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How to connect a Sony soundbar to a TV: run an HDMI cable from the TV’s HDMI IN (eARC/ARC) jack to the soundbar’s HDMI OUT (eARC/ARC) jack, then set the TV’s Speakers setting to Audio system.

Press TV or INPUT on the soundbar’s remote, and the TV’s sound moves to the bar.

Miss that Speakers setting, and the show plays on with every word still coming from the TV’s own speakers.

Sony supports four ways to connect a soundbar: HDMI, optical, Bluetooth and an analog cable, and each carries different sound.

Here’s each one in Sony’s own steps, the settings a non-Sony TV needs, and a quick test for a bar that stays silent.

Which Sony Soundbar Connection Should You Use?

Those four connections aren’t equal, so pick before you plug anything in. Use HDMI when both have an eARC/ARC jack; Sony lists optical for TVs without one, and an analog cable for TVs with only an analog output (Sony).

Connection Use it when Worth knowing
HDMI eARC/ARC Both TV and bar have a jack labeled eARC or ARC Lets one remote control both
Optical The TV has no ARC jack Set the bar’s input to OPTICAL
Bluetooth Google TV or Android TV, and no cable run One Bluetooth audio device at a time
Analog Older TVs with only an analog audio out Stereo only

How to Connect a Sony Soundbar to a TV With HDMI

HDMI tops that list because it carries the best sound and lets the TV remote run the bar. Connect it in two parts: the cable, then three settings.

HDMI cable from the glowing eARC jack on the back of a TV down to a soundbar on the console below
  1. Find the HDMI IN jack labeled eARC/ARC on the back of the TV.
  2. Find the HDMI OUT jack labeled eARC/ARC on the soundbar.
  3. Connect the two with an HDMI cable.
  4. On the TV, open Settings and choose Display & Sound, then Audio output, then Speakers, then Audio system. On some models the path is Sound, then Speakers, then Audio system.
  5. Set BRAVIA Sync control to On, and turn on Control for HDMI on both the TV and the soundbar.
  6. Press TV or INPUT on the soundbar remote to select the TV input.

The jack matters more than the cable. Sony notes that a TV connected to an HDMI jack without eARC/ARC sends no sound to the soundbar at all.

For eARC, Sony says you need an Ethernet-compatible HDMI cable. A certified 8K cable such as the Silkland 8K HDMI eARC cable meets that, and our picks for soundbar HDMI cables covers longer runs.

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 Sony Soundbar With an Optical Cable?

That no-sound problem on a jack without ARC is where optical comes in. Run an optical digital audio cable from the TV’s Optical OUT jack to the soundbar’s Optical IN jack, then press INPUT or OPTICAL on the soundbar remote.

Sony adds three settings for optical. If you’re using optical alone, turn BRAVIA Sync or Control for HDMI off, and set the bar’s Audio Return Channel (ARC) or TV Audio Input mode to Off (Sony).

If the bar is still silent, change the TV’s audio output format to PCM. For the cable itself, a plain one like the KabelDirekt 6 ft optical cable does the job.

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 Sony Soundbar to the TV Over Bluetooth?

Yes, on Sony’s Google TV and Android TV models, and it needs no cable at all. Put the bar in pairing mode first, then pair it from the TV:

Soundbar with a blinking pairing light receiving wireless arcs from the TV, paired over Bluetooth
  1. Turn on the TV and the soundbar.
  2. Press and hold the BLUETOOTH button on the soundbar and the TV or INPUT button on the remote for 5 seconds, until the BT light flashes.
  3. On the TV, open Settings, then Remote & Accessories, then Bluetooth settings.
  4. Select Pair accessory (or Add accessory, or Add device), then pick the soundbar from the list.

Some newer bars do their first setup through the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app instead. Once paired, the bar reconnects on its own when it powers on, but the TV plays through only one Bluetooth audio device at a time.

If your bar has a subwoofer, our guide on how to pair a Sony subwoofer to a soundbar covers the app, remote and TV-menu methods.

What If Your TV Only Has an Analog Audio Output?

Older TVs without HDMI ARC or optical still work, just in stereo only. Connect the TV’s Analog Audio OUT to the soundbar’s Analog IN with a stereo mini cable, or with red-and-white RCA cables if that’s what the TV has.

Then press INPUT or ANALOG on the soundbar remote, and set the bar’s ARC or TV Audio Input mode to Off. On a BRAVIA TV, also set Speakers to Audio system.

Does a Soundbar From Another Brand Work With a Sony TV?

Everything above works with other brands, because the jacks and menus belong to the Sony TV. Use the same eARC/ARC jack and the same Speakers setting.

BRAVIA Sync is Sony’s name for HDMI-CEC, the standard most soundbars use to follow the TV remote. For the reverse case, a Sony bar on another brand’s TV, turn on that TV’s HDMI-CEC setting, and our guide to hooking up a soundbar on other TVs walks through the same ports on other TVs.

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

Silence after setup usually traces back to a mute, an input or a setting. Sony’s checks, in order:

TV and soundbar power cords unplugged beside a wall outlet for a power reset when the soundbar stays silent
  1. Volume and mute. Some bars show MUTING on the front panel.
  2. The input. Press TV or INPUT on the bar’s remote.
  3. The demo test. Hold the TV button on the soundbar for 5 seconds. If the demonstration plays, the bar works, and the problem is the TV or source. Hold it again to stop.
  4. A power reset. Turn off both, unplug them for two minutes, then turn on the TV first and the soundbar second.
  5. The jack. Confirm the cable is in the TV’s eARC/ARC jack, not an ordinary HDMI input.

If it’s still silent, update the software on both the TV and the soundbar.

Choosing a new bar instead? Our guide to the best Sony soundbars compares the current range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which HDMI port on a Sony TV do I use for a soundbar?

Use the HDMI IN jack labeled eARC/ARC. Sony says other HDMI jacks send no TV sound to the soundbar.

Do I need a special HDMI cable for a Sony soundbar?

For eARC, yes: Sony says it needs an Ethernet-compatible HDMI cable. Standard ARC works with an ordinary high-speed HDMI cable.

Why does sound come from both the TV and the soundbar?

That comes from the Audio out (Fixed) setting, which on some Sony TVs plays sound from both. Set Speakers to Audio system, or turn the TV’s own volume all the way down.

Can I control a Sony soundbar with the TV remote?

Yes, over HDMI. Turn on BRAVIA Sync on the TV and Control for HDMI on the soundbar, and the TV remote sets the bar’s volume and power.