Connecting a soundbar: ARC, eARC and optical

Mounting a soundbar is the easy half. Getting sound out of it reliably, controlled by one remote, is the half that generates the support calls. It comes down to one cable in the right port and three settings.

The three connection types

• HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel): one HDMI cable between the TV's ARC port and the soundbar carries sound from the TV to the bar. Handles stereo and compressed surround (Dolby Digital, and Dolby Atmos in its compressed streaming form).
• HDMI eARC (enhanced ARC): the newer version. Much more bandwidth, so it carries uncompressed and lossless formats, and it handles lip-sync correction automatically.
• Optical (TOSLINK): an older digital connection. Stereo and basic Dolby Digital 5.1 only; no Atmos; no volume control through the TV remote on its own.

Use eARC if both devices have it, ARC if not, optical as the fallback.

Use the right port

Only one HDMI port on the TV is the ARC/eARC port. It's labelled. Plugging into any other port gives you no sound. On the soundbar, use the port marked "HDMI OUT (TV-ARC)" or similar.

Use a decent cable

ARC works on most HDMI cables. eARC is fussier: use at least a Premium High Speed cable, ideally Ultra High Speed. See HDMI cables.

The settings

1. Turn on HDMI-CEC on the TV. Every brand has its own name for it (Anynet+, Simplink, Bravia Sync and so on). This lets the TV switch the soundbar on and send volume commands.
2. Set audio output to the HDMI ARC/eARC device or "external speaker", not TV speakers.
3. Set digital audio format to Auto or Pass-through so the bar receives surround formats rather than plain stereo.
4. If you have eARC, enable eARC mode in the TV's sound settings.

Where do the other devices plug in?

• Into the TV, with the TV passing sound to the bar over ARC/eARC. Simplest, and best when the TV has enough ports.
• Into the soundbar's HDMI inputs, with the bar passing video to the TV. Useful when the TV only has ARC but you want lossless audio from a disc player or console.

Fixes for common problems

• No sound: wrong HDMI port, CEC off, or output still set to TV speakers. Power-cycle both: unplug TV and bar for a minute, plug in the TV first.
• Sound out of sync with lips: use the AV sync or audio delay setting on the TV or bar. eARC usually corrects itself.
• TV remote won't change volume: CEC is off, or you're on optical. With optical, program the soundbar to learn the TV remote.
• Atmos not showing: the app or device isn't sending it, the TV is converting to PCM, or the connection is optical.
• Sound cuts out: cable. Replace it with a certified one.
• Soundbar doesn't wake with the TV: CEC again, or the bar's auto-power setting.

With a wall-mounted TV

Connect and test everything before the TV is pushed back against the wall. With a slim mount, the ARC port may need a right-angle adapter. A bar mounted directly under the TV keeps its HDMI and power cables hidden behind the screen.

Wireless subs and rears

They pair automatically on most systems; if not, use the pairing button on the back. Keep the sub out of a closed cabinet.

We mount the soundbar level under your TV, connect it and test ARC with you for $49. Placement advice is in our soundbar placement guide.