Samsung HW-E450 Soundbar - Page 12

I've had a refurbished 450 for a couple of days and I have the same issue with an older Sammy plasma via optical. The sync adjustment only seems to add more delay, without being able to speed it up. Luckily we're contemplating a t.v.upgrade that may take of it;-)

Thanks everyone here for all your help.
All of your tips, comments and suggestions are appreciated.
While I have the similar issue with sound bar source switching back
to D. IN., I've tried using optical audio cable, but didn't get the same benfits
with Anet +. So I switched back to HDMI setup and the way I have it is HD receiver
HDMI IN to my sounds bar, HDMI OUT from my sound bar to my TV. My Anet + is on.
What I figured out is that if I turn on my HD Receiver & TV with my HD remote and wait
may be 15-20 seconds after that, before turning on my sound bar, the source on my sound
bar remians HDMI and there is no need to switch back to it.
Hoep this helps someone, it did help me to resolve swithcing source to HDMI every time
I had to turn on TV.

Yes. I posted a few days back that doing this works for me.

I've read this entire thread and I am no closer to solving my issue.

I am simply trying to figure out how to have the cable tv on one source and the playstation on a second. Then, by hitting the source button on the remote I should be able to hear the appropriate audio coming from the soundbar. I cannot figure this out and the only way I can get it to work is by constantly switching the hdmi cord in the back.

Here is what I have

This is my TV
Playstation 3
HW-E450 SoundBar
Cable Box.

I've tried this:

HDMI Out from Playstation to TV HDMI input 1
HDMI Out from CableBox to TV HDMI input 2 (This is the ARC input)

From TV Optical Out to SoundBar.

Note, this TV has a Mini cable out, not TosLink (This is the type of cable I ran to the SoundBar

This setup has no sound coming from the soundbar whatsoever. I've tried a combo of Anynet settings, changed TV speaker from External to internal and back again.


Conversely, I can get this to work:

HDMI Out from CableBox to SoundBar HDMI IN
SoundBar HDMI Out to TV HDMI input 1

and the setting in the speaker doesnt matter if it's set to External or internal.

However, the only Way I can use the playstation for games or BluRay is to unplug the out from the cablebox and plug it into the PS3 out. Clearly this is not the way this was meant to work.

So I guess in the simplest terms, how in the world do I get both sources to outto the soundbar, and what settings on the TV AND the Soundbar (i.e. which source) need to be used. Throw in the confusion with the optical cable and Anynet...I'm lost.

Thanks for reading and I appreciate anyone's help in advance.

That works because the audio is going directly to the soundbar so your speaker setting doesn't matter. However, the HDMI cable from the soundbar to the TV should be going to your ARC port, apparently that's HDMI2. Explanation follows: Connect the PS to any available HDMI port on the TV. Enable Anynet+ on both TV and soundbar. Set speakers to external. The ARC connection should output audio to the soundbar from the PS3 and anything else you may connect to the TV.

If I am understanding you correctly, you want to set it up so that you can change the source by hitting the SAT SOURCE button on the remote. While utilizing your TV's ARC will be convenient, that won't accomplish what you want. With those 2 sources, you can set it up like this. Connect your cable box to the HDMI IN on the soundbar and then connect HDMI OUT from the soundbar to the TV. You can then connect the optical output from the PS3 to the optical input on the soundbar. That will only handle audio. You would also need to connect the PS3 to the TV via HDMI for video. Then, you could hit the SAT SOURCE button on the soundbar remote to toggle between the cable box (HDMI) and the PS3 (D. IN). If you want, you could connect the 2 sources in the opposite way.

Doctego, help me out here so I don't misinform folks. I know you have this soundbar. According to the manual, when using the ARC function the soundbar considers that "D.IN" same as if you use an optical cable. So if someone has a source device connected to the soundbar and uses ARC for audio from the TV, why wouldn't switching the remote between HDMI and D.In work the way it seems that it should?

My TV doesn't have ARC so my understanding of ARC is entirely what I have learned from you.

In theory, what you are describing would work. I must have missed something in translation from what he and you said. The way that I understood it was that he would hook everything up to the TV and then use the ARC feature to output sound to the soundbar. While that will work for sound, it wouldn't accomplish what I understood that he wanted to do.

Possumgirl, I did your set up and it works, so thank you.

I know have:


HDMI Out from CableBox to TV HDMI input 1
HDMI input 2 (This is the ARC input) from TV to Soundbar out (This seems odd..should this been IN instead?)
HDMI Out from Playstation to TV HDMI input 3


Doctego, I cannot try your method currently because I would then need a cable with two TosLink ends as opposed to the one I have now.


WOuld there be a reason I should not utilize Possumgirl's method? Now All I need to do to swtich from one source to the other is stich my source on the remote from HDMI 1 to 3 and vice versa

Using her method is fine. If it works to your satisfaction, that's all that matters. The only problem here is that I misunderstood what you wanted. For some reason, I thought that you wanted to switch sources with the sound bar remote.

You have it connected properly to utilize the ARC feature.

I actually can switch sources with the sound bar remote using the "TV SOURCE" button on lower left.

