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How to connect the Vizio soundbar to a TV: run an HDMI cable from the TV’s HDMI port labeled ARC to the soundbar’s HDMI OUT (ARC) port, then turn on CEC and ARC in the TV’s settings so the TV sends its sound to the bar.

That one cable is Vizio’s first choice, and it lets the TV remote run the bar’s volume too.

Use the bar’s HDMI IN port by mistake, though, and the show plays on with the sound still coming from the TV’s own speakers.

Vizio ranks the connections best, better and good, and the right one depends on the ports your TV has.

Below you’ll find each one in Vizio’s own steps, the TV settings that make it work, and what to check when the bar stays silent.

Which Cable Should You Use for a Vizio Soundbar?

Those best, better and good ratings come from Vizio’s own quick start guide, which ranks every cable that fits the bar (Vizio):

Vizio’s rating Cable Use it when
Best HDMI (ARC) Your TV has an HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC
Better Digital optical or digital coaxial Your TV has no ARC port
Good 3.5 mm to RCA audio cable Your TV has only analog audio outputs

Whichever cable you use, Vizio’s guide has one warning: plug it into a TV port that’s an audio output, not an audio input. Vizio’s SB3830-D0 guide lists HDMI, optical, coaxial and analog cables in the box, so check yours before buying one.

How to Connect the Vizio Soundbar to a TV With HDMI ARC

That best-rated HDMI connection takes one cable and a few TV settings. These are Vizio’s steps for a Vizio TV; other TVs use similar menus under different names:

HDMI cable plugged into the soundbar's HDMI OUT (ARC) port, with the HDMI IN port beside it left empty
  1. Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI port labeled ARC on the back of your TV (HDMI 1 in Vizio’s example).
  2. Connect the other end to the HDMI OUT (ARC) port on the soundbar.
  3. On the TV, open the Audio menu and change the Digital Audio setting to Dolby Digital or Bitstream.
  4. In the System menu, turn on CEC and ARC (Vizio calls it SAC, System Audio Control).
  5. In the CEC menu, select Device Discovery so the TV registers the soundbar.

Vizio’s guide adds that the HDMI IN port on the bar isn’t for this first setup; it’s for plugging in a game console or Blu-ray player later. The TV connection always goes through HDMI OUT (ARC).

If you’d like the TV remote’s volume buttons to control the bar, turn on System Audio Control in the CEC menu. For a Vizio remote that won’t pair or control the bar, our guide to pairing a Vizio remote with the soundbar covers the fixes.

For a cable, any HDMI cable marked ARC compatible works. A short eARC-rated one like the Silkland 8K HDMI eARC cable suits a bar right below the TV.

Silkland 8K HDMI eARC cable

Silkland 8K HDMI eARC cable

Type: HDMI 2.1
Length: 3.3 ft
ARC: eARC supported
✓ Made for HDMI ARC and eARC connections✓ Short 3.3 ft length suits a bar under the TV✗ Too short if the soundbar sits far from the TV
See ratings on Amazon

How Do You Connect a Vizio Soundbar With an Optical Cable?

That HDMI route needs an ARC port, and when your TV lacks one, optical is Vizio’s next choice. Run the optical cable from the TV’s optical audio output to the soundbar’s OPTICAL input, then press Input on the bar or remote until it selects Optical.

Optical cable running from an older TV to a soundbar on the console below

Vizio’s guide gives two fixes if a digital connection plays nothing. First, set the TV’s audio output to PCM; if that fails, connect the bar directly to your Blu-ray player or other source, because some TVs don’t pass digital audio through.

If your bar didn’t come with an optical cable, a standard one like the KabelDirekt 6 ft optical cable fits.

KabelDirekt 6 ft optical cable

KabelDirekt 6 ft optical cable

Type: TOSLINK optical
Length: 6 ft
✓ Standard TOSLINK plugs fit TVs and soundbars✓ 6 ft reaches a bar on a shelf below the TV✗ Optical can't carry Dolby Atmos
See ratings on Amazon

Can You Pair a Vizio Soundbar With the TV Over Bluetooth?

Vizio’s guide describes Bluetooth for phones, tablets and computers rather than the TV, and a cable gives the TV a more reliable link. To pair a phone, press and hold the Bluetooth button on the bar until it enters pairing mode, then choose the soundbar in the phone’s Bluetooth settings.

Vizio’s guide notes that a paired device stays paired while it’s in range, but disconnects if you switch the bar to another input. Switch back to Bluetooth, and it reconnects.

For the TV itself, stick to HDMI ARC or optical where you can. They avoid the delay and dropouts that a wireless link can add between the picture and the sound.

How Do You Hook Up a Soundbar to a Vizio TV?

That same HDMI ARC setup works for soundbars from other brands, because the ports and menus belong to the Vizio TV. Connect the bar to the TV’s ARC port, then turn on CEC and ARC in the TV’s System menu, and run Device Discovery from the CEC menu.

If you’re connecting a Samsung, Sony or LG bar, the soundbar’s own settings still apply. Our walkthroughs for connecting a Samsung soundbar and hooking up a Sony soundbar cover those bars’ inputs.

What Do the Buttons on a Vizio Soundbar Do?

Once the sound is flowing, the buttons on top of the bar handle the basics. Vizio’s guide lists Power, Input to change the source, Volume, and a Bluetooth button you hold to pair.

The remote adds the rest, including input selection and the sound settings for your model. Newer Vizio SmartCast bars can also be set up and controlled from the Vizio mobile app on a phone or tablet.

If a setting goes wrong, Vizio’s guide includes a factory reset: on the SB3830-D0, press and hold the Bluetooth and Volume Down buttons together for five seconds. Other models use different button pairs, so check your bar’s guide first.

Why Won’t a Vizio Soundbar Play the TV’s Sound?

Silence after setup usually traces back to one of the steps above. Check these in order:

TV remote controlling a soundbar through the TV, the HDMI-CEC link that carries volume and power
  1. The port. The HDMI cable must be in the TV’s ARC port and the bar’s HDMI OUT (ARC) port, not HDMI IN.
  2. The TV’s settings. CEC and ARC must be on, and the TV’s own speakers switched off or set to an external audio system.
  3. The audio format. Set the TV’s digital audio output to PCM if Dolby Digital or Bitstream gives no sound.
  4. The input. Press Input on the bar until it matches the cable you used.
  5. A fresh start. Unplug the TV and soundbar for a minute, plug them back in, and run Device Discovery again.

If the bass is missing rather than all the sound, the subwoofer link is the likely cause. Our guide to pairing a Vizio subwoofer to its soundbar explains how the two connect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which HDMI port on the Vizio soundbar do I use for the TV?

Use HDMI OUT (ARC). Vizio’s guide says the HDMI IN port isn’t for first-time setup; it’s for other devices, like a game console, once the TV connection works.

Why does my Vizio soundbar only work with the TV remote sometimes?

The TV remote controls the bar through CEC. Turn on CEC and System Audio Control in the TV’s menus, and run Device Discovery so the TV finds the bar.

Can I connect a Vizio soundbar to a non-Vizio TV?

Yes. Use the TV’s HDMI ARC port or an optical output, and turn on that TV’s CEC setting, which other brands give their own names, like Anynet+ on Samsung or BRAVIA Sync on Sony.

Does the Vizio soundbar come with an HDMI cable?

Many do. Vizio’s SB3830-D0 guide lists an HDMI cable, an optical cable, a coaxial cable and analog cables in the box, but check your model’s contents.