How do I set my Sonos Arc soundbar as the default speaker on my Apple TV?

You’re supposed to set the Apple TV to use TV speakers (audio over HDMI), and then set the TV to use the soundbar for audio output. Setting the audio output in Apple TV to use the soundbar directly, would result in audio over AirPlay or Bluetooth of lesser quality (stereo).

I hope you can hear the difference.

The connection should be as follows: ARC port on display to HDMI OUT on Arcana, Sonos Arc connects to eARC OUT on Arcana, Apple TV connects to HDMI in on Arcana.

If Apple TV is connected separately it will only output sound from the internal speakers on the projector. Using the temporary audio solution is using airplay to send sound wirelessly to the Sonos Arc and will only be in stereo.

think it was this guide I used when I set it up

How To Connect Sonos To Apple TV (All Version) (speakergy.com)

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How To Connect Sonos To Apple TV (It's Easy!) (toprecordplayers.com)

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connect sonos to apple tv - Google-

Soundars are designed to be wired to the TV. You can still use wirelessly to connect to the network as well as use airplay to cast music from your phone. But for TV use it needs that connection in order to be set as default and passthrough 5.1/Atmos

So I've heard a lot of replies that personally sound very confusing. On why certain sound bars are not connecting automatically like sonos and other compatible devices that run dolby atmos. Ill try to keep it simple. First and foremost make sure the sound bar you are using has the ability to run eARC and dolby atmos (usually says on the box) and you have two hdmi cables compatible to run hdmi 2.1 Thats step 1. Easy but many dont know. Step 2, make sure the hdmi that comes from your sound bar connects directly to the hdmi input on your tv that says (eARC) same for the soundbar. Step 3 make sure the hdmi from your apple 4k tv plugs into sound bar. Doesnt matter what hdmi port. Step 4, on your tv audio settings, tv audio output needs to be set to eARC nothing else. This will send all audio signal to your sound-bar. (Sometimes its good to restart your tv after connecting the sound-bar for it to reset and auto choose this option) LGs do this. Step 5, on the apple tv the audio output option should auto set to “tv speakers” which means it will run audio through any connected device by default (soundbar for example). Final step make sure to turn off audio format on apple 4k tv settings this will enable dolby atmos if you try to select an audio format dolby atmos will be grey out.

I wanted to add to my first response regarding Apple TV. The Sonos Arc only worked without fuss if I was watching a program on Apple+. No issue with sound. But if I switched to Netflix I would then have no sound on the Sonos Arc until I made a temporary fix. The permanent fix was to return my Apple TV and replace it with a Roku Ultra. Absolutely no issues. The sound worked beautifully regardless as to whether I was watching programming on Apple, Netflix, Prime, etc. Plus the remote not only has a voice command button, it also has an ear phone plug in for private listening. Which is great if I’m watching sports and my wife is reading a book in the same room.

The TV speaker option is what is also used for the Sonos ARC, when you have that connected to your TV's eARC port via HDMI the audio will simply be forwarded there. The temporary audio output is only to be used as a short term for wireless speakers.

I have been having the same issue. I don’t quite understand your sentence above that states “Step 3 make sure the hdmi from your apple 4k tv plugs into sound bar.”

did you not intend to say “Step 3 make sure the hdmi from your apple 4k tv plugs into the tv. Any hdmi port will do”

Even with this change, the process you describe doesn’t work for me - I still have to change the Apple TV sound output to Sonos manually. The perils of living with multiple vendors whose products don’t work well together.

Your step three doesn’t make any sense. You can’t connect the HDMI from Apple TV to the Sonos Arc. The Arc has only one HDMI port and that is connected to the tv. Besides how would Apple TV work on the tv if it is only connected to the Sonos Arc.

I do think Apple should therefore have the decency to make that clear. I’ve had 2 Apple TV boxes used with Sonos sound bars. No I constantly get this issue with the default sound source going to the TV speaker. Time to move away from Apple!!

I am also having this problem. However I am using my Apple TV 4K connected to a projector and to my Sonos arc via HD fury Arcana. Unfortunately the default audio will only play audio through the projector and I will have to go to the temporary audio and select my Sonos sound bar from this to get sound to play through the sound bar. Has anyone else had this issue and a way around it?

That is how I have it set up. However for some reason it is defaulting to only play audio through my projectors speaker (unless I change the output on temporary to include the sonos). Is there a change I need to make on the arcana? I was hopefully I could even just mute the sound from my projector and it also play through the Sonos on the default however this isn’t the case either.

Did you verify that the port the Arcana is connected to is indeed an Audio return channel (ARC)? If it were just a standard HDMI port that would also cause the issue.

Other than that I would suggest to reach out to support for the Arcana.

My Sonos beam 2g connected to hdmi eARC is the only audio output for me tv no matter what is playing