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For the widest 5.1 compatibility, connect the soundbar to the television’s HDMI ARC or eARC port, select the soundbar as the TV’s audio output, set HDMI eARC Mode to Auto when available, and start Digital Output Audio Format at Auto or Pass Through. Those settings let the television send a compatible surround signal instead of reducing every source to stereo.
If you hear silence, stereo, or an incompatible-format message, test Auto, Pass Through, and PCM one at a time. The correct choice depends on the TV, soundbar, source device or app, connection, firmware, and regional menu version. A 5.1-capable soundbar cannot create discrete 5.1 channels when the source or television is sending two-channel audio.
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Start with this settings checklist
| TV setting or connection | Recommended starting choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Physical connection | TV HDMI port labelled ARC or eARC to the soundbar port labelled TV ARC/eARC | HDMI carries digital audio and, when supported, higher-bitrate formats than optical. |
| TV sound output | HDMI receiver, Audio system, Soundbar, or the equivalent label | This prevents the TV from continuing to use its internal speakers. |
| HDMI-CEC | On | CEC enables input switching and volume-control communication. Samsung calls its CEC implementation Anynet+. |
| HDMI eARC Mode | Auto, if the TV and soundbar both support eARC | Auto allows the eARC link to negotiate supported formats. |
| Digital Output Audio Format | Auto first; Pass Through if Auto does not deliver the expected signal | These choices preserve a compatible encoded signal for the soundbar to decode. |
| PCM | Use as a diagnostic fallback | PCM can restore sound when an encoded format fails, but the number of channels depends on the TV and connection. |
Labels differ. A television may call Digital Output Audio Format “Digital Sound Output,” “Digital Audio Out,” or something similar. The exact menu can also change with the selected input, firmware, model year, and country.
What a 5.1 soundbar needs to receive
“5.1” means five main channels—left, center, right, surround-left, and surround-right—plus a low-frequency-effects channel for bass. The soundbar may use separate rear speakers, virtual processing, or both, but the TV still has to deliver a multichannel signal. A soundbar’s 5.1 specification describes what it can decode or reproduce; it does not guarantee that every TV app or HDMI source will send 5.1.
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There are five links in the signal path:
- The program or game must contain a 5.1 soundtrack.
- The app, disc player, console, or streaming box must output that soundtrack rather than stereo.
- The HDMI or optical connection must carry the format.
- The TV must be configured to pass or convert it appropriately.
- The soundbar must support and be set to the input receiving the signal.
A failure at any point can produce stereo, silence, or an error even when every individual device is advertised as surround-capable.
Choose the connection before changing settings
| Connection | Best use | Format and compatibility notes |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI eARC | Preferred when both TV and soundbar have eARC, especially for high-bitrate or uncompressed audio | Sony lists uncompressed 5.1/7.1 and formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio among eARC capabilities. Both devices must support eARC; an eARC soundbar cannot add eARC to a TV that only has ARC. |
| HDMI ARC | TV apps and connected sources when both components support ARC but not eARC | Samsung’s connection guidance lists Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus over HDMI. Exact codec support remains device-specific. |
| Optical | Fallback when ARC/eARC is unavailable or incompatible | Samsung’s connection table lists Dolby Digital 5.1 over optical but not Dolby Digital Plus. Optical may therefore limit the formats available from an app or source. |
| Bluetooth | Basic wireless audio when the exact TV/soundbar pair supports it | Do not assume Bluetooth provides the desired discrete surround format. Samsung lists Dolby Digital 5.1 in a connection table, but actual behavior must be checked for the specific products; HDMI is the more appropriate general choice for surround formats. |
Use the HDMI sockets labelled ARC or eARC, not an ordinary HDMI input. On the soundbar, use the port labelled TV ARC, TV eARC, or equivalent. Sony’s connection guidance prioritizes HDMI ARC when compatible ports exist and uses optical as the next choice.
Set up HDMI ARC or eARC step by step
- Check both manuals and port labels. Confirm whether each device supports ARC or eARC and which socket provides it. If only one device supports eARC, configure the link as ARC or use another supported connection.
- Connect the cable. Plug the TV’s labelled ARC/eARC socket into the soundbar’s TV ARC/eARC socket. A cable labelled High Speed or High Speed with Ethernet is the recommended type in Samsung’s HDMI instructions; Sony recommends a High-Speed HDMI cable with Ethernet for eARC data transfer. A cable cannot create ARC or eARC support that the hardware lacks.
- Power both devices off and on. After connecting, turn on the TV and soundbar and select the soundbar’s TV ARC/eARC input if it does not switch automatically.
- Select the external audio system. In the TV’s sound settings, choose HDMI receiver, Audio system, Soundbar, or the model’s equivalent instead of TV speakers.
- Enable HDMI-CEC. Turn on HDMI-CEC if the TV requires it for ARC detection, volume control, or automatic input switching. Samsung labels this feature Anynet+; other manufacturers use different names.
- Enable eARC when available. Set HDMI eARC Mode to Auto. This option may appear only after the TV detects an eARC connection or when the correct input and port are selected.
- Choose the digital output format. Set Digital Output Audio Format to Auto. If the soundbar receives no sound or the wrong format, try Pass Through next.
- Test known 5.1 material. Use content that explicitly offers a 5.1 soundtrack from the app or source you intend to use. Check the soundbar’s display or information panel for the incoming format if the model provides one.
Menu names and order vary by model. A current Samsung settings guide notes that its example menus come from a 2025 TV and can differ on other sets; manufacturer instructions are therefore more reliable than copying a menu path from a different model.
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Auto, Pass Through, and PCM: which one should you use?
Auto
Auto lets the TV negotiate a format it believes the connected equipment supports. It is the sensible first setting when the ARC/eARC link is working and the soundbar is correctly selected. If Auto produces a Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, or other expected indicator on the soundbar, there is no reason to change it.
Pass Through
Pass Through aims to send the input audio without additional TV processing. It is useful when an external player or TV app already supplies a compatible encoded soundtrack and you want the soundbar to perform the decoding. The soundbar must still support that format; Pass Through is not a universal “more surround” switch. If the source uses a codec the soundbar cannot decode, Pass Through can result in silence or an incompatibility warning.
PCM
PCM is a troubleshooting option. Samsung advises testing PCM, Auto, and Pass Through when eARC is connected but sound output is poor. PCM can restore audible output when the TV and soundbar disagree about an encoded format, but do not assume that it always preserves 5.1. Depending on the TV model and connection, PCM may be delivered as two channels or as multichannel PCM. Confirm the channel count on the soundbar or in its information display.
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Change only one option at a time, replay the same scene, and record what the soundbar reports. That makes it possible to distinguish a format problem from a source, cable, or input-selection problem.
Configure common source types
Built-in TV apps
Start the app’s title, open its audio or language menu, and choose a track marked 5.1 when one is available. Then test Auto and Pass Through on the TV. Some titles or plans provide only stereo, so a 5.1 soundbar may correctly show a two-channel input.
Streaming boxes, consoles, and disc players connected to the TV
Set the source device to a bitstream, surround, or pass-through mode only if the device and soundbar support the resulting format. If the source is connected to the TV first, the TV must pass that signal through ARC/eARC. If it is connected directly to the soundbar, the soundbar must have a suitable HDMI input and the TV setting no longer controls that source’s audio in the same way. Check the source’s own audio setting and the soundbar input before changing TV options.
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Optical systems
When using optical, select the optical or digital-audio output on the TV and the optical input on the soundbar. Dolby Digital 5.1 may pass, while Dolby Digital Plus is not listed as supported over optical in Samsung’s connection table. If a particular app becomes silent, switch that app or TV output to a compatible Dolby Digital or PCM option if the equipment offers one.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the symptom you actually see
No sound at all
- Confirm the TV sound output is the external HDMI or optical system, not TV speakers.
- Verify that the cable is in the labelled ARC/eARC ports, not ordinary HDMI sockets.
