re: Another home entertainment question (probably basic)

Post your soundbar's model number if the following doesn't make sense. There's probably 6 good ways to hook it all up. The simplest way: If it's HDMI from cable box--> soundbar --> tv, then you want the most basic HDMI-capable receiver with HDMI pass through. You wouldn't need Zone 2 or any of the like. Your soundbar would work just like usual. The box would send HDMI to the soundbar which will play the audio and send the video on its way to the receiver, which is hooked to the outdoor speakers. Video will pass through the receiver, but sound will only travel to the outside speakers when the receiver is on.


I'm going to stop here in terms of scenarios. If that works, that's what I would do with hardwired outdoor speakers + a volume knob somewhere outside. If that doesn't work, please share the model number of the soundbar (TV model number wouldn't hurt to have either, if it's handy). There are plenty of other options out there.

I avoid the topic of wireless because I really just don't know so much about it. Assuming you had an analog source, though, something like the Dayton Audio DTA-1 system could prevent you from running as much wire (2.4GHz transmitter--> amplifier. You would still run wire from amp to speakers). There are at least a handful of similar wireless transmitters that would take the content from your little setup and send it over to the receiving amp, but then you would need wires from that amp to the speakers. These wires carry power, though, so you only need 1 outlet for the amp. A speaker that has a built-in amp (powered) will require a regular 110v power connection.