Sony HT-CT550W?? - Page 11

For those who are using the 550W, when you turn up the volume, do you see the actual volume numbers on your tv screen, or just a volume + / volume - in the bottom left corner of the screen? I have all Sony equipment, and all I see is a volume + / volume - ...no numbers on my screen at all, so I am wondering if this can be changed so I can see actual numbers?

This might be a function of your XBR9. I see actual volume numbers on my TV.

BTW, did you decide to keep the 550W sound bars?

Hi,

Yep, I decided to keep both. And I think I have determined it is a Time Warner box issue. I have a few Sony TV's, so I moved the sound bar to a different tv and it reacted the same way. Then, I borrowed my neighbor's ct150 sound bar and hooked it up to my tv and again, same thing. On his tv (which uses directv), the ct150 has volume numbers and is seamless as far as operation goes. Pretty frustrating, but I will figure out a way to be happy with it because the sound is quite nice. I just like the simplicity of his...turn on the tv and the sound bar automatically kicks on. Turn on the blu ray, the sound bar switches over. Turn the blu ray off, the sound switches back to the tv. Then, turn off the tv and the sound bar goes into standby til next time.

Is the volume appearing on the TV a function of having a Sony TV or should it appear for other brands as well?

I can certainly understand your frustration ... I believe the seem-less operation you are describing is normal operations for the 550W. You should be able to set up the same using the Bravia Sync and HDMI Control Setting on both the TV and 550W. Something is definitely amiss...which remote are you using to control all of this? ( Are you able to take the TimeWarner box out of the equation for a test?)

From what I have read from others...it should appear on other TVs as well. I have the older Sony 100 sound bar connected to my Samsung TV and don't have any issues at all. Maybe I'll connect the 550W to the Samsung today to check that out..

I was able to connect my Sony 550W to my Samsung 2011 LED. Everything worked fine as expected. What I did notice was that I had to set something called Anynet+ on the Sammy TV in order to see the volume number display on the TV screen--with Anynet+ turned off, the 550W functioned correctly with the Sammy TV, but I couldn't see the volume number displayed on the TV.

Likewise I was able to use the Sony 550W remote to change between BD/DDV, Sat/CATV, TV, Tuner inputs etc. on the Sammy TV with out issue.

"...Anynet+ is an AV network system to automatically control Samsung audio-video (AV) devices through the Anynet+ menu via a Samsung TV via HDM". Apparently the Sony 550W is compatible with Samsung's Anynet+"

OK, so I took your advice and took the Time Warner box out of it. Now, I am more confused than ever because it is still operating the same way. Connections were as follows:

- Coaxial cable line from wall to back of tv
- Optical cable from tv out to sound bar receiver optical in
- HDMI from blu ray out to receiver bd in
- HDMI from receiver tv out to tv HDMI in 1 (only did this for the purpose of blu ray)

I turned on the tv, and the sound bar turned on. Still had no volume numbers on the tv, just a volume icon on the bottom of the screen with a +/- sign. Then, I turned on the blu ray player, and the sound bar switched to the blu ray input, but the system sound muted. I turned the blu ray player back off, and the sound bar stayed on blu ray, and stayed muted, and the tv said it was switching back to internal speakers.

To make matters worse, I took the sound bar system down to my other tv in the basement (KDL-52VE5) and it did the exact same thing. So, I tried the second sound bar that I have, and you guessed it, same thing. This whole thing makes me think something is set up incorrectly with my bravia sync, but how hard can it be? HDMI control is "on" for all of my components. Connected components are listed on the TV. That's it, right? GRRRRRR!!

I agree--normally not this hard. (Well at least you know its not the TimeWarner box. )

Probably time for you to get on the phone and spend some time troubleshooting with Sony customer service. If you get stuck with an agent that is not very helpful--just call back and speak to a different agent.

