Have your recently brought a the best soundbar for youand thinking about how to connect soundbar to TV?. Here we are going to explain you 7 ways you can use to connect soundbar to your TV. With so many new technologies being introduced every coming year and multiple connectivity options being provided in soundbars, it often confuse users which is best one.
There are multiple ways you can use to connect soundbar to TV. You can connect using HDMI ARC cable, Optical cable, Coaxial cable, Aux cable, RCA cable or through Bluetooth.
Before selecting one options from above, you need to check your TV and soundbars back panel and make sure that port is available in both of you TV and soundbar. Now let deep dive into each of these ways
Also See: Best Soundbars Under 10000 in India (2022)
Contents
1. How to Connect Soundbar to TV using HDMI Arc Cable?
Using HDMI ARC cable is probably the best way to connect your soundbar and TV. If your TV and soundbar both are HDMI compatible, you can use this method to connect your soundbar to TV.
What is HDMI ARC?
HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface and ARC stands for Audio Return Channel. HDMI ARC is a technology of two way transmission of audio through a single cable.
HDMI ARC is designed to simplify the complicated AV connection and reduce the multiple cables needed for it.
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) was introduced in 2009, Its revolutionary addition to HDMI 2.1 technology.
With HDMI ARC you can connect your audio system with one single HDMI cable and it also allow you to use it for all devices connected to your TV. For example if you have multiple devices e.g. gaming console, set top box, blue ray player, or any other device connected to your TV. you can use sound output of all these devices in your soundbar with single HDMI ARC connection.
Do You Need Special HDMI Cable for HDMI ARC?
No, Unless you are using very old HDMI cable you do not need to buy a new one. Normal HDMI cable designed for HDMI 2.1 can work for your HDMI ARC connection.
Though all standard HDMI cable work with HDMI ARC connection but Ultra high speed HDMI cable are best if you want to have the best sound output.
If you want to buy new HDMI cable, check out these high speed HDMI cable.
Connecting Soundbar or Tower Speaker to TV using HDMI ARC
You can connect your soundbar and TV through HDMI by these simple steps. Make sure to check both your TV and soundbar are HDMI ARC compatible.
Step 1 – Check the HDMI ARC Port Availability
Check the back panel of your TV to found out the HDMI port with ARC feature enable. Out of the multiple HDMI port available on your TV panel one must be marked as ARC. If you are unsure which one of your HDMI port is ARC enabled, please check user manual of your TV or contact your TV manufacturer.
Similarly you need to find out the HDMI port on your soundbar’s connection panel.
Step 2 – Connect the HDMI Cable
Put one connector of HDMI cable in your TV HDMI ARC port and other end to your Soundbar.
Step 3 – Set the Source of Soundbar
Turn the power of your soundbar on and set the source to HDMI Arc.
Step 4 – Change TV Settings
Usually HDMI connection work automatically if it wont work go to in the setting menu of your TV and look for ARC feature and enable it.
If you do not find the ARC feature in your TV setting, look for HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) settings and enable it.
By following above three steps you are all set to use your soundbar with your TV.
Check out : Best Tower Speakers under 10000 in India
2. How to Connect Soundbar to TV using Optical Cable?
Connecting soundbar to TV using optical cable is second best option you can choose. Optical connection is very simple in configuration and does not need any complicated settings change. Also you can connect the tower speakers to TV using optical cable if it supports.
What is Digital Optical Cable?
Optical cable or Toslink cable are fiber cable used to send digital audio signal. This cable was introduced in 1983 by Toshiba, that is the reason it often called Toslink connector.
In Optical fiber cable no copper wire is used, instead it use light as medium for transferring digital audio signals. Optical cable do not support as much bandwidth as HDMI can but it support Dolby digital and DTS surround sound.
If you want to buy new digital optical cable, Check out these high quality Optical/Toslink Cable.
Connecting Soundbar to TV using Optical Cable
You can connect your soundbar and TV through optical cable by these simple steps. Make sure to check both your TV and soundbar have digital optical audio connector available.
Step 1 – Check the Digital Audio/Optical Port Availability
Check the back panel of your TV and look for digital audio/Optical out port also check your soundbar connectivity panel for digital/optical port. If you are still unsure about the ports availability in any of the device, please look into the user manual.
Step 2 – Connect the Optical Cable
Connect the one end of optical/toslink cable into the digital audio port of your TV and other end into your soundbar.
In order to insert the optical cable connector into the port, you need to you need to insert it according to the shape of the connector.
If you are using brand new cable make sure to remove plastic or rubber cap that come with your brand new cable.
Step 3 – Turn On TV and Check the Sound
Plug in your soundbar and TV, set the source setting on your soundbar to digital in and you are done.
In some TV models you need to set the audio settings to digital audio output. Check your TV audio settings if after completing the above sound is not coming out from soundbar.
3. How to Connect Soundbar to TV using Coaxial Cable?
Connecting soundbar to TV using coaxial cable is very uncommon these days. but if you are using an older or budget model which have digital coaxial audio port available, you can definitely use it to connect your soundbar to TV.
What is Digital Coaxial Cable?
Coaxial cables are one which used in cable or TV box. These cables have one thick copper wire in the center and second wire as shield over the thick plastic.
However coaxial cable used in audio looks similar to RCA cable because their connector looks same, but they are thicker in the size.
Coaxial cable use digital signals to transmit the audio thus their sound quality is better then the analog RCA cables.
If you want to buy new digital coaxial cable, Check out these high quality Coaxial Cable.
