How To Connect Soundbar To TV With HDMI

You may have heard that soundbars boost the overall sound quality and audio output of your TV and home theater. If you’ve just purchased one and you’re thinking of a way to connect it to your TV using the HDMI cable, you’re in the right place.

This article would show you ways you can connect the soundbar to your TV using the HDMI cable.

How do I connect my soundbar to the TV with HDMI?

1. Purchase a quality HDMI Cable

First and foremost, you’ll need an HDMI cable. Make sure it’s a high-quality model, preferably version 1.4, because anything less won’t work with your TV’s output. We recommend the Amazon Basics High-Speed 4k HDMI Cable; it’s cheap and fast.

2. Connect the soundbar and TV through HDMI

Once you have the HDMI cable, locate the ports where it can be plugged in.  You’ll find a variety of ports on the TV’s rear panel. There are a number of different types of ports, and those who have used the Xbox might be more familiar with them.

We would be using the ARC (Audio Return Channel) port to illustrate this process.

The ARC port has been strengthened in the most recent soundbar models. The number of ports on soundbars can vary widely due to the numerous design choices available.

Your soundbar might not have ARC labeled on it. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t support ARC input, confirm from your user’s manual or contact your manufacturer for more info

3. Turn on CEC in the TV’s settings

At this stage, you must have successfully plugged the HDMI cable into the ARC port. Next, you’ll enable the CEC by first turning on the soundbar and the TV, then navigating to the TV’s system settings and selecting the CEC option.

A good feature of the CEC is that it enables you to regulate the volume of the soundbar using the TV remote. So, it’s advisable to have it enabled.

Keep in mind that soundbars may not have full access to support CEC functionalities; this is a common occurrence. To put it another way, if your soundbar still won’t respond to your remote control, you may need to download an app specific to your soundbar in order to change its CEC settings. If you’re lucky enough, you won’t have to worry about it. 

Frequently asked questions

Why should I use an HDMI cable to connect a soundbar to my TV?

You should use an HDMI cable to connect your soundbar to your television. The reason for this is that HDMI transmits audio digitally, so, it will be uncompressed and in its original form.

Additionally, HDMI connections are capable of connecting even the most expensive soundbars, including those that enable surround sound, over long distances.

Can I use HDMI splitter for soundbar?

Yes, provided that the HDMI input does not require an ARC signal. Consider using an HDMI optical splitter to separate the audio from the video and send the optical wire from your TV to your speaker if your TV lacks an ARC port.

How do I make my TV HDMI ARC?

The HDMI-ARC connection can be manually configured in the TV’s settings if that connection isn’t being recognized by your TV. HDMI ARC should be enabled in the HDMI control/Expert settings menu. All of your TV’s output is sent to ARC-enabled sound systems once the connection is established.

How do I know if my TV enables ARC?

Your TV is ARC compliant if the initial “ARC’ is imprinted on the ports on your device. See if ARC is printed on any of your TV’s HDMI connectors. The HDMI-ARC port on most TVs is the only one available.

Can I connect a soundbar to my old TV?

In order to connect your soundbar to your old TV through HDMI, your TV must have ‘HDMI-ARC.’ This stands for ‘Audio Return Channel,’ and allows audio to go in both directions along with the connection.

What can I do if there’s no HDMI ARC on my TV?

To use an ARC-capable home theater system, connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI OUT (ARC) connector on the home theater system or audio system instead of the TV’s HDMI ports. Then, connect an optical cable between the TV’s optical output port and the TV’s DIGITAL IN (TV) port on the home theater system or home audio system.