To connect a soundbar to a TV without HDMI ARC, the most reliable method is a wired optical (TOSLINK) cable, which carries uncompressed digital audio directly from your TV’s “Optical Out” port to the soundbar’s “Optical In” port. If your TV lacks that port, use RCA red-and-white cables, Bluetooth, a coaxial digital cable, or a headphone jack, each with clear step-by-step instructions below.
Before you connect a soundbar to your TV without HDMI ARC
Power off both the TV and soundbar before handling cables. Identify every available audio output port on your TV by looking for these verified labels: “Optical,” “Digital Audio Out,” “TOSLINK,” or “SPDIF” for optical; “Coaxial Out” or “Digital Audio Out” for coaxial; “RCA Out” or red/white jacks for analog; “Headphone Out” or a headphone icon for 3.5mm. On the soundbar, check for matching input labels like “Optical In,” “D.IN,” “Digital In,” “Coaxial In,” “AUX In,” or “RCA In.” Finally, set the soundbar’s input mode to match the cable you plan to use, this is usually done with a “Source” or “Input” button on the soundbar or its remote.
Quick guide: which port on your TV matches which connection
| TV output label | Cable type | Soundbar input label |
|---|---|---|
| Optical / Digital Audio Out / TOSLINK / SPDIF | Optical (TOSLINK) | Optical In / Digital In / D.IN |
| RCA Out (red and white) | RCA / analog red-and-white | AUX In / RCA In |
| Coaxial Out / Digital Audio Out (single RCA-style) | Digital coaxial | Coaxial In / Digital In |
| Headphone Out (3.5mm jack) | 3.5mm to RCA or 3.5mm to 3.5mm | AUX In / 3.5mm In |
| Bluetooth (no label) | Wireless | Bluetooth (pairing mode) |
If you see your TV’s port in the left column, jump to the corresponding section below. For TVs with HDMI but no ARC, skip to the HDMI extractor method.
Connect your soundbar using an optical (TOSLINK) cable
- Locate the “Optical Out,” “TOSLINK,” or “SPDIF” port on your TV, it’s a small square-ish jack with a protective flap.
- Connect one end of the optical cable to that TV port.
- Connect the other end to the soundbar’s “Optical In” or “D.IN” port.
- Turn on both devices.
- On your TV, go to sound settings and select “Optical,” “Digital Audio Out,” or “External Speaker” as the audio output.
- On the soundbar, press the input button until it displays “Optical,” “D.IN,” or “OPT.”
This method delivers high-quality digital audio without compression, making it the best choice when HDMI ARC is unavailable.
Use RCA or analog red-and-white cables
- Find the red and white RCA output jacks on your TV, often labeled “RCA Out” or “Audio Out.”
- Connect the red cable to the red jack and the white cable to the white jack on the TV.
- Plug the other ends into the matching red/white inputs on the soundbar, labeled “AUX In” or “RCA In.”
- On the TV, select “Analog” or “RCA Out” as the audio output source.
- Adjust volume manually, RCA carries a fixed or variable signal, so you may need to balance the TV’s volume and the soundbar’s volume separately for consistent output.
RCA is a simple fallback for older TVs, though it transmits analog audio that may not match digital clarity.
Pair your TV and soundbar over Bluetooth
- Turn on the soundbar and put it in pairing mode, look for a “BT PAIRING” message or a blinking blue LED.
- On your TV, go to Settings > Sound > Bluetooth Speaker List (verified on Samsung TVs).
- Enable Bluetooth and search for available devices.
- Select your soundbar from the list and confirm pairing.
Bluetooth adds wireless convenience but can introduce lip-sync delay; check your TV’s audio delay settings if the picture and sound drift apart. If your TV lacks Bluetooth, use a Bluetooth transmitter plugged into the TV’s optical or headphone output to send audio wirelessly to the soundbar.
Split HDMI video and audio with an extractor or converter
- Connect an HDMI cable from your TV’s HDMI output (the one that carries video from a source like a streaming stick) to the input port on an audio extractor/converter box.
- From the extractor’s audio output, run an optical or RCA cable to your soundbar’s corresponding input.
- Connect a second HDMI cable from the extractor’s HDMI output back to your TV’s HDMI input (if your TV has one) to pass video through.
- On the extractor, select the audio output type (optical or RCA) that matches your soundbar connection.
This workaround is ideal when HDMI ARC is broken or absent, because it separates the audio signal from the HDMI source and sends it directly to the soundbar while preserving video quality.
Connect via a digital coaxial cable
- Locate the “Coaxial Out” or “Digital Audio Out” port on your TV, it looks like a single RCA-style connector, often orange or black.
- Connect one end of the digital coaxial cable to that port.
- Connect the other end to the soundbar’s “Coaxial In” or “Digital In” port.
- On the TV, select “Digital Coaxial” or “Coaxial Out” as the audio output source.
Digital coaxial provides a stable, interference-resistant signal, but only works if both devices have the port, check before buying a cable.
Use the headphone jack as a last resort
- Plug a 3.5mm audio cable into the TV’s “Headphone Out” jack.
- Connect the other end to the soundbar’s AUX input (either a 3.5mm jack or RCA via a 3.5mm-to-RCA adapter).
- On the TV, select “Headphone” or “External Speakers” as the audio output if prompted.
This connection may mute the TV’s built-in speakers, and volume control must be handled solely on the soundbar, the TV’s volume buttons often won’t affect it. It’s a functional fallback, but audio quality is typically lower than optical or coaxial.
Connect over Wi-Fi if you have the same brand TV and soundbar
- Ensure both the TV and soundbar are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the dedicated brand app (verified: Samsung SmartThings) on your phone or tablet.
- Follow the app’s prompts to add the soundbar and link it to your TV.
Wi-Fi audio bypasses Bluetooth compression, delivering higher-quality wireless sound, but only works if both devices share the same brand and support the feature.
Choose your next setup step
Now that your soundbar is connected, you may want to control it with your TV remote, read our guide on connecting a soundbar (How to Connect and Control a Soundbar) for universal remote pairing. If you’re dealing with older audio gear, check out how to hook up an old surround sound system to a newer TV for legacy connections. For Samsung users, see how to pair a Samsung TV remote to a soundbar to simplify day-to-day control.
For the wider topic, see connecting a soundbar.
