Are you planning to buy an Amazon Fire TV Stick and wondering what you can do with it?
Or, maybe you bought a smart TV and no longer use your Fire Stick. Alternately, perhaps a smart TV isn’t in your budget, but you still want a 4K viewing experience.
No matter what your situation is, you can connect an Amazon Fire TV Stick to any projector to create a home theater experience on a budget. The setup process is pretty simple and doesn’t take long to complete.
We’ve researched how you can use this device to project videos or movies in any room, giving you the ultimate viewing experience with minimal effort.
Connecting an Amazon Fire TV Stick to a Projector
If your projector has an HDMI port, the process is extremely straightforward.
The streaming stick will provide a USB cable to connect to the power supply adapter. It will also come with an HDMI plug, an HDMI extender, a remote control and two AAA batteries.
To connect the Amazon Fire TV Stick to your projector:
Insert the USB cable into the power adapter.
Plug the other end of the USB cable into the Fire TV Stick.
Plug the adapter cable into a nearby outlet or power strip.
Locate the HDMI port on your projector.
Insert the Fire Stick’s HDMI plug into the HDMI port.
Add the batteries to the Fire Stick remote control.
Turn on your projector.
If you have two HDMI ports, you may need to navigate to the right input channel. Then, you can test the connection.
You can still use your Fire Stick if you have a projector without an HDMI port. However, you’ll need an HDMI-to-RCA adapter.
To connect the Amazon Fire Stick using an HDMI-to-RCA adapter:
Connect your Fire Stick to the included USB power source.
Insert the HDMI plug into the HDMI-to-RCA adapter.
Plug the RCA cables into the adapter.
Insert the RCA cables into the appropriate ports on the projector.
Plug the Fire Stick and adapter into a power source.
Turn on your projector.
When you test your connection, you should see video and hear sound coming from the projector’s speakers. If not, you can troubleshoot any issues you encounter.
Options for Getting Sound From Fire TV to Your Speakers
There are three key solutions for getting sound from your Fire TV to external speakers.
These include:
Using Bluetooth-enabled speakers.
Adding an HDMI audio extractor.
Using a wireless HDMI kit.
Which option is best for you depends on your particular setup.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology allows for a wireless connection between the Amazon Fire Stick and the Bluetooth-enabled speakers of your choice.
This option is the simplest way to connect to external speakers. It can also connect to a Bluetooth receiver with connected speakers.
The newest Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K uses Bluetooth 5.0. Some older models may use Bluetooth 4.0 or 4.1.
You should not have any issues connecting to other Bluetooth devices, even if the versions are different. The newer versions are backward compatible with earlier versions.
These steps will work with simple speakers and Bluetooth surround sound systems.
To connect to a Bluetooth speaker:
Navigate to Bluetooth settings on the Fire TV menu.
Power on your wireless speakers.
Look for the speakers under the Fire TV Bluetooth connections.
Select the speakers and choose the pairing option.
Once paired, you can run audio through the wireless speakers through the Amazon Fire Stick.
If you have any issues pairing, make sure that the speakers are not already paired to a different device. Some speakers can pair with multiple devices.
Check your speaker’s user guide to troubleshoot any issues with connecting.
An HDMI audio extractor can bypass a projector’s built-in speakers.
It works by sending sound to a separate audio device like a speaker, sound system or soundbar. Simultaneously, it does not interfere with the video playback from your HDMI connection to Amazon Fire TV.
This setup can be helpful if your projector speakers have poor sound.
To connect external speakers with an HDMI audio extractor:
Insert the Fire Stick into the HDMI port on the audio extractor.
Plug in an HDMI cord to the HDMI out port on the audio extractor.
Connect the other end to the projector’s HDMI port.
Plug in your Fire Stick and the audio extractor to an outlet.
Turn on your projector.
Send your extracted audio to your external sound device.
If you have a Dolby Atmos-compatible sound system, you’ll need an optical cable to connect the optical out port to a receiver.
In the event you want a regular sound connection, like a soundbar, you’ll need a cable to connect the 3.5 mm audio jack to the sound device.
Depending on the setup, you may need to run long wires or cables to get everything hooked up properly.
Wireless HDMI Kit
With a wireless HDMI kit, you have flexibility with where you send your HDMI signal.
The kit includes the following:
A transmitter to send video and audio wirelessly to compatible devices
An HDMI receiver that communicates with the transmitter wirelessly
There are a variety of options on the market, from budget buys to high-end adapters. Your setup will determine the best HDMI kit for your needs.
Wireless HDMI Kit Setup With a Projector
When setting up your wireless HDMI kit with a projector, you’ll need to plug your Amazon Fire Stick into the transmitter. Then, you’ll connect your HDMI receiver to your projector.
With both parts powered on, you create a wireless connection between your Fire Stick and projector without them touching.
Then, you can test the connection. You should be able to see video and hear audio through the speakers or sound system of your choice.
There are some benefits with this setup, including:
It doesn’t require you to run wires through your space.
The setup offers a clean, modern look.
You aren’t limited by wires, cables and outlets.
However, there are some downsides, including:
You need to buy extra equipment.
The kits can be pricey.
It takes longer to set up than connecting to a simple Bluetooth speaker.
For this setup, you’ll also use an HDMI audio extractor. However, the difference is that you don’t need to worry about running wires everywhere.
Another benefit is that once you get this setup, you can attach a different streaming device if you choose, as long as it has an HDMI plug.
This means that you can experiment with upgraded streaming boxes if you like.
Problems With Connecting an Amazon Fire TV Stick to a Projector
You may run into two problems when connecting an Amazon Fire TV Stick to a projector. These include a lack of audio or video.
Getting the Video to Work
It’s not uncommon to have issues getting the video to display properly when you first connect your Amazon Fire TV Stick to your projector.
If you don’t see the video, try these troubleshooting tips:
Turn off the power to the projector. Unplug the Amazon Fire Stick from the projector and its power source. Then, reconnect everything and turn on the power.
If there are two HDMI ports, make sure the correct port is selected on the projector.
Verify that all connections are properly and fully plugged in.
Make sure the projector lens cap is off.
Follow the manufacturer’s steps to factory reset your projector.
These solutions should have you up and running in no time.
Troubleshooting Audio Issues
If you want to use an external portable speaker or stationary sound system instead of the built-in projector speakers, you might run into some audio issues. This is because HDMI carries an audio signal. It is set up to display video and playback audio.
In the case of audio, to bypass the HDMI audio signal that feeds into the projector, you’ll need to complete a few extra steps.
To deliver sound to external speakers instead of the projector’s internal speakers, you will need to use a wired or wireless connection.
Depending on the speakers, you may need additional wiring. It will require extra time to ensure proper connections if you want to link a wired surround soundbar or multi-speaker home theater sound system.
However, there are also wireless options available that are quick and easy to set up.
Summary
Whether you plan to buy an Amazon Fire TV Stick or have one lying around, it’s good to know you can stream your favorite video content through a projector with minimal setup.
While some connections require more thought and equipment, you can choose a simple connection, like pairing with Bluetooth speakers. This could be a solution to add more ways to watch streaming content with buying a TV.
Better yet, it’s less expensive and offers a wide viewing space since some projectors cast an image that is 100 inches or more.
Before you choose how you want to connect your Amazon Fire TV Stick to your projector, consider your budget, audio needs and if you require a wired or wireless setup. This will help you find the best solution for your situation.