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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchChange the television’s audio output from its internal speakers to the connected audio system, then select the correct ARC/eARC input on the soundbar. For HDMI connections, use the TV and soundbar ports labeled ARC or eARC, enable HDMI control (CEC) and ARC/eARC where the models require it, and leave the digital format on Auto or pass-through when your equipment supports the source format. Use PCM when an unsupported Dolby or DTS signal causes silence. Menu names and available formats differ by television, soundbar, source device, firmware and region.
Start with the setting that actually routes sound
Changing Dolby, DTS or PCM options cannot help if the television is still sending audio to its own speakers. Open the TV’s sound settings and choose an external destination such as Audio system, External speakers or Receiver. Sony televisions, for example, use paths such as Display & Sound → Audio output → Speakers → Audio system or Sound → Speakers → Audio system. Your labels may differ, so use the equivalent option in the manual for your model.
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After changing the TV, set the soundbar’s source to TV, ARC or eARC. A soundbar left on Bluetooth, optical, HDMI input or another source will remain silent even when the television is configured correctly.
Use HDMI ARC or eARC when both devices support it
Connect the matching ports
- Find the HDMI socket on the television marked ARC or eARC. A regular HDMI input does not automatically provide an audio-return channel.
- Connect that port to the soundbar’s HDMI output marked ARC or eARC. Use the output identified for return audio, not an arbitrary HDMI input on the bar.
- Turn on the television’s HDMI-CEC control feature and the ARC/eARC or TV Audio Input option if the menus expose them. HDMI-CEC has manufacturer-specific names; Sony calls its implementation BRAVIA Sync.
- Select the soundbar’s TV/ARC/eARC source and then select Audio system or the equivalent TV speaker destination.
ARC/eARC is a capability shared by the connection, television and soundbar. If any link lacks the required feature, the return channel cannot work as expected. Check the port labels and the manuals before changing advanced format settings.
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What ARC and eARC change
ARC sends television audio back over the HDMI cable, while eARC provides a higher-capacity return channel for formats that require more bandwidth. Sony describes eARC support for formats including Dolby Atmos with Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X and multichannel LPCM, but the TV, soundbar and actual program must all support the selected format. A television that supports eARC cannot make a non-eARC soundbar decode an eARC-only signal.
Sony summarizes the purpose this way: “It adds support for the latest audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos® audio with Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, or multi-channel LPCM, including those supported by the Audio Return Channel (ARC).” This is a format-capability statement, not a guarantee that every source or television menu will expose every option.
Choose the digital audio format deliberately
| TV output choice | When it is useful | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Normal operation when the TV and soundbar can negotiate a supported format. | The result depends on the devices, source and firmware; available formats vary by model. |
| Pass-through | Preserves a supported source signal for the soundbar to decode. Some Sony Android TV instructions use Pass-through Auto for DTS. | It can produce silence when the soundbar cannot decode the signal being passed. |
| PCM | Compatibility fallback when Dolby Digital, DTS or another bitstream gives no sound. | It is not universally the highest-quality choice and may reduce a multichannel signal to what the TV can output as PCM. |
Use Auto first when both devices advertise the format you need. If a particular broadcast, app or console is silent, switch temporarily to PCM. Sony warns that unsupported Dolby Digital or DTS formats can result in no sound for some broadcasts or video. Once you identify which device lacks support, you can decide whether to keep PCM or restore Auto/pass-through for compatible content.
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Do not assume one setting is best for every source. A television may decode one service internally, pass another service through unchanged and handle a game console differently. Format support can also change with firmware and with the connection used.
Optical is a fallback, not an ARC replacement
If ARC/eARC is unavailable or cannot be activated, connect the TV’s optical output to the soundbar’s optical input and select the optical source on the bar. Optical can carry TV sound reliably, but it does not provide the same return-channel capabilities or control behavior as HDMI-CEC/ARC.
Sony’s optical troubleshooting instructions set digital audio out to PCM. That is a practical starting point when the optical connection is silent, but check both manuals: supported Dolby or DTS formats differ by model. If the TV is still set to internal speakers, optical will not correct the routing problem; choose the external audio system first.
