Are you wondering how to connect Sonos to projector? If yes, you’ve landed on the right page.
Sonos offers premium home speakers that are desirable among most consumers. Sonos speakers like Beam, Arc, and Ray provide an excellent blend of design, performance, and features.
In this article, we’ll explore in detail how to connect Sonos speakers to your projector using different methods.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started!
How to Connect Sonos to Projector?
Since most Sonos speakers support HDMI eARC, the easiest way to connect them to your projector is through the HDMI ARC/eARC port with an HDMI cable. Without an HDMI ARC/eARC projector, you can also use an HDMI Splitter device.
Now that you have the quick answer, let’s jump into the details.
Below I’ve explained in detail about connecting Sonos speakers to your projector.
Note: You can only connect Sonos speakers with an HDMI or optical port to your projector. Therefore, you cannot connect Sonos speakers like Era, One, Move, etc directly to the projector, you’ll need a Sonos soundbar to connect these speakers to your projector
Moreover, I’ve also explored different methods you can use to connect Sonos speakers to projector if your projector doesn’t have HDMI ARC/eARC.
But, before that:
What is Sonos?
Sonos is an American electronics company popular for its smart speakers and sound systems.
Founded in 2002, Sonos offers wireless audio products that connect to your home Wi-Fi, and you can control it with a smartphone app or integrate it with smart home systems.
Sonos attained mainstream popularity thanks to its PLAY speaker range, which allowed for a multi-room audio experience.
Thanks to its wire-free approach, Sonos speakers are popular among consumers who want a wireless home theater setup.
The brand is popular for its premium design, superior sound quality, and sleek design. It also offers compatibility with popular music streaming and voice control platforms.
Sonos speaker range sits in a premium price range, making it desirable for most consumers.
On the other hand, Sonos soundbar systems like Arc and Beam directly connect to your TV or projector.
They support HDMI eARC technology to help you experience Dolby Atmos audio, which leads us to:
Why is HDMI eARC Important for Sonos?
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is vital for Sonos speakers because it enables higher quality audio, especially support for advanced formats like Dolby Atmos audio.
HDMI ARC supports Dolby Atmos, but only with Dolby Digital Plus compression.
On the other hand, HDMI eARC supports uncompressed 7.1Ch Dolby Atmos audio, which is crucial to get the full effect of a Sonos speaker system.
As a result, when you pair a Sonos Arc or Beam with a surround set speaker and sub-woofer, you get to enjoy lossless Dolby Atmos audio.
In addition, devices like Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 support uncompressed 7.1 Ch audio.
On the other hand, streaming media players like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, etc., support compressed 7.1 Ch audio.
How to Connect Sonos Speakers to Projector with HDMI ARC/eARC
Before you connect your Sonos speakers to a projector, keep a few things handy:
- Projector with HDMI ARC/eARC port
- Sonos speaker (Beam or ARC)
- HDMI Cable (provided within the box)
- Your Smartphone
Step 1: Power on Both the Devices
Make sure to power on the projector and your Sonos speaker. If your projector requires a startup time, let it go through it before making the connection.
Step 2: Connect Sonos to the Projector
Sonos speakers like Arc and Beam have only one HDMI port; hence there won’t be any confusion.
Connect the Sonos speaker to your projector with an HDMI cable.
Ensure you connect to the HDMI port on your projector that’s labeled as HDMI ARC or eARC; otherwise, the Sonos speaker won’t work.
Step 3: Install Sonos App on your Smartphone + Initial Setup
To complete your setup, you’ll need to download the Sonos app on your smartphone.
Open the app and press the ‘Pair’ button on your Sonos speaker’s back if the app doesn’t detect it automatically.
The initial setup on the Sonos app is thorough and can take up to 5 minutes. If you’ve ordered Sonos surround speakers, you can also do their setup via the Sonos app.
That’s it; in 3 steps, you’ve connected your Sonos speakers to your projector using HDMI ARC/eARC port.
