Thread: I need help getting sound to come out of my sound bar when using my PS3

As the title states, I'm seeking help with this. I just purchased a Sony sound bar SA40SE1, it isn't fancy, but it will suffice for now, and does sound better than my tv speakers.

Here is my hardware:
TV-42" Panasonic Viera Plasma (720p)
Console- Playstation 3
Cable Box- Charter
Sound Bar - Sony SA40SE1

- My PS3 is connected to my TV via RCA into the "Video 2" ports.
- My Cable Box is connected to my TV via HDMI
- My Sound Bar is connected to my cable box, via two RCA's on the back of the cable box, those go into an adapter and single plug in the soundbar. The only other plug on the back of the sound bar is for the power cable.

When watching TV, the input mode is set to "HDMI", and the sound bar is just fine, but when I turn on my PS3, and swap over to the "Video 2" input mode on my TV the audio from the cable tv is still playing out of the sound bar. I can hear the audio from the PS3 come out of my TV though. What do I need to do to get the PS3 sound to come out of my sound bar? Would running an Optical cable from the PS3 to the Cable Box solve this issue?

I'm sure the answer might be obvious, but I'm very green when it comes to A/V stuff.

Here is a picture of the back of my TV. The red/white RCA's were there when I was first trying to set it up, and then realized I had to put them into the cable box.

Without studying what you wrote too much, does your TV have an Audio Out jack? That is what I use to connect my sound bar, basically what sound comes out of my TV, also comes out of the sound bar. The only catch is, the volume adjustment on the sound bar is separate from that of the TV, the TV just 'sends out a solid/steady signal' (there must be a technical term for that, probably even a semi-technical term) that is not affected if I turn up the volume on the TV.

Unfortunately my TV doesn't have that single audio output jack. :(

it reads like your sound bar isn't connected to your ps3. changing the settings on your TV will not change settings in your cable box.

is that a digital audio out option on the TV above the component in on your picture? and a digital audio in option on your sound bar? if so, use that.

if you have the money, buy a used receiver on craigslist or better, from a friend, and have everything connect into the receiver, then to the TV. then you only need to switch the receiver.

los angeles electronics - all classifieds "receiver" - craigslist

Since your TV does not have an analog audio output, your cheapest and best solution is probably going to be a simple RCA audio switch. This is just a little box you can use to connect both the cable box and the PS3 to the sound bar and then switch between the two. The cheapest models just have a button(s) or a switch you can throw to choose the source. Fancier ones can switch automatically or by remote control.

FWIW, RCA is the style of connector used to connect the analog audio to the soundbar. Typically, for audio, the ends are colored white for the left channel and red for the right channel. You may find that the only/best switch available does both audio and video, in which case your switch may also have a yellow RCA for composite video; an S-Video connector for S-Video; red, green and blue RCA connectors for component video; or, unlikely but possibly, BNC or other connectors. It's okay if your switch also switches video: you're just not going to connect any video to it.

Anyway, doing a search for "RCA audio switch" on Google or Amazon should present you with several options. You will probably also need to buy two additional stereo cables. You will need a set of cables running from the cable box to the switch as well as a set of cables running from the PS3 to the switch. Then, just connect the soundbar to the switch.

The only out on the back of the sound bar is the small audio jack, thats it. Next to that is the plug for the power cord.

Sounds like the RCA Switch may be my only option, unless I go for a receiver, in which I don't really have any room for since my tv, ps3 and cable box are all sitting on a mantle that is about 14" deep.

Here is a pic of the back of my cable box. I did find an HDMI cable and am using that from the PS3 to the TV instead of the RCA's now.