Audio setup to use the Soundbar and Optical Out for hearing aids separately and simultaneously.

Thanks for the reply, RokuElizer-A​

I was hoping that Optical Out might remain available—even if not directly controllable—when another audio output like eARC is selected for a soundbar. This would allow simultaneous use of a Bluetooth hearing aid transmitter (which has its own volume control) alongside a soundbar, ensuring everyone in the family can enjoy quality audio.

Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case, and several others seem to have asked the same question. It's a shame, as many hearing-impaired individuals would benefit from such a setup. Perhaps this could be forwarded to engineers for consideration in future models.

As a workaround, I selected Optical Out and Stereo and daisy-chained it to my hearing aid transmitter and then to a soundbar. While this solution requires additional remotes—one for the soundbar and one for the hearing aids—it works reasonably well. However, it may not suit users seeking a more complex sound system like 5.1 surround.

For anyone interested, my hearing aid transmitter has an optical out port, simplifying this setup. If your transmitter lacks optical out, an affordable optical splitter should work as well.

I would love to hear if others have found better solutions!

Jay