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Connection choices at a glance
| Connection | Required ports | Format behavior | Control and volume | Sync considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI ARC | TV HDMI ARC and soundbar HDMI ARC | Formats depend on the ARC implementation and both devices; unsupported bitstreams may be silent. | HDMI-CEC can allow TV-remote power and volume control when enabled on compatible equipment. | Use the model’s eARC, digital-output and delay settings if lip-sync problems occur. |
| HDMI eARC | TV HDMI eARC and soundbar HDMI eARC | Can support higher-bandwidth formats such as Dolby Atmos with Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X and multichannel LPCM when every device and source supports them. | HDMI-CEC remains a separate control feature that may need to be enabled. | Connection topology and model-specific processing can still introduce delay. |
| Optical | TV optical output and soundbar optical input | Use PCM when required; format limits are model-specific. | Usually lacks the full HDMI-CEC control path, so input selection or volume behavior may differ. | Check the TV’s digital-output and sync controls if the picture leads the sound. |
Fix the most common no-sound failures
The soundbar is silent immediately after connection
- Confirm the cable is in the TV’s ARC/eARC port and the soundbar’s ARC/eARC output.
- Set the TV speaker destination to Audio system and the bar’s source to TV/ARC/eARC.
- Enable HDMI-CEC and ARC/eARC or TV Audio Input where the menus require it.
- Power-cycle the TV and soundbar after changing those settings so they renegotiate the connection.
- If the source format may be unsupported, select PCM and test a broadcast or app again.
If PCM restores sound, the routing is working and the previous format was not accepted somewhere in the chain. Check the manuals before switching back to Auto or pass-through.
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Only some channels or apps have sound
Different programs can use different audio codecs. A soundbar may decode one stream while rejecting another. Keep the external-speaker destination unchanged, then test PCM. If PCM works consistently, leave it as a compatibility setting or verify whether the TV, soundbar or source device supports the original Dolby or DTS format.
ARC works but the remote does not control volume
Audio return and device control are related but separate functions. Confirm HDMI-CEC is enabled on both devices; the manufacturer’s name may not be “CEC.” Select the TV/ARC input on the bar and check whether the television has switched back to internal speakers after a restart or input change.
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Optical produces no audio
Verify that the optical cable is fully seated, the soundbar is on its optical input and the TV output is set to PCM. Remove any assumptions based on the HDMI setup: optical has its own input selection and format limits.
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Do not change delay controls pre-emptively. If speech arrives after the picture, review the TV’s digital-output, eARC and audio-delay options; names and available ranges are model-specific. Sony lists eARC and digital-output settings among the checks for synchronization problems.
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Connection topology can matter. If a source device is connected to the TV and audio returns through ARC/eARC, the TV may process the signal before sending it on. As a diagnostic, connect that external source directly to an appropriate soundbar input and compare synchronization. If the direct path fixes the delay, the TV’s processing or return path is involved; use the arrangement that supports the formats and inputs you need.
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Check the cable before buying a replacement
ARC/eARC requires an HDMI cable, but a new cable is not automatically necessary. Inspect the existing cable, confirm it reaches the labeled ports and test the connection after enabling the correct settings. In a described Sony BRAVIA configuration, Sony recommends a cable supporting 18 Gbps or higher. Treat that as a requirement for that configuration, not a universal claim about every television and soundbar. Consult both manuals for the cable class required by your devices.
When ARC/eARC cannot be used, an optical audio cable is a practical alternative. It will not add eARC formats or HDMI-CEC features, so choose it for compatibility rather than as a quality upgrade.
A reliable setup sequence
- Identify the TV and soundbar model numbers and read the audio-output sections of both manuals.
- Choose HDMI ARC/eARC if both devices provide matching labeled ports; otherwise plan for optical.
- Connect the cable to the labeled ports before changing menus.
- Set the TV’s speakers to Audio system or the equivalent external output.
- Enable HDMI-CEC and ARC/eARC or TV Audio Input when required by the models.
- Set the soundbar to TV, ARC or eARC.
- Leave digital audio on Auto initially. Play several sources, including the content that matters most to you.
- If a source is silent, select PCM and test again.
- If audio and video are out of sync, use the model-specific delay/eARC checks and test a source connected directly to the soundbar.
- Record the working input and format settings so a future TV-input change does not send audio back to the internal speakers.
What cannot be answered without exact models
There is no universal “best” sound setting. Whether a television can pass Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or multichannel LPCM depends on the specific TV, soundbar, source and firmware. Menu paths, CEC names, pass-through behavior, optical limits and synchronization controls also vary by region and edition. Use generic labels in this guide as signposts, then confirm the exact wording and supported formats in the manuals for your equipment.
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