Need to know
- A number of connection options are available, depending on the age of your TV, soundbar and other home entertainment devices
- Usually, the best solution is to plug your devices and soundbar into the TV separately
- Specific connection types are required to if you want to access the cinematic feeling of proper surround sound
HDMI is the one stop, plug-and-play solution for most home entertainment devices, and it's usually the easiest way to connect your soundbar to your TV. But things can get a little more complex if you want the best possible audio experience or if you're using older devices.
For example, did you know that Dolby Atmos only works with a specific HDMI output on your TV? Or that Bluetooth, while convenient, has many limitations?
Our guide will show you how connect your soundbar to your TV and get the best audio quality.
Connecting your soundbar to your TV via a cable
For most people, the best method is to plug your devices and soundbar into your TV separately so that all audio goes out via the television.
Most soundbars support these common cable formats:
- HDMI
- Optical (aka TOSLINK or digital RCA)
- RCA (the red and white stereo cables).
HDMI is the best option as it has enough bandwidth to support the highest quality audio currently available. This covers all the major codecs – Dolby, DTS and PCM, including the Dolby Atmos and DTS-X object-based surround formats (for a detailed explanation, see Getting the most out of Dolby, DTS or PCM below).
An optical cable is fine, but it can't transmit the best quality audio. That's only available via HDMI due to optical's bandwidth limitations. It also caps out at 5.1, so you won't hear the added surround effects offered by 7.1, Atmos and DTS-X soundbars.
RCA does the job but soundbars only support it in the stereo configuration so it should only be used as a last resort.
Do the brands need to match?
No. you can use different TV and soundbar brands together if they're connected with one of these cables. Though there are some advantages to pairing brands it's not a requirement.
Getting connected
These steps are basically the same regardless of whether you own a Samsung, LG, Sony, JBL or Bose TV and/or soundbar. However, some settings may have slightly different names depending on the brand and model.
Firstly, figure out your connection options. Look for an HDMI port on your TV and soundbar labeled "ARC" or "eARC". There are two versions that let you send audio to the soundbar via HDMI:
- Audio Return Channel (ARC): The original version of ARC that can deliver 5.1 surround including compressed Dolby and DTS.
- Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC): The latest version of ARC with additional bandwidth, which supports uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 surround as well as Dolby Atmos and DTS-X object based surround.
Note: This will not work if the soundbar doesn't have an ARC/eARC input. Both the TV and the soundbar need ARC/eARC in order for the handshake to work. If this is available on your TV and soundbar then use it, as you'll get the best audio experience.
If your TV is older or doesn't support ARC, you'll need to use the optical port. This is often called TOSLINK, depending on the manufacturer. Like HDMI, all you need to do is plug it in. If neither option is available you can use RCA and start looking for a new TV as it's probably time for an upgrade.
Adjusting the settings
Once you're all plugged in and everything is turned on, you'll need to tell your TV to send audio to the soundbar. You'll need to adjust two settings in the TV's audio options.
- Change the audio output from "TV speaker" to the cable type you used to connect the soundbar. This will be labelled "ARC", "eARC" or "optical".
- Look for a setting called "pass through" and turn it on or select it as the default audio option. This will tell the TV to take incoming audio from a broadcast, streaming service or an external devices (e.g. games console) and pass it through so the soundbar decodes it.
Some TVs give you the option to play audio through the TV speaker and soundbar at the same time. This can be handy if you only want to use the soundbar for things like movies, as audio will still come through the TV speakers even if the soundbar is turned off when you're watching the news for example.
It's really a matter of personal preference so try watching your favourite movies and shows with the TV speaker on and off and go with whatever suits your ears.
ARC and eARC deliver the best audio quality. Look for inputs like the one pictured here.
Directly connecting a device
Some soundbars have one or two HDMI inputs that let you connect an external device (streaming dongle, games console etc) rather than going via the TV. In this case, audio goes directly into the soundbar which then sends the picture to the TV for processing via HDMI out or ARC/eARC. It's basically the same approach you would use to connect things up to a home cinema receiver.
This can be useful if you want top quality audio but the TV doesn't support ARC. Let's say you're watching a movie on a 4K player. The 4K player will send the audio directly to the soundbar for processing while the image is passed through to the TV via regular HDMI. It's a handy little workaround for older TVs.
