How to connect your TV with a Soundbar and another input device (Blu-ray play er, CATV tuner, Game player, etc.) compatible with eARC or ARC connection with an HDMI cable.
- The terminal locations differ depending on your Soundbar, refer to the operating instructions for more information. Manuals, Specifications, and Warranty information for your Sony product are available online.
- Depending on the model, switching the Soundbar may be necessary after connecting. For details on operating your Soundbar; refer to the operating instructions.
- If the Soundbar comes with a Subwoofer, avoid leaving items on top of the Subwoofer. The Subwoofer produces vibrations, so any items placed on top may fall off.
- If your TV and Soundbar have HDMI input terminals that support the Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) or Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature, those terminals will be labeled eARC or ARC.
Soundbar + TV + Another Audio Device
Check the HDMI terminal
Check if the HDMI output terminal of the Soundbar have text such as eARC/ARC or ARC, and then select one of the following:
Both TV and Soundbar support eARC
If the TV and Soundbar are compatible with eARC, you can only connect the TV to the other devices using an HDMI cable.
- Preparing HDMI cables.
We recommend connecting with a cable that supports 18 Gbps transmission (Sony's optional or commercially available Premium High-Speed HDMI Cable or Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable that supports 48 Gbps transmission). Audio can be output even with a normal high-speed (standard) HDMI cable, but if you connect an external input device that supports eARC and play a high-quality audio format (e.g., Dolby Atmos, Dolby True HD, or DTS HD Master Audio), there may be restrictions or the sound quality may deteriorate.
- A: 4.95Gbps or above (High-Speed HDMI cable)
- B: 18Gbps (Premium High-Speed HDMI cable)
- C: 48Gbps (Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable)
- Connect the TV, Soundbar, and external input device with HDMI cables
BRAVIA TV has multiple HDMI terminals, but not all HDMI terminals support eARC. You can check which terminal is compatible with eARC by looking at the text of the HDMI terminal on the TV. Below is an example of a terminal: HDMI input 3 is eARC / ARC compatible, while HDMI inputs 4 and 2 are not compatible.
Connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI 3 terminal and the eARC compatible output terminal of the Soundbar.
１. Connect the HDMI (eARC) input terminal of the TV and the HDMI (eARC) output terminal of the Soundbar with an HDMI cable.
２. Connect the HDMI IN terminal of the TV and the HDMI (eARC) output terminal of the external input device with an HDMI cable.
- A: Soundbar
- B: HDMI cable (included with the Soundbar or optional)
- C: External input device (Blu-ray player, CATV tuner, or Game console)
- D: HDMI cable (not supplied)
- Set BRAVIA TV settings to output the sound from the Soundbar
- Go to the Settings screen on the TV.
- If the remote control has a Quick Settings (
or 
) button, press the Quick Settings button and select Settings.
- If the remote control does not have a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the HOME button and select Settings.
- Select Display & Sound → Audio output→ Speakers → Audio system.
- On the TV remote control, press the back button, and select eARC mode or eARC setting → Auto.
(or in the Settings menu, select Display & Sound → Audio output → eARC mode eARC setting → Auto.)
- You cannot select eARC mode if the text-to-speech function for on-screen text within the TV’s accessibility features is enabled.
- Some functions may be restricted by enabling the eARC mode function, as shown below.
- Audio from system sounds (when pressing the remote control buttons) and audio responses are not output.
- The voice recognition performance of the built-in MIC may degrade (only TVs with a built-in MIC).
Enable eARC on the Soundbar
Depending on the audio device, eARC may already be turned on at the time of purchase, and setting may not be required. To check the settings, refer to the instruction manual of your Soundbar.
Select your favorite program or external input with the TV remote control, and check if the sound is output from the Soundbar.
Only one of the TV or Soundbar supports eARC, or both do not support eARC (but do support ARC)
If the TV and sound bar are compatible with ARC, you can only connect the TV to the other devices using an HDMI cable.
- Connect the TV, Soundbar, and external input device with HDMI cables
BRAVIA TV has multiple HDMI terminals, but not all HDMI terminals support ARC. You can check which terminal is compatible with ARC by checking the text of the HDMI terminal on the TV. Below is an example of a terminal: HDMI IN 3 is ARC compatible, while HDMI inputs 4 and 2 are not compatible.
Connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI 3 terminal and the ARC compatible output terminal of the Soundbar.
１. Connect the HDMI (ARC) input terminal of the TV and the HDMI (ARC) output terminal of the Soundbar with an HDMI cable.
２. Connect the HDMI IN terminal of the TV and the HDMI (ARC) output terminal of the external input device with an HDMI cable.
- A: Soundbar
- B: HDMI cable (included with the Soundbar or optional)
- C: External input devices (Blu-ray player, CATV tuner, or Game console)
- D: HDMI cable (not supplied)
- Set BRAVIA TV settings to output the sound from the Soundbar
- Go to the Settings screen on the TV.
- Use the Quick Settings button: On the remote control, press the Quick Settings button → select Settings.
- Use the HOME button: On the remote control, press the HOME button → select Settings.
- Select Display & Sound → Audio output → Speakers → Audio system.
- Select your favorite program or external input with the TV remote control, and check if the sound is output from the Soundbar.
Not compatible with eARC or ARC, or Only one of the TV and Soundbar is compatible with ARC (not compatible with eARC)
