If you’re the type who appreciates sound on your TV just as much as the picture, then you would appreciate the soundbar. By simply hooking it up to your TV, you will be able to help improve your overall TV viewing experience.
Do you own a soundbar and don’t know how you can use it on your TV? Or are you just looking for ways to upgrade your TV’s audio? Regardless, you came to the right place! You can now stop searching “how to connect soundbar to tv with optical cable” on Google. We’ve got you covered.
In this guide, we will be showing you how to connect your soundbar to your TV with an optical cable, and helping you deal with all kinds of connectivity issues that you may encounter while doing so.
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Pros and Cons About Using A Soundbar
If you’re still unsure on whether using a soundbar is the right decision for you, I’ve come up with a pros and cons list for your perusal.
Pros of a Soundbar
- It is affordable
- Setting it up is extremely straightforward
- The audio quality is infinitely better than that of a TV speaker
- You don’t need extra devices to make it work
- The soundbar is compact
Cons of a Soundbar
- Not ideal for a large room in terms of sound coverage
- Limited upgrade options
- More expensive models do not necessarily mean better quality
- Placement or location may affect the reach of the sound
- Size may limit options for placement or installation, TV wire organisation, etc.
Understanding The Optical Cable
The soundbar can easily be connected to your TV using a wide array of methods, including wireless or Bluetooth, HDMI, ARC, AUX cord and of course, the optical cable.
All of these methods have only one goal, and that is to transfer electrical signals from one device to another via analogue or digital channels. And while the optical cable port is often neglected on our media devices, it is one of the most reliable and effective methods of transmitting sound or audio signals between devices.
These digital optical audio cables, which were first manufactured in the early 1980s by Toshiba, makes use of laser light to transmit audio signals from Point A to Point B. However, despite the age of optical cables as a technology, these cables remain second only to the HDMI cable in terms of delivering high-quality sound.
The only difference between the two? The HDMI cable can deliver Digital Theatre System HD (DTS HD) audio and Dolby audio, which is found on Blu-ray, while the optical cable cannot.
So, if you find that you cannot use your TV’s HDMI port, or simply have an old television that does not have the HDMI ARC (audio return channel) port, the optical cable is a worthy alternative you would want to use.
How To Connect The Soundbar To Your TV
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to connect your soundbar to your TV with the optical cable:
- Check if your optical cable is ready for use. Look for a fitted plastic cap on both ends. If you find one, remove it. Your cable should be ready then. These two identical ends will connect to both your TV and soundbar.
- Look for the Digital Audio Output optical port behind your TV. Once you find it, connect one end of the optical cable into the port.
- Next, locate the Digital Audio Input optical port on your soundbar. Once you find it, plug the other end of the optical cable into the port.
- Make sure the soundbar optical cable has been inserted correctly, as this will help transmit the optical signal between the TV and soundbar.
Once you have physically connected the two devices, make sure that they are both set to transmit and receive signals from one another.
- Set your soundbar to Digital In (D-IN) mode. To determine if it is already in Digital In mode, check for it on the LED light or a digital display indicator.
- At this point, the TV should automatically feed the audio signals to your soundbar. However, if this is not the case, you may want to check the inbuilt audio from the speaker. This should be switched off.
- If your TV still does not feed the audio signals to your soundbar, you may have to manually mute your TV speaker in your TV’s audio menu for it to work. Here’s a quick guide on turning off your speakers from Bhupinder Tube, a tech vlogger from the UK
Final Thoughts
Installing and integrating a soundbar into your TV system is quite simple and easy. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps, and soon you’ll be enjoying your favourite programme with improved sound quality! You don’t even need the technical know-how to set it all up!
Meanwhile, if you are planning an entertainment centre overhaul, and are considering spending some time and money on this project, you may want to contact us and book an expert from Aerialforce to help you plan and set everything up!
