How To Connect Bose Soundbar To Samsung TV

To connect a Bose soundbar to a Samsung TV, use an HDMI cable with the ARC or eARC ports for the best audio quality and unified remote control. This method lets you control the soundbar's volume and power with your Samsung TV remote while enjoying high-quality sound.

Before you connect your Bose soundbar to your Samsung TV

Any Bose soundbar with an HDMI ARC or optical port will work with any Samsung TV that has a matching port. Older Samsung TVs without HDMI ARC can still use an optical cable or Bluetooth. For the HDMI method, you will need a High-Speed HDMI cable. For the optical method, you will need a digital optical cable. If your setup involves an LG TV instead, you can connect bose soundbar to LG TV using the same port options. A standard 3.5mm AUX cable is useful as a last resort.

Connect with HDMI ARC or eARC (recommended)

This is the most recommended method for connecting a Bose soundbar to a Samsung TV. It provides the highest audio quality and allows the TV remote to control the soundbar.

1. Locate the HDMI IN (ARC/eARC) port on your Samsung TV and the HDMI OUT (TV-ARC/eARC) port on your Bose soundbar. These ports are usually labeled.
2. Plug one end of a High-Speed HDMI cable into the TV's HDMI ARC port and the other end into the soundbar's HDMI ARC port.
3. Turn on the soundbar and set its source to "D.IN." or "HDMI".
4. On your Samsung TV, enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) by navigating to Settings > All Settings > Connection > External Device Manager > Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC). This allows the TV remote to control the soundbar's volume and power.
5. For eARC functionality, go to Settings > All Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > HDMI-eARC Mode > Auto.
6. Select the soundbar as the audio output in the TV's sound settings.

Connect with an optical cable

This alternative wired method transmits digital sound but typically requires using the soundbar's remote for volume control.

1. Plug one end of the optical cable into the OPTICAL OUT port on your Samsung TV.
2. Plug the other end into the DIGITAL AUDIO IN (OPTICAL) port on your Bose soundbar.
3. Set the Bose soundbar's source to "D.IN." or "Optical".
4. On your Samsung TV, go to Settings > Sound > Sound Output and select "Audio Out/Optical" or "Optical Out Device".
5. If needed, enable "Simultaneous Optical Output" under Settings > All Settings > Sound > Expert Settings.

Connect via Bluetooth

Wireless connection is possible via Bluetooth, offering convenience but potentially lower audio quality and less stable connections compared to wired methods.

1. Set your Bose soundbar to "BT" mode.
2. Press and hold the Source or Bluetooth button until "BT PAIRING" or a blinking blue light appears.
3. On your Samsung TV, go to Settings > Sound > Sound Output > Bluetooth Speaker List.
4. Select your Bose soundbar from the list and choose "Pair and Connect".

Use an AUX cable as a backup

If your Samsung TV lacks HDMI ARC or optical output, a 3.5mm AUX cable from the TV's headphone jack to the soundbar's AUX IN can be used as a backup, but volume control via the TV remote may not be available. This is a last-resort connection.

1. Plug one end of the AUX cable into the headphone jack on your Samsung TV.
2. Plug the other end into the AUX IN port on your Bose soundbar.
3. Set the soundbar's source to AUX.
4. Adjust volume using the soundbar's controls or remote.

Test your connection and fix common issues

Play content to confirm audio comes through the soundbar. If there is no sound, check the source selection on the soundbar and verify the TV's sound output settings. Ensure Anynet+ is enabled if using HDMI ARC. For Bluetooth, make sure the soundbar is in pairing mode and the TV has found it. For optical, confirm the cable is fully inserted and the TV output is set to Optical. This process covers connecting and controlling a soundbar effectively.

For the wider topic, see connecting a soundbar.