Forum Discussion

lakensea's avatar
lakensea
Streaming Star
9 months ago
Solved

Bluetooth & Digital Optical audio

On the Ultra series TV's, with a Roku Bluetooth sound bar connected, does the TV also output sound through the digital audio connection?

Also, on the Select series, if the digital optical audio output is used, can the internal speakers also be on?

TV & Player Setup
  • RokuJohnB's avatar
    RokuJohnB
    9 months ago

    Hi lakensea,

    Thank you for your first post here in the Roku Community!

    We will be delighted to assist you further with this inquiry. Roku TVs have a digital audio output and can output sound through it even when a Roku Bluetooth soundbar is connected.

    On the Select series TV, you can typically have the internal speakers on even when using the digital optical audio output, but you might need to adjust your TV settings to ensure both are active; usually, this involves making sure the "TV speakers" option in your audio settings is set to "on" or "enabled."

    Hope you'll find this info useful. Let us a know in case you've still got any questions.

    Best regards,
    John

4 Replies

  • RokuJohnB's avatar
    RokuJohnB
    Community Moderator
    9 months ago

    Hi lakensea,

    Thank you for your first post here in the Roku Community!

    We will be delighted to assist you further with this inquiry. Roku TVs have a digital audio output and can output sound through it even when a Roku Bluetooth soundbar is connected.

    On the Select series TV, you can typically have the internal speakers on even when using the digital optical audio output, but you might need to adjust your TV settings to ensure both are active; usually, this involves making sure the "TV speakers" option in your audio settings is set to "on" or "enabled."

    Hope you'll find this info useful. Let us a know in case you've still got any questions.

    Best regards,
    John

    • lakensea's avatar
      lakensea
      Streaming Star
      9 months ago

      Thank you John.  I could not get a consistent answer from Best Buy support, and then I found this forum.  After many years I am "cutting the cable" and upgrading all my TV's to Roku's.  My wife uses Bluetooth headphone connected to a Bluetooth transmitter which are currently connected to the cable box's analog audio output, and the audio is still output to the TV speakers on the smaller TV, or the surround sound system in the living room.  The Bluetooth transmitters also have a digital optical input which I will connect to the TV's optical output, also using the smaller "Select" tv's internal speakers, and a the Roku Bluetooth sound bar connected to the larger Plus series TV.

    • lakensea's avatar
      lakensea
      Streaming Star
      9 months ago

      Sorry, but the answer provided here is incorrect.  i have finally been able to get my ROKU tv's and wireless sound bar set up and and as soon as you connect Bluetooth headphones, the sound bar or internal speakers turn off with no apparent way to turn them back on with the headphones connected.  Also tried it using the optical output to a Bluetooth transmitter with the same result.  

      I have ordered the standard (non wireless) sound bar and an optical splitter, and will try that.

      I also thought that you could connect a pair of additional front wireless speakers to the wireless sound bar, but you can only have the rear set.

      • lakensea's avatar
        lakensea
        Streaming Star
        8 months ago

        OK, I have a work around.  I am using a Roku Streambar using the optical connection with a splitter at the TV's optical output.  Bluetooth transmitter connected to the other splitter output.  Audio output set to "Auto" .Here's the trick - the HDMI has to be connected to HDMI 2 or 3, NOT HDMI 1 (ARC). The only bug is every time the TV powers up and it sees the soundbar, you get a pop-up telling you to connect the soundbar to the HDMI 1 (ARC).  Sound comes from soundbar with volume controlled by remote, volume on the Bluetooth is controlled by the device.