HDMI is the fastest way to connect a soundbar to your TV

An HDMI connection sends both picture and sound through a single cable, and it's the method most soundbars support. When you plug an HDMI cable into your soundbar and your TV, the soundbar becomes the audio output for everything your TV plays — streaming apps, cable boxes, game consoles, all of it. The TV handles the video; the soundbar handles the sound.

HDMI also carries something called ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), which means the TV can send sound back to the soundbar through the same cable. This matters because it lets you control the soundbar volume with your TV remote, and it simplifies your setup when you have multiple devices plugged into the TV.

The connection itself takes about two minutes. You'll need an HDMI cable (most soundbars come with one), and you need to know which HDMI port on your TV supports ARC or eARC — usually port 3 or 4, but your TV manual will confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • HDMI cables carry both picture and sound, so one cable replaces separate audio and video connections.
  • You must plug the soundbar into an ARC or eARC port on your TV, not just any HDMI port, for the TV remote to control soundbar volume.
  • After connecting the cable, you may need to turn on ARC in your TV settings and set the soundbar as the default audio output.
  • If your soundbar has a separate subwoofer, it connects wirelessly to the soundbar itself, not to the TV.

Finding the right HDMI port on your TV

Not every HDMI port on your TV supports ARC or eARC. Most TVs have four HDMI ports, and usually only one or two of them can send sound back to a soundbar. Check your TV's manual or look at the ports themselves — some manufacturers label the ARC port with a small marking or print the letters "ARC" next to it.

If you can't find the label, port 3 or 4 is the safe bet on most TVs made in the last five years. Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio typically put ARC on one of the higher-numbered ports. If you plug into the wrong port, the soundbar will still play sound, but your TV remote won't control its volume, and you'll have to use the soundbar's own remote or buttons instead.

Once you've identified the ARC port, plug one end of the HDMI cable into that port and the other end into the HDMI output on the back of your soundbar. Most soundbars have only one HDMI port, so there's no guessing there.

Turning on ARC in your TV settings

After the cable is plugged in, go into your TV's settings menu and look for audio or sound options. The setting you're looking for is usually called HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, or sometimes Anynet+ (on Samsung TVs). Turn it on.

On an LG TV, go to Settings > Sound > Sound Out and select HDMI ARC. On a Sony, it's Settings > External Inputs > HDMI Signal Format, and you want Enhanced Format enabled. On a Samsung, Settings > Sound > Speaker Settings, then set the output to HDMI ARC. On a Vizio, Settings > Audio > Digital Audio Out and choose HDMI ARC.

If you can't find the setting, your TV manual will have the exact path. Once ARC is on, the TV and soundbar can talk to each other, and your TV remote should control the soundbar volume within a few seconds.

Setting the soundbar as your default audio output

Some TVs require you to tell them to send sound to the soundbar instead of to the TV's built-in speakers. Go back into your TV's sound settings and look for Speaker Output, Audio Output, or Sound Out. You should see options like "TV Speaker" or "Internal Speaker" and "HDMI ARC" or the name of your soundbar.

Select the HDMI ARC option or your soundbar's name. From that point on, all sound from your TV — whether it's from a streaming app, a cable box, or a game console plugged into the TV — will play through the soundbar instead of the TV's speakers.

If the soundbar doesn't appear in the list, make sure the HDMI cable is fully seated in both the TV and the soundbar, and that ARC is turned on in your TV settings. Sometimes powering off both devices for 30 seconds and turning them back on helps the TV recognize the soundbar.

What to do if your soundbar has a separate subwoofer

If your soundbar came with a subwoofer, the subwoofer does not plug into the TV. Instead, it connects wirelessly to the soundbar itself. Most soundbars pair with their subwoofers automatically when you power them on for the first time.

If the subwoofer doesn't pair automatically, look for a pairing button on the back of the subwoofer (usually a small button labeled "Pair" or "Connect") and hold it for a few seconds while the soundbar is powered on. The subwoofer will search for the soundbar and connect. You'll see a light on the subwoofer turn solid or blink to show it's paired.

The HDMI cable still only goes between the TV and the soundbar. The subwoofer communicates with the soundbar wirelessly, so you don't need any additional cables for it.

Troubleshooting when the soundbar won't play sound

If you've plugged everything in and set the audio output to HDMI ARC but still hear sound from the TV's speakers instead of the soundbar, check three things. First, make sure you're using the ARC port, not a regular HDMI port. Second, confirm that ARC is actually turned on in your TV settings — sometimes the setting defaults to off even after you change it. Third, verify that the soundbar is powered on and the HDMI cable is pushed all the way in on both ends.

If the soundbar is on and the cable is find but you still hear the TV speakers, try unplugging the soundbar for 30 seconds and plugging it back in. This resets the connection. If that doesn't work, go back into your TV's sound settings and manually select the soundbar as the audio output again — sometimes the TV defaults back to its internal speakers after a restart.

If you're still not getting sound, check whether your soundbar's HDMI input is actually labeled as an input. Some soundbars have HDMI ports that only work as outputs (for connecting to a projector or another display), not inputs. Your soundbar manual will clarify which port to use.

Using your TV remote to control soundbar volume

Once ARC is working, your TV remote should control the soundbar volume automatically. Press the volume up or down buttons on your TV remote, and the soundbar volume should change. If it doesn't, go back into your TV settings and look for HDMI Device Control, Anynet+, or CEC (Consumer Electronics Control). Turn that on.

CEC is the standard that lets your TV remote talk to other devices plugged into it. Not all remotes support it, but most modern TV remotes do. If your remote still won't control the soundbar after turning on CEC, you can always use the soundbar's own remote or the buttons on the soundbar itself to adjust volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special HDMI cable for a soundbar?

No. Any standard HDMI cable works. Most soundbars come with one in the box. If you need to buy a cable, any HDMI 2.0 or higher cable will work fine. The length doesn't matter as long as it reaches from your TV to your soundbar.

Can I use HDMI if my TV doesn't have an ARC port?

Older TVs without ARC can still use HDMI, but you won't be able to control the soundbar volume with your TV remote. You'll have to use the soundbar's remote or buttons. If your TV is more than 10 years old, it may not have ARC, and you might want to consider an optical cable instead.

What's the difference between ARC and eARC?

eARC is newer and faster, but both do the same job: they let your TV send sound to the soundbar through the same HDMI cable. If your TV and soundbar both support eARC, use it. If only one of them does, ARC will still work. You don't need to choose — the TV and soundbar will use whichever one both support.

Why is my soundbar not showing up in my TV's audio output menu?

The TV hasn't recognized the soundbar yet. Make sure the HDMI cable is fully plugged in on both ends, power off both devices for 30 seconds, and turn them back on. If it still doesn't appear, try a different HDMI cable — the first one may be faulty.

Can I plug other devices into the soundbar's HDMI port?

Some soundbars have multiple HDMI ports and can act as a hub, but most have only one HDMI input meant for the TV. Check your soundbar manual. If it has extra ports, you can plug a game console or streaming device into the soundbar, and the soundbar will send the picture to the TV and the sound to itself.