Struggling with multiple remotes for your home theater setup?
You can conveniently operate both Firestick media streaming and soundbar volume using just the Firestick remote with proper pairing.
Let’s dive into the steps for connecting a soundbar with a Firestick remote below.
How to Connect Soundbar with Firestick Remote
Follow this quick 3-step process to enable your Firestick remote to control both streaming media and a paired soundbar:
- Physically connect soundbar to TV using HDMI ARC cable or optical audio cable if ARC unavailable.
- Enable HDMI CEC setting on Firestick and soundbar through device settings menus – ensures control signal transmission.
- Press and hold Firestick remote home button for 5+ seconds, then press and hold soundbar volume down or connect button to pair.
After following these 3 key steps to connect devices via cables and HDMI CEC settings, while also linking the remote and soundbar wirelessly, you can use the Firestick remote to seamlessly:
Navigate Firestick streaming interface
- Control soundbar power
- Adjust soundbar volume
- Mute both devices
The end result is one centralized remote for media, volume and power across connected entertainment devices. Very straightforward to achieve.
Make Sure Soundbar and Firestick Are Compatible
It is important to first check that your soundbar and Firestick models support High Definition Media Interface Consumer Electronics Control, commonly abbreviated as HDMI CEC, connectivity.
The HDMI CEC functionality allows your Firestick remote to also control certain functions of your soundbar, such as power and volume adjustments.
If either your soundbar or streaming device does not have HDMI CEC capabilities, then you will not be able to control your soundbar with your Firestick remote.
To verify compatibility, you will need to consult the instruction manual or specifications list for both your streaming stick and soundbar model.
There should be clear indication if HDMI CEC is supported.
This is usually promoted as a feature since it allows universal remote functionality when properly set up.
If you no longer have the paperwork that originally came with your devices, a quick internet search of the make and model numbers should also provide the needed details on HDMI CEC compatibility.
If HDMI CEC connectivity is confirmed for both the Firestick and soundbar, then you can proceed with connecting the two devices.
However, if one or both devices lack HDMI CEC support, unfortunately your Firestick remote will only be able to control basic media playback functions of the streaming stick itself.
Without HDMI CEC, the remote cannot send signals to adjust external devices like soundbars.
If this compatibility is lacking in your current setup, you would need to invest in CEC-enabled devices to benefit from the universal remote control convenience.
Connect Soundbar to TV
The next step is connecting your soundbar physically to your television set.
There are two main options here – using an HDMI ARC port or an optical audio port.
The HDMI ARC method is preferred since it supports HDMI CEC control functionality, but optical can work as an alternative if HDMI ARC is not available on your devices.
HDMI ARC, or Audio Return Channel, is an HDMI port specifically designed for easy audio device connectivity.
Most modern television sets have at least one HDMI ARC port built-in.
This will often be clearly labelled as ARC to differentiate from standard HDMI inputs.
Similarly, many recent soundbar models will also have an HDMI ARC compatible port.
To connect the devices, simply use an HDMI cable between these HDMI ARC specific ports.
This creates a direct high quality digital audio link between the TV and soundbar.
Since HDMI ARC connections support HDMI CEC, this method also sets up the needed communication pathway for your Firestick remote to send control signals.
So if your soundbar and TV both have HDMI ARC ports, this would be the preferred connection option.
However, some television or soundbar models may lack HDMI ARC support while still offering standard HDMI ports.
These cannot accept HDMI ARC connections, so an optical audio link would be required instead.
Optical is a common digital audio output found on most TVs.
Soundbars also typically have an optical input.
So in situations without HDMI ARC availability, you can connect the TV’s optical output to the soundbar’s optical input utilizing an optical cable.
This allows the TV to send digital audio to the soundbar.
Just take note that optical audio connections do not support HDMI CEC functionality.
So extra steps highlighted later will be required to enable Firestick remote control if using the optical connectivity method.
No matter whether you utilize the preferred HDMI ARC output or alternative optical output, securely connecting the television audio source to the soundbar input is essential.
This physical link enables your soundbar to receive and amplify audio content being played by your Firestick and TV combination.
Without this vital wired connection, your soundbar would have no way of getting the streaming audio signals.
Enable HDMI CEC on Devices
After connecting your soundbar to television, the next phase is enabling HDMI Consumer
Electronics Control settings on both the streaming stick and soundbar.
The specific menus and naming conventions for enabling HDMI CEC varies amongst device manufacturers.
But generally the setting appears in either connectivity, inputs, or device control menus and may be listed as HDMI CEC, SimpLink, Anynet+, or other similar names.
For the Amazon Firestick, you will need to access the settings menu from the Firestick home screen interface.
Then navigate to display and sound settings where options for HDMI CEC connectivity can be activated.
Simply turn on all HDMI CEC related toggles here to ensure your Firestick can send appropriate signals to control other devices like the soundbar.
The method for switching on HDMI CEC capability on the soundbar itself will depend on the soundbar’s interface and menu system.
There may be a specific HDMI CEC, HDMI Control, Anynet+ Control, SimpLink or similarly named selection within the settings, inputs, or device connectivity menu.
