KevinB

The Cinema 600 Sound Bar Thread has a lot of helpful information and a good place to ask questions about that product. You can find additional information about some of the Cinema 600 features here. I would suggest you also open a case with Klipsch Tech Support.

I don't what might be happening based on the information you have provided. You can try opening a ticket with Klipsch tech support. The Cinema 600 Sound Bar Thread has a lot of helpful information and a good place to ask questions about that product.

The technical information Klipsch has provided on the Cinema 600 (and its predecessor the BAR 48) is severely lacking. You may contact Tech Support and ask but when I tried that last year and asked what Bluetooth profiles were supported I was simply told that that information had not been published. 😞

Please see this post for additional information. HDMI-ARC is the preferred connection. If your TV supports ARC, have you tried it? Klipsch has never provided details about how surround sound is supposed to work. On my Cinema 600 and my previous BAR 48 I would never get any sound from my Surround 3 speakers unless the ((SUR)) indicator was on. It is quite possible when listening to a Dolby Digital source that there is just no content in the rear channels. Try this: Use HDMI-ARC, if possible, otherwise use Digital. On the TV, enable Dolby Digital (not Dolby Digital Plus, even if it is available) Verify that the Dolby Digital indicator on the soundbar is illuminated. That will confirm that the TV is providing a valid Dolby Digital encoded output and that your soundbar recognizes it. If the Dolby Digital indicator on the soundbar is not illuminated try to connect the soundbar to a different device. Next... Make sure the ((SUR)) indicator on the soundbar is illuminated and that the Surround 3 speaker volume is set to an appropriate level.. Select a multimedia source that you know provides Dolby Digital encoded output (Netflix?) Select a video that uses Dolby Digital 5.1. What now works or doesn't work?

I experienced the same issue or perhaps a similar one. My Cinema 600 is connected to my TV via HDMI-ARC. On one occasion, even though the soundbar was turned on and the TV input was selected, the TV could not see the soundbar and I could only get sound from the TV speakers. The only way I could resolve the issue was: Disconnect the HDMI cable. Remove power from the soundbar for about a minute. Reconnect power to the soundbar. Reconnect the HDMI-ARC. Even if this only happened once it is an issue. I need to report it to Klipsch tech support. It is the only way to get the issue resolved and improve the product.

See this post.

The subwoofer connects to the soundbar via Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth. If it is near a Wi-Fi device, interference from the device may impact the subwoofer's ability to connect to the soundbar. To effect a connection you have to press the button on the subwoofer and the one on the soundbar near where to power cord is attached.

Please see my comments in this post.

If you don't have the optional Surround 3 speakers connected, the ((SUR)) button will engage the virtual surround feature. If the soundbar is turned off, the virtual surround will be reset and will have to be engaged again when you want it.

The sub has to connect with the soundbar. It does not use Bluetooth; it is a Wi-Fi connection. Read the user manual. There is a paring button on the subwoofer and one on the soundbar where the power cord connects. You need to press both buttons to make the subwoofer connect.

I would suggest you open a case with Klipsch tech support. If there is a workaround, they would know.

With a Bluetooth connection the volume can be controlled from the source device so, for example, if your smart phone is connecting to your soundbar try adjusting the volume from your phone.

My setup is similar to yours. Samsung Q70R 4K TV Apple TV 4K Klipsch Cinema 600 (with Surround 3 speakers) connected to my Samsung TV via HDMI-ARC. With all the devices you have it is important to know how they are all connected as each one has the potential to alter the audio format. Lets start with what the Cinema 600 supports. Even this is not clear to me. The Cinema 600 spec sheet states: Dolby Audio is pretty general and there are several Dolby Audio formats. Prior to getting the Cinema 600 I had (still do) a BAR 48. The BAR 48 spec sheet states: Here the specs are pretty specific about what formats are supported although I never could get any sound using Dolby Digital Plus. My TV supports these output formats and will allow me to choose them if the connected device supports them. PCM - Stereo or Mono. [HDMI-ARC or Digital] Dolby Digital - maximum of 6 channels (5.1) but also Mono, Stereo, 3.1. [HDMI-ARC or Digital] Dolby Digital Plus - Supports #2 at a higher bit rate plus 7.1. [HDMI-ARC only] Dolby Atmos With my BAR 48 I could select #1, #2, or #3, even though #3 wouldn't work. With my Cinema 600, I am no longer offered #3 as an option so I must assume the Cinema 600 does not support Dolby Digital Plus and therefore does not support 7.1 inputs. Based on the above, the best one can expect from the Cinema 600 is Dolby Digital 5.1 via HDMI-ARC or Digital inputs if the TV supports those connections. If the source content is not Dolby Digital encoded some TVs may continue to provide a Dolby Digital encoded output with only one or two channel content. My TV will automatically switch to PCM. This will affect how sound is processed by the Cinema 600. You should verify how your TV behaves. According to the documentation the Cinema 600 should Downmix 5.1 to 3.1 if the Surround 3 speakers are not connected. Provide virtual surround. Unfortunately, the manual does not explain exactly how virtual surround is supposed to work. The diagrams in the user manual do not include the subwoofer and, of course, there is no description provided so one can only speculate. Once we factor in other devices and apps, things begin to get complicated. Apps may run on your smart TV, Apple TV, Plex, or other devices. Some apps, like YouTube, only provide stereo output regardless what a particular video purports to offer. On the other hand, with the appropriate subscription, the Netflix app is capable of passing through a Dolby Digital encoded output stream if one is provided in the video but that still doesn't guarantee the Dolby Digital encoded stream will reach your soundbar if the platform on which the app is running is unable to capture and process (or pass through) the Dolby Digital encoded stream from the app. Klipsch has to provide better documentation and explain how these features are supposed to work. Only then can we know if the device is working as designed or if a specific behavior is the result of a defect. If we suspect a possible defect, as I would if the documentation is not specific, we need to open a case with Klipsch tech support to get the issue resolved. You can find additional information about some of the Cinema 600 features here.

