Having a soundbar connected to your TV means you can experience high-quality sound when viewing movies, listening to music, or watching television programs. But, no matter how amazing your TV is, there’s always room for improvement regarding your audio system’s sound quality. This is where the question “how to connect soundbar to TV with HDMI” fits the picture.
It’s vital to consider installing a soundbar in your living room if you want to get the most out of your television viewing experience. The most straightforward approach to linking the soundbar to the television is using HDMI. However, you must first check that your devices support HDMI before proceeding. It’s not just any HDMI connector, though; your TV must have one called an HDMI ARC” port.
Remain with us, and we’ll show you how to connect your soundbar to your TV through HDMI like a true techie.
Does HDMI Work With Soundbar?
How does a sound bar work with HDMI? Well, it does if it has HDMI ARC compatibility.
You need to spend extra on HDMI ARC-compatible soundbars, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary. HDMI, or High Definition (HD) Multimedia Interface, emerged in 2004 and is a versatile technology. HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a function found on most current TVs, home entertainment systems, and soundbars. HDMI pass through sound bar passes audio and video signals from an HD source, such as a HD set top box or Blu-ray player to a home theater system (HTS) via an HDMI cable.
Its primary function is to decrease the number of cords connecting your television to your soundbar or surround sound system. As a result, you can connect your soundbar and TV with only one cable.
A common misconception about HDMI ARC is that it’s nothing more than a fancy name for conventional HDMI. We can assure you it’s much more than that. HDMI ARC is a technology that eliminates cable clutter and increases audio quality compared to traditional HDMI.
So, if you haven’t bought a soundbar yet, check the specs to see whether it is HDMI ARC-compliant.
How to Add Soundbar to TV With HDMI?
Yes, you read it correctly: a standard HDMI cable will not work to connect an HDMI sound bar to a television.
You must have HDMI ARC or (High Definition Multimedia Interface Audio Return Channel) to connect the soundbar to your TV, as a simple TV HDMI port is just for ‘input’ and does not support ARC.
For high-quality sound, you’ll need an ARC connection, which helps your TV send audio signals to your soundbar so that you can hear it.
And if your TV does not have the primary ARC and the port instead displays ‘eARC,’ it is the latest version that accomplishes the same thing, so you do not need to be concerned.
How to Set Up Arc Soundbar?
Connect the Two Devices to the Power Supply and Turn Them On
A common oversight when attaching a soundbar to a television is that it often needs its power supply. For example, your soundbar may have a different method of acquiring power since not all soundbars are created equal. A standard way of supplying power to your soundbar is through an adapter or similar device, but this isn’t the only one. You may find that it can be connected to electricity via your television, although this is not always the case.
Check whether you have plugged in your TV and soundbar before you become irritated and believe the connection broke.
Ensure your TV and speaker are on before connecting your HDMI cable.
Insert the HDMI Input (ARC) Into the TV
Once you have the HDMI cable in your hands, locate the appropriate ports to connect it into. We’ll be utilizing HDMI (ARC) connectors, so keep that in mind. The TV’s input (ARC) port is pretty standard, and you’ll find it alongside all the other ports for input and output.
It is where you should begin if you already have cables attached to the RCA ports (usually the red and white input and output connectors).
Since the HDMI cable’s end and the TV port have unique shapes, you should be able to identify which is which just by looking at the ends of the two cables.
If you cannot locate an HDMI (ARC) input on your television, check the power and other buttons for it. If you still can’t find it, review your TV’s user guide or contact the manufacturer.
Insert the HDMI Output (ARC) Into the Soundbar
Look for the HDMI output (ARC) port on your soundbar after finding your TV’s HDMI input (ARC) port. In addition, because there are fewer ports than on television, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Using an HDMI cable, connect the soundbar to your TV after finding this port, and make sure you have plugged it into a power source.
Connect the HDMI Cable to Each Device Sequentially
Now that you know where to connect the HDMI connection from your TV and Soundbar in order, it’s time to do so.
It doesn’t matter whether you connect the HDMI wire to the TV first, then the soundbar. Instead, make sure that your connection is complete and safe.
Adjust the TV’s Settings to Make the Soundbar the Primary Speaker Output
Last but not least, alter the audio settings. From your TV’s menu, choose the soundbar’s output sound. Ensure that ARC mode is active on your HDMI connection. As a result, you may use your TV remote to change the volume coming from your soundbar.
Although some soundbars will automatically switch to the desired output when connected, this is not always the case.
There is no change in sound quality if your TV does not immediately choose the new HDMI input/output option for the soundbar.
As a result, even when you have connected the soundbar through HDMI, it continues to utilize the TV’s inbuilt speakers as its primary source of audio output. So, that’s why you need to change the audio settings of your TV when using the soundbar.