Thanks again to you both.

Hi,

Just purchased the HW-E450. I Got optical from TV to soundbar to work fine.

I'm having trouble with my HDMI connection to the soundbar and it's slightly different to the previous problem.

I'm connecting my PS3 to HDMI in on soundbar and a HDMI cable from the HDMI out on the soundbar to a HDMI input on my TV.

My TV is a Samsung LN52A650 LCD from a few years ago.

When its all connected as indicated, I get PS3 picture showing on the TV but no sound.

If I connect PS3 direct to TV I get sound. I also get sound from PS3 via optical this way (from TV optical out to soundbar) but that wasn't the point.

I was hoping for sound via HDMI. Do I have a problem because I don't think my TV supports ARC due to its age??

I just thought it would be HDMI video and audio through put?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have to run so I don't have time to go into depth here but this should be working for you. I don't have a PS3 so keep that in mind. I would first try a different HDMI cable. Try swapping out the extra cable. Also, try a different HDMI port on the TV. Are there audio settings in the PS3 that need to be changed for an external audio source? Check your manual. ARC wouldn't apply here because you are connecting the PS3 directly to the soundbar.

Since you're getting video it seems the HDMI connections are probably fine. Be sure you are selecting the HDMI input on the soundbar remote.

Thanks for the reply.

HDMI is selected on the soundbar. If it wasn't I wouldn't have the video. I'm just getting no sound from the soundbar.

Anynet+ is even working which I didn't think would with the older TV and older HDMI cables.

I have also tried different HDMI cables and different HDMI inputs on the TV.

I'm stumped?

Couple questions i read thru alot of pages but think i just confused myself more

Is there ANY way for power to be off on the unit and still use tv , pvr ?

And if hooking up Toshiba tv , Samsung BD and a Telus Optik PVR , what would be the best way ,

Thanks ,
Chris

Great solution! The simplest solutions are usually the best, and the ones most often overlooked.
.

So I have read the post and feel the pain, a lot you are having the same problems and frustrations as I am.

I have a Samsung UN60ES8000, HW E450 sound bar and Verizon FIOS. After several weeks of playing around with the setup, I could not find a setup that would allow this to work with the most common use case, turning the devices on (TV, Sound, Cable), adjusting volume, turning the devices off......all using a single remote.

From one of the previous post, leaving the sound bar on all the time resolved 99% of my needs.

Thanks for your replies. I figured out the problem. I had a HDMI cable issue.
The problem cable worked for video and Anynet+ functionality but not sound - go figure!
Changed the cable for new one and I have sound.

Thanks for letting us know. That was certainly an odd cable issue, but it really helps so we know what to suggest when the next person comes along with a similar problem.

Hello all, I didnt want it to come to this but im at a loss for ideas and any advice would be sincerely appreciated.

I have a B Series 530 Samsung Tv, now I realize its not exactly the newest but I still think its a great tv, now the other day I purchased this soundbar and ive managed for the most part to get it all set up but theres a few specific things that are irritating me...so here goes

I have a panasonic blu ray player & xbox 360. Now I have the optical running from the soundbar into my tv for my cable, my xbox naturally through my 1 of 3 hdmi ports and ive had to run the blu ray player from the soundbars hdmi in and out. Whats frustrating me is as follows, ive lost my anynet capability with my blu ray player, since its running off the soundbar I no longer have any control over the function, and I know the obvious solution would be to just disconnect and run digital 1 through it but I really would rather not do that simply because the hdmi sound, to my ears, is far surperior. Since my tv doesnt have the ARC function is there anything I can do to rectify this? I know to an extent it may sound a bit ridiculous but the anynet feature with the blu ray was huge simply because I didnt have to control so many remotes

Hello Clint,
I assume this is the question you referred to in your PM so I'll respond here. I don't know why adding the soundbar would disrupt your HDMI-CTL between the TV and the BD player. You turned Anynet+ on by using the button on the soundbar remote? Does the TV have a screen where you can view CEC connected devices? With my Panny TV I can "see" my BD player even though the connection goes through my AVR.

Your TV manual may give you tips on reinitializing Anynet+ after adding new equipment.

BTW, it's not that HDMI sound is superior (as opposed to optical), but that your BD player only outputs 2 ch. stereo when connected to the TV. When connected to the soundbar, it can output 5.1 audio.

I didnt know you could only send 2 pms a day! lol

Just to clarify, the hdmi in & out on my soundbar is where ive connected my blu ray, so for some reason when its connected like that, I lose the anynet capibility, ive done a scan and it comes up no devices found everytime, yet when I run optical it picks it back up for some reason! Also I think when I hit the anynet button on my soundbar remote when in the hdmi mode, it comes up not availible? its all very overwhelming lol. On another note, if I were to go optical through the soundbar to my blu ray, the sound would be the same as hdmi or better? and one more question, would you recommend the pcm or bistream setting on the blu ray player

Ive started to download a firmware update for my tv, maybe that will help with something, I just dont understand why I lose the anynet, it really is a convienent feature (when working!)

