Forum Discussion

Chorus10's avatar
Chorus10
Newbie
9 months ago

Roku Soundbar - does it require functioning audio from TV?

Older Sharp HDTV, sound failed years ago using it through cable box.  Stored it down cellar and replaced it, eventually got a Roku box for the new TV.  That winter set it up in front of the bikes on trainers.  Got a new Roku box for upstairs, hooked it up to the original Roku box, and like magic the sound worked.  Worked great for a couple of years until sound failed again this week.  You can get sound from it through the Roku remote wearing earbuds, just not out of the TV speakers.  I did have one episode where the remote stopped working, neither produced sound but I power cycled the TV and, again, like magic the TV speakers were working.  No joy today, though, they failed and the remote with earbuds was the way to go. 

Other members of the household don't want to go the earbud route - especially if more than one of us is down there at the same time. 

I'm tempted to try a Roku soundbar with this TV.  Since I can get sound out of the remote I'm thinking that the sound bar won't require the TV to produce an audio signal.  Since I know nothing about how this stuff works, I could be conjuring.  I can see how one device processing audio and one device processing video could cause issues with synchronization.  

Bottom line, is the Roku soundbar using an audio signal from the TV or is it taking it straight from the source?  Could be a moot point, though, given that I can get sound from the existing remote through earbuds.  It is one of the early generations of plain old Roku puck like devices.  Could be that the soundbar would work anyway. 

1 Reply

  • AvsGunnar's avatar
    AvsGunnar
    Community Streaming Expert
    9 months ago

    Chorus10 

    If everything you want to watch is through Roku, then the Roku Soundbar/Streambar "should" work. (should hear sound through the Streambar).  Caveat - depends on the culprit causing loss of audio to speakers, but if audio is still being send to your earbuds, good sign audio signal is actually still present.

    The instructions for setting up Roku Streambar - https://support.roku.com/article/360050034473.

    ----

    I had a Streambar hooked up to an older TV that did not have an HDMI-ARC port, or an optical port.  I just used it on a standard HDMI port.  As such, when I used the Roku, everything came through the Streambar.  If I switched to my TV's antenna, then the sound would come my TV speakers. (this would be the same for any DVD, gaming system, etc).

    If you have an HDMI-ARC port, you do not need the optical cable for peripherals to be used through the Streambar.  If you do not have an HDMI-ARC, but do have an optical port, then you are still good. (connect optical to Streambar).  If, like me, you only have an HDMI port on the TV without HMDI-ARC and no optical, then as long as you stick to Roku streaming, you should be good. (without working speakers, still won't be able to use antenna or peripherals, but Roku streaming will come through Streambar).

    It may just be your speakers failing (or connection on board feeding speakers).  Could always try connecting some external speakers to it if you have the available connections. (even some powered computer speakers if you have a headphone 3.5mm jack) available on the TV.  If able to get external speakers working, then that would restore antenna usage (DVD player/peripherals) back to TV if needed.  May even to able to connect an audio receiver and speakers to the TV as well if so inclined.