2. home-theater
  3. 160363-128813

Soundbar AND home theater - but only one HDMI ARC

 Help!  For my casual everyday tv-watching, I really don't want to use my whole HT, I just want my soundbar system to be in use.  However, this is NOT as easy as I thought, or am I missing something?
My tv's (Sony XBR-65X950G) HDMI ARC jack is going to my HT receiver.  So my Sony remote controls the HT receiver volume perfectly. 

However, now I cannot control my soundbar because it has to use the optical output from the tv and requires me to use my Harmony remote (wife hates it and I don't love it).
So, are people like me just out of luck?  I wish there were two ARC jacks on the tv!
So, again, if my HT receiver is using the HDMI ARC, is there no good way to also have a soundbar in the system and it operate the way it's intended? 
dtximages
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,827 posts
 
Hdmi splirrer should work
dtximages OP
365 posts
 
Thanks @audiotroy 

Question about that. Nothing is lost?  Still get 4k and atmos?

Also, it looks like the one I'm looking at has a button on it to switch between the two, I guess that's the only option correct?  To get up and click the button?  Not the worst thing in the world.
mahler123
3,387 posts
 
You are using a sound bar as your speakers.  Why are you worried about losing a little fidelity by Splitting the HDMI signal?
dtximages OP
365 posts
 
@mahler123  No.. Why would i do that?  I have a home theater on the same tv that I also have a soundbar.  For normal watching, I don't want to crank up the entire home theater system and just want the simple soundbar.

Why am I worried about losing fidelity?  Same reason everyone on here is worried about it.
dtximages OP
365 posts
 
I've tried two different HDMI switches and neither work.  One, the sound bleeds through to the other system.  The other was just a fail.  I'm not sure why this is not a more common problem.
I figure a lot of people have a HT in their main living room but don't always want to watch the local news in full blown surround sound.
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