I'm trying to help a client change audio settings on a Roku 4 over the phone and I haven't been able to find an actual manual on the unit itself, only a cursory setup guide.

The components we have (nope, no new components will go into this system) are a compromise, and sound sometimes just doesn't come on.

The output of Roku 4 goes into a Vanco 280573 HDMI Audio Extractor. Analog audio from that goes to a Denon receiver; we're tolerating ProLogic for surround. The HDMI video output of the Vanco unit goes to a newish Samsung TV's HDMI input.

I have instructions for the Vanco unit, which basically says push the switch and leave it alone for a few seconds; if you get sound, it's set properly.

I need instructions for the Roku's audio settings. What happens is that audio sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Perhaps different programming on the Roku has different audio characteristics; the audio settings instructions would tell me what the possibilities are.

Thanks in advance.

It sounds like the Roku is set to output one of the surround sound formats when available. On the popular services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Vudu, etc., that will result in the Vanco not outputting sound, since it can't decode DD+.
The menu structure is a little different in different models I think. The Roku Ultra (which is very similar to the Roku4) has 2 places you would change - the menu is as follows:
1) >Settings >Audio >Audio Mode = change to 'Stereo'
2) >Settings >Audio >HDMI and S/PDIF = change to 'PCM-Stereo'

It's worth noting: The Roku4 has an optical S/PDIF output that does 2ch PCM on those streaming services. Does the Denon receiver have an unused optical input?
Of course you can't redo connections over the phone.

WTF? Why are you not using the AVR to switch the video and send it to the TV? Even if the AVR doesn't receive audio via HDMI, the Roku has an optical output.

[Link: lmgtfy.com]

I just changed my signature

The installation is old and the client doesn't want to make the needed upgrades. A long long time ago she had me install a cable that would allow her to play videos from the S-video and analog audio out of her video camera.

The cabinet is too small and removing the receiver to add another input cable is a 90 minute process. That also doesn't fit in the budget.


Okay, smartass, which of the following is the Roku publication, available for download without having to register with another unrelated company?
*The first response, which is the manual for the Roku Ultra? Is that the same model? If your lmgtfy is so wonderful, why is the first response a manual for a different model?
*The third party user's guide that you buy from amazon?
*The Roku 4 (Model 4400) - Setup Instructions, which tells you how to plug it in?
*How about the reddit question from ONE YEAR AGO where the first answer is the useless guide just mentioned? The second response is "Keep searching, you'll find it (at least the preview rev of it), colors will be wrong. However it's pretty much a one pager pictorial of what do do." If you read that entire (but small) subreddit, you'll see that one of the redditors there is an official Roku person who did not deign to supply a URL for the manual.
*The next one is from pdf-manuals.com. No thank you.
*The next suggestion is at Tom's Guide. There's no mention of audio in the article.

So, sure, google that for me, but I had already done that and, like today, did not find what I needed.

The few Roku I've touched have audio setup in the same manner. Two choices witchin the setup. Goto Settings : Audio. The choices were Auto (for surround) and Stereo. Are you saying choosing either of those does not produce audio via this configuration reliably? If so, I'd tend to believe this is related to your other equipment you have in place likely the Vanco HDMI audio extractor. Or possibly some type of HDMI handshake/CEC/ARC/bullshit feeding back to the Vanco ruining your analog audio output. Make sure all that, including the bullshit, is disabled on the TV.

Thanks, tweeterguy.

No, I'm saying that I did no audio adjustments in/on the Roku 4 when I set it up and I'm looking for the instructions to be able to communicate to the client what to do. She's a 40+ mile drive from here. Let me be a Californian and say it involves the 710, the 5 and the 101, or the 710, 91, 405, and 101.

So she doesn't want to pay to upgrade to compatible gear....

and she doesn't want to pay to have you out to perform a service call...

But she Doesnt mind paying for all this research and back and forth time?

Or you just like to donate to your time to clients that dont appreciate that you're trying to make a living off this stuff?

If you really feel responsible for the fact that this doesnt work well, get in your car or van and go fix it. 40 miles isnt that far. I assume she lived in that same area when you took the job to begin with?

As much as I bust your chops, I have never been on the "how does Ernie make money" bandwagon, but I have to seriously ask it here. How?

90 minutes to take a receiver out and put it back in just to add one device? 90 MINUTES? I have been in some of the most nightmarish takeover jobs with a mountain of equipment piled on top of one another with seemingly no way to get behind them and still get in and out in maybe ten minutes at most. 90 MINUTES?

Why would you add an HDMI audio extractor when you have a Denon receiver (which miraculously is missing the model number in this post) that surely has at least one optical input. I mean, it is possible that all optical inputs are being used, no way to tell with the limited info provided. The Roku 4, definitely has an optical output. Feed your HDMI to the TV (that miraculously is missing the model number in this post) and you are done. It OFTEN seems like you over complicate things just for the sake of over complicating things.

I have to say thanks for the friendly tone. That was nice.

To get the receiver out and put it back, a shelf has to be attached to a stepladder at just the right height so it can be slid out, some five feet off the floor. (Or a second person has to be added to the invoice.) Yes, the cables are a complete mess, which was not a visible problem back when the new VCR and dual cassette deck were in front of the wiring mess. Anyway, maybe I exaggerate and it's only an hour, collectively, of time to get the parts together, build the shelf, take the receiver out, connect one optical cable, and put it all away. But I know the client, and analog audio is good enough.

The Denon AVR-3802 has no HDMI inputs. The Samsung UN55FH6030TV does.

Yes, I broke my own rules here. I'm beginning to understand what the English teachers used to say: famous writers break the rules all the time, but they KNOW THE RULES. In my case here, I know that the model of the TV and the receiver did not matter because of other things, so I focused only on the particular components of interest.

The people who have to list all the components are the ones who'll forget something crucial because they don't understand what parts are crucial or could make a difference. Your suggestions are all valid except we're not going to do them.

And, by the way, I rarely make much money with this client, and that's all right. It's been a fifteen year relationship so far, and the money has been made. I'm at peace with it. She'll get new equipment when it's needed.

Setting up the shelf to remove the receiver may seem like a pain, but I would think it would be the far better option to directly feed audio from the roku to the receiver than to add in an hdmi audio extractor which is another point of failure.

Didn't post #2 answer the question?

Bueller, Bueller, Bueller...

You're right, Brad, it did. I just realized all the rest of this is one or the other of us trolling!

Thanks.

AVR3802? REALLY?
Ms Smith, this amplifier is way beyond anything that can be purchased today as far as connections go.
Please consider purchase of new AVR a necessary part of any equipment addition, replacement and/or upgrade.
I will patiently wait until you can save up the $1,500 for the amplifier in addition to ~$850 for me to come out and perform the upgrade.

Then you can tell het about all the benefits of streaming services or iPad remote control she'll have with the new AVR.

Mario,
You've cleanly pointed out that staying up to date is expensive.

"You want to watch Narcos on your bedroom TV? Sure! Gimme $2350 because I won't think of a way to make it less expensive. Well, of COURSE the bedroom has to have ALL the newest features in order to watch ANY streaming programs!"

Somebody said there are no audio/video emergencies. There are no actually REQUIRED audio/video features.

See, we're selling frills and truly unNECESSARY stuff. What's wrong with occasionally helping someone squeeze all they can out of what they have?