I've been following stereos since the late 70s and never heard of this brand. I'm sure it's a fine soundbar and when connected to an entire Pheanoo system, it's a great setup. However, Pheanoo is an unfamiliar brand.
The problem with unfamiliar brands is interoperability with other brands. Even if you find codes, it doesn't mean Contour will recognize the codes. There are lots of unfamiliar brands and you can't expect Cox to program Contour with all of 'em. For example, ever heard of KEiiD?
forums.cox.com/.../coutour-remote-control-model-xr11-rf-pairing-code
Can you connect the soundbar to the TV, configure the settings within your TV for External Speakers and with the X11 paired to the TV, have the TV (code) control the volume to the soundbar? As you mentioned, there will be a problem powering on/off the soundbar when you shutdown your system.
Hi Bruce, thanks for your reply...
I'm sure there must be some kind of process to add a new brand to the list of supported devices when it comes to IRs.
I'm hoping that with the provided info (see my first post) would be enough for a COX tech to look into it, since I think I've supplied the HEX codes for them. -- That's if they are in charge of updating the Contour through the cable system like they do when they add a new supported APP and etc.
Right now the XR11 doesn't do anything with the soundbar (i.e. VOLUME, MUTE, POWER).
The TV and soundbar communicate with an optical cable.
My other issue is that my HDTV doesn't support HDMI-ARC (only HDMI-CEC), but even trying it with a HDMI connection, it would not transfer the sound to the soundbar, even though the TV did connect with it, because AnyNET+ was able to display the model number of the soundbar each time it tried to send the volume to it via HDMI.
I'm also trying to see if the soundbar brand can also provide an update to it's firmware to see if they can also fix that (optical signal transfer) to the TV.
the provided info (see my first post) would be enough
Great input. Not that I matter...but your meticulous detail impressed me. However, Cox doesn't own Contour. Cox only licenses Xfinity X1 from Comcast and re-brands it as Contour. If any tech were to program, it'd be a Comcast tech.
AnyNET displaying info of the soundbar (SB) is good because your TV and SB are communicating. Just need to figure the lack of audio. Did you test AnyNET to power on/off the SB? Of course, this would be an HDMI connection. Gone are the good ol' days with equipment housing Switched Outlets.
ARC and eARC are fine but the SB only outputs 2-channel stereo (2.1) so it wouldn't matter if the TV decodes and processes the audio signal for the SB. We just need to steer the signal to the correct port of the TV (HDMI, optical, component, composite, etc).
I'd first ensure the audio signal stays PCM (raw) the whole way. Starting at Contour...
Contour Button > Settings (gear icon) > Device Settings > Audio > HDMI Audio Output > Stereo (PCM)
If your TV can keep it PCM to the port as well, great!
You should review all the audio settings in the TV because I've seen settings to specially enable the port for external speakers.
I read the User Manual and it only cautions to ensure the TV and SB are equally set. Meaning, ensure your TV OUTPUT is set the same as the SB INPUT, for example, OPTICAL (TV out) to OPTICAL (SB in). "Optical" and "Digital" mean the same thing. On the SB remote...
• Green Indicator = AUX mode
• Yellow Indicator = Optical mode
• Blue Indicator = BT mode
With the TV on and tuned, does the optical cable emit red light at its connector? (Sorry...but you did remove its plastic cap, right?) If so, the TV is outputting an audio signal. If not, you may need to review your TV settings. Any suspicion of a broken or faulty optical cable? These things can get easily crunched.
I suspect "BT mode" is Bluetooth so if your TV supports Bluetooth, this would be another option.
Bruce, once again, thank you for your reply.. plus going the extra mile by offering possible solutions to the issue...
Yes, I've checked to make sure that the cable box, TV, are all set to PCM -- I also tested Dolby--just in case that would do the trick. I'm the kind of guy that I will flip the whole house or neighborhood upside down, just to see if that isn't the issue also. lol
I do have it working with optical cable and yes, I do get sound coming from the TV that way. I just can't control the volume on the soundbar using my TV and cable box remote control.
When I have the HDMI cable connected between the TV and soundbar and in HDMI mode (soundbar), it will even display that my HDTV will send the volume to the soundbar, because it even displays the soundbar's model number in the process on the TV screen.
And the soundbar indicates (by the LED lights it has) that the volume is being changed as you increase or decrease the Volume, Treble, and Bass.
And both controllers (TV original remote and the Cable Box remote control) are able to control the volume of the soundbar.
But there is no sound. Simply no sound coming when I have the soundbar in HDMI mode.
I will only get sound from the TV when I have it in Optical mode, but even if I have the HDMI cable connected to the TV at the same time with the optical cable, it will not indicate anything on the TV nor on the Soundbar.
I think the way they designed the soundbar, is that you can only have one input running at the time. -- I even tested it using the analog connection, still the same, you can only have one connection running, there is no help (tag-team) between them -- I'm afraid.
If you study the remote control diagram for the soundbar (I posted above) there is an individual button to turn on either the HDMI or the Optical option.
So it seems that even though you have both cables connected to the TV, it is either one or the other, not both.
And when I have it in Optical mode, it will provide sound, but the original TV remote nor the cable box remote will do nothing for the soundbar. And there is no indication on the TV screen when I make any adjustments to the audio in optical mode, unlike with the HDMI connection--when a lot of cool notifications display (as mentioned before).
For reference my HDTV Brand/Model is:
And no, this HDTV does not support Bluetooth -- I'm afraid.
So the only thing I've done so far is keep the original soundbar remote with me nearby whenever I need to adjust the volume or power it on/off. And use the XR11 to change channels and everything else for that matter.
I do have a learning remote control (to operate all my other video gadgets), and I've taught it to control also the soundbar, but the issue is that it doesn't support RF signals from the XR11 -- so I am still forced to have two controllers near me at all times when I simply need to adjust the volume and etc.
When before (without this soundbar) I only used the XR-11 for both channel surfing and volume settings -- while I kept my universal remote in a nearby cabinet whenever I need to do more (alongside my game controllers and etc.)
But if I am watching something on TV (sports or a film), and I need to quickly mute the sound or lower or increase it, I gotta grab the 2nd remote -- when I usually have the XR11 in my hand. So now I gotta reprogram myself to not be only a single-shooter, but a dual-gunner -- a pistol (remote) on each hand.
I'll see if I can also contact the makers of the XR11 or the Contour Box -- see if that leads to something... thanks for that info...
