If you look at the back of your soundbar, you might notice several different kinds of connection ports. Most soundbars these days come with at least one HDMI port, while others have optical ports, RCA ports, and more. Here’s everything you need to know about how to connect your TV to your soundbar, and which cable you should use to achieve the best audio quality.
The best way to connect your soundbar to your TV is with an HDMI cable. This is because HDMI transfers audio digitally, which means it will be in its raw and uncompressed form. So, HDMI cables can handle the most high-end soundbar, including ones with surround sound.
Most TVs these days have several HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) ports. However, in order to connect a soundbar, you have to make sure your TV has an HDMI ARC (audio return channel).
To find out if your TV supports HDMI ARC, check the labels next to the ports on the back or side of your TV. If you see at least one HDMI port that is labeled ARC, it means you can use an HDMI cable to connect your soundbar to your TV. You will also have to make sure that your soundbar has an HDMI ARC port, but most models do these days.
You might also see an HDMI port on your TV or soundbar that is labeled eARC (enhanced audio return channel). This type of HDMI connection is usually only found in high-end TV models these days, but it is becoming more popular.
HDMI eARC is a newer technology that offers faster speeds and higher bandwidth than the previous generation. With an HDMI eARC port, your TV can send more data to your soundbar, which means the audio quality will be better.
While ARC supports compressed 5.1 surround sound audio, eARC supports uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound. It also supports higher bitrates, so you can get true Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with an eARC connection. The new format also has lip-sync compensation built-in, a feature that is only optional with HDMI ARC.
HDMI eARC is backward compatible, which means you can still use your soundbar if it has an eARC port and your TV only has an ARC port. However, if your TV has an eARC port, you should consider getting a soundbar that also has an eARC port. Otherwise, you won’t be able to take full advantage of your TV’s audio quality.
To connect your soundbar to your TV, plug one end of your HDMI cable into the ARC or eARC port on your TV and the end into the OUT port on your soundbar. Make sure that you have an HDMI 1.4 cable for an ARC connection or an HDMI 2.1 cable for an eARC connection.
