My in-laws want to buy a sound bar for their TV, and this is an area I'm not familiar with! I am looking for one for them that does NOT have a remote to control its volume; I want the volume to be controlled by the TV. I am also looking for simple installation with an HDMI cable if possible.

In searching Amazon, it appears that all TV sound bars come with their own remote control, and that's not what I want. We have to go over there at least once per week because they pressed the wrong button on their TV remotes and got it so that it isn't working, and we have to put it back to where it was. They are also constantly losing their remotes, so introducing another to the mix is NOT something that we can do!

Any helpful suggestions would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

TBH, i have not heard of one which doesn’t have a dedicated remote.

With that though, we have a Harmon soundbar (love it btw) and use a Harmony universal remote.

I have the same issue with my wife and multiple remotes for the TV, Roku, Blu-Ray, and soundbar.

One Remote to rule them all, One Remote to find them, One Remote to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them… until the batteries need changing.

The tech could never get it to work on intial TV installation. Saved me 250 bucks. Good downpayment on a firearn IMO

Here’s what I think: I think if you buy a sound bar from the same manufacturer as your tv, the tv’s remote will control the sound bar.

I have Samsung TVs and sound bars. The sound bars came with their own remotes but I never use them. I just put the sound bar remote behind the center speaker.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
Here’s what I think: I think if you buy a sound bar from the same manufacturer as your tv, the tv’s remote will control the sound bar.

This. And like Rey, I have Samsung TVs and sound bars, so I can't speak for others.

Buy a soundbar that has ARC/ E-ARC capability, which allows controlling volume with the TV remote.

My Sonos uses the TV remote for volume control. ARC/E-ARC as mentioned above

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
Here’s what I think: I think if you buy a sound bar from the same manufacturer as your tv, the tv’s remote will control the sound bar.

This. And like Rey, I have Samsung TVs and sound bars, so I can't speak for others.

^^ THIS ^^

I have a LG TV in the living room and a LG sound bar. In the MBR, I have a Samsung TV and a Samsung sound bar. My Dad has a Vizio TV in his living room and I bought him a Vizio sound bar. In all 3 cases, the TV remote controlled the volume of the sound bar and didn't have to use a separate remote.

My Dad's case is a great example of sound bar benefits. The speakers on Dad's TV were on the back side of the TV and the sound bounced off the wall behind it. The dialogue was kind of muddy sounding. Additionally, when I'd visit Dad I'd spend several hours in his home office fixing his computer and the home office was on the other side of the wall from the TV. Despite going through 2 layers of drywall, the TV volume was louder in the desk chair than it was in Dad's recliner, and the volume in the home office made fixing his computer an even less pleasant task. The sound bar pointing directly at Dad's recliner gave him both clearer dialogue and the rest of the house was much quieter.

I have an 5 year ol Bose sound bar and have been very pleased. I am sure the new version is amazing, but wait for a sale or refurbished. As mentioned it has the arc and works flawlessly. They have a fee great options from 300-500. Klipsh and Sonos were both finalists and very good as well.

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
Buy a soundbar that has ARC/ E-ARC capability, which allows controlling volume with the TV remote.

This.

My Sonos works wonderfully with my Apple TV and Sony TV. I use the Apple TV remote exclusively. Simple hookup.

I have this soundbar, paired with a Samsung TV. It has its own remote but the volume is controlled with the Samsung remote most of the time. The only time I use the JBL remote is to use the “voice” button which enhances clarity. It’s also easy to set up

https://mm.jbl.com/soundbars/SB170-.html

It is possible to purchase a sound bar and a bass module from Bose at their refurbished outlet site, and for those to be configured to control with the TV remote.

However, even with the special ARC control HDMI cable, various power off / on cycles can result in the TV changing its audio output to its own speakers.

This then, makes a sound bar useless.

I think the in-laws are trying to compensate for hearing loss with a bigger speaker? Perhaps they have not stated clearly the issue, but have presented you with their own solution?

In this case, having dealt with my MIL and her repeated loss of TV control, my wife and her loss of TV control, I think you are paddling upstream.

See if simply turning on the closed captioning will fix the in-laws issue.

Solve the real problem, and don't introduce an incredibly frustrating technology to them. Sound bars and multiple remotes that you have to reduce to one and configurations are NOT going to work.

Depending on the tv and soundbar setup you should be able to do what you're asking.

Set the TV sound so its through the digital output be it HDMI or Optical, then it will always send sound to the bar.

The concept of one remote should work as long as they are compatible units.

I have a Samsung TV and Soundbar and we use the Amazon Fire Stick for all entertainment including DirecTV.

The Amazon Fire Remote runs both the sound bar and tv, it turns them both on, and volume goes up and down with the same remote.

Setup the TV where all inputs are off but the firestick and when it comes up it's simply choose the app and use one remote

They all come with remotes, but that doesn’t mean that remote is the sole means of controlling the volume. We have 4 sound bars, none are the same brand as the TV they are attached to, all use HDMI ARC/EARC, and TV’s remote controls the volume on each of them.

Thanks for all of the info/help. I had them order one with the HDMI ARC feature, and they use an Amazon Firestick, so hopefully all will go well with it. If not, it'll get sent back.

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
Buy a soundbar that has ARC/ E-ARC capability, which allows controlling volume with the TV remote.

Isn't this only through an HDMI connection between the TV and the audio device? Old style analog connections and optical will only pass audio, not control information. USB I'm not sure about, but it has compromises of its own.

Sonos does what you require. Costco carries Sonos products locally for you.

Sonos, as others have said. Volume controlled by TV remote or via app on phone, or by tapping the volume button atop the soundbar.

quote:

Originally posted by architect:

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
Buy a soundbar that has ARC/ E-ARC capability, which allows controlling volume with the TV remote.

Isn't this only through an HDMI connection between the TV and the audio device? Old style analog connections and optical will only pass audio, not control information. USB I'm not sure about, but it has compromises of its own.

Yes, ARC, audio return channel, and eARC, enhanced, are HDMI only.