topic Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same in Android TV

Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Mon, 23 May 2016 10:48:59 GMT

Hi,

I have the CT-380 Soundbar connected to a Sony 55XD9305BU TV via the HDMI ARC connection from the TV to the Soundbar, but the volume on the soundbar is too low compared to the TV Speakers.

For instance, if using the TV speakers alone, they are quite loud on 15

If I use the Soundbar alone, it seems to be using its own volume number independent of the TV. I am using the TV remote to control the Soundbar Volume.

So for example, when using the Soundbar (instead of the TV Speakers) i use the TV remote and set the TV volume to 15, the Soundbar volume displays 5, so the soundbar Volume is low.

Any way to make it so the TV volume displayed on the TV screen is the same on the Soundbar? It's like the Soundbar volume is 10 volume increments lower...

Thanks

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:07:11 GMT

You should check better which number you read on the TV and the soundbar.... TV volume scale is 1 to 100 and soundbar should be 1 to 50 so whichever volume level you set on the TV the sounbar is exactly half the value (i.e 30 on the TV is 15 on the soundbar). It is normal and doesn't mean that the volume on the soundbar is lowered. 15 on the tv should not be that loud since it is 15% of the volume power.......

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:21:56 GMT

Yes i'm aware of the TV 1-100 and Soundbar 1-50...

If you read my Question again, you will see that in my situation, the Soundbar is NOT HALF the TV Volume, it is exactly "10" behind....

If TV is 15, Soundbar is 5

If TV is 30, Soundbar is 20

So i am asking why it is 10 behind? Shouldn't it be half the TV displayed volume????

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:28:19 GMT

Sorry I didn't get it right... And if you try to have the volume on the TV over 60 (if your neighbour do not kill you....) what happen on the bar?

It seems like they are not really in sync, try reenabling bravia sync on the TV and/or adjust some setting on the bar (sound mode i.e.) using the setting in the TV menu for your bar...

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:39:43 GMT

Haven't really played with Bravia Sync, do you have a step by step on how to do this?

Should the Bravia sync pair up the volume?

I've tried the different Sound mode, but that doens't alter the fact that the Soundbar is 10 below the TV volume setting.

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Mon, 23 May 2016 13:26:16 GMT

The tutorial that are online on the community about bravia sync are quite old and are not adapted to Android TV setting. In any case you should find it under home-->settings-->external input-->Bravia sync settings

In the device list there should already enlisted your Home Theatre (since it is Bravia sync the make possible for you to control volume via the TV remote). There should be an option to force enable Bravia sync on all the devices and pressing it you should see also a message on the soundbar that confirm the activation.

I do not ask you to play with sound mode directly on the soundbar, but accessing the setting via the TV home-->settings-->sound--> Home Theatre Control that should be enabled with your HTCT380 settings if everything is configured: just to check that the remote control is working fine.

If everything is right and still there is a difference, try from the beginning: disconnecting the HDMI lead, enlist the device under bravia sync menu (there should be no more the soundbar and every device connected to it). Then plug it back and check again enabling the sync once more.

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:16:48 GMT

Hi rooobb,

Tried resetting everything last night and now the Soundbar is half the TV Volume, so thanks.

However the sound is still very low, compared to the TV speakers. For instance, the sound on the Sky Box (is low volume), Virgin Box (is high) DVD (is high). Is there a way of boosting the Sound on HDMI 1 for example where the Sky Box is?

Also, I am very dissappointed in the sound quality of the Sony CT-480 Soundbar. When the soundbar is setup using HDMI ARC (so i can use the TV remote to control the sub volume) the Sound is Dull, lifeless and doesnt project well at all. In comparison, the built-in TV Speakers are way way better and have a great surround sound effect and the sound travels well.... £200 for a CT-380 seems a complete and utter waste of money.

Is there any way I can set the TV up to use both the TV Speakers and Soundbar/Sub and still be able to use the Tv Remote to control the Volume for both TV and Soundbar???

I'm happy with the picture quality on the TV, but the Sound via Soundbar is really poor.

Regards,

P.S. My setup is Sky Box, Virgin Box, DVD into the back of TV via quality HDMI Cables. Then one HDMI cable via TV HDMI ARC to Soundbar HDMI ARC.

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:41:48 GMT

I think the problem with skybox audio is more related to sky itself, try changing the audio track (if available) especially when it is Dolby I read about several people having a lower sound from it. Not a big issue but you have to higher the volume level to get it well.

Regarding the general audio issue I can give you only my experience with a different soundbar (HTCT350): you have to play a little with the sound settings. The best sound field with my soundbar is the movie one, for which i put some more level on the sub (+2 if I remember right) and some more also on the central speaker to have better voice (my soundbar is 3+1 I don't remember if yours is 2.1 or 3.1).

I can assure that mine setup has a great value over the TV speaker (a 42W805A before and later a 43W805C) even if of course is not a true surround system

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:44:06 GMT

BTW is generally better that you plug your device into the soundbar HDMI input rather than TV so you let the soundbar itself do all the job with the audio rather than passing through the TV....

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:59:36 GMT

Thanks so far with your suggestions, much appreciated...

On the question of plugging the devices (sky box, virgin box and dvd directly into the Soundbar and then one HDMI cable to TV via ARC, how does the TV switch between the devices if the devices are all connected to the Soundbar and not directly to the seperate HDMIs on the TV itself?

I have the TV setup so that anyone using it can flick between the Sky/Virgin Boxes by pressing the Top left button (inputs) on the TV Remote.

Can you explain what happens if the Devices are connected to the Soundbar, then back to the TV via 1 single ARC HDMI???? Can i still just use the TV remote to flick across devices, or would i now need to use the Soundbar Remote as well?

I'm trying to eliminate the number of remote controls in use and achieve best Sound setup using the TV remote only.

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Tue, 24 May 2016 10:07:26 GMT

Of course you can still command everything using the TV remote!

You'll see all your device under the same HDMI so you cannot use anymore the input switching but using the sync remote button you will see each and any device and choose and control whichever you want. You can also define in the same menu whether to use the tv button to control the TV (i.e. for setting the image) or the remote device.By default it should send the command to the attached device.

And of course whenever you switch on a device it will automatically adjust the TV and soundbar input in order to go to straight to that device.

You may encounter some problems only with skybox (stiil ) that is known not to support HDMI CEC perfectly (some people choose to by an HDMI cable without the CEC pin in order to exclude it from the chain....)

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Wed, 25 May 2016 12:29:14 GMT

Hi,

I tried connecting the 3 devices to the Soundbat via HDMI, and then HDMI Arc from Soundbar to TV.

Granted the sound is better, but the Device switching doesn't work using the TV Remote. -I tried all the Bravia Sync settings etc, but the only way to change the Device is using the Soundbar Remote.

Why doesn't this work? Why don't Sony's own products work with each other? It beggers belief that Sony sell TV and Soundbar bundles knowing full well that certain configurations simply will not work...

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Wed, 25 May 2016 13:18:02 GMT

Have you tried pushing the sync menu button on the tv remote? Don't you see the list of all your devices to be selected?

If not try again resyncing everything via the Bravia sync menu. If still nothing try disconnecting the skybox...

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Wed, 25 May 2016 13:34:15 GMT

Yes I see only 3 devices, the Sky Box, DVD player and Soundbar, but not the Virgin Media Box.

I clicked ENABLE and it says the SEND command was sent etc etc.

After that, I put a film on the DVD, then i tried switching to the SKy Box by pressing a button the Sky remote and as expected, nothing happens

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Wed, 25 May 2016 14:12:50 GMT

As anticipated it could be a problem of the skybox... If you unplug it, you see the virgin box appear and everything is working? If this is the case and was working before, trying attaching only the skybox to the TV and all the others to the soundbar....

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:26:24 GMT

Going back to the issue of having sound from the TV Speakers and Soundbar at the same time, is it possible to use the Sound RCA outputs or Headphone sockets? Would the TV remote still control both?

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

rooobb — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:35:28 GMT

AFAIK HTCT380 do not have analog input and anyway you'll get only bad analogue stereo audio from that not 5.1 digital sound....

In my personal opinion you should only find a way to solve the problem with skybox either plugging it to teh TV directly with still HDMICEC on or if it still confuses your setup, using an HDMI-CECless cable (in which case you have to operate the skybox with its own remote and manually switch to the HDMI input on TV)

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Fri, 27 May 2016 09:25:32 GMT

Hi,

Is this something we can request from Sony to be made available in the next Firmware upgrade?

i.e. The ability to choose both TV speakers and External System at the same time?

They could have tick boxes in the SETTINGS - SOUND area and instead of a toggle, they have tick boxes to choose which sound outputs you want?

Re: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

gebearm — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 09:14:57 GMT

I bought the latest Sony CT390 soundbar and putting it i in front of my stand mounted XD9305 which I regret buying, the soundbar stops the remote from operating the TV because Soundbar covers the TV sensor. Took soundbar back for a refund.

Rif.: Sony 55XD9305BU and CT-380 SoundBar volume not the same

sharpharp — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 11:26:01 GMT

6 months later and stil the same issue...... The CT380 connecting is hit and miss.

When you switch the TV on, the unit puts the TV Speakers on sometimes have to manually change to Soundbar.

Do Sony even listen? Is there any Firmware for either the XD9305 or the SoundBar CT-380 that even addresses this issue, or as usual have Sony buried their head in the sand?