Turn this setting to ON once located.
If you connected via HDMI ARC in the prior step, then HDMI CEC should now be fully enabled on both the Firestick and Soundbar for communication functionality allowing remote control.
However, remember that optical audio connections do not support HDMI CEC signals.
So if using an optical link instead, you will need to put both the TV and soundbar into standby in order for the next pairing step to work properly.
The devices being powered off allows the Firestick remote to directly pair with the soundbar even without CEC connectivity over optical cables.
Proper enabling of HDMI CEC is crucial because this allows the respective devices to communicate, send signals, and relay control instructions.
Without HDMI CEC functionality activated, your Firestick remote would only be able to adjust the streaming stick itself.
The remote signals would not transmit to an external soundbar if HDMI CEC is disabled, preventing volume and power adjustments to the audio device.
So double check this setting is switched on before attempting to pair the remote.
Pair Firestick Remote
With your soundbar physically connected and HDMI CEC settings properly enabled on both the streaming stick and soundbar, you are ready to pair the Firestick remote to the soundbar.
This pairing process essentially introduces the remote control to the soundbar, allowing it to accept and react to signals from the streaming remote.
Begin by putting your Alexa Voice Remote into pairing mode by pressing and holding down the Home button for 5 seconds.
An LED light should appear to confirm the remote is ready for pairing.
Next, while still holding the Home button, press and release quickly the mute button.
Continue holding the Home button until the remote LED blinks twice repeatedly to indicate pairing mode is activated.
Finally, while the remote is blinking, press and hold the volume down button on the soundbar itself.
Hold it down for a good 5 seconds.
At this point, the Firestick remote should connect wirelessly and pair with the soundbar.
The soundbar may display a connection confirmation message or voice prompt when
successfully paired.
After following these key steps of activating pairing mode on the Firestick remote, pressing the mute button, and then long pressing the volume down control on the soundbar, the two devices connect.
The remote and soundbar can now communicate properly.
As an alternative, some soundbar models feature a pairing or connect button specifically designed for coupling with universal remotes and external control devices like the Firestick remote.
If available, you can use this dedicated pairing button on the soundbar instead of the volume down methods mentioned.
Simply follow on-screen cues for linking with the blinking Firestick remote.
But the overall process remains similar regardless of using a pairing button or volume control to connect the two products.
Control Soundbar Volume
After finishing the pairing process, your Amazon Firestick remote should now wirelessly communicate with the soundbar in addition to the streaming stick itself.
To test this out, launch any streaming video content through your Firestick with audio playing on the connected soundbar.
Then utilize the volume up and volume down buttons on the Alexa Voice Remote.
The soundbar volume level should increase or decrease accordingly, controlled directly via the streaming stick’s remote.
You can also tap the mute button on the Alexa Voice Remote to not only mute the Firestick streaming audio but also the paired soundbar itself in sync.
Press mute again for both devices to resume previous volume levels.
Additionally, tapping the power button turns on or off both the television screen courtesy of HDMI CEC connectivity and the wirelessly connected soundbar in tandem.
So after following the proper setup process, your Firestick remote truly offers universal functioning for managing the streaming stick media playback while also adjusting power and volume settings on the external but wirelessly paired soundbar speaker system.
This convenience allows quick control of your entertainment center without constantly switching between different remotes.
HDMI CEC combined with wireless pairing enables the Firestick Alexa Voice Remote to become the central command center for both streaming functions and audio output in a seamlessly integrated experience.
Troubleshoot Issues
If after attempting to pair your Firestick remote with the soundbar you find volume and power controls non-responsive, there are few troubleshooting tips to try correcting connectivity issues:
First, double check that all physical HDMI or optical connections between television, streaming stick, and soundbar are fully secured.
Loose wiring can cause signal problems preventing proper command communications.
If connections seem fine, revisit the CEC settings to confirm HDMI Consumer Electronics Control is definitely enabled on both the Firestick and compatible soundbar.
Toggle these settings off and back on if unsure.
You can also attempt unpairing and forgetting the connection between remote and soundbar using device reset or removal features in settings menus.
After deleting existing pairing, redo the steps to reconnect and link the Firestick remote to soundbar again from scratch.
In rare cases of connection instability, power cycle devices by unplugging cables and restarting the television, streaming stick, and soundbar.
This may flush any software freezing issues that impede pairing success.
As a last resort if the Firestick remote absolutely will not connect or control soundbar functions, a firmware update or factory reset could provide fresh software and settings to resolve elusive bugs stalling HDMI CEC or remote pairing capabilities.
Outside of troubleshooting steps, you can also contact device manufacturers’ customer support lines for personalized advice tailored to your specific models.
Support agents can offer tailored tips or confirm if an outdated product lacks the necessary compatibility.
Conclusion
Connecting a soundbar to a Firestick remote promotes a seamless home entertainment experience by enabling control of both streaming media and audio output from one singular command center.
By properly pairing devices, you unlock the convenience of system-wide volume and power adjustments without device switching.
While initial setup requires important compatibility checks and configurations, the universal functionality delivered by a properly integrated Firestick-soundbar system makes the effort worthwhile for simplified management.