- Select the matching TV ARC/eARC or optical input on the soundbar.
- Turn HDMI-CEC on and check whether HDMI eARC Mode is set to Auto.
- Try Digital Output Audio Format set to Auto, then Pass Through, then PCM, testing each separately.
- Power-cycle the TV and soundbar after changing the connection or CEC setting.
Sound works but is only stereo
Check whether the program actually offers 5.1 and whether the source device is outputting stereo. Look at the soundbar’s incoming-format display rather than relying on a “surround” sound mode; a processing mode can widen stereo, but it does not prove that discrete 5.1 arrived. Recheck the source output setting, then test Pass Through and Auto. If PCM is selected, verify whether this TV and connection deliver multichannel PCM or only two channels.
An app works, but an external device does not
The external device may be sending a codec the TV or soundbar cannot pass. Check the device’s audio setting, the HDMI input used, and whether the TV’s ARC/eARC link is active. Test the source with a known-compatible Dolby Digital track before changing several settings at once.
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Dolby Digital Plus or another format is unavailable
Inspect every link in the chain. Optical does not carry Dolby Digital Plus according to Samsung’s connection table, and ARC/eARC support differs by model. Use HDMI ARC or eARC where both devices support the needed format, and verify that the soundbar—not only the TV—can decode it.
Settings are missing or greyed out
Some options appear only when the TV detects the correct ARC/eARC port, an external audio system, or an active HDMI-CEC connection. Reconnect to the labelled port, select the soundbar output, enable CEC, and reopen the audio menu. If the option still does not appear, consult the exact model manual; a different regional or model-year menu may not offer it.
Audio drops out or becomes distorted
Test Auto and PCM to determine whether the issue is format negotiation. Reseat the HDMI cable, try a High-Speed cable with Ethernet, and confirm that both devices support the selected eARC mode. If PCM is stable but Pass Through is not, the encoded format may not be supported at one point in the path.
Compatibility checks that prevent wasted troubleshooting
- Both ends must support the feature. eARC features apply only when both the TV and soundbar support eARC. An ARC-only device will not gain eARC bandwidth through a newer cable.
- Read the exact specifications. Codec support, available output modes, and menu labels vary by model, firmware, and region. Manufacturer support pages often show a different model year from yours.
- Keep the source in the test. A 5.1 soundtrack from one app does not prove that every app, broadcast, game, or external player supplies 5.1.
- Check the soundbar’s input indicator. “Surround” or “movie” processing is not the same as receiving a discrete 5.1 bitstream.
- Use the shortest reliable signal path. Every device between the source and soundbar must support the format selected by the source and TV.
A practical decision path
- Both devices have eARC: use HDMI eARC, HDMI eARC Mode Auto, and Digital Output Audio Format Auto. Try Pass Through if Auto does not deliver the expected signal.
- Both devices have ARC but not eARC: use the labelled ARC ports and start with Auto. Expect fewer format options than eARC, depending on the hardware.
- No ARC/eARC, but optical is available: use optical and target Dolby Digital 5.1 or PCM formats that the TV and soundbar explicitly support. Do not expect Dolby Digital Plus over optical.
- Only Bluetooth is practical: pair the devices for basic audio, but verify the exact pair’s channel and codec behavior before expecting discrete 5.1.
Once a known 5.1 source reaches the soundbar and its display confirms the incoming format, leave the settings unchanged. If another source behaves differently, troubleshoot that source and its connection rather than repeatedly changing the working TV configuration.
Bottom line
HDMI ARC or eARC is the best starting point for a 5.1-channel soundbar. Select the soundbar as the TV output, enable CEC and eARC Auto when supported, and use Digital Output Audio Format Auto or Pass Through. Keep PCM as a deliberate fallback for compatibility problems, then verify the soundbar’s actual incoming channel format. When the result is wrong, inspect the complete chain—content, source, TV, cable, connection, and soundbar—because no single TV setting can supply 5.1 that the rest of the system does not support.
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