... and the winner is: the Cinema 600. In short, the Cinema 600 is everything the BAR 48 should have been. The Cinema 600 is a new soundbar. It's been available in the US for several weeks and is just becoming available in Canada. It looks a lot like the BAR 40 or the BAR 48 and while both these soundbars may still be available from some retailers they have been removed from the list of soundbars on the Klipsch website. I think it is safe to say the the Cinema series is the replacement for the BAR series. Here are the specifications and manuals for both products. BAR 48 Sound Bar + Wireless Subwoofer Spec Sheet BAR 48 Sound Bar + Wireless Subwoofer Manual Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar Spec Sheet Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar Manual Specifications are great, as far as they go, but they don't tell you about potential issues so let me clear up that point now. All the BAR 48 issues I identified and reported appear to have been resolved on my Cinema 600 with Surround 3 speakers. That pretty much includes all the BAR 48 issues discussed in these community forums!

Yes, the surround 3 speaker are the ones that need to be used with the cinema 600. I just got a cinema 600 replacement for my bar 48. All the issues identified with the bar 48 appear to have been resolved with the cinema 600. We finally have control over the volume on the surround 3 speakers.

You really didn't have a choice. The firmware update addresses a number of issues. Tech support likely would have insisted you update the firmware before looking further into your case. Are you able to return it to the retailer from whom you purchased it?

That certainly won't hurt and at this point there's not too many alternatives but my experience has been that it does little more than removing the Bluetooth pairings. 😞

That's unlikely... You should Submit a request with Klipsch Tech Support. You may wait weeks for a response so, in the mean time, you can try to update the firmware (again) yourself. I can try to help you but you have to be more specific with your responses. Saying you "tried it" and "nothing happened" is not very helpful. Exactly what did you try? What was the exact sequence? What lights were on?

Hi John, Welcome to the Klipsch Community. The HDMI cable should be just fine. Almost any HDMI cable will work. Not all HDMI connections support ARC, the Audio Return Channel. The BAR 48 only works with HDMI connections that support ARC. Verify that your TV supports it. Check your TV manual to see what settings are needed for a home theatre hook up. For example, you may have to turn off the TV speakers.

Bar 48 - Firmware V30/V83a Update Instructions

I concur. You beat me to it! 😉

Did you format the drive for FAT32?

Bluetooth is complicated! The paring process simply ensures that two devices have permission to connect with each other. How they connect and what they do when they connect depend on the Bluetooth profiles each device supports. Profiles make Bluetooth technology interoperable List of Bluetooth profiles So, if we are to determine whether two devices will connect we have to know what Bluetooth profiles each support. When I asked Klipsch customer support what profiles the BAR 48 supports I was told that they don't publish that information! If you have searched these forums for "BAR 48" you will see the many issues customers have complained about. If you really what to keep your BAR 48 I would open a case with Klipsch customer support but you will likely be better off with a different brand. I bought my BAR 48 and Surround 3 speakers on Black Friday, November 2019, and immediately encountered issue. I joined the Klipsch Community in December looking for advice. I opened a case with Klipsch customer support in December. Since then I have reported almost a dozen issues. During that time I received no feedback at all about any progress. I was told that the new firmware update had resolved outstanding issues. It had not! I was told that the next firmware update (V30) had resolved outstanding issues. It had not! In August I was told since the firmware updates didn't resolve my issues there was likely a issue with my hardware and was offered a warranty replacement (soundbar and surrounds). I accepted. Replacement units were back ordered. I waited almost five months for them to arrive just before Christmas. I installed them only to learn that I have the same issues with the replacements plus a couple of new ones the originals didn't have but which other customers have reported in these forums. I am very disappointed with this product. I still hope there is something Klipsch can do for me! YMMV

I just got my warranty replacements: A new BAR 48. New Surround 3 speakers. Shortly after I set it up, I too started having random popping sounds from my right surround. This is an issue I did not have on my original system but one that other customers have reported in these forums.

If you can't return it to your retailer, make sure you register your product then open a ticket with Klipsch customer support and ask for a warranty replacement.