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How to Use Apple TV With Your Sonos Playbar
Everything you need to know to use an Apple TV with a Sonos Playbar
By Jonny Evans Jonny Evans Writer Johnny Evans is a former Lifewire writer who specializes in iPhones, iOS, and Apple TV and blogs daily about it at other publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 4, 2021 Reviewed by Christine Baker Reviewed by Christine Baker Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Streaming Devices Apple TV Roku Chromecast Fire TV What to Know
In the Sonos Controller app, go to Settings > Select your product > Allow, select your Sonos Playbar or Arc, then plug it into the TV.You might need to manually adjust the audio settings on the TV to reroute the audio through the optical cable.You can play music on your Apple TV and Sonos system through any iOS device and stream audio to speakers in another room. This article explains how to use an Apple TV with a Sonos Playbar. Instructions apply to the fourth-generation Apple TV or Apple TV 4K and the Sonos Playbar or a Sonos Arc soundbar. Set up Your Sonos and Apple TV
If you want to use your Apple TV with your Sonos Playbar or Sonos Arc, you'll need to hook up the systems via your TV because the fourth-generation Apple TV and the Apple TV 4K don't have optical audio-out connections. Here's how it works. Plug the Apple TV into an HDTV using an HDMI cable. You may need to tap Settings > Audio and Video and check that your Apple TV is using the correct audio output. Download and launch the Sonos Controller app on your iPhone and open Settings. Tap Select your product. Tap Allow. Tap Allow Location access. Confirm location access permission by tapping Allow While Using App or Allow Once. The app searches for nearby products. When you see your Sonos Playbar or Arc, tap to select it and then follow the setup instructions. Connect the Sonos Playbar's optical audio cable to the TV. About the Sonos and Apple TV Setup
You need to use your television to set up the two systems because the fourth-generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4K have a high-definition HDMI output and no optical audio-out connection. HDMI carries high-quality audio and visual signals, but it introduces a little complexity in connecting the two systems. You'll connect the Apple TV to your television over HDMI and output to your Sonos Playbar using its optical cable and the optical out on the television. The newer Sonos Arc technology also supports HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support. Before You Begin
To get started, you'll need the following: Apple TV fourth generation or Apple TV 4K HDMI cable Wi-Fi network Television Sonos Playbar or Sonos Arc Optical audio cable supplied with Sonos Playbar or Sonos Arc Sonos Controller app Set up the Apple TV Remote on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch Set up Your TV
You may need to manually adjust the audio settings on your TV to reroute audio through the optical cable. Most newer televisions handle this task for you automatically. Still, you may need to refer to the manufacturer's manual for configuration instructions to send audio from the TV through the cable. This is usually nested in the television's audio settings. You don't need to use two remote controls with your new audio system. Take control of both devices using an Apple TV Remote or a universal remote control. It's easy to set up a universal remote control with an Apple TV. Now What Can You Do
Once your Sonos and Apple TV systems are working together, you can use any iOS device to stream audio through your Sonos system. Play music, movies, or other video audio from your Apple TV directly through your Sonos system. Or beam audio from an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or iPod touch using AirPlay. The Sonos system also plays any audio generated by your Apple TV. So, if you use Apple Music on your Apple TV, you'll hear your tunes via your Sonos system. With Apple TV audio set to play through a Sonos system connected to your television, stream audio from your TV to another room in your home that's equipped with Sonos speakers. Use AirPlay to stream audio content from your Mac, iPhone, or iPad to your Sonos. If You Don' t Have a Sonos Playbar or Arc
If you don't have a Sonos soundbar product, use a Sonos speaker to act as a gate for Apple TV audio. Results may not be as good as using a higher-level soundbar. This is because the audio is carried from the television to the Sonos system over a standard 3.5mm jack (assuming your television has this output). You may find that audio falls out of sequence with video when watching through Apple TV. However, you can listen to music from Apple TV using Sonos speakers around your home. Sonos and Smart Speakers
When Amazon Alexa-powered devices, Google Hey Google smart home products, and the Apple HomePod were introduced, Sonos was known for its excellent wireless speakers and soundbars. Still, its products didn't have any smart assistant support. In its latest speakers, including the Sonos One, Sonos includes support for Alexa and the Google system, marking Sonos's emergence in the smart home arena. The Sonos Play:5 speaker doesn't have built-in voice assistant support. If you use it in conjunction with an Echo Dot or Nest mini, you can use voice commands to control it. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use Your Vizio Smart TV Without the Remote How to Set up the Apple TV With Your iPhone How to Turn Down the Volume on Apple TV How to Connect Your Phone to Your TV With USB How to Connect Your TV to an External Audio System How to Cast Apple TV to Chromecast How to Add Bluetooth Adapter to Your TV How to Replace a Broken or Lost Remote Control How to Connect an iPad to a TV How to Set Up Sonos Beam How to Update to the Latest the Apple TV Operating System How to Connect Amazon Echo to Your Sonos Speakers Is an Apple TV Worth It? Sonos Playbar Review: A Premium, Feature-Rich Soundbar How to Connect Sonos One to TV Expert Tested: The 6 Best Soundbars in 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies