Connect the TV’s HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC to the soundbar’s HDMI port labeled TV OUT, TO TV, ARC or eARC. Then select the soundbar’s TV/ARC input and change the TV’s sound output to the audio system. If either device lacks ARC, use the TV’s optical audio output and the soundbar’s optical input instead, when both have those ports.
This guide covers general TV and soundbar setup. Port labels, supported connections and menus vary by model; check both manuals before buying a cable. Samsung and Sony menu examples below apply to their supported models, rather than every TV.
Choose the Connection Before Plugging In
HDMI ARC means Audio Return Channel: a designated TV HDMI port can send TV audio back to a soundbar. The number on the socket is less useful than the ARC/eARC label. An ordinary HDMI input does not supply that return path.
eARC, or Enhanced Audio Return Channel, supports higher-bandwidth audio formats. Both devices and the cable must support it. A TV having eARC does not establish that every connected soundbar or program supports every surround format. Samsung explains the difference in its ARC and eARC guide.
Optical is a separate digital audio connection, often labeled OPTICAL OUT or DIGITAL AUDIO OUT on the TV and OPTICAL IN on the bar. Analog connections use matching headphone/audio output and AUX/analog input sockets. Bluetooth is an option only when the TV can send audio to a compatible Bluetooth speaker; a Bluetooth remote feature alone does not establish this.
Connect With HDMI ARC or eARC
- Turn off both devices. Locate the TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC socket and the soundbar’s TV OUT/TO TV ARC/eARC socket. Use the cable type specified by their manuals, particularly for eARC.
- Connect those two sockets. Do not use the soundbar’s ordinary HDMI IN for this TV return-audio connection. A socket labeled OUT can be the correct soundbar socket because ARC sends sound in the return direction.
- Turn on both devices. Select TV, ARC or the corresponding source on the soundbar. Some Samsung bars use D.IN first, then display TV ARC or TV eARC.
- Open the TV’s sound settings and choose the external audio system or HDMI receiver instead of TV Speakers.
- Enable the HDMI control/CEC and ARC options required by your models. Sony calls its HDMI control BRAVIA Sync; Samsung calls it Anynet+. Enable the bar’s Control for HDMI setting if its manual requires it.
- Play a TV program at a moderate volume and check that sound comes from the bar. Test volume control and another app or connected device separately.
For a Sony menu example, use Settings > Display & Sound > Audio output > Speakers > Audio system, or Settings > Sound > Speakers > Audio system, depending on the model. Sony illustrates the port pair in connecting a soundbar to a TV.
For supported Samsung models, Settings > All Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > HDMI eARC Mode > Auto enables eARC. The location of Anynet+ varies by model year; follow the linked Samsung instructions if your menu differs. Keep a note of the original settings before changing them.
Connect With an Optical Cable
- Turn off the TV and soundbar. Connect the TV’s OPTICAL OUT/DIGITAL AUDIO OUT to the bar’s OPTICAL IN/DIGITAL AUDIO IN. Remove any protective cable-end caps before inserting it; match the connector’s shape without forcing it.
- Turn the devices on and select the bar’s optical source. Samsung may call it D.IN.
- Choose Optical or the external audio output in the TV’s sound menu.
- Play a program, unmute the bar and raise its volume gradually to confirm sound.
Keep a streaming player or game console connected to the TV’s video input for this arrangement. The optical cable carries audio; it does not connect the bar’s video output to the TV. Samsung’s soundbar setup guide shows its optical and other supported connections.
Analog and Wireless Alternatives
For analog audio, connect an actual TV audio output to the soundbar’s AUX/ANALOG IN, then select that input. A headphone output may use 3.5 mm; red and white audio outputs may require a suitable RCA-to-3.5 mm cable. Red and white sockets labeled IN cannot supply TV audio to the bar. Check the manual if the TV has no usable output; a passive cable does not add a missing conversion feature.
For supported Bluetooth setups, put the soundbar into its documented pairing mode, open the TV’s Bluetooth speaker/audio-device list and select the bar. Samsung’s example is Settings > Sound > Sound Output > Bluetooth Speaker List, but names vary. Confirm the TV supports Bluetooth audio output, and try a wired connection if the wireless result is unreliable.
A wireless subwoofer connection is separate from the TV-to-soundbar connection. Likewise, a Wi-Fi option depends on the specific compatible TV, soundbar and app; use the manufacturer’s setup instructions rather than assuming devices on the same network pair automatically.
If There Is No Sound
Check mute, volume and the soundbar’s selected source first. Then trace the cable end to end: TV output to bar input for optical/analog, or the designated ARC/eARC socket at each end for HDMI. Turn the devices off before reseating or replacing a loose or damaged cable. Retest after each change so you know which step helped.
If ARC still fails, review both devices’ HDMI control and ARC settings. Sony’s no-sound troubleshooting guide includes those checks and model-specific audio-output instructions. Update firmware using the manufacturer’s instructions if simpler checks fail; a factory reset should not be the first step.
If the connection is recognized but a program is silent, the output audio format may be incompatible. Where available, try PCM temporarily and retest. Samsung documents Sound > Expert Settings > Digital Output Audio Format in its eARC setup and troubleshooting instructions. Compare PCM with the supported Auto or Pass-Through choice; restore a compatible format for the features you want. PCM is a diagnostic choice, not a guarantee of surround sound.
If TV apps work but one HDMI device is silent, check that device’s audio settings and test another program. If sound and picture are out of step, consult the model’s audio-delay/AV-sync instructions and try a wired connection before assuming the bar is faulty.
Can the TV Remote Control the Soundbar?
HDMI control/CEC can allow compatible devices to share power and volume commands. Test the actual volume buttons after setup. Optical alone does not carry HDMI control commands; any remote-learning or infrared-control feature must be configured separately according to the soundbar manual.
CEC can also handle input switching for other devices. Our guide to making a TV switch to a Roku Premiere Plus covers the player’s 1-touch play setting. That input-switching setting is separate from choosing where TV audio plays.
How Do I Switch Back to TV Speakers?
Change the TV’s sound output back to TV Speakers or the equivalent option. If you also change HDMI control settings, remember that this can affect other connected devices. Keep the soundbar’s cable and settings documented so you can return to the working arrangement later.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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