However, with all the ports and multiple connections, it can still be confusing.
Connect the TV's optical digital audio output terminal to the OPTICAL IN terminal on the Sound Bar. Willie Greer is the founder of The Product Analyst. So, we still recommend topurchase the best wireless speaker kitto ensure that audio signals will not get interrupted. Plus, if youre streaming content that uses Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, or DTS:X, you may need to use an HDMI connection to fully decode the sound provided by these technologies. There are two ways to connect your soundbar to your television using HDMI: you can connect a device to your soundbar (such as a Blu-ray player) and then connect the soundbar to the television, or you can use an ARC (Audio Return Channel) connection (Audio Return Channel). The Sonos Beam (Gen. 2) has touch controls on the unit itself for volume control, as well as an accompanying mobile app that enables you to beam audio to it straight from the apps on your phone, for example. You should also take some time to play around with the audio settings on your TV. It will be labeled on most soundbars, so you wont have a hard time figuring out which one it is. If your soundbar doesnt happen to have a remote, it should be able to pair with a universal remote, have a compatible app, or a control panel on the side. Finally, get your TV and soundbar positioned the way you want (as well as your subwoofer, if one is part of the equation), then power up the television first, followed by the soundbar. Because the Subwoofer produces vibrations, any items placed on top of it may fall. After you have double-checked the cable connection, its time to switch on both devices. No sound from the Sound Bar connected to the TV via HDMI (ARC) when the Control for HDMI function is turned off. What is the Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature? The familiar HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port is the one youre most likely to see. However, the one difference is that the auxiliary cable uses analog connection rather than digital, and connecting your soundbar to your TV using a analog wont produce sound quite as good. Auxiliary cable- you can use the aux out on your soundbar to connect to your TV. Optical connection- you can generally use an optical cable to connect your soundbar to your TV. If your TV has an HDMI terminal (without ARC) and an optical digital audio out terminalFor some BRAVIA models and any other TV that has an HDMI IN terminal that does not support ARC, use an HDMI cable (sold separately) to connect the HDMI IN terminal on the TV to the TV OUT (ARC) terminal on the Sound Bar. Then, connect the external device to the Sound bar using an optical cord (sold separately). One of the best things about Bluetooth connection is it wont require you to search on your hands and knees for the correct input. Assuming that theHDMI cable with the ideal lengthcame in the box with your purchase, you can easily connect the soundbar to your TV via the HDMI port but more on this later. Just select your device name and wait for audio pairing. Similar to connecting the HDMI cable, the digital optical cable should also come in the box.
This is usually done on the audio source device. The next step is to take the other end of the digital optical cable and plug it into your soundbars digital audio in. So if youre after the clearest audio you can get, HDMI is the way to go. The HDMI port on the back of your soundbar is called the in port and the one located on the back of your TV is the out port. You dont need to put aside half a day to get your new piece of equipment set up. After you have discovered your unit, you can then join the two devices together. Once youve connected the soundbar to the TV, ensure the cables are firmly in place. Connect the TV's audio output terminal to the ANALOG IN terminal on the Sound Bar. However, the soundbar can be connected to a cable box or other device that produces audio as well. If your remote doesnt have the audio sync button, you can access audio syncing through the remote by pressing sound control. | Having little experience with projectors can lead to serious problems when troubleshooting, so always reach out to the brand or local experts with concerns. [B] Analog audio out
Plus. A cinephile, he has made it a personal quest to achieve the awesomest home theater possible. Bluetooth. Yes, if your soundbar and TV are both Bluetooth capable, you can sync them and control the soundbar using your mobile device and a dedicated app, though the steps to do this will vary greatly from device to device, and not all soundbars and TVs have Bluetooth connectivity. Then this article will help you.