I really appreciate your time and help. I just tried one other Sony TV, and everything worked perfectly, even with the cable box. So, it is definitely not the cable box. The third TV is a KDL-32EX400, so one year newer than the others (2010 model...both others are 2009 models). I can't imagine anything would have changed from 2009 to 2010, but maybe that has something to do with it. And I have even updated the firmware on both older sets to the latest available, so I really feel like they should all be working the same way.

Oh well. I'll keep plugging away and post an update if I get it working properly. Thanks again.

You may be right about that. Both my Sony/Sammy TVs are 2011--so I am sure they have all the latest drivers compatible with the 2011 550W. The only other thought..is maybe to reset the older TV and start fresh with setting up Bravia sync. As far as the volume number display--I am thinking thats it for the XBR9....

One positive thing though is at least you got to see this thing operate properly with your newer KDL-32EX400...

I have a Panasonic which uses Viera Link. Modifying the setting doesn't seem to help.

I'm not sure how compatible TV's work. Perhaps on compatible equipment the 550W "tells" the TV to adjust it's volume display. Otherwise, since the volume is within the 550W and the TV volume is off, I suspect the 550W would need to insert/overlay the volume info into the picture?

Talking out my butt here

Glooooo o o o o o, o o o o o, o o o o o ria..........

Well after an hour on the phone with Sony, problem solved.

The volume numbers only appear on certain, newest model tv's. So, just a problem we will have to live with.

As for the devices not syncing properly, it was because when I went into the device list on the tv via settings/setup/hdmi settings/device list, my devices were all listed there, but I had to power each device on and click "enable" on the tv for them to communicate properly. Not clicking "enable" was the root of the problem.

Now everything seems to be working as I was expecting, except for the missing volume numbers, which isn't a terribly big deal I guess. More of an inconvenience than anything else.

Oh, and regarding my previous question about have two systems in the same house, the basement subwoofer was linking to my upstairs soundbar system when I first hooked it up, so I did have to change the frequency, which was very simple as well. That is quite a range on the subwoofer though.

Thanks for all of the input and fast replies. Hopefully someone else will benefit from this conversation.

Congratulations!

Now time for you to relax and have some fun with that Sound System--and in the meantime you have become an expert 550W XBR9 installer !

David James: Sorry wish I had one of those nice Panny Plasma's here to test this out! So on your Panny TV Panel you don't see anything when adjusting the 550W volume? ( Just curious ..what year/model Panny?)

LBJ2, just an FYI 'cause I imagine the CT550 works the same as the CT350 as far as linking & volume & such. I used the CT350 with both a 2009 Panny plasma and a 2011. The volume display on the TV was always just a +/- bar at the bottom of the screen. The actual volume level would only be displayed on the CT's readout. Never bothered me; I just let my ears decide what level I needed.

Good to know! Thanks

I'm not sure of the year, maybe 2006/2007? The model is TH-50PX80U

Thank you. Please see Possumgirl's post below. Looks like the 550W with a Panny Plasma only displays +/- volume bar on the bottom of the TV screen.

Thanks, although I don't see a +/- bar either.

Well from these recent comments...looks like newer 2011 Sony/Samsung TVs display the 550W volume display on the TV with volume numbers and 2009-2011 Pannys and older Sony TVs display only +/- and with your comment 2006/2007? Panny model H-42PX80U doesn't display any 550W volume indicator at all on its TV screen.

More info that may help others reading this forum...

Just got mine today and so far so good, but I have a question. I have the HT-CT550W hooked up to the ARC HDMI port on a Bravia KDL55HX729. I have my Comcast cable box and an original fat PS3 hooked into the soundbar receiver.

My question is, is it possible to use the TV remote to change the source or is it a must to use the soundbar remote? Before getting the soundbar, I could hit Input on the remote and have the list and pick from there and it would show a blue/white arrow thing next to it to show the active source. I thought I read somewhere that function would still work because of the Bravia Sync but if it does, I can't find a way to make that happen.

I ask because I use the scene button on the TV remote to change for sports, movie, etc. and it seems a pain to have to use 3 remotes just because I can't use the TV remote to change the video source now.