Ive updated my TV and played around a bit, and still nothing...also now ive noticed that, when I turn off my TV with my blu ray player on, the sound still comes through which is incredibly annoying. Again thanks for the advice

A new HW-E450 user here... Picked a refurbished unit up from TigerDirect for about $150 and for that price I couldn't be happier. Maybe at the going new rate of $260 to $300 I wouldn't be quite as happy, but overall I am very satisfied.

I connected it to my system which includes an LG 47LW5600 TV, DirecTV HR24 HRDVD, a Panasonic BluRay player and an AppleTV which I use infrequently for AirPlay streaming from my laptop.

As for mounting, I went to the local home improvement store and picked up some flat-bar, 1/8" thick, solid (no holes), 1-1/4" wide. I was able to cut three strips that lined up with the mounting hardware for the TV and sticking up above it such that a third strip goes across/between them and the soundbar mount is attached to that. Took just about an hours worth of work to do that and resulted in the soundbar nicely sitting on the top side of the TV. The mount is a Monoprice articulating arm mount as the TV is located in a corner so this worked out very well.

I read lots of the information here, but still one thing caught me by surprise... The LG includes HDMI-CEC support as well as ARC, but I thought that if I connected the DirecTV receiver to the soundbar HDMI-IN, and the HDMI-OUT to the TV's ARC compatible plug that the video would flow from the receiver through the soundbar to the TV and the audio would simultaneously flow back to the sound bar. This is not accurate. To use the device connected to the soundbar's HDMI-IN I have to put the soundbar in HDMI mode. No major problem, I just moved the AppleTV to this jack since we seldom use it and it simplified the operation for everyone else.

How does it work? Very well. While I *wish* the LG TV would turn the soundbar on when you power the TV on, this is my only complaint. Once the TV/etc is powered up, I can either just manually turn on the soundbar, use its remote, or use the LG remote to hit the SIMPLINK menu and change the speaker from TV to HT. I can certainly live with this, because from that point on the TV switches over to it, the sound bar switches to TV-ARC and integration is perfect. The soundbar even turns off when I turn off the moment I turn the TV off.

As for sound quality, well, sure it is no home theater setup, but the difference in quality compared to the built-in speakers is huge, and so far this is only from watching a few kid's shows on NICK, a little Food Network and some cable news shows. Once we drop a real movie in and kick the sound up I expect to be very impressed.

I just bought a Samsung plasma TV model #: PN51e530 (important to note it is NOT the PN51e550).

Does this TV (which only has 2 HDMI inputs) support ARC? Neither input has the ARC label. I ask because I am considering purchasing the Samsung HW-E450 sound bar and would like to take advantage of the HDMI out (ARC) it provides in order to give me the best possible sound. If my TV does not support ARC, will I be able to hook up my HD devices to this sound bar and feed an optical AND HDMI cable from the bar to the TV to also achieve the best possible sound?

In short, does the combination of an HDMI cable and an optical cable solve the problem of not having an ARC supported TV?

I thank you in advance for taking my question, have a great day.

EDIT: Samsung suport just got back to me. My TV does not support ARC.

WIll I be able to plug my HD devices (Xbox360, PS3, Apple TV, cable box) all into my HDMI switch, then feed that to the HDMI input on the sound bar, then through the HDMI out on the sound bar into the TV, then use an optical cable from sound bar to TV to achieve better-than-sterio sound with those devices? I realize this is a mouthful, but I haven't been able to find an answer to this problem. If this optical cable/HDMI combination works, what setting do i use on the sound bar? HDMI? Optical?
Edited by smithpr12 - 1/10/13 at 11:54am

There is another member here, Doctego, who uses an HDMI switch. He'll be able to answer your questions, but I'm pretty sure the switch works just fine for him. If all your source devices are connected to the switch, you would not need to use an optical connection at all, anywhere.

Thanks for your reply.

But since my TV does not support ARC, how would I get an audio return unless i use optical in addition to HDMI?

As Possumgirl mentioned above, you will not need the optical cable in your proposed setup.

I am doing exactly as you mentioned. I have the following HDMI switch:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=8463&seq=1&format=2

All of my sources are connected to the switch via HDMI, the switch is outputted to HDMI IN on the soundbar and then HDMI OUT from the soundbar to the TV. Keep in mind that this soundbar doesn't support HDMI pass-through so the soundbar will need to be on whenever you want to watch something, whether you want sound through the soundbar or the TV. Since your TV doesn't support ARC, you can either connect it this way or you can connect everything to your TV via HDMI and then output the sound from your TV to the soundbar via optical. I prefer connecting everything to the soundbar directly.

Keep in mind that this setup worked perfectly for me until yesterday. Starting yesterday, I have noticed that the video drops out for a second at a time but the audio stays on. I am in the process of troubleshooting it but HDMI is a PITA in that regard.

You wouldn't need audio return unless you are using smart apps on your TV or using the TV's internal tuner. All the audio from your source devices connected to the switch would be going to the soundbar directly. If you do need to send audio out from the TV (smart apps, tuner), then connecting an optical cable from TV to soundbar would be required.