Additionally, in the absence of an HDMI ARC/eARC port on your projector, you can also connect both devices via an optical cable.
However, with an optical cable, you won’t be able to enjoy the wholesome experience of a Sonos soundbar that you get with an HDMI eARC port.
If you don’t have a projector with HDMI ARC/eARC port, you’ll need an HDMI Audio Extractor.
Read along:
What is an HDMI Audio Extractor?
An HDMI audio extractor is a device that separates the video and audio signal from an HDMI source. As a result, you can connect the video to a display device and route the audio to your speakers.
It’s useful in a home theater or living room setup to connect a video source to a TV or projector while sending the audio to a soundbar or receiver.
Thus, you have more flexibility and compatibility with numerous audio equipment.
Now that you know about HDMI Audio Extractor, let’s jump into the process of connecting a Sonos speaker to your projector using an HDMI Audio Extractor.
How to Connect Sonos Speaker to Projector with an HDMI Audio Extractor
Don’t fret if your projector doesn’t have HDMI ARC/eARC connectivity. You can still connect it to your Sonos speaker through HDMI eARC with an HDMI Audio Extractor.
You’ll need an eARC-supported Audio Extractor like:
- OREI HDA-932
- HD Fury 4K Arcana (slightly expensive)
Step 1: Power off all the devices
Since it’s a slightly complicated procedure, it’s better to turn off all the devices, i.e., Sonos speaker, projector, and the HDMI Audio Extractor.
Step 2: Connect an input source to the HDMI Audio Extractor
As mentioned above, an HDMI Audio Extractor has HDMI input and output ports.
In the second step, connect a source device like a Blu-ray player, gaming console, or streaming media player to the HDMI Audio Extractor’s input port.
Step 3: Connect Projector & Soundbar to the HDMI Audio Extractor
Connect your non-ARC/eARC projector to the Audio Extractor with an HDMI cable. You can connect it to the HDMI port labeled ‘TV’ on the Audio Extractor.
Similarly, connect the Extractor to your Sonos speaker with an HDMI cable. Use the ‘Soundbar’ output port, also labeled as eARC, on your HDMI Audio Extractor.
Connecting your Sonos speaker to the eARC port can transmit uncompressed Dolby Atmos audio from your source device, i.e., Xbox Series X, to your speaker system.
Step 4: Power on all the devices
Now that you’ve made the connection, power on all the devices. Make sure to set the audio source as 7.1 Ch from your source device.
Do remember that Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 provide uncompressed (lossless) 7.1 Ch audio.
In contrast, streaming media players like Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, and Roku Stick provide compressed 7.1 Ch audio.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I connect my Sonos One to my projector?
You cannot connect Sonos One, One SL, and Move directly to your projector. You’ll need a Sonos soundbar like the Arc or Beam. Later, you can connect the Sonos One to your TV via the soundbar.
Do I need a Wi-Fi connection to connect Sonos to a projector?
Sonos soundbars like Arc or Beam connect to your projector via an HDMI Cable. However, you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection to set up the Sonos soundbar and connect it to other speakers in the Sonos ecosystem, like the Sonos Sub, One, One SL, Roam, etc.
Can I connect multiple Sonos speakers to a single projector for a surround sound experience?
Yes, you can create a surround sound setup with multiple Sonos speakers. This might require additional configuration within the Sonos app and possibly additional hardware like a Sonos Amp. To do this, you’ll have to first connect Sonos Arc or Beam to your projector that supports HDMI ARC with an HDMI cable.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you learn how to connect Sonos to projector.
As you’ve seen above, if you have a projector with an HDMI eARC port, the connection is effortless and straightforward.
However, without an HDMI eARC projector, you’ll have to invest in an HDMI eARC audio extractor to connect it to your Sonos speaker to enjoy Dolby Atmos audio.
Have any questions? Please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
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Featured Image Credit: Robert Wetzlmayr