Hi,

Not sure if this will help or not, but you may want to go into the tv settings and find HDMI control (settings/setup/hdmi settings/device list), go to the device list and see if all of your devices are listed there, including the sound bar. Then, click enable to be sure that all of the components are synced to the bravia link. The screen should say it is sending a signal to each device that is connected. Again, I am not sure if this will help with your issue, but it's worth a shot.

@SetecX--if you are using the ARC HDMI #1 port and Bravia Sync as PlayU18 commented then all the devices you have going through the 550W Receiver should be controlled as you expect with the KDL55HX729 TV remote all through HDMI input #1 ( blue arrow will indicate HDMI #1 only) NOTE: PS3 FAT does not have Bravia Sync functionality. So you will need to use the separate PS3 controller to manage your PS3 regardles of whether you have it going through the 550W or connected directly to the TV( PS3 Slim does support Bravia Sync).

If you have other devices plugged directly into the TVs other HDMI (ports 2-4) or Component ports ( not going through the 550W) --and push the Input button on your remote then you should still see that blue arrow you mention next to each HDMI ( 2-4) or Component port in use indicating whatever other device you have connected directly to the TV itself and you will be able to use the Input button on the TV's remote to select those devices separately.

Here's my setup:

Xbox 360, PS3, AppleTV 1 -----> CT550W -----> Samsung TV

All connections via HDMI. Everything works with the 2 game consoles, but with the AppleTV I get video, but no sound.

If I leave the TV and Apple TV on and turn off the CT550W (allowing the HDMI signal to pass through the 550W), the TV shows the video and I get sound from the ATV through the TV speakers.

I've tried powering everything off and starting again and switching the ATV to a different HDMI input on the CT550W. Do dice. Whatever inputs on the CT550W I use, the PS3 and XBox360 work, but the ATV gives me no audio through the CT550W.

I haven't tried going component out of the ATV to the TV and optical out of the ATV to the CT550W, but I might have to if I can't get the HDMI to work. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I've run out of HDMI ports on my 550W for all my devices so I have the AppleTV 2 plugged into my TV directly via a non ARC HDMI port # 4 in my case. Then when I select "TV" input on the 550W and HDMI input #4 on the TV ( TV speakers off--set to external) all sound from my ATV2 goes through the 550W (Same thing with my non HDMI Wii which I have connected to the TV via Component cables)

(Today I'll try connecting the ATV to my 550W directly to see what I get)

Update:
I connected the ATV directly to the 550W and all worked as expected. About the only other thing I can think of that might be affecting sound output from your ATV through the 550W would be if you have the AMP/Audio/ Input Mode set to OPT ( optical cable) instead of "Auto". If you have this setting on the 550W set to OPT and you are using an HDMI cable for the ATV then you will not get any sound through the 550W.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this. I have searched the avs forum but not found the answers i am looking for. I have a few questions about the differences between the 550 and the 150 to see which one is best for me.

1. does either one use dolby prologic on standard stereo to produce surround sound and if so which one is better?

2. can there be custom sound settings for each hdmi input used, or do the settings stay the same if switched to another input?

3.which one produces better surround sound and which one has better dialogue?

4.it seems like every retailer website has their own version of specs. some say the 150 supports truehd and dts master and others don't. is it possible to clarify what each one supports and doesn't? does the 550 truly produce hd audio or is it just pcm?

obviously i am a noob to soundbars and any help would be greatly appreciated.

This will probably help answer some of your spec questions ( Select the "specifications" tab on each URL--(the comparison feature on this URL doesn't seem to list all the specs)):

http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/sto...specifications

http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/sto...specifications

If anybody has bought the WS-CT550B40 or WS-CT550B46 mounting bracket and is not using the pole piece, I would like to buy it. Please PM me.

Is there any accessory for mounting this bar on top of a TV? I have a Sony 60LX900 TV. The bar is currently on the TV stand which is too close to the floor, I think I could get better sound from a higher place.