How to connect your TV with a Sound Bar and another input device (Blu-ray player, CATV tuner, Game console, etc.) compatible with eARC or ARC connection with an HDMI cable.
Notes:
- The terminal locations differ depending on your Sound Bar, refer to the operating instructions for more information. Manuals, Specifications, and Warranty information for your Sony product are available online.
- Depending on the model, it may be necessary to switch the Sound Bar settings to TV after connecting. For details on how to operate your Sound Bar, refer to the operating instructions.
- If the Sound Bar comes with a Subwoofer, avoid leaving items on top of the Subwoofer. The subwoofer produces vibrations so any items placed on top of it may fall off.
- If your TV and Sound Bar 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.
Sound Bar + TV + Another Audio Device
Check the HDMI terminal
Check if the HDMI output terminal of the Soundbar bears text such as eARC/ARC or ARC, and then select one of the following:
Both TV and sound bar support eARC
If both the TV and sound bar 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 TrueHD, 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, Sound Bar, 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 checking 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 Sound Bar with an HDMI cable.
２. Connect the HDMI input terminal of the TV and the HDMI (eARC) output terminal of the external input device with an HDMI cable.
- A: Sound Bar
- B: HDMI cable (included with the Sound Bar 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 Sound Bar
- Open the
Settings screen.
How to access the Settings
- 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 or eARC setting→ Auto.)
Notes:
- You cannot select eARC mode if the text-to-speech function for on-screen text within the TV’s accessibility features is enabled.
- By enabling the eARC mode function, some functions may be restricted 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 Sound Bar
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 Sound Bar.
- Select your favorite program or external input with the TV remote control, and check if the sound is output from the Sound Bar.
Only one of the TV or Sound Bar supports eARC, or both do not support eARC (but do support ARC)
If both 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, Sound Bar, 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 input 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 Sound Bar.
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 input terminal of the TV and the HDMI (ARC) output terminal of the external input device with an HDMI cable.
- A: Sound Bar
- B: HDMI cable (included with the Sound Bar 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 Sound Bar
- Open the Settings screen.
How to access the Settings
- 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.
- Select your favorite program or external input with the TV remote control, and check if the sound is output from the Sound Bar.
Not compatible with eARC or ARC, or Only one of the TV and Sound Bar is compatible with ARC (not compatible with eARC)
