Struggling with lacklustre TV speakers and muddled dialogue?
Adding an iLive soundbar can seriously amplify your home entertainment audio quality.
Let’s explore the seamless process for connecting your iLive soundbar to any television using HDMI, optical, RCA or wireless Bluetooth couplings.
How to Connect iLive Soundbar to TV
Connecting an iLive soundbar to a TV is quick when you use the right ports and cables between devices.
We’ll explore the step-by-step process in more detail below.
But in short, utilize either HDMI, optical, analog RCA, or Bluetooth connections to transmit audio from the TV to the external iLive speaker system.
Check Soundbar and TV Connectivity Options
When preparing to connect your iLive soundbar to your television, the first step is to examine the connection options and ports available on both devices.
Most soundbars and TVs have multiple audio inputs and outputs, utilizing different types of cables and connectors.
First, turn the soundbar over or refer to the user manual to identify what ports are on the back or side.
Most iLive soundbars have at least one HDMI port and a digital optical audio connection.
There may also be an AUX port or RCA ports for analog stereo audio.
Bluetooth connectivity is also common in many iLive soundbar models, allowing for wireless pairing with the TV.
After identifying the input and output options on the iLive soundbar itself, the next step is to check the connectivity ports available on your television.
Examine the back and sides of the TV, many smart TVs have HDMI ports, RCA ports, and digital audio outputs.
Some of these ports are marked specifically for ARC or audio return channel connections, which help facilitate audio transmission directly from the TV’s internal streaming apps and devices over just an HDMI cable.
Make sure to check your TV’s manual or specifications to determine the exact ports included and what kind of digital and analog audio signals they use.
At this stage, you can evaluate which ports and connection methods will allow for the transmission of the best and highest quality audio from the television to the iLive soundbar.
The most common options include using either an HDMI ARC setup or connecting via a digital optical audio cable.
If your TV only has RCA outputs available, you can still get decent stereo sound quality.
And Bluetooth connectivity is available if you prefer a wireless setup without dealing with cables at all.
Connect via HDMI Cable
One of the best connection options to transmit pure digital audio from a smart TV to an external speaker is through an HDMI cable configured for ARC or audio return channel.
To leverage this setup, start by connecting one end of an HDMI cable to the HDMI ARC input port on the iLive soundbar.
This is marked specifically for ARC connections and may be labelled HDMI 1 or optical port.
The other end of the HDMI cable then connects to the HDMI ARC output port on the television itself.
This port will be on the back or side of the TV, likewise marked especially for ARC or eARC connections to external audio devices.
Using matching HDMI ARC ports securely sends the digital signal from the TV straight to the soundbar.
This single cable setup also usually features additional HDMI CEC or Consumer Electronics Control functionality.
This means the iLive soundbar remote can directly control basic TV operations like power, input switching, and volume adjustments once the devices are connected.
After plugging both ends of the HDMI cable between the correct soundbar and TV ports, additional changes may need to be configured in the television’s settings and menus.
Refer to the TV manual and find the settings related to audio outputs and HDMI connectivity.
Make sure that ARC output is activated and any relevant HDMI CEC controls are enabled, allowing the TV interface to send audio signals directly to the now connected iLive soundbar system.
Connect Optical Audio Cable
If your television lacks HDMI ARC ports or you simply want an alternative setup, a digital optical audio cable can be used instead.
Optical cables transmit pure digital stereo signals without any loss of quality.
To leverage this connection method, insert one end of an optical or SPDIF audio cable to the optical digital input port marked on the iLive soundbar.
Then connect the other end of the optical line cable to the digital audio output port located on the smart TV.
This optical output for external speakers will be marked clearly near the other HDMI ports on the back panel or sides.
Be sure to fully insert both tips of the cable ends completely for a stable connection.
Unlike HDMI, the optical audio option does not facilitate extra CEC controls and is only used for passing digital audio information to speakers and devices like iLive soundbars.
But the sound quality remains perfectly preserved in the transfer process.
Connect with RCA Cables
If neither your television nor iLive soundbar include HDMI ARC ports or optical outputs, you can still connect the two devices using standard analog RCA stereo cables.
These red and white connectors transmit basic left and right audio channels.
While not digital quality, the sound is still decent for enjoying TV, movies, and other media.
Begin by plugging the red and white RCA cable tips into the matching inputs on the back of the iLive soundbar.
The red connector represents the right audio channel while white handles left channel duties.
Then take the opposite ends of the RCA cable with the same red and white plugs and insert them into the audio left and right outputs on the television.
These RCA output ports are typically coloured or labelled accordingly as well.
Make sure the white and red RCA tips correspond properly between devices for correct stereo signal transmission from the TV’s media and streaming sources over to the connected iLive sound system.
While the RCA setup does not provide pure digital transfer, it still allows the iLive soundbar to output television audio dutifully.
Connect Soundbar via Bluetooth
Bluetooth wireless connectivity gives you another option for linking your iLive soundbar directly to your smart television.
No cables are required as the audio transmits seamlessly over the air once a pairing is successfully established.
To connect using Bluetooth, first ensure that both the TV and iLive soundbar have Bluetooth radios enabled.
Activate the Bluetooth setting or pairing mode on the iLive soundbar itself first—this is often done by pressing a dedicated button either the remote control or right on the soundbar interface.
With the iLive Bluetooth ready to connect, navigate to the settings on your smart television and access the option for Bluetooth device connectivity.
This menu will display an available list of wireless devices in range to pair with—including the iLive soundbar components once their Bluetooth radio is broadcasting the signal appropriately.
Highlight the name of the iLive soundbar from among other Bluetooth device options and select to pair it to the TV’s interface and operating system directly.
In a few moments after the selection is made, the iLive soundbar and TV should indicate that they are now wirelessly connected via Bluetooth protocols.
You may have to confirm pairing or accept codes on one or both device displays.
And if necessary, also check that the TV speaker is disabled and audio output routed to the now Bluetooth-paired iLive soundbar instead.
Enjoy cable-free sound streaming from the TV to the external speaker.
Configure TV Audio Settings
Once you have your iLive soundbar physically connected to your television via the preferred connection method—HDMI, optical, RCA cables or Bluetooth—the final setup step is configuring the TV’s internal audio settings and menus.
After establishing a wired or wireless link between the devices, the smart TV must be told to actually transmit its sound through that connection pathway.
Begin by accessing the main settings and audio menus on your television using your remote and interface system.
Navigate to the advanced sound and speaker controls.
Here you should see options to specify internal TV speaker usage or outputs to external audio devices.
Configure or toggle this setting so audio signals are directed through the appropriate connection port linked to the iLive soundbar instead of the default internal TV speakers alone.
With the correct output toggled to that external connection method now accommodating your iLive soundbar, the TV audio and general volume control will adjust the soundbar levels appropriately.
You can typically disable any further reliance on the internal TV speakers themselves as the iLive soundbar now essentially takes over all audio reproduction duties moving forward.
Adjusting the general volume levels—whether via the TV’s remote or the directly connected iLive soundbar remote—will dictate the speaker volumes emanating from that external sound system.
Be sure to test varying volume outputs and media like streaming music or movies to ensure the newly configured setup with the iLive soundbar delivers audio properly from the now digitally integrated television content and display.
Conclusion
Connecting an iLive soundbar to your TV is straightforward once you understand the variety of audio connectivity options.
Following the steps outlined for HDMI ARC, optical, RCA, or Bluetooth setups will allow you to establish a solid link for premium sound.
Configuring the correct audio output settings cements an integrated TV-soundbar entertainment hub ready to enjoy.
