Smart Home Gadgets

Troubleshooting and setup advice for soundbars, thermostats, and smart TV features.

Why Is My Ring Doorbell Not Ringing My Mechanical Chime After Wiring It

by Casey Tankersley | 16 September 2026

Your Ring doorbell isn't ringing the mechanical chime most likely because the Pro Power Kit (or bypass cable) is not installed correctly at the chime box, or the in-app setting...

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Understanding Trigger In And Out On Your AV Receiver

by Joscelin Harder | 8 January 2024

A trigger in and out on an AV receiver is a pair of 3.5mm jacks that send or receive a low-voltage 12V DC control signal, letting you automatically power on...

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How To Reset Pioneer AV Receiver

by Malanie Walls | 8 January 2024

To reset a Pioneer AV receiver, you need to restore it to its factory default settings, which clears all customized configurations and resolves persistent glitches. A full reset pioneer av...

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How To Run Sound Through AV Receiver With Optical Audio

by Idell Rood | 8 January 2024

To run sound through an AV receiver with optical audio, connect a TOSLINK cable from your TV or source device to the receiver's optical input, then set both devices to...

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How To Reset A Yamaha AV Receiver

by Nelle Collins | 7 January 2024

To reset a Yamaha AV receiver, you need to know its model year: units made before 2020 use a front-panel button sequence, while 2020 and later models reset through the...

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How To Set Up Karaoke With An AV Receiver

by Joyan Cleary | 7 January 2024

To set up karaoke with an AV receiver, you must add a karaoke mixer between your microphones and the receiver, because most AV receivers lack the dedicated mic inputs needed...

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How To Control An AV Receiver With Xfinity Remote Control

by Liuka Sheriff | 7 January 2024

Which Xfinity remote do you have? To control an AV receiver with Xfinity remote, you first need to identify which model you own, because the XR11, XR15, and XR16 use...

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How To Control Your AV Receiver And Media Components In A Closet

by Sherilyn Beall | 7 January 2024

To control an AV receiver in a closet, you need a system that bridges the gap between your remote and the hidden gear, and an IR repeater is the most...

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How To Set Up A 7.2 Surround Sound System

by Nalani Straight | 22 December 2023

To set up a 7.2 surround sound system, you must physically place seven speakers and two subwoofers in a specific layout, connect them to an AV receiver, and then calibrate...

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Why Doesn't My Soundbar Work With Netflix

by Caterina Nicolas | 22 December 2023

If your soundbar not working with Netflix is the issue, the most common fix is to change your TV’s digital audio output from PCM to Bitstream or Dolby Digital. This...

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How Do I Update My Polk Soundbar

by Nelle Collins | 22 December 2023

To update my Polk soundbar, the easiest path depends on your model: most current Polk soundbars like the MagniFi Max and MagniFi Mini update themselves automatically overnight when connected to...

Smart Home Gadgets

Onn Soundbar: How To Turn Off Voice

by Malanie Walls | 22 December 2023

To turn off the voice on your Onn soundbar, press and hold the volume up (+) and volume down (-) buttons on the soundbar itself simultaneously for about 5 seconds....