To connect a Bose soundbar to an LG TV, use an HDMI ARC cable for the best audio quality and remote control integration, or an optical cable if your TV lacks ARC. Before you start, verify that your LG TV has an HDMI ARC, optical, or Bluetooth output that matches your Bose soundbar’s inputs, and note that newer smart Bose models may require the Bose Music app for initial setup. Once connected, you can connect a TV remote to a bose soundbar to control the volume without juggling two remotes. If you own a different TV brand, you can connect bose soundbar to Samsung TV using a similar process tailored to Samsung's settings menu.
Before you connect your Bose soundbar to an LG TV: Quick compatibility check
Check the back of your LG TV for an HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC, an optical digital audio output, or a Bluetooth option in the TV’s sound settings. Then, look at the Bose soundbar’s inputs, most have an HDMI ARC/eARC jack, an Optical IN port, and a Bluetooth button. If your TV only has a headphone jack or no audio output, it won’t work with a wired connection.
Connect using HDMI ARC (recommended)
Plug one end of a High Speed HDMI cable into the HDMI ARC (or eARC) jack on your Bose soundbar, and the other end into the HDMI ARC port on your LG TV. Make sure the cable is fully seated in both ports, a loose connection can cause intermittent audio. On your LG TV, press the Settings button on your remote, go to Sound or Audio, and change the sound output to HDMI ARC. Then, enable Simplink (LG’s name for HDMI CEC) in the TV’s General or Connection settings. With Simplink on, your LG TV remote can control the Bose soundbar’s power, volume, and mute functions, so you don’t need to juggle two remotes. This is the recommended method because it supports high-quality audio formats and simplifies everyday use.
Connect using an optical audio cable
If your LG TV lacks an HDMI ARC port, use an optical cable. Insert one end into the Optical IN jack on the Bose soundbar and the other end into the TV’s Optical Digital Audio Out or Optical Out port. On the LG TV, go to Settings > Sound > Sound Out and select Optical Out Device (or just Optical). Note that optical does not carry remote control pass-through, so you’ll need to use the Bose soundbar’s own remote for volume and power. This method still delivers clear digital audio, but you lose the convenience of controlling the soundbar with your TV remote.
Connect over Bluetooth (wireless)
For a wireless connection, put your Bose soundbar into pairing mode by pressing and holding the Bluetooth button on the soundbar or its remote until the light bar blinks blue. On your LG TV, go to Settings > Sound > Sound Out and choose Bluetooth or Bluetooth Device List. The TV will scan for nearby devices, select your Bose soundbar from the list to pair. Once connected, the LG TV will send audio wirelessly to the soundbar. Bluetooth is handy for avoiding cables, but it may introduce slight audio lag and doesn’t support high-resolution formats, so it’s best for casual viewing or when wired options aren’t available.
Adjust the TV and soundbar settings
After connecting, set the LG TV’s audio output to match your chosen method: HDMI ARC for the HDMI connection, Optical Out Device for the optical cable, or Bluetooth for wireless. For Bose Smart Soundbars, follow the Bose Music app prompts to complete setup and enable features like dialogue enhancement or surround modes. Connect external devices, such as cable boxes, streaming sticks, or game consoles, directly to the LG TV first, not the soundbar. This ensures the TV routes all audio to the soundbar correctly. On the soundbar, adjust volume to a comfortable level and test different sound modes to find what suits your content.
Troubleshooting: no sound or sync issues
If you hear no sound after connecting, re-check the TV’s audio output setting, it must be set to HDMI ARC, Optical, or Bluetooth, not the TV’s internal speakers. Verify that the HDMI or optical cable is securely plugged into both devices, and for HDMI, confirm that Simplink (CEC) is enabled on the LG TV. Also, ensure the Bose soundbar’s volume is turned up and not muted, and that the TV is playing content from a source that outputs audio. For audio-video sync issues, check if your Bose soundbar has a delay or sync setting in its app or remote, and adjust it to match the TV picture. These steps apply to all connection methods, so work through them systematically if problems persist.
For the wider topic, see connecting a soundbar.
