Silent motion pictures might need been an enormous hit again within the 1900s, however these days, it is not very enjoyable to observe a film with out audible dialogue. A skinny flatscreen tv could look nice, nevertheless it typically wants a high-quality sound system to get the audio it deserves. That is the place soundbars are available in to show your TV’s weak built-in speaker into an immersive audio expertise.

Nevertheless, typically issues go flawed and you find yourself with no audio popping out of your tv. In the event you aren’t listening to something out of your soundbar, there are just a few troubleshooting steps you may take to get your talkies up and operating once more.

1. Double-Test Your Inputs and Cables

This may occasionally appear apparent, however be certain that the quantity is turned up and your soundbar is about to the right enter. In case your TV is plugged into the soundbar’s HDMI 1 port, be certain that your soundbar is about to HDMI 1. Test that you’ve the suitable port—for those who suppose it’s plugged into HDMI 1 and it’s truly in HDMI 2, you’re inducing a number of pointless frustration. 

Some soundbars include a companion app on your cellphone, so strive utilizing it to vary the enter, as it might be extra dependable than the distant. In case your TV is plugged in with an optical cable (also referred to as TOSLINK(Opens in a brand new window)), search for an Optical or Digital In possibility. If you’re utilizing the app, strive the distant as a substitute, simply to make certain.

Open your TV’s menu, head to its audio settings, and ensure the TV is about to output audio to the right place. This may occasionally require deciding on the corresponding setting to the cable you’re utilizing—like HDMI Out, Digital Out, or one thing to that impact, quite than TV Audio system. 

You also needs to be certain that there is not an issue with another elements. Attempt a unique cable or swap out your streaming field, simply to get rid of variables. Keep in mind that your recreation console additionally requires sure cables. Make certain you eliminated the plastic overlaying on the tip of your cables—this may be simple to overlook on optical cables, for the reason that plastic piece is so tiny.

2. Resolve For HDMI ARC Issues

Whether or not your “supply” is a Blu-ray participant, cable field, streaming machine, or recreation console, there are a number of methods to attach a soundbar to your TV. If you’re connecting your supply to the TV, then sending audio to the soundbar over HDMI, this requires gear suitable with HDMI ARC, or Audio Return Channel.

This is usually a finicky factor to arrange. For instance, most TVs solely have one ARC-capable port, nevertheless it’s not at all times the one you’ll count on. You might need your HDMI cable plugged into HDMI 1, however solely HDMI 3 has ARC capabilities. Double-check that you’re related to ports labeled ARC or eARC earlier than persevering with.

As well as, additionally, you will most likely must allow a characteristic referred to as HDMI-CEC in your TV and soundbar. This enables your TV distant to manage your soundbar and vice-versa, and it is normally required for ARC to work correctly. Annoyingly, that is referred to as one thing completely different on each TV—Samsung calls it AnyNet+, whereas Sony calls it Bravia Sync, and LG calls it SimpLink.

Simply ensure you have executed the whole lot correctly and skim the guide fastidiously for every step and setting. If you’re not capable of get HDMI ARC to work, strive an optical cable as a substitute. I’ve discovered this a bit extra dependable up to now, although it might not be capable of ship each audio format, which is its personal difficulty.

Our High-Rated Soundbars

3. Look Up Suitable Audio Codecs

The audio for motion pictures and TV are normally encoded in a single of some codecs. Most streaming content material is encoded in Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus, whereas Blu-rays can use Dolby codecs or DTS. Some units can decode the audio themselves and ship it as uncooked PCM as effectively.

However this is the issue: Not all units are able to decoding each sound format. Some TVs, for instance, could solely be able to decoding Dolby Digital, however not the DTS audio that comes on some Blu-ray discs. Optical cables, for instance, wouldn’t have sufficient bandwidth to hold 5.1-channel PCM, or the power to ship Dolby Atmos alerts.

That is all to say that if you’re attempting to ship a format to your TV or soundbar that it’s not able to decoding, you’ll not get any audio. Your greatest guess right here is to verify the guide—or Rtings’ database(Opens in a brand new window)—on your TV and soundbar to see which audio codecs are in-built.

You additionally want to move to your TV’s audio settings and choose the suitable sound format for it to work correctly. Search for an possibility to vary the sound format between bitstream, Dolby Digital, PCM, or different related choices. Play with this setting to see if yow will discover one thing that works—you may additionally have an analogous setting in your soundbar and supply machine. 

For stereo sound, you shouldn’t have hassle discovering the suitable setting, however this may get actually complicated if you’re attempting to make use of encompass sound, so you’ll need to experiment with the settings. Relying on what sort of audio you’re sending, HDMI ARC could also be your solely possibility, because it has extra bandwidth for high-fidelity audio codecs.

4. Plug Your Source Straight Into the Soundbar

Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbar
(Credit score: Philips)

In case your soundbar has sufficient ports, you may discover the whole lot extra dependable for those who plug your supply field into the soundbar first, then plug the soundbar into the TV. It eliminates a number of the trouble that comes with HDMI ARC and bandwidth limitations of optical cables, and helps mitigate audio delays too.

The draw back, after all, is that you’re restricted to the variety of ports in your soundbar—many could solely have one HDMI enter—and it doesn’t work on your TV’s built-in apps or antenna tuner, which would require HDMI ARC or optical. Nonetheless, if you’re having issues with one recreation console or Blu-ray participant, strive plugging it into the soundbar as a substitute of the TV.

5. Flip Off the Sleep Timer

Many TVs and soundbars have built-in options that flip them off after intervals of inactivity. Typically that is automated—verify your machine’s guide—through which case you might have to wake it up with the distant when you’ve got paused your present for an prolonged time frame. 

In different circumstances, it is a characteristic you may activate and off. Test your TV and your soundbar’s settings for a Sleep Timer setting you might have by accident set. You may also flip off any “eco” settings which may mess with the sound output in an effort to save lots of power.

6. Re-Pair the Subwoofer and Encompass Audio system

Possibly you’re listening to audio from the principle soundbar, however not the opposite encompass audio system or subwoofer that got here with it. Since these add-ons normally talk with the soundbar wirelessly, they will typically reduce out. Attempt unplugging the subwoofer and/or rear audio system from the wall, and plugging them again in.

You might also must press a pair button on the subwoofer or rear audio system to re-connect them to your essential soundbar. Test the guide for full directions on how to do that, as it may range from mannequin to mannequin.

7. Replace Firmware or Carry out a Manufacturing facility Reset

Lastly, if not one of the above choices work, search your TV and soundbar’s settings for an choice to replace the firmware, simply in case a latent bug has been fastened by a latest launch. If all else fails, strive a manufacturing facility reset on one or each units.

In the event you attempt to contact the corporate’s assist, they may nearly definitely present this as a troubleshooting step, so that you may as effectively strive it earlier than you dial that quantity.