Connecting a soundbar with Bluetooth
Bluetooth-enabled TVs and soundbars can connect to one another and they don't need to be from the same manufacturer to do so. But while the option to use Bluetooth is convenient, it comes with a lot of limitations.
Bluetooth doesn't have a tonne of bandwidth which can reduce audio quality and limit surround sound options. For example, it can only output mono and stereo (left and right speaker) sound so you won't get the full surround experience (e.g. 5.1), even if your soundbar supports it.
So, while it can be done, it's not really worth it. Instead, it's best to use the Bluetooth input to turn your soundbar into a wireless speaker for your smartphone so you can listen to music or podcasts in your living room.
That said, if you want to connect your TV to your soundbar via Bluetooth, the steps are below.
How to connect via Bluetooth.
Though the specific steps will vary depending on the brand and model, the pairing process is basically the same. First, switch over to Bluetooth mode on your soundbar, then find the speaker/audio output options in your TV's sound settings.
There should be an option to scan for nearby Bluetooth devices. Start the scan, then go back to your soundbar and turn on pairing mode as per the instructions. This will send out the signal that your TV is looking for in order to connect.
The soundbar should appear in the list of nearby devices after a few seconds. Select it to pair the two. Once you've done this once, they should automatically connect in the future, as long as the soundbar is in Bluetooth mode.
Connecting a soundbar with Wi-Fi
A growing number of TVs and soundbars can connect via Wi-Fi, which is a much better option than Bluetooth. The main advantage is that Wi-Fi has ample bandwidth, enough for all but the most advanced surround sound systems. LG, for example, claims that its products support up to 10 surround sound channels (7.1.2) via Wi-Fi.
But the TV and soundbar need to be from the same manufacturer for this to work. Even then, Wi-Fi connectivity is only available on some models.
So far, only LG, Samsung and Sony support Wi-Fi connection from their TVs to soundbars. Each has a unique name for this feature which are listed below, along with links to compatible devices:
Setup is very different across brands so it's best to look up Wi-Fi connectivity in the TV and soundbar manuals. Keep your smartphone handy too as you'll most likely need to adjust some network settings in the soundbar's app.
Getting the most out of Dolby, DTS or PCM.
Most movies, TV shows, games and concerts support Dolby, DTS or PCM multi-channel sound. There are different versions of Dolby and DTS, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio, which increased quality and additional surround channels.
Soundbars can decode one, or more, of these and you can find this information on the box or in the spec sheet. However, manufactures don't tell you that you need specific cables to make the most of these options.
It all comes down to bandwidth. Additional channels and higher quality audio has more data and thus, needs more bandwidth. But some cable types (and Bluetooth) don't have enough which limits your options. The rule of thumb is, when in doubt, use HDMI.
- Older versions of Dolby and DTS require less bandwidth, and can run through RCA, optical (TOSLINK), coaxial and HDMI cables.
- High-quality versions such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio need HDMI (version 1.3 or later).
You will also have access to different versions depending on whether your TV and soundbar support ARC or eARC.
- If your devices support ARC, then you can only hear the compressed versions of Dolby and DTS with a maximum of 5.1 surround.
- If your devices support eARC, then you can enjoy the top quality uncompressed versions called Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio The original version of ARC does not support these high quality formats as it doesn't have enough bandwidth.
What about Dolby Atmos and DTS-X?
Many soundbars can decode object-based surround technologies that add a sense of height to the mix. These need even more bandwidth than 5.1 and 7.1 so HDMI via eARC is your only option. The TV, soundbar and HDMI cable also needs to support HDMI version 2.1.
What happens if you use the wrong cable?
Though you'll still hear sound with older cable types, the TV and soundbar will downmix audio to a lower quality version that fits within the bandwidth limitation. For example, if you try to play an Atmos track via an optical cable, it will downmix it to the standard quality version of Dolby.
This is why it's important to buy the correct cables. Otherwise you won't be using the soundbar to its full potential.
We're on your side
For more than 60 years, we've been making a difference for Australian consumers. In that time, we've never taken ads or sponsorship.
Instead we're funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing.
With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family.
And you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
Learn more about CHOICE membership today
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
