Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Sound Bar - What to do with the TV Volume?

by spandya21 Dec 29, 2009 5:28AM PST

I recently purchased an HT-WS1G Sound Bar to use with my Samsung TV. With the autolink feature, it seems that when I use my Directtv remote to increase and decrease volume, it will adjust the volume simultaneously for both the TV and Sound Bar. Is this the ideal method of use, or should I always keep the TV volume at a minimum and use the Sound Bar remote to adjust the volume? Basically, I am looking for the ideal proportion of TV volume and Sound Bar volume.

Discussion is locked

15 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Sound Bar - What to do with the TV Volume?
by Samsung_HD_Tech Samsung staff Dec 29, 2009 8:25AM PST

spandya21,

The design of the unit was to be able to replace the television speakers with the soundbar, rather than work in unison. So my official recommendation would be to turn off the speakers by choosing "External" in the audio setup menu, and just allow the sound to go through the bar.

That said, if there's not a delay, and you'd rather just use both, it won't harm the unit. But then switching the audio would have to be manual. There's no way to calibrate and synchronize the two volume options.

Does that help?

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Turning the TV speakers off
by spandya21 Dec 29, 2009 9:34AM PST

Yes, it helps to know whether or not I am supposed to be using the TV volume. However, can you give me more info on how to turn off the TV speakers? I have a Samsung flat screen plasma, and in the menu, I don't see any options to switch to external. If I hit the menu button on the Sound Bar remote, it pulls up the same TV menu. The menu has options for Input, Picture, and Sound. Input does not show the Sound Bar and Sound does not have any options for external speakers. I am connecting the sounf bar to my TV using the optical cable.

- Collapse -
Turning the TV speakers off
by Samsung_HD_Tech Samsung staff Jan 1, 2010 3:15PM PST

spandya21,

I forgot to ask what model of TV you have. I'll see if I can look in the manual and assist.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Sound Bar - What to do with the TV Volume?
by spandya21 Jan 1, 2010 10:51PM PST

It is a Samsung HPS4253X/XAA. Thanks!

- Collapse -
Sound Bar - What to do with the TV Volume?
by Samsung_HD_Tech Samsung staff Jan 2, 2010 8:33AM PST

spandya21,

I may have to send this up to one of our experts. Let me make sure I have this correctly:

There's no internal mute in the setup menu of the television.
The DirecTV remote controls both the volume of the TV and the soundbar.

Correct?

It may be that the older television and the newer soundbar has the same discrete code (code used for functions, like volume, that are programmed into the remote), so using the remote will cause both to jump.

In the meantime, I might suggest using just the soundbar's remote to control the volume, but I'll see what I can find. Would you please confirm that I'm understanding you correctly?

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Sound Bar - What to do with the TV Volume?
by spandya21 Jan 2, 2010 1:13PM PST

Yes, that is correct. The Directtv remote controls both volumes simultaneously and I am not able to turn off the TV speakers through the menu. Thanks,

- Collapse -
Sound Bar - What to do with the TV Volume?
by Samsung_HD_Tech Samsung staff Jan 2, 2010 1:46PM PST

spandya21,

Okay. I've sent that up, and as soon as I receive a response, I'll post it here. It may end up being that you have to adjust the volume for the soundbar with the soundbar's remote. But I'll see if someone can help with a better solution.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Sound Bar - What to do with the TV Volume?
by tinslinger Feb 3, 2010 5:22PM PST

I am running into similar control difficulty with a Samsung PN58B560T5F tv and Samsung HT-WS1 soundbar. I can only get two configurations, neither of which is satisfactory. Either "external speaker" is set, and a large warning banner ( ! Not Available) obscures the picture whenever the volume is changed; or "internal speaker" selected, and both tv and soundbar volume move in unison causing an echo chamber effect.

I need to disable the tv speakers while using one remote to control all functions including soundbar volume. I do not want to have to use both remotes constantly. How can this be accomplished?

- Collapse -
Same issue here with the
by sloanish Jun 11, 2010 4:13AM PDT

I have
Comcast service with DVR in Mass.
Samsung LN40B550 40" 1080p LCD HDTV
Samsung HW-C450 2-1/2" Soundbar with Powered Wireless Subwoofer
Probably need a Comcast code for the soundbar

"I can only get two configurations, neither of which is satisfactory. Either "external speaker" is set, and a large warning banner ( ! Not Available) obscures the picture whenever the volume is changed; or "internal speaker" selected, and both tv and soundbar volume move in unison causing an echo chamber effect.

I need to disable the tv speakers while using one remote to control all functions including soundbar volume. I do not want to have to use both remotes constantly. How can this be accomplished?"

- Collapse -
Not Available Message
by herman875 Nov 26, 2010 3:24AM PST

I just bought this TV two days ago and am having the same issue. Did you find a solution that you can share?

- Collapse -
same. samsung tv and bar
by chuck3421 Jan 14, 2011 10:35PM PST

i am also having the problem. my directv remote syncs up perfectly where i can control the sound bar volume with it. the problem is when i adjust the volume, the "not available" warning comes on the screen bc the external speaker feature is in use. how do i get rid of the "not available" message?

- Collapse -
Annoying "Not Available"
by Skip-in-Mass Feb 19, 2011 9:21AM PST

I am having the same issue as chuck3421 and I'm not happy about seeing the "not available" message every time I use my comcast remote to change the TV volume. The good news is that the comcast remote does work on the sound bar as far as the volume adjustments.
I can't imagine that a huge corporation like Samsung wouldn't have an answer to this.

- Collapse -
(NT) how did you get directv remote to work with soundbar?
by pkamerman Dec 15, 2012 4:50AM PST
- Collapse -
Getting rid of the "Not Available" alert
by hatterasman Jun 17, 2011 11:05AM PDT

For those of us with Comcast, I found out you can program the remote to use the volume feature of the digital cable box itself. You set the TV to external speakers and use the volume through the box. It gets rid of that annoying alert. (by the way, Comcast didn't even know this!)Best of luck!

- Collapse -
Comcast alert fix
by hatterasman Jun 17, 2011 11:06AM PDT

I found out you can configure the Comcast remote to control the volume through the digital box itself. Set the TV for external speaker, then program the remote to use the control feature of the Comcast digital box. This allows the audio bar to be used and gets rid of the alert on the screen. See this for more: http://www.ehow.com/how_5515638_program-volume-comcast-hddvr-box.html Best of luck!

Back to Samsung forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info