Have you recently purchased a new soundbar and found that it isn’t working with your TV? Or is your beloved soundbar acting up and now won’t cooperate with your TV?
Maybe you find yourself watching your favorite movie or show, only for the sound to drop out or the audio to be out of sync with the visuals? Whatever the reason might be that brought you here, we have the answers for you!
We know just how frustrating it can be when your audio stops working or you can’t connect your new soundbar. You face a future of dodgy connections or poor quality audio, and that’s a future none of us want to face. So what can you do?
Well, you can stick with us, for we have the answers for you! Below we have the most common problems that can cause your soundbar not to work with your TV and the solutions you need to get your soundbar and TV working together again.
Why Won’t My Soundbar Work with my TV?
Let’s get straight into it! There are a few reasons why your soundbar won’t work with your TV, and thankfully, most of them are an easy fix! It can be super frustrating when your soundbar and TV don’t work together in harmony, but if you work your way through our solutions below, we are confident that the issue can be resolved. Let’s take a look at some issues and solutions now!
Reset the TV
It’s the oldest trick in the book, but turning it off and on again is a technology fail-safe that often works! You can reset or restart your TV to see if that helps your TV. Turn off your TV either by the mains plug or simply on the remote, and turn off the soundbar too. Wait between 10 and 30 seconds before turning the devices on again.
Once both the TV and soundbar are back on, check the connection and test the sound. If there is still no sound, use some of our other troubleshooting tips to rectify the issue.
Check your wires and settings
Another easy fix will be to check that your wires are connected correctly. Check that the wires from your soundbar to TV are in the right output and inputs. If you are unsure what input and outputs they should be in; you can refer to the user manual for your soundbar.
If you don’t have it, you can find it online by searching for the make and model of your soundbar, followed by the user manual. Usually, a pdf version will come up that you can save and refer to whenever you need it!
After checking the wire connections and that they are not damaged check your TV and soundbar settings. If your wires are damaged, you should replace them with new wires and see if that improves your connection. Your soundbar needs to be on, and check the setting.
You will then want your TV to be on the same setting that corresponds to the input. For example, audio system, or USB, depending on how the soundbar is connected to the TV. You can refer to your TV and soundbar manuals if you need to.
Use the HDMI ARC jack
ARC allows a TV to send audio signals from internal services like streaming apps and connected devices to a soundbar. It only works with HDMI jacks labeled as HDMI ARC. If you use a different HDMI jack on the TV or soundbar, chances are you won’t get sound.
You can pick up HDMI ARC wires in most stores and online; we recommend swapping your wire for one of these to see if your sound appears.
Enable CEC
Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) allows the TV and its remote to control the soundbar’s volume. It must be activated for it to work correctly and can cause connection issues if it isn’t. You can check this and activate it in your TVs system menu.
Turn off eARC if you don’t have an eARC equipped soundbar
Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) is a new feature that allows TVs to send higher-quality, uncompressed multi-channel audio signals to a soundbar or AV receiver, providing both devices support eARC. If it doesn’t turn off the setting on your TV. Leaving it on can cause some connection problems if your soundbar does not support eARC.
You can turn off eARC in your TV’s audio settings menu or with the help of your user manual if you are unsure.
Switch to your TVs speakers
If you are still having issues or finding lip-sync issues, turn your soundbar off or switch to your TV speakers by using your audio settings on your TV. If there is still an issue with the lip-sync, then the issue is not with your soundbar. Your streamer, or DVD player, or cable connection is causing the issue. You can try refreshing your film or TV show to see if that resolves the issue.
If it does not, check your internet or cable connection and report the issue to your provider for them to inspect the issue.
Use lip-sync adjustment features
Many TVs and source devices now offer a lip-sync adjustment that allows you to fix these errors. You can find them in the settings menus on your devices. If they are available, increase the compensation until the lip-sync error disappears.
It’s worth noting that you might need to adjust these settings from program to program or even within a single program from shot to shot! Play about with this feature to see if you can find a solution that suits you.
Final Word
And just like that, we have come to the end of our soundbar journey today. As you can see, there are many reasons why your soundbar won’t work with your TV and lots of simple solutions you can use to rectify the issue. Remember to consult your TV and soundbar manuals for advice on troubleshooting any issues.
If none of these solutions work, you will want to contact your soundbar or TV manufacturer for further advice. Remember to check the warranty period too to check if any repairs can be carried out without you needing to part with any cash!