Connecting Soundbar to TV using Coaxial Cable
Setting your soundbar with your TV using digital coaxial cable is completely similar to how we do it with optical cable. Follow the below steps to connect your soundbar to TV with coaxial cable.
Step 1 – Check the Digital Coaxial Port Availability
Before deciding make sure both your TV and soundbar support digital coaxial connection. Check the back panel of your TV and look for coaxial or digital out connector. The connector is single female type and look similar to RCA connector. Same you need to check on your soundbar for digital in or Coaxial connector.
Step 2 – Connect the Coaxial Cable
To make the coaxial connection, you simply need to connect one end of the cable into your TV coaxial out and one end into digital coaxial in port of your soundbar.
Step 3 – Set the Source of your Soundbar
Turn on your soundbar and grab the remote to set the source of your soundbar to Coaxial input.
Step 4 – Turn On TV and Check the Sound
Now, as you done connecting the soundbar and TV. Turn on your TV and check the sound.
4. How to Connect Soundbar to TV using RCA Cable?
If your TV does not support the HDMI or digital audio output then you can use the RCA connector to connect your soundbar to your TV. These connection is very common for sending analog audio and video signals.
What is RCA Cable?
RCA cable or RCA connector are most common connectors used in audio video devices for years. You may have noticed the yellow, red, and black colored cables and port in your devices, are called RCA cables or connector.
RCA cables are introduced by Radio Corporation of America in 1940. and thus on their name these type of cable and connector are called RCA cables or connector.
RCA cables are generally red and black/white colored for audio left and right channels and yellow for video signals. These cables are used for analog (non digital) signals, Thus quality of these signals are compressed and not that brilliant as in digital connection.
If you want to buy new RCA audio cable, Check out these high quality RCA Cable.
Connecting Soundbar to TV using RCA Cable
For RCA connection, you need a RCA connector cable and RCA audio output port availability in your TV and RCA audio input port availability on you soundbar. follow the below steps to connect soundbar to TV with RCA cable
Step 1 – Check the RCA Port Availability
Check the back panel of your TV and look for the red and white/black RCA connectors. Make sure these connector are designed for audio output and not input. Similar red and white/black connector you need on your soundbar.
Step 2 – Connect the RCA Cable
Connect the two red and black/white connector into audio out port of your TV and other end to the audio in of your soundbar.
You need to connect the red wire into red connector and right/black wire into the black/white connector of your soundbar and TV.
Step 3 – Turn On TV and Soundbar to Check the Audio
Plug in your soundbar and TV, set the source of your soundbar to audio in and you are all set to enjoy it.
5. How to Connect Soundbar to TV using AUX Cable?
If you are using an older TV model which do not support HDMI, Digital Optical, Coaxial or RCA connectivity, you can still use soundbar with your TV using 3.5mm auxilary output jack.
Aux cable or known as 3.5mm audio cable are analog audio technology used in mobile phones and other audio device. Aux connection do not support high end music protocols but only provides stereo output.
What is AUX Cable?
Aux cable, also known as 3.5mm cable are male to male audio cable used to connect audio source and audio output for stereo audio output. You have probably used this cable to connect your mobile phone with car stereo or other device having aux input.
If you want to buy new Aux cable, check out these high quality Aux cables.
Connecting Soundbar to TV using AUX Cable
This is one of the most simple connection you can use to connect soundbar to TV. However in aux connection you are not suppose to receive very high quality of sound output. You can simply follow the below steps for connection
Step 1 – Check the Aux Port Availability
Check the back panel of your TV and look for audio out or line out port. This port is similar to the headphone jack. We suggest to use the audio out or line out port instead of headphone jack for aux cable connection. Same audio input or line in port should be available on you soundbar.
Step 2 – Connect the Aux Cable
Connect one end of your aux cable into your TV audio out or line out port and other end into your soundbar’s audio input connection
Step 3 – Set the Source of the Soundbar
Once you done with the connection, turn on your soundbar and set the source to line in or Aux in.
Step 3 – Turn On TV and Check the Audio
You are done, now turn on the TV and check the audio of your TV in your soundbar.
6. How to Connect Soundbar to TV using Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is last option we would recommend to use for connecting soundbar to you TV. Bluetooth is wireless technology to send and receive signals between two compatible devices.
Reasons we least recommend using Bluetooth for connecting soundbar to TV are mentioned under the disadvantages of using connecting soundbar to TV using Bluetooth.
Connecting Soundbar to TV using Bluetooth
So if you want to get rid of cables and wires and connect your soundbar with your TV wirelessly you can use Bluetooth as connecting option. Follow the below steps to connect the soundbar with TV via Bluetooth.
Step 1 – Check if Your TV and Sound have Bluetooth
Check if your TV and soundbar have the Bluetooth inbuild. Most recent soundbars support the Bluetooth connectivity but not all TV models have the Bluetooth option. So you need to make sure both your soundbar and TV have the Bluetooth connectivity.
Step 2 – Turn on your Soundbar’s Bluetooth Mode
Turn on your soundbar and put it into the Bluetooth mode. Usually soundbars have dedicated Bluetooth button on the device and remote. But so turn on it from settings if your soundbar do not have the dedicated button.
Step 3 – Check your TV Settings and Pair the Soundbar with TV
Go to your TV settings and pair your soundbar with your TV using Bluetooth. Now this setting can be found at different place in different models. But most general place is under setting add Bluetooth device.
Check out Best Bluetooth Speakers under 2000 in India
You are done by following above steps, You are ready to use your soundbar with your TV.