See your TV’s user guide or owner’s handbook to find out how to accomplish this. It is, however, an easy technique that generally follows a standard approach.
Using the soundbar as your TV’s primary audio output choice will ensure that audio signals go to the soundbar, not to the TV’s internal speakers.
What Are the Different Methods to Connect Soundbar to TV?
There are several ways to connect your soundbar to your television. Let’s discuss them one by one:
Use HDMI Cable for Sound Bar Connection
You can connect your soundbar to your TV through an HDMI cable just like you can connect soundbar to PC HDMI, and it is one of the best methods because HDMI cables carry sound digitally for superior sound quality.
Soundbars and several of the best-known television models from the previous decade include Audio Return Channels (ARC). It is the simplest method since the audio is returned via the HDMI line and can be played back at high quality on anything connected to the TV.
For the last two years, e-ARC, or Extended Audio Return Channel, has offered Dolby Atmos capabilities and better quality audio.
Whatever the HDMI port is marked, you must make sure that it is activated in the TV menu before you may use it. Additionally, your TV remote will be able to control the volume of your soundbar, which is a nice perk.
Use an Digital Optical Audio Cable
Using a digital optical audio cable to connect your soundbar to your television is safe and effective.
As with HDMI, you get excellent audio clarity while listening. For example, you may use a soundbar to stream the sound from your games console, Blu-ray player, etc., to your television.
A downside is that it doesn’t, by default, mute the TV sound so that you may get both together, which will sound odd, and you may have to use a different remote or ‘learn’ the remote command to the soundbar. Wall-mounting is also a problem since optical cables are pretty fragile.
Use Bluetooth to Connect
Using Bluetooth is an excellent alternative since it’s straightforward to put together. There will be no unsightly cables to deal with if you’re thinking about how to place a soundbar on a wall.
This simple process is OK as long as it connects and works. However, it may not be as excellent as connecting through HDMI and Optical cable. However, this method may lack audio quality and timing issues that might cause the image and sound to be out of sync.
Use an AUX Cable
Use this method if necessary. Since most TVs do not have a fixed-level analog output, if the balance is incorrect, you may hear distortion, such as when the TV volume is too low, or the soundbar volume is too high. The other methods mentioned above will not cause any such problem.
Things to Remember While Connecting Soundbar to TV With HDMI
- It is essential to make sure that your TV and soundbar are compatible. Many manufacturers design their soundbars to be a “perfect companion” to the television, maximizing the sound and visual quality for the user. First, make sure the soundbar you want to purchase is compatible with your TV’s brand and model. You can also use a soundbar to play music while not watching TV.
- Soundbars come in two versions; Active and Passive. ‘Active’ soundbars include an amplifier, derive power from a power outlet, and are typically part of a modular multi-room audio system. HDMI, optical, and Bluetooth are options for connecting to your TV. AV receivers provide electricity to the passive soundbars, which are a part of a multi-speaker surround sound system. They will typically include binding posts or spring clips for speaker hookups on the rear. While they are more costly to purchase and install, they are committed to providing excellent sound and real high-definition audio. A surround-sound system is a must for anybody who wants high-quality audio. Hundreds of passive soundbars offer better sound quality and more appealing designs. There are also a large variety of easy-to-install active soundbars.
Optical and HDMI connectors are included on all new televisions, making it simple to connect a soundbar. If the audio does not play immediately, go to the TV’s sound settings and choose an external speaker instead of the TV speakers.
What Is the Best Way to Connect a Soundbar to a TV?
Connecting a soundbar to a television through HDMI is, in our opinion, the best option. It is due to HDMI’s digital audio transmission, which ensures that the audio goes in its original, uncompressed form. Regarding high-end soundbars, HDMI cables are up to the challenge.
Check the port labeling on the back or side of your TV to see whether HDMI ARC is supported. To connect your soundbar to your TV, look for an HDMI connector labeled ARC with at least one port. Most modern soundbars come with an HDMI ARC connector, so this isn’t a problem.
Using an HDMI cable to connect your soundbar to your HDTV is the best method to get high-quality audio that sounds like what you’d get in a commercial theater or movie theater. HDMI can support a wide range of high-end features, including 4K, Dolby Atmos, and many more.
Final Words
With this tutorial, I hope you can learn how to connect your TV to a soundbar via HDMI. HDMI, launched just a few years ago but already established itself as the world’s most popular means of connecting devices, is an excellent example of this trend.
So how do sound bars work? A soundbar is a good investment if you want to boost the sound quality of your television’s speakers. In terms of power, this is an excellent choice for current televisions. So, go out, get a soundbar, and then hook it up to your TV. The highest sound quality is always provided through HDMI connections, regardless of the device.
So, why should you wait for a technician to arrive? DIY and get hooked on the ultimate listening experience.