While HDMI and optical connections both pass digital audio from one device to the other, HDMI, whether its a cableor wireless HDMIT kit, is capable of handling higher-resolution audio. Before you try to hook up your device to your TV, you need to make it discoverable. So if you have an older soundbar without eARC support, you might want to think about an upgrade. Luckily, its not hard to learn how to connect a soundbar to a TV. For a one source control of your devices, you can aslo try connecting them withan HDMI CEC. Applicable Products and Categories of This Article, If connecting to the latest BRAVIA models or any other TV equipped with HDMI terminals that support ARC, use an HDMI cable (sold separately) to connect the, For some BRAVIA models and any other TV that has an, Connect the TV's optical digital audio output terminal to the, When other devices are connected to the Sound Bar via, Connect the TV's audio output terminal to the, When connecting to a stereo mini jack (red and white audio out terminals), Frequently Asked Questions for BRAVIA TV ARC (Audio Return Channel) feature. View product releases and tutorials on our YouTube channel! In order to hear TV audio, it is necessary to connect using an optical digital audio cord (sold separately). You will find HDMI Arc port on most. If its not, double-check on the manufacturers page- otherwise, youll have to use another method. Thats because other input connections like digital or analog wont be able to deliver the crystal clear sound that HDMI ARC can. To sync the TV to the soundbar, you need to change the mode settings. Refer to the operating instructions for details. Once you have your soundbar ready, you can learn how to find mac address on smart tv if you wish to connect to a network and start streaming your favorite music or movies. But its worth noting that if you have basic HDMI without those additional acronyms, you might not have access to the same features and sound quality carried by the newer connections. Make sure you wriggle the cables a little bit to make sure everything fits tightly. One of the best things about Bluetooth connection is it wont require you to search on your hands and knees for the correct input. The principle of the optical cable is the same as that of HDMI. Make sure you push the optical cable all the way in on both ends so the audio wont suffer any loss of quality. Depending on your system, terminal locations will differ. Here is how to do it: These were the main methods to connect Samsung Soundbar to Samsung TV, the connection principle of other soundbars and TVs is very similar, so you can use them for other devices, but remember that there can still be differences. I love to write about consumer tech and musical instruments. While its not complicated, youre going to need to know how to connect a soundbar to a tv, as it may introduce some connection types you might not be familiar with. Either way, both wireless options can save you the trouble of cluttering up your entertainment system. However, the one difference is that the auxiliary cable uses analog connection rather than digital, and connecting your soundbar to your TV using a analog wont produce sound quite as good. He doesn't get much spare time, but when he does he spends it watching obscure movies and taking long walks in the countryside. For soundbar options to connect to you TV, you can check the following related pages, too! They are great options as well, especially when you lack. [Related: How to fix the annoying audio delay on your soundbar]. The TV does not output sound through the DIGITAL AUDIO (OPTICAL) OUT jack. Its the same with TVs, where HDMI eARC has been available on sets manufactured in the last few years: Youll still get sound out of an older television with a non-eARC HDMI port, but you wont be able to get the top audio quality that eARC supports. 
