Samsung HW-E450 Soundbar - Page 18

OK, just played with the software and I "think" this should work-


1) Assuming you're remote is programmed, under the main screen, with the "activities" tab open, click "settings" for the activity you want to change.
2) check "review the settings for this activity" and click "next"
3) check "Yes, but I want to add more control of options and devices for this Activity" and click "next"
4) click save
5) click next
6) For me this is the step to change, but read the title on the screen-for me using a simple "watch tv" activity, this is the step that asks, "What input or channel does your Samsung Soundbar need to be on?" and here you would check whichever input is needed and click "next"
7) click "save"
8) click "next"
9) click "done"
10) Click yellow "update remote" and plug in your remote to update settings.

Hope that helps, please report back!..

Thank you. I am going to try the first suggestion of the repeated NextInput this weekend. Your last suggestion does not work for the selected input of AUX. I will report back. Thanks again.

Anyone else have a Sharp TV they are using with this sound bar? Is it better to connect through digital audio or HDMI ARC? I want the sound bar to turn in and off with the TV. My TV is the 640U model.

There have been several posters in this thread that have a Sharp. In order to have the soundbar turn on/off with TV and control volume with TV remote, you need to connect using HDMI. As long as you need the HDMI connection anyway, you may as well connect one of your source devices directly to the soundbar. Your other source devices can stay connected to the TV and use ARC to output audio to soundbar.

Thanks for the tip. I don't understand the benefit of connecting one of the source devices directly to the soundbar. For example my Tivo DVR is connected to the TV (which would then connect to soundbar), so I don't see why the Tivo needs another direct connection to the soundbar.

You don't have to connect any source device directly to the soundbar. The potential benefit though is that most HDTVs downmix audio to 2 ch. stereo from connected sources. They only output 5.1 when using the TV's internal tuner. When you connect a source directly to the soundbar via HDMI, you get 5.1 audio (when available). This is particularly useful for BD players.

Thanks again Possumgirl. I don't think this would apply for my Tivo Premiere.

For the BD player, even if you connect directly to the soundbar, how do you get 5.1? I thought soundbars were all 2.1, or am I mistaken?

I can see where what I said is confusing. True, most of the popular powered soundbars are 2.1 or 3.1 and they all apply their own digital processing to emulate surround and other effects. But if they are capable of receiving a 5.1 signal, in theory they should be able to translate that differently than a 2.0 signal so the resulting audio has more of the original detail. Note that I said "in theory" since we don't really know how each bar applies DSP.

Solved my input problem as detailed in this other thread:

http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Harmony-Remotes/harmony-650-and-samsung-e450-soundbar/m-p/978275/highlight/false#M76034

Same ARC problem described in post #7 connecting Samsung HW-E350 to Toshiba 46L5200U.
Only way I can connect is via analog from 46L5200U output to HW-E350 input. HW-E350 does not have optical input.
Samsung & Toshiba Tech Support confirmed HW-E350 will not work via HDMI cable(s) because 46L5200U does not work with ARC on HW-E350.



Edited by KA2X - 3/5/13 at 10:44am

I just got this bar. Connected TiVo Premiere to TV and this bar connected to Sharp TV via HDMI ARC with a compatible cable. When I power on the speaker and set input to HDMI from TV, the TV detects it and shuts off its own speakers. But there's no sound from the bar. I tried both HDMI in and out on the bar. There is no digital audio connection. No other devices are connected to the bar.

I thought ARC means no separate digital audio connection is needed? Is there anything I'm missing?
Edited by Bill McNeal - 2/9/13 at 7:55pm

Apparently, ARC can be moody. Is this the only source connected? It appears so. If so, try TiVo to HDMI IN on the sound bar and HDMI OUT on the sound bar to the TV. I would only use ARC if you have to.

Thanks Doctego. Otherwise is digital audio the only way to go?

Are you referring to optical? You can certainly try that. I would first try what I mentioned above as it is slightly different than what you had previously tried.

