topic AG9, remote and sonos playbar in Android TV

AG9, remote and sonos playbar

andrew.rowleyq — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 09:52:32 GMT

Hi,

I've recently purchased an AG9 and am trying to get both the Sonos playbar and the remote to work together nicely.

I can only control the sonos playbar volume via IR which only works when the remote is not connected to the tv via bluetooth - but then i don't get the other remote features e.g. the voice control button doesn't work and searching by voice doesn't work

Has anyone had any success in getting the remote to control both the playbar via IR and the tv via bluetooth? Obviously the remote has both IR and bluetooth technology however they don't seem to work at the same time?

Many thanks

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

rooobb — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 10:50:57 GMT

Sorry but it is not easy to understand what your are trying to do....

How the soundbar and tv are connected? Because to use one remote for all they should be connected via hdmiarc/cec and support all the command you need. otherways to command both the devices with a single remote you should have a universal one...

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

andrew.rowleyq — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 12:36:25 GMT

the sonos playbar only has an optical connection and not HDMI/ARC and only accepts IR inputs for control. The sony remote obvioulsy can send IR as it can control it - but if I connect the tv remote to the AG9 via bluetooth (to use the additional features such as voice control via the remote), then the remote control IR stops working and therefore the volume of the sonos playbar stops being controlled.

However i don't think the AG9 has an IR blaster?

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

rooobb — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 12:47:53 GMT

The problem I think is that the new ag9 remote use bluetooth for any command if enabled so it will not send ir command any more... regarding ir blaster I cannot help since it was never available in italy

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

LightFoot — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:01:48 GMT

Hi @andrew.rowleyq

I’m sure that you have your reasons for using the Sonos sound bar, but having bought a fantastic TV with the latest audio formats I find it difficult to understand why you would restrict the audio by using a now outdated optical cable that is restricted to simple Dolby Digital. Only HDMI carries Atmos and the latest audio formats.

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

andrew.rowleyq — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:11:38 GMT

Yep sort of all in on the Sonos ecosystem - however I think its only a matter of time before Sonos launch a new playbar that will be an atmos enabled device over HDMI

I have the sonos beam as well in another other room and that does have HDMI - however its not get the same sound quality and power of the playbar.

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

andrew.rowleyq — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:12:55 GMT

yeah i think that is the case for sure - IR works when its not connected via Bluetooth, but once Bluetooth is connected and enabled then the IR transmitter must be deactivated

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

rooobb — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:15:53 GMT

That's a great feature of the new remote since it is usable without pointing the TV itself but in your setup is a problem...you could try finding an older remote though...

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

box4mm — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 19:54:30 GMT

Once you have turned on bluetooth, how do you go back to IR?

Rif.: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

rooobb — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 09:41:26 GMT

It should be enough to disconnect the remote from the bluetooth settings menu

Re: AG9, remote and sonos playbar

davidhodges86 — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 07:46:06 GMT

Hi,

I realise this is an old post but I had the same problem with the AG9 and it's the top Google result.

I've created an Android app which solves this problem - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dev.hodges.volumelink

The app works by logging in securely to your Sonos account (using oauth so it never gets your password or account details, just a token) then the app will listen for the volume changed broadcasts from the TV and forward any volume changes to the PlayBar.

As well as changing the PlayBar volume using the TV remote connected via Bluetooth I can now even use the Android TV Remote app to change the PlayBar volume.

There are a couple of caveats currently as I only started the app last week - you can only have one Sonos "Household" and 1 PlayBar on your account - otherwise it will just use the first PlayBar it finds. This works for me but for "bigger" Sonos users it will be a problem. If people like the idea though I can easily add some screens to pick a household and then pick the PlayBar required.

David