakers. Then program the cox cable remote's volume control to operate the sound bar volume.

That soundbar -should work fine. Plug it in and connect the Optical jack OUT of the TV and into the soundbar. It should work. There is a setting in "Menu>Sound" of the TV that will turn the internal speaker off so the sound ONLY comes out the soundbar.


BUT The manual for the TV suggests that the optical out of the TV doesn't change with the volume buttons for the TV remote. They may have changed that depending on the software of the TV.

IF you hook it up via my first suggestion and the volume doesn't change on the soundbar, then your other option is to run a 1/8" cable from the headphone jack of the TV (the manual suggests that there is a 1/8" jack on the side of the TV. I'd check to make sure first. #9.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1478518823.png


If it has a headphone jack then you're still ok, run the 1/8" from the TV to the soundbar and the volume buttons definitely WILL work. This is a less glamorous solution but if it works, it works.

When you buy the soundbar from Amazon also buy a 1/8" to 1/8" (male/male) stereo cable like this to connect (not included with the soundbar you showed us.)

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Cable/dp/B00NO73MUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478518984&sr=8-1&keywords=1%2F8"+stereo+male+cable

SmileWavy

I bought a Samsung LED tv last Christmas. I love the TV but I'm having the same issue where I want to use the remote for the soundbar. My issue is the remote is RF. I want to use the remote for the TV because I watch everything from the internet and it's got a great web browser. The remote has a built in pointing device which I want to continue to use. I've given up trying different soundbars.

I have a Samsung TV and a Samsung sound bar. The sound bar starts up (and turns off) automatically with the TV, and the TV remote controls the sound bar volume.

Cool maybe that will make the optical cable work fine then.

I have a Samsung Tv and the Yamaha soundber came with the optical cable. Pretty much 'plug and play", but with the soundbar laying flat in front of the TV, like MBATarga said, I might have to use the soundbar remote to turn it on or off when the Direct TV remote doesn't quite hit it's mark.

Thanks again all.

I've ordered the Samsung sound bar, which comes with the optical cable. And also the $5 headphone jack cable, just in case.

Keeping my fingers crossed. The way tech works for me, it feels like it would be a minor miracle if I simply plugged in the sound bar with the optical cable, and everything actually worked, but I have hope.

I have a Vizio TV with Polk Soundbar. Turning on and off works fine with the Tivo remote but the volume is very difficult to use - remote has to be 'aimed' perfectly.

Ugh.

So, the TV does not have a headphone jack!

Here's some pics of all of the inputs on the back of the tv.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1478900329.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1478900352.jpg

So, all I can do it run the optical cable directly from the back of the TV to the back of the soundbar.

I can't put the Cox cable box in line between the TV and the sound bar.

Which works, but the only way to adjust the volume is with the soundbar remote. So 2 remotes need to be used to change channels and adjust volume.

Any ideas on how to solve this, or is it impossible with this TV?

In the pic above, the blue plug is coming from the Cox cable box

Black plug is the optical cable to the sound bar

Red/wht/yellow are from a DVD player (that is never used).