How to set up your Samsung Soundbar

Soundbars give a boost to your home entertainment system, with room-filling sound that takes your audio to the next level. Soundbars are versatile, and there are a few different ways that they can be set up with your Samsung TV. Each connection type has its own benefits, but some provide a better sound quality than others.

Find out more about the different ways to connect and set up your Samsung soundbar.

What audio formats are supported by each connection type?

HDMI-eARC

HDMI

OPTICAL

BLUETOOTH

Dolby True HD (Including Dolby Atmos uncompressed)

Yes

No

No

No

Dolby Digital Plus (Including Dolby Atmos compressed)

Yes

Yes

No

No

Dolby Digital 5.1

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dolby Digital

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Connecting your soundbar via a Wi-Fi connection is considered to be the best way to connect your soundbar to your TV. To find out some of the benefits of using Wi-Fi and why it is recommended, read our FAQ on How to connect a soundbar to the tv via a wi-fi network.

Follow the steps below to connect your soundbar via Wi-Fi.

1 Click the Source button on the back of the soundbar, or click the Source button on the remote to select Wi-Fi mode.

Please note: For the 2016-2018 TV models, if you select Wi-Fi mode when the TV is turned on, the automatic connection method will be displayed on the screen.

2 Connect your mobile device to the same Wi-Fi that your TV is connected to.
3 If you do not have the Samsung SmartThings app on your mobile device, download it.
4 Open the SmartThings app on your mobile device and tap the Add icon (+).

Please note: You can find out more information about how to connect your Soundbar via the SmartThings app in our FAQ on SmartThings and your Soundbar.

5 Tap Device, which is the first selection on the screen.
6 Tap AV and select the brand of your soundbar among Samsung and Samsung Harman Kardon. Then, tap Soundbar.
7 Tap Start and select the location and room. Then, your mobile device will search for the soundbar and connect.

Please note: 

  • The SmartThings app is supported from the 2017 Soundbar, and older models are supported only by using the Multiroom app.
  • Wi-Fi using the DPS channel cannot connect the TV and soundbar.
  • If the 5 Hz Wi-Fi connection is not smooth, try to use the 2.3 Hz bandwidth.

If you need to update your Soundbar, find out how you can install updates using the SmartThings app.

Connecting your TV to your soundbar using an HDMI cable will ensure that you receive the best possible audio quality. HDMI connections transmit sound digitally and support high bitrate audio formats such as Dolby Digital Plus. When connecting using HDMI, you should use an HDMI cable that is labelled “High Speed” or “High Speed with Ethernet”. You could use the HDMI cable supplied with set top boxes like Sky Q, or games consoles like the Xbox Series X, as they are already certified.

How to connect your soundbar using HDMI

Please note: before starting, make sure that your soundbar, TV, and any connected devices are turned off.

1 Connect one end of your HDMI cable to the HDMI IN (ARC) port on your TV
2 Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI ARC or HDMI OUT port on your soundbar
3 Turn on your soundbar and TV
4 Change the soundbar output to HDMI
5 Open the Settings menu on your TV
6 Select Sound
7 Select Sound Output
8 Select your connected soundbar

Optical cables transmit sound in a digital format, just like HDMI. The biggest difference is that optical cables are unable to transmit some high bitrate audio formats such as Dolby Digital Plus. 

How to connect your soundbar using an optical cable

1 Connect one side of the optical cable to the Digital Audio In (optical / SPDIF) port on the soundbar
2 Turn on the Soundbar and select DIGITAL AUDIO IN (D.IN.) as the audio source
3 Connect the other side of the cable to the Digital Audio Out (optical) port on your TV
4 Turn on the TV. It should automatically detect the Optical connection
5 If the TV does not automatically detect the Optical connection, open the Settings menu on your TV
6 Select Sound
7 Select Sound Output
8 Select Audio Out/Optical

Bluetooth connections don’t require any cables and can be very convenient if your soundbar isn’t next to your TV. If you’re connecting using both a Samsung TV and Samsung soundbar you will be able to use BT / TVSoundConnect / Soundshare. This feature helps you to pair your Samsung devices using Bluetooth and allows compatible TVs to control the soundbar.

How to connect your soundbar using Bluetooth

1 Turn on your TV and soundbar
2 Open the Settings menu on your TV
3 Select Sound
4 Select Sound Output
5 Select Bluetooth Speaker List
6 Enable Bluetooth pairing on your soundbar
7 Select your soundbar on the list. Your TV and soundbar will connect

For troubleshooting tips for connecting your soundbar via Bluetooth or troubleshooting for audio issues then read our FAQ  on pairing your soundbar to your TV with Bluetooth

 

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