One of the most confusing parts of buying a soundbar is working out how to connect it to your TV. HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, optical, Bluetooth — the options can feel bewildering. This guide cuts through the jargon and tells you exactly what connection to use and why.
The best connection available in 2026. HDMI eARC supports lossless audio formats including Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and — crucially — full Dolby Atmos object audio. It can carry up to 37Mbps of audio data, compared to just 1Mbps for optical. Both your TV and soundbar must have an eARC-labelled port. Use a high-quality HDMI 2.1 cable.
The older standard, found on most TVs from 2009 onwards. ARC supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 but cannot carry lossless formats or full Dolby Atmos object audio. You may still hear "Atmos" processing over ARC — but it will use a compressed Dolby Digital Plus stream, not the full lossless version. Still far better than optical for everyday use.
The traditional digital audio cable — the small square connector with a red light inside. Optical can carry stereo PCM and Dolby Digital 5.1 / DTS 5.1, but it has a very limited bandwidth. It cannot carry Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or any lossless format. Use optical only when HDMI ARC/eARC isn't available — for example, on older TVs or when your HDMI ARC port is already in use.
Bluetooth is ideal for streaming music from your phone, tablet or laptop. Modern aptX and AAC Bluetooth codecs offer decent quality for music. However, Bluetooth introduces a small audio delay (latency) that makes it unsuitable for TV audio — you'll notice lips not matching the sound. Wi-Fi streaming via AirPlay 2 or Spotify Connect offers better quality and multi-room audio, but again is not designed for TV audio synchronisation.
Both TV and soundbar have eARC? → Use HDMI eARC. TV has ARC only? → Use HDMI ARC. No HDMI ARC on your TV? → Use optical. Streaming music from phone? → Use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Look at the label next to the HDMI ports on the back of your TV. Most modern TVs (2019+) have at least one port labelled "ARC" or "eARC". The eARC port is usually the same port as ARC — check your TV's manual or spec sheet. The Sony Bravia XR range, LG OLED and Samsung QLED TVs from 2021 onwards all support eARC.
On your soundbar, HDMI eARC is typically the only HDMI input. Connect your TV's eARC port to the soundbar's HDMI (ARC) port using a good HDMI cable. Enable CEC (called "Anynet+" on Samsung, "Bravia Sync" on Sony, "SimpLink" on LG) in your TV settings for automatic control.
Every soundbar we stock includes at least HDMI ARC, with premium models supporting full eARC for Dolby Atmos.
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