Your suggestion worked. Thanks!

UPDATE - HDMI CEC WORKS ON MY SETUP

Thanks to the recent exchanges between Doctego & Bill McNeal on this thread I now understand ARC and CEC are not 'related'.

And, I'm writing this update to my earlier post # 520 to let readers know I was successful in getting my Samsung HW-E350 Sound Bar and Toshiba 46L5200U TV to connect using HDMI CEC. The key was following Doctego's directions in his post # 523.

Here's what I did:

• Treated my [only] 'source' as the HDMI output from my Cable Set Top Box.
• Connected one end of an HDMI cable to the HDMI output from my Cable Set Top Box and the other end to HDMI IN on the HW-E350.
• Connected one end of a second HDMI cable to HDMI OUT on the HW-E350 and the other end to HDMI [IN] on the Toshiba TV.
• Configured the TV menu selections to enable HDMI CEC.
• Set the HW-E350 'Sat Source' to HDMI and made sure AnyNet & ARC are set to off.

This arrangement has one limitation - I cannot use both the TV speakers and the HW-E350 speakers.
And, as an aside, my Harmony remote settings would need to be re-done to work with this configuration.

So, for the time being, I set everything back to using the analog AUX connections on the TV and the HW-E350.
This arrangement allows me to have the TV and HW-E350 speakers on.
But I have to adjust the volume on each separately using a couple of remotes:

• For TV volume - Cable Box remote or TV remote or Harmony remote
• For HW-E350 - HW-E350 remote or Harmony remote

Next project will be to fiddle around with the Harmony settings to see if I can get both sets of speakers to be on and to have one control to adjust, in tandem, the volume of the speakers.

My thanks to Doctego & Bill McNeal for shedding the light for me on how CEC works (and ARC doesn't work) for my HDMI CEC devices!

Glad that you got it to work. I'm a little confused as to why you would want both the TV speakers and the sound bar providing sound at the same time. To me, that only created an annoying echo. If you really want to do that, I think that using an optical connection might do the trick. Of course, that is assuming that your box and/or TV and sound bar have optical connections. I'm on my phone and can't check that right now.

Re: annoying echo with both sets of speakers on.....

I don't hear an echo with both sets of speakers on.

Perhaps it's because I 'backed' into this when I gave up on HDMI CEC/ARC and, after the first week, I had grown accustomed to the sound with both sets of speakers on in the analog setup?

BTW - I did notice the sound bar controls have a +/- delay adjustment (Audio Sync) which might help minimize any echo?

FYI - the HW-E350 sound bar does not have optical (the Toshiba TV does).

I'll still pursue setting up the Harmony remote to use HDMI (versus analog AUX) and see if there's a way to 'have my cake & eat it too'. That is, in addition to using HDMI CEC which enables switching between the TV & the sound bar speakers, I will see if I can add Harmony controls to have both sets of speakers on.

All this effort is aimed at getting the best sound possible and I assume this is by using digital versus analog audio.


Again - my thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Since you have a Harmony remote, my suggestion is that you simply connect the cable box to the soundbar via HDMI, connect soundbar to TV via HDMI, turn OFF CEC on the TV, and program the Harmony to do whatever you want. Most people would find it very annoying to have both TV speakers and external audio playing at the same time, but if you really need to do that then you may have to revert to connecting cable to the TV and using the analog out. The AQ will probably not be as good.

Possumgirl,

Thanks for the your advice to turn off CEC after connecting the HDMI cables (Cable box HDMI (OUT) to HW-E350 HDMI IN and HW-E350 HDMI OUT to TV HDMI (IN).

I tried this and, as expected, only one set of speakers can be used.
The HW-E350 remote does allow switching between HW-E350 & TV speaker sets.

I did try to program the Harmony to turn on both sets of speakers with no luck.
BTW - I also had to set the HW-E350 Audio Sync to 250 ms to sync up correctly.

This setup would have been an ideal solution.
And, I think I could also program the Harmony to control volume of both sets of speakers with one press of the +/- volume pushbuttons on the Harmony.

But, since I cannot play through both sets of speakers, it looks like I have to go with either:

• HDMI (only one set of speakers)
  or
• Go the Analog route (which allows both sets of speakers).

To help me decide I would appreciate what I gain/lose for each setup?
That is, what audio quality/features are gained using HDMI versus Analog?
e. g. Dolby, surround, etc.

Thanks!

The soundbar applies DSP to whatever signal it receives. I think you're going to have to let your ears decide what differences there are. Do the following test and leave the TV speakers OFF while testing. First use the HDMI connection and listen that way. Then go the analog route and listen to it. If your cable box is a DVR replay the same recording for both listening experiences. If the HDMI doesn't sound better to you, use the analog and turn your TV speakers on and enjoy. It's your system.

I was unable to get rid of any echo no matter what delay settings I used. I'm running this through optical, maybe I'll give it a shot on HDMI and see if I can get rid of the echo. I'm using a Samsung PN64E7000 BTW

Possumgirl & Doctego,
I was on the same track to compare the analog & digital sound.
And, I finally caved in and set up my HW-E350 Sound Bar with HDMI connections.

What a difference compared to the analog set up I was using!
(with both the TV and Sound Bar speakers on).

The DSP sound from the HDMI setup is 'Head & Shoulders' above the analog setup.
And, it certainly doesn't need the TV speakers.

SETUP
Here's how I am set up:
* Physical connections:
* TV menu setting: * Sound Bar remote setting: * Harmony remote settings:
OPERATION
Use the Harmony remote to control Sound Bar: Use the Sound Bar remote to tweak it's settings and to switch speakers.

NOTE: These activities use analog sound input and the Harmony is programmed to switch to the Sound Bar AUX input:
- “Watch VCR” uses Composite analog signals
- “Watch Basic Cable” uses Coaxial analog signals
- “Watch DVD”
FYI - I revised the original setup description in this post to show I connected the analog Sound Bar AUX & TV Analog Out with a stereo cable and programmed the Harmony remote to use the Sound Bar for control of sound in all activities.

FYI - I finally realized I can only connect one HDMI device to the Sound Bar. I found out there are HDMI switches that are used to select an HDMI connection to the Sound Bar from 2 or more HDMI devices. These inexpensive switches range from mechanical push-button to IR remote control.

Post Script to above FYI:
I wanted the better digital audio from my DVD player. So I bought a KINVIO 301BN HDMI Switch. Now I can feed either my Cable box or my DVD player to the Sound Bar. The Switch automatically senses and connects to the active HDMI signal. If more than one HDMI signal is present, push buttons on the Switch and on the IR remote are used to manually select the desired HDMI signal.
I reprogrammed my Harmony remote to use the HDMI setting on my Sound Bar when the DVD player is running and the audio is outstanding!

Thanks again for all the information and advice!
Edited by KA2X - 3/20/13 at 3:42pm

Ah, a satisfied customer. Glad you have it working well for you now. Just FYI, but if you want to use the soundbar for the VCR and basic cable, connect an optical cable from the TV to the soundbar.

Unfortunately, my HW-E350 sound bar does NOT have optical input. I'm OK with hearing VCR & basic cable audio via my TV speakers.

I'm about to pick one of these up new in the box off craigslist, but can someone tell if if ARC will working with a non-Samsung TV or no? I've got a 2012 Panasonic VT50 65" that has ARC support.

THanks!

Some people have reported issues but, in theory, it should definitely work.

Cool, thanks. I'm getting for $150 new in box which i think is a decent deal.

That's a great price. Before the holidays, I saw it for $179.99 but, since then, it's usually been around $250.

Refurbs for $139
http://slickdeals.net/f/5856646-Samsung-HW-E450-Soundbar-refurb-139-99-shipped