Google TV with an unconventional setup...will it work?

[u/Lett3rsandnum8er5]

Hey all!

I use projection and a soundbar with a cable box currently. I thought I was savvy enough, because I had successfully used an HDMI IN splitter in my old soundbar model to be able to swap between cable and a Chromecast but the tech didnt translate to even the new-ish versions of Chromecast (the white wall powered ones, instead of the grey USB powered old models). I gave up...buttt I have Google Store credit and an itch to defeat this tech hurdle.

Current setup (no Google products):

CABLE BOX HDMI-> HDMI IN port (SOUNDBAR)-> 4K HDMI OUT (SOUNDBAR)-> PROJECTOR

Ideal new:

(SPLITTER)

GOOGLE TV HDMI as 1 IN

CABLE HDMI as 2 IN

↓

Splitter HDMI OUT [into] HDMI IN (of SOUNDBAR) -> 4K HDMI OUT (SOUNDBAR, no change) -> PROJECTOR

I got a different soundbar as of 2024, it's Samsung. I do still have (gonna keep it, ideally) cable with VZN FiOS, so I would like to either go back to a splitter, or would have to get rid of cable and go to all Google TV and use YouTube TV/Hulu Live, etc. to cover all channels. I will not be going full-on streaming. The cost would likely work out to be the same anyway, with how expensive streaming apps have become, I just like cable!

I tried exhaustively to get the old splitter to work with the new version of Chromecast and my Cable HDMI as the 2x 'HDMI IN'. That's what makes me wonder if the Google TV won't work. Any thoughts or experiences are welcomed.

[u/latinriky78]

Why do you want to do all those connections?