A soundbar can give your TV a serious upgrade in terms of audio fidelity and power: music gets more immersive, dialog becomes more distinct, and bass sounds really kick when youve got a soundbar set up as a replacement for the default speakers built into your television. Check how to set up iLive soundbars next.). This should successfully connect your soundbar to your TV via optical digital audio. Find your nearest Sony store to view our latest products. After the connection, follow the steps below to output sound. While it will provide almost as good quality audio as HDMI, its slightly more complicated to set up, but its an option if you dont have HDMI inputs to spare on your TV. [A] Sound Bar (rear)
Then, check the audio ports both on the back of your soundbar and back of your TV. Often known as the red and white cable, the RCA or 3.5 mm cable is an old-school option that we may have seen before digital connection or wireless streaming. So heres a guide on how to connect both devices via Bluetooth: Depending on your TV model youll see either Bluetooth Speaker List or Bluetooth Audio Device. Theyre the the red, white, and black colored connectors used back then. The downside of this connection type is that the audio quality will be slightly lower than that of a digital or Bluetooth connection. The first and the fastest way, of course, is to try to connect the Soundbar to the Samsung TV via Bluetooth, as this is its default function. will not be possible.). HDMI will offer the best sound quality of any method as it can stream larger amounts of data faster than any other available method, with optical cables coming in second, Bluetooth third approximately, and analog aux in/out giving the lowest audio quality. Most excellent soundbar devices should have it already so its not likely that youll have to purchase one yourself. Usually best as a last resort. Soundbars usually offer a few different ways to connect to your TV. When connecting to a stereo mini terminal, [A] Sound Bar (rear) Address: 1828 Lightning Point Drive Memphis, TN 38110 | Phone Number: +1 (307) 746-1215 | Email: contact@theproductanalyst.com, The Product Analyst All rights reserved 2022, If you buy something through our posts, we may get a small commission. [C] HDMI cable (sold separately) If connecting to the latest BRAVIA models or any other TV equipped with HDMI terminals that support ARC, use an HDMI cable (sold separately) to connect the HDMI IN (ARC) terminal on the TV to the TV OUT (ARC) terminal on the Sound Bar. You will find the HDMI ARC port at the back of your soundbar. Again, to avoid any lag time or audio interference, check to see if you have pushed all the plugs all the way in. Then again, this particular cable is among the cheapest in the market so it wont set you back too much. You can use this to connect your soundbar to your TV, but you wont get the best audio quality. NOTE: If you connect to an HDMI terminal without this label, the ARC function will not work. You will find the HDMI ARC port at the back of your soundbar. The HDMI input terminal that supports ARC will be labeled ARC. First, determine if your TV is ARC (Audio Return Channel) capable- the ARC label should be clearly visible on the back or side of the TV somewhere. However, if that isnt possible with the model you bought, there are other great choices and even wireless options to choose from. Essentially, these enable you to control your soundbars volume and on-off state using your TV remote (and via the HDMI cable). Were On A Mission To Fix The Broken Product Review System. as a basic feature and there are some that allow Wi-Fi connection. You can use any soundbar on any TV in general. The soundbar featured in the photographs accompanying this article is the Sonos Beam (Gen. 2), but no matter which soundbar youve bought to upgrade your home theater setup (and whichever TV youre connecting it to), you should find much of the setup process is similar. Before you start plugging in cables, get familiar with the ports on the back of your soundbar. You will find HDMI Arc port on mosttop Dolby Atmos soundbars, as well.
If you dont have the HDMI audio return channel cable, you may need to purchase your own. If you have a remote, you need to press the source button then select D.IN. [C] Stereo mini plug Try putting on some sports or a movie to hear the difference in the audio quality. you wont need to double-check if you have wires included in the box because Bluetooth is actually built right into your device. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. As mentioned above, this will usually be via an HDMI cable, though you might also need to use one of the alternative ports. [D] Audio cord(sold separately). This will get you high-quality audio, but not quite as good as what youd get with HDMI eARC, and this type of port has gradually been phased out on newer models as the eARC standard has taken over. [C] Optical digital audio out [E] Optical digital audio cord (sold separately). Overall, whichever way you choose to connect your soundbar to your TV, it will still be a great upgrade from your usual TV sound. M. ake sure you push the optical cable all the way in on both ends so the audio wont suffer any loss of quality. All thats left is to enjoy the benefits and the improved audio quality of your new soundbar. Its what people typically used back when wireless streaming wasnt available. Find the labeled plug accordingly on the back of your TV and plug one end of the cable in the digital audio out. However, it works best with the TV to minimize lag time. The next step is to take the other end of the digital optical cable and plug it into your soundbars digital audio in. (Need a guide more specific to a brand? So, in case you dont have Bluetooth, or you want to have better sound quality, its the connection via HDMI cable that will improve your performance. It will be labeled on most soundbars, so you wont have a hard time figuring out which one it is. In some cases, you might have to specifically choose the soundbar as the audio output to force sound to exit your connected speaker instead of the TVs defaults. Power up your soundbar first, and then connect the soundbar to your TV. But while a soundbar device comes with many connections, HDMI is still the best option if you want high-quality sound. In the case of the second-generation Sonos Beam, theres also an Ethernet port for a more direct (and stable) connection to the internet, if its needed. You can choose to use your TVs HDMI like when connecting chromecast to tv or other simple means too. And having a Soundbar from the South Korean manufacturer is a guarantee of a perfect experience when watching movies and playing video games. How to fix the annoying audio delay on your soundbar, get your TV and soundbar positioned the way you want. Yes, there are a lot of cables, but youll have options and variety. When you connect an external device to TV (without ARC) and Sound Bar, connect the HDMI cable (sold separately) from the external device to the TV. Since they are analog cables, you can expect the sound quality to be lesser in quality compared to digital connections. This ensures that the connection was successful. Your soundbar may have a few settings to play around with too, thoughagainwe cant give you a comprehensive guide to all of the soundbars out there. Well go over the general steps for both HDMI and optical cables, since those are the most common methods, and both Bluetooth and analog methods can vary considerably from TV to TV and soundbar to soundbar. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Then connect the TV's optical digital audio output to OPTICAL IN on the Sound Bar. You can then turn on both devices and enjoy the sound streaming from your soundbar without having to adjust the settings. Soundbars offer superior sound to built-in TV speakers and save space compared to a dedicated audio system with external speakers and a receiver.
Thats because o. ther input connections like digital or analog wont be able to deliver the crystal clear sound that HDMI ARC can. If youre using optical digital audio or analog audio, look for the corresponding port on your TV, which should be marked accordinglyyour TVs instruction manual can help. But if this is your preferred method, simply connect the cable to the in and out ports on your soundbar and TV. Not only can it process Dolby Digital technology for clear sound, but its also the one that comes with the cheapest cables, and its very easy to use. Thats one of the frustrating parts of any wired setup, especially if your TV stand is closer to the floor. If your TV does not have HDMI input (with optical digital audio out terminal), If your TV does not have HDMI input (without optical digital audio out terminal).
You can sync your soundbar to your TV by pressing the audio sync button on the remote. Exactly with Bluetooth, youll not have to bother with wires and hide them not to spoil the appearance of your interior. , is capable of handling higher-resolution audio. While just about any cable will support HDMI ARC, you need a cable labeled HDMI with Ethernet, high-speed HDMI cable with Ethernet, or the latest (and best) ultra high-speed HDMI cable, to take advantage of HDMI eARC (which features the best resolutions and bitrate). Often known as the red and white cable, the RCA or 3.5 mm cable is an old-school option that we may have seen before digital connection or wireless streaming. I have a cat. Overall, this is a good way to connect any external device to your TV, not just your soundbar. HDMI offers the best potential sound quality and the most secure connection, and HDMI cables are inexpensive and common, so HDMI is definitely the best method of connection. One acronym to look for while you browse these settings is CEC (consumer electronics control) or HDMI-CEC. Compared to previous connectivity options, the auxiliary cable is a more conventional way to connect devices. If your TV has an HDMI terminal that supports ARC Is it better to connect soundbars using HDMI or Optical cables? You might also see references to HDMI ARC (audio return channel), which introduced two-way audio in 2009, and HDMI eARC (enhanced audio return channel), the 2017 update that added higher bitrates, better surround sound, and support for more audio codecs. Its easy to find out how to hook up a soundbar to a TV if you have a guide like this one. If the soundbar has an HDMI ARC (audio return channel) capability, you should go for that compared to other connectivity options. [B] Sound Bar (rear) Once you plug it in, you need to make sure its a tight fit so no technical issues would arise.