Connecting a soundbar to an LG TV is easier than it looks. However, when you do not establish the correct connection, it may result in a sound delay, generally poor sound, or no sound at all. Here we go through how to connect the soundbar to your LG TV in several different ways.
Connect Soundbar to LG TV with HDMI
With an HDMI cable, it is the easiest and most popular way to connect your soundbar to any TV. Compared to other connections, HDMI has the bandwidth to transmit large amounts of data. As such, it can support high-definition audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos.
To connect your soundbar to your LG TV with HDMI, the TV must have HDMI-ARC support. ARC stands for “Audio Return Channel”, so that the cable can transmit audio in both directions.
- The first step is to turn on both your TV and your soundbar.
- Then connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI OUT port on the soundbar.
- Finally, connect the other end to the HDMI IN ( ARC ) port on your LG TV.
Your cable must be at least version HDMI 1.4 or 2.0 and up. We recommend HDMI 2.0 to be future-proof and with HDMI ARC you can also connect other components such as Blu-ray player and PS4 to the soundbar. To find a compatible HDMI cable see below:
Wireless connection of Soundbars to LG TV
Some LG TVs have Sound Sync, which lets you connect wirelessly to a soundbar or home theater system.
To set it, press the home button on your LG TV’s Magic Remote.
- Select Setup
- Sound and then Sound Out.
- You will then need to change the settings from “TV Speaker” to “LG Sound Sync Wireless.”
When you press “Device selection”, your LG TV starts searching for compatible devices, which in this case is your soundbar. Then press the LG TV button on the remote control. You see the soundbar’s name on the screen, so you can simply select it and play your soundbar and TV pair.
Digital optical or digital coaxial cable
You can use a digital optical or digital coaxial cable for soundbars or TVs that do not support HDMI. It does not support advanced audio formats, but it can still transmit up to 5.1 surround sound.
Now a digital optical and a digital coaxial cable are a little different. The optical cable has a square connector that differs from the coaxial’s circular connector.
But other than that, optical connections work by converting the electrical signal to optical light and then returning it to electrical when it reaches the other end of the cable. This minimizes electrical interference, even less than HDMI.
To connect your LG TV and soundbar with your digital audio cable or digital optical, connect one end of the cable to the Digital Audio IN (optical) port on the soundbar. Then connect the other end to the Optical OUT port on your LG TV. Finally, set the source of the soundbar to D.IN.
Again, you should check your LG TV’s connections before buying any cables.
3.5 mm line output or RCA
If HDMI, wireless or optical connections are not available, you can still connect your soundbar via 3.5 mm line output or RCA. However, this only transmits analog audio and not digital.
To connect the soundbar to your TV with 3.5 mm line output, connect one end of the cable to the TV’s Line Out port. Then connect the other end to the soundbar.
On the other hand, RCA sockets are the red and white sockets that old TVs and components usually have. To use this connection, connect only the white plug to the white socket and the red plug to the red socket. Do this on both the soundbar and TV.
However, if you still want to create a quality audio transmission without affecting the sound much or using RCA, we recommend that you purchase the wireless speaker kit for your system.
Headphone jack
You can also connect your soundbar to your LG TV via the headphone jack, but we only recommend it if there are no other options available.
Some TVs allow you to change the function of the headphone jack to a line output so that you do not have to adjust the audio settings. If your TV does not have this feature, you need to change the bass, treble, and volume levels according to your preferences.
Tips on how to connect your Soundbar to the LG TV
Setting with HDMI
All you need is an HDMI cable to connect a TV and soundbar with an HDMI ARC. But if your TV does not have an HDMI ARC input, you must have both HDMI and optical cables.
Setting with digital optical
There may be times when your soundbar cannot decode digital surround sound formats. So even if your TV does, the quality will be reduced. To fix this, simply change the digital audio output on the TV to PCM.
To ensure that your soundbar is properly connected, remember to turn off your TV speakers. You can do this from the TV audio menu by selecting “external speakers” or just turning off the built-in speakers.
Customization options
Many soundbars, especially advanced ones, offer different options and settings to further enhance the sound.
You can explore sound modes for movies, games, and music depending on the content. There is even a night mode in some units that keeps the volume low, which is useful if you do not want to disturb the neighbors.
There may be an equalizer feature for soundbars with a compatible app where you can adjust the treble and bass using the sliders. In advanced models such as the Sonos Beam, you can also adjust the soundbar to the size of the room so that you get the best possible sound.
FAQ
How do I get my soundbar to work on my LG TV?
You can make your soundbar work on your LG TV by connecting an HDMI cable from the TV to the soundbar. If your TV does not have an HDMI ARC port, you can also use a digital optical cable, 3.5 mm line output, or Bluetooth.
How do I connect my Bluetooth Soundbar to my LG TV?
You can connect your Bluetooth soundbar to your LG TV using the Sound Sync function.
Go to Settings> Advanced settings> Audio output.
Select Bluetooth and let your TV detect compatible devices. Then select the name of your soundbar so that the devices can be paired.
How do I connect my LG Soundbar to my TV without cable?
You can connect the best LG Soundbar to your TV without cable using Bluetooth connectivity. However, you can only do this if your TV supports Bluetooth connectivity.
How do I connect the Bluetooth Soundbar to the LG Smart TV?
You have many options for how to connect the soundbar to the LG TV. Depending on the TV ports, you can use HDMI, digital optical, digital coaxial, Bluetooth, 3.5 mm line-out, RCA or headphone jack. Whichever you choose, keep in mind that some connection relays sound better than others.
Conclusion
You have many options for how to connect the soundbar to the LG TV. Depending on the TV ports, you can use HDMI, digital optical, LG TV audio out, digital coaxial, Bluetooth, 3.5 mm line output, RCA, or headphone jack. Whichever you choose, keep in mind that some connection relays sound better than others.