@lettice wrote:
@GD1 wrote:
@Mezmo You don't as a Stream puck has no volume control, you would connect the soundbar to your TV.
Not true, depending on your Soundbar system specification.
If a soundbar has an hdmi in port, you would use that as the preferred connection for a Sky Stream puck
My current soundbar being Hisense AX5125H soundbar system.
I use the hdmi in port on the soundbar for the puck, soundbar EARC itself connected to the TV EARC hdmi port.
Other devices are connected to the other TV hdmi ports.
It works so much better using the puck via the soundbar hdmi in port like that, especially as it resolves any Sky Stream occasional lip sync issues and the Sky Stream CEC power sequence.
It also creates a better CEC switch on, switch on the soundbar first each day before starting the puck/TV CEC chain using the Puck on/home key.
The Sky Stream puck for the above type of soundbar needs to be set to Auto (not Dolby Digital+) and the TV sound settings should have EARC set to on and the TV sound settings set to Passthrough.
Other previous soundbars that have an hdmi in have also worked in same way.
Please do not confuse other readers by stating this as fact. It is not.
Not all soundbars with HDMI inputs allow full bandwidth video passthrough.
Therefore someone who subscribes to Premium tiers of Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max and also Apple TV may not get Dolby Vision passed through to their TV if they connect a Stream puck to a soundbar's HDMI input when it is not capable of passing the full video signal.
Higher end, more expensive soundbars will normally allow full video passthrough and will state as much on their full specification list. Cheaper, mass-market soundbars often do not state full compatibility so it can be hit and miss whether it will work well or not.
In my experience, I found that connecting a Stream puck directly to my TV and using eARC to my AVR provided a better experience. I know of many others who also find that they get a better experience this way too, using a variety of soundbars and AVRs.
Stream puck connection requires individual household troubleshooting, for both network connection and connection to TV and audio devices. There is no 'preferred connection' as you state. It's up to the customer to set up their equipment in a manner which bests suits them and their chosen broadband providers